Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Truth be Told

My oldest daughter spent a week at Princeton University’s field hockey camp. She found the facilities and dormitory to be aged and poorly maintained. She also felt a disconnect with the people she met on campus. This, at age 14, prompted her to say I am just not that impressed. I don’t think I would ever want to go there.

My response was Well that’s good. Because I am pretty sure that they don’t want you either.

She was a bit insulted by my candor.

An ultra-conservative committee member turned to me and inquired What exactly is it about him that you do not like?

I answered straight from the gut: I think he is a big pussy in the way he uses others to do his dirty work. And when I hear him speak all I hear is Christina Aguilera in the background singing: You must have to talk so big to make up for smaller things.

The committee member was completely speechless—for a solid ten minutes.

And in one of the most dramatic scenes on film, Tom Cruise as Lt. Kaffee in A Few Good Men turns to Jack Nicholson’s character and says I want the truth. Nicholson, playing Col. Jessup replies You can’t handle the truth.


The truth is tricky business. If you can’t handle it, reconsider your inquiry.

No comments:

Post a Comment