A Matter of Principle: The Naked Truth

By Qarol Price

May is “Honesty Month” according to Johnston County Public School’s character education calendar. So, what is the proper response to this fact? Will there be a parade? Shall we dress in certain colors? Should we gather with loved ones for a feast in honor of honesty? Not a bad idea!

But, seriously, having a whole month set aside for a character trait denotes a level of importance that should go beyond the walls of the schools. What better cause to stand in solidarity with than our own community’s core values?

So, in honor of honesty, let us consider the wisdom of an old fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson called “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” This is a clever satire that manages to deal with honesty on the levels of self-deception, social conformity and the courage to speak the truth despite social pressures.

Basically, the emperor, who is obsessed with having the finest clothes, hires two swindlers who promise to weave him some royal finery from a magical fabric that only the wise can see. In reality, of course, they con him and create nothing.

Instead of admitting to seeing no clothes when the rascals unveil “them,” the emperor pretends to admire them, afraid to appear foolish and unfit for his office. The emperor's courtiers and subjects go along with the illusion of the new clothes because they believe everyone else sees them, leading to a collective delusion.

The jig is up when a young child calls out during the grand procession that the emperor is naked, revealing the folly of the ruler’s vanity and the power of honesty.

Of all things, to have the very ruler of the land so weak in character as to be childishly self-obsessed and intellectually dishonest! Shouldn’t a true leader exhibit basic virtues such as courage, fairness and honesty? Indeed, the emperor was not fit for his office. The swindlers already had him pegged!

And all the subjects and courtiers were just as flawed. But exactly where did they go wrong? Did they actually believe the clothes did exist, but that they were not wise enough to see them, so they pretended otherwise? Or did they see through the ruse but feared reprisals if they scoffed?

If the first, they were committing the logical fallacy of the appeal to consensus: “I don’t see it, but most do, so I guess the majority must be right!” If the second, they were unconvinced but lacked the courage to buck popular opinion.

But what about that kid who refused to keep his mouth shut? He alone realized that if you are really wise, you will call a spade a spade, even if everybody around you says it is a club or a diamond. It is wise and courageous to be honest! Honest with yourself and others. I’d say they should have fired the foolish emperor and put the boy on the throne instead!

⋆ Next month: Loyalty

Qarol Price is a writer and educator. She has taught philosophy to children in Johnston County Public Schools and in Harlem. She is a resident of Selma.