Honor and Truth

Oedipus, a man with a complicated life, did not back down from the truth.  When he heard that the plague was caused by the dead king's murderer still being alive, Oedipus said that he would find this man and rid the land of him to save his people.  He asked everyone that may have had a piece about what led to the king's murder to lead him to the killer.  When the killer turned out to be him, he did not believe it at first and wanted further proof.  The proof proved that Oedipus killed the king, who also happened to be his father.  As a result of the truth, Oedipus followed through with what he promised to do by ridding the land of the killer.  Oedipus exiled himself, after gouging out his own eyes.  Today, it is very common for someone to back down from the truth and then make a misguided decision instead of doing what they know is right.  Whether it is a world leader realizing that the truth of the matter is his troops are abusing prisoners in jails and not punishing them accordingly or a thief knowing that stealing is wrong yet not admitting to it even when asked, people all over the world struggle with it.  One specific example is that one of my friends is dating a guy who does not trust her and accuses her of being a slut even through she has always been faithful to him in the three years that they have been dating.  They have been fighting a lot lately, and the truth that she has realized is that he is going to make her miserable if he keeps accusing her of things and not trusting her.  She keeps saying that she is just going to break up with him because she knows things will be better that way even if it is hard to do.  However, it has been a month since she has declared to do this and keeps pushing it off in the hopes that things between them will improve.  I realize this is not like Oedipus' situation, but I believe that it is very common for people to back down from the truth and what they should do about the truth.  Oedipus honored his word about what he would do once the truth was realized, and I find that admirable.  Despite following through probably being hard, he did it because that is what he said he would do.  He did not back down from the truth.  I believe that too many people these days back down though, and it shows how weak we have become.  I want to be a woman who faces the truth, and whether it is difficult or not, I want to be a woman that keeps my word after realizing the truth.  I want to be a woman of honor and truth.