The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction

Episode 48:  A Smattering Of Intelligence

Frank:         Arrest me? What for?

Col. Flagg:    You’re a Communist!

Capt. Stone:   He’s a Fascist!

Frank:         I’m not either!  I’m nothing.

Col. Flagg:    I’ve got a list of 17 left-wing organisations and 

               charities you’ve contributed to.

Frank:         I never!  It’s a lie.  They’re all lies!

Capt. Stone:   Well, somebody’s lying.

Trapper:       That’s right, and we know who it is.

Hawkeye:      It’s us.  You two were so intent on finding some 

              breach of security, some leak.  You don’t need the    

              real thing.  You guys are self-leaking.

A mail call from home causes Henry to be up to his neck balancing his wife’s cheque book, Klinger to invent another family heartache story in want of a discharge, Frank to be obsessed about his stock portfolio and Trapper to get drunk and attempt desertion because he can’t see his daughters.

I’m often intrigued by conspiracy theories and urban legends and can understand how the line between truth and fiction becomes blurred with the ease and speed in which stories spread over the internet, especially through social networking sites.  When the saying, “Don’t let truth get in the way of a good story” normalizes the way truth is handled, personal and corporate reputations fall victim to our obsession with rumours and scandals.  There is sound wisdom to be found from one of the most successful leaders of Israel who warns, “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies” (Psalm 34:13), which should serve as a guidepost when sifting through the fragments of truth in any story.