Free Writing Fridays: PETA’s Banned Super Bowl Ad Reminds Us To Use Discretion

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

PETA’s new ‘Veggie Love’ ad, which features scantily clad women using vegetables suggestively with the tagline “studies show vegetarians have better sex,” is causing quite a stir. It was meant to be run during the Super Bowl, but NBC has rejected it for being too explicit. In order to form your own opinion, you really need to watch it yourself (if you are 18 years old or over), so I have provided a link to it below:

‘Veggie Love’: PETA’s Banned Super Bowl Ad

As an aside, I’m not sure how PETA expects this ad to influence people to “go veg.” You remember it, sure, but mostly because it’s so over the top, it’s almost funny. In fact, the ad really doesn’t do PETA any favors, as it lowers their credibility and thereby damages their cause. Nevertheless, how they wish to represent themselves is their choice, (and I would guess that their whole point was to generate publicity by intentionally making the ad too provocative).

Proponents of running the ‘Veggie Love’ ad claim that other advertisements, such as those for Victoria’s Secret, are just as risqué. True, Victoria’s Secret ads are always of women in lingerie, but what pushes the ‘Veggie Love’ ad from borderline inappropriate to completely inappropriate for the Super Bowl (and network television in general) is what the women are doing.

According to Magna Sententia, we need to treat others respectfully, which includes knowing your audience and having discretion. The Super Bowl is a family event, and PETA ought to have taken this fact into consideration before developing their commercial. The ‘Veggie Love’ ad is far too mature for young children, and while this doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place for their ad, it does mean that the Super Bowl certainly isn’t it.

Discretion is an important concept to remember as we go about our daily lives: What we choose to say and do, and how we choose to say and do it, impacts those around us. We must be aware of who is able to observe us, especially when it comes to children. Although parents are responsible for protecting their children from adult content, adults are responsible for their behavior in front of children.

When you know children are watching, please try to be a positive role model.

Ellie Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Ted Haggard Is Still In Denial & Still Hurting People

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Ted Haggard, former “pastor of the 12,000 member New Life Church” in Colorado Springs and former “head of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals,” is back in the news again, two years after “male prostitute Mike Jones accused of him of paying for sex and crystal meth.” (“Ted Haggard Speaks Out After Two-Year Silence“)

This time, although Haggard “apologizes” to the LGBT Community for “all the pain, all the rejection, and all the hurt [he] caused” and insists that he is “deeply sorry for the attitude [he] had,” it is clear that he still hasn’t come to terms with his own sexuality (heterosexual “with issues”?!) and that he is still causing great damage by promoting the absolutely ridiculous notion that homosexuality “isn’t OK” and requires “treatment.”

Haggard “acknowledged that his religion forced him to suppress a fundamental part of who he is,” but claims he “no longer struggles with his sexuality. On occasion he still imagines being with men, but he says these thoughts are ‘not compelling.’” “‘People can judge me,’ he said. ‘I think it’s fair that they judge me and that they think that I’m not being real with myself.’”

No, Haggard is definitely not being real with himself. In fact, he is beyond denial and entering delusional. We just hope he stops this nonsense and faces the truth before more people (including his wife and family) get hurt (again)! It is extremely unfortunate that he continues to believe sexual orientation is something you chose. On the contrary, sexual orientation is innate, and to believe otherwise only makes you judgmental (and often cruel) toward others and/or untrue to yourself.

We happen to be heterosexual, but we do have people in our lives who are homosexual, and it is painful to witness them being mistreated and discriminated against. Although society is not nearly as prejudiced as it was in the past (please go see the movie Milk), gays and lesbians are still treated as second-class citizens every day across our nation.

Many religious organizations are guilty of perpetuating this hate, and Haggard is living proof that once the belief that homosexuality is wrong becomes engrained in you, it is nearly impossible to shake. Haggard would help himself tremendously if he would just admit that he is homosexual and start living a life of truth. Not only would this be a gift to himself, but he could also become a positive example for others.

Following Magna Sententia, it is imperative that you accept your true self, which is the basic elements of you that are permanent, fundamental, and innate (including your sexual orientation). Your true self isn’t positive or negative; it just is. To deny that you are homosexual is to deny you, which is terribly unhealthy. Furthermore, if individuals cannot accept you because you are homosexual, then they are not worth having in your life anyway, even if they are your family or “friends.”

For true strength and success, we must come together as a nation and treat our fellow Americans respectfully, in spite of our differences.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Free Audio Book: Magna Sententia Reading 11

Click on the following link to listen to the latest episode of the free audio version of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society:

Part Two: The Axiom Of Responsibility,

Chapter Five: The Axiom Of Responsibility In Your Life -

Part Three: The Axiom Of Respect,

Chapter Six: Treating Yourself Respectfully,

Section: Being A Friend To Yourself;

Pages 99 – 109

Find out more about Magna Sententia.

Ask Anna & Ellie: Stand Up To Controlling Relatives

Dear Anna and Ellie:

I hope that both of you can help me. I am four months pregnant with me and my husband’s first child (sex has not been determined yet). Both of my In-Laws are fabulous; the only problem is my Father-in-Law’s controlling girlfriend, whom he has been dating for 13 years.

His girlfriend did not have a very nurturing childhood and she was married and pregnant by the age of 17. It is my belief that motherhood has been the only validating experience of her life, and she believes (or at least acts as if) she is the authority of raising children. She has been overbearing and borderline obsessed with my husband’s biological niece (my niece by marriage) because she never had a girl of her own (she has 3 sons). I’ve seen her control, belittle and speak very lowly about my niece’s mother. Mind you, she is not even related to my niece, but she thinks that she is the only one who can properly take care of her. She’s so psychotic that she thinks that she and my niece look alike, knowing full well that she is not related to her!

Fast forward to my pregnancy, and she is making passive-aggressive comments (which is not new for her) but now I am getting seriously angry and weary of her being around our child when s/he arrives. She is already trying to control the naming process and thinks that we should move closer to them so that we will have a babysitter. I’ve already told her that we are not planning on going out that much and will probably not need babysitters very often, but it’s as if she doesn’t even hear me. My husband has been trying to reassure me that we will not have to go through what his brother-in-law and his girlfriend are experiencing because we will not give them that kind of control, but I am still very anxious. Should I take it up with my Father-in-Law, who probably won’t stand up to her, or should there be a meeting with her and my Father-in-Law to explain what their boundaries are as the “grandparent” figures? I really need help!

–Pregnant Twenty-Something

Dear Pregnant Twenty-Something:

Congratulations on your pregnancy! We are very happy for you and your husband, and we wish you many years of joy with your new child.

We commend you for taking responsibility for your child already, which is indeed what you are doing by seeking solutions to your dilemma before your child is born. Please know that both of us have direct personal experience with the issues you face, from both the mother’s perspective and the child’s: Anna would like you to know that you are much stronger and wiser than she was as a new parent. Ellie would like to tell you how much easier her life would have been if Anna had addressed these same types of concerns before she and her siblings were born, and that you can’t shield children from family dynamics no matter how hard you try. We are very proud of you.

You are quite perceptive in your understanding of your father-in-law’s girlfriend! Your insight into her life, along with how her past is influencing her present behavior, will be helpful as you reason through your situation.

Let’s start at the beginning: According to Magna Sententia, you and your husband are responsible for your child’s life. This does not mean that you shouldn’t consider the advice or guidance others give you; however, it does mean that outside input (from anyone besides you and your husband) only matters if you let it matter. Whether your father-in-law’s girlfriend is well-intentioned or otherwise, do not permit her to “control, belittle, and speak very lowly” about you as a mother or your husband as a father.

Now, this may sound harsh, but it is the truth: It doesn’t matter if she had a terrible childhood, was young and pregnant when she married, and never had a daughter of her own. Her behavior is completely inappropriate, and you and your husband will only make your lives, and the life of your child, more difficult if you allow her to control you, influence your parenting, or just be an annoyance in your lives. (It takes up a great deal of energy to contend with relatives who make you feel badly.) Life is simply too busy and difficult on its own without these problems, and much too short to let people like your father-in-law’s girlfriend assume a prominent role.

We teach others how to treat us: She will continue to get away with being passive-aggressive only until you no longer allow her to be passive-aggressive. She will control the naming process only until you take control of the naming process. (Name your child exactly what you and your husband want to name him or her.) Knowing what we know now (and wish we would have known three decades ago), it is in your family’s best interest to stop her behavior immediately, even if this means it gets ugly for a while (or forever) with her or your extended family.

How?

First of all, do not try to go through your father-in-law because, as you said, he will probably not stand up to his girlfriend. You and your husband, together, need to stop this directly at the source, (although your husband should really be the one to take the lead because it is his family). As a courtesy, your husband may want to tell his father that the two of you are going to ask to meet with her and that he is welcome to attend if he would like. Then, your husband should set up a meeting with the three (or four) of you where you can communicate for as long as you need without any distractions. (In Magna Sententia, this process is called Rectify, and it is discussed thoroughly with examples in the book.)

At the meeting, you and your husband can start by explaining how important your family is to you. Next, tell her what you told us: “We have seen you control, belittle, and speak very lowly about our niece’s mother, and we are worried because you are already starting to be overbearing and passive-aggressive with us: For instance, you are trying to control the naming process, as well as persuade us to move closer to you.

“In addition, even though you may have good intentions and not realize it, you give off the impression that you are an authority in raising children and that you have all the answers. While we are, at times, open to suggestions regarding our child, we do not want you to try to take over. If you do, you will not be included in our child’s life. We are not trying to be mean; we just want you to know from the beginning that you cannot do to us what you have done to our niece’s mother. We have every right to be concerned because you have already started with us, and you must stop this immediately.”

Even if you ruffle her feathers for a month, a year, or she never speaks to you again, you will be saving yourselves years of grief by standing firm. Hear us when we say that there is nothing worse than a relative like your father-in-law’s girlfriend. For the good of your family, it has to be that she either changes her tune, or she is out. (Note: with people, if you give an ultimatum, you have to follow through; otherwise, they will never take you seriously again.)

The reason for this strict stance is that if you do not set the ground rules now, she eventually will control, belittle, and speak very lowly of you. And your child (and future children) will know. You may try to cover up what is going on and how you feel, but children are extremely perceptive, and they will know. (Ellie and her siblings all knew.) You will have holidays, birthday parties, and family gatherings ruined, along with a great chance of strife between you, your husband, and/or your father-in-law, and all for what? A woman who is selfish and controlling?

We hope that your troubles are settled relatively peacefully, but you and your husband also have to prepare for the worst. The fact is that your husband has to be united with you in order for there to be harmony in your family, and it is crucial that when push comes to shove, your husband chooses you (and your family with him) over his relationship with his father. This may be extremely difficult for him, but he has to recognize that his responsibility is to you and your family. His allegiances must lie with you, or it will negatively affect your marriage. As your child’s father, he needs to understand that it is unhealthy to have such an out of control relative as part of his child’s life and that it is up to the two of you to control the situation. Also, if the worst possible scenario does come true and your husband becomes estranged from his father over this, your husband must realize that his father has in effect chosen his (manipulative) girlfriend over him.

Please let us know how everything turns out.

–Anna & Ellie

Do you have a life or relationship question for Anna and Ellie? Do you want to know how Magna Sententia applies to your situation? Submit your question here!

Disclaimer
Anna Sherise and Ellie Sherise are not licensed or trained healthcare professionals, counselors, or financial advisors. “Ask Anna & Ellie” is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to take the place of the care and advice given to you by your physician, counselor, other healthcare professional, or financial advisor. Sherise Media LLC, its members and representatives, specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this article and/or website.

Magna Sententia Available On Kindle

Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society is now available on Kindle for only $7.99!

Please visit the Amazon.com Kindle Store to receive your free preview.

Free Writing Fridays: We (Not President Obama) Are Responsible For Our Future

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

The election is over and President Obama has been inaugurated, and so it is time for all of us to take a deep breath and think about where we are as individuals and as a nation.

On Election Day, it was once again evident that our country remains quite divided. (According to CNN’s Election Center 2008, 53 percent of the popular vote supported the Obama/Biden ticket while 46 percent supported the McCain/Palin ticket.) Since that day, many across our country have expressed the importance of our citizens coming together, regardless of whom we cast our ballot for back in November. It is vitally important that we as a society are united in terms of our patriotism and the desire for our nation to remain strong and free. Nevertheless, it is healthy and constructive to debate the issues because doing so ensures that we are looking at all the angles and making good decisions. In fact, it is each and every American citizen’s duty to stay informed so that we know what the new administration is doing and what the implications of its actions are for us on an individual, as well as societal, level.

To that end, whether you listened to, agreed with, or believed what President Obama expressed in his inaugural address, please make sure you read or watch it in its entirety so that you know exactly what he communicated to the nation. (“Analyzing Obama’s Inaugural Speech“)

Additionally, make sure you stay on top of what is going on in the new administration, our country, and the world, being careful to consult numerous sources so that you are not only hearing one side of the issue. Know what decisions are being made, why they are being made, who supports them and for what reasons, and who is against them and why.

It is easy to let “others” accept responsibility for our government and the way in which it carries out its duties, but in truth, we are all responsible for the choices we make, both individually and in the aggregate. Even if you are rejoicing because “change has come,” you still need to be watchful and understand this change. According to Magna Sententia, we (not the government, and certainly not the President) are responsible for our future. In order to live up to this responsibility, we must be aware and truly comprehend what is taking place in our land.

Now is the time to become informed and get involved.

Anna Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Free Audio Book: Magna Sententia Reading 10

Click on the following link to listen to the latest episode of the free audio version of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society:

Part Two: The Axiom Of Responsibility,

Chapter Four: Taking Responsibility For Your Children,

Section: Learning Vignette;

Pages 86 – 98

Find out more about Magna Sententia.

Ask Anna & Ellie: How Do You Move On When You Didn’t Get To Say Goodbye?

Dear Anna and Ellie:

I have read over the other questions submitted and like how extensive you are with your advice, so I’m wondering if maybe you could help me. I have been going through a very emotionally draining period of my life right now. My boyfriend of two years recently died in a car accident. Because of this, I could barely concentrate at work. I wanted to take a few days off, but I need all the money I can get because I can barely pay all of my bills. This caused me to have a poor review at work, so now I am in this probationary period.

On top of all this, my boyfriend’s family did not invite me to his funeral. I’m totally crushed by this. I loved him so much. I really wanted to marry him. We had even talked about it, but felt the timing just wasn’t right for either of us. While I know people usually feel devastated when someone they know dies, the fact that they didn’t invite me to the funeral has hurt a lot. Now it feels like I never really got to say goodbye to him. I do not know what to do about it.

Do I say something to them? Send them an angry letter? How do I let them know how hurt I am?

–Just Can’t Deal

Dear Just Can’t Deal:

Please be very gentle with yourself. The loss of a loved one can be devastating, and you need to give yourself time to heal. Your situation is challenging, but we feel that you will be able to recover from everything that has happened to you by focusing on the three issues of greatest concern: Not having the opportunity to say goodbye to your boyfriend, the disrespectful way his family treated you, and your difficulties at work.

Saying Goodbye: It is quite natural and entirely reasonable for you to feel that because you were not invited to your boyfriend’s funeral, you “never really got to say goodbye” to him. Following Magna Sententia and treating yourself respectfully, you will do what you need to do in order to achieve some kind of closure: There are many options for this, and only you can decide what you have to do to move on with your life.

Perhaps you could write a letter to your boyfriend describing whatever you wish he would know, such as what you would have liked to say and do at his funeral, how much you miss him, and how deeply his passing has affected you. When you are finished with your letter, what you do with it is up to you: Maybe you would feel better if you took it to his gravesite and read it to him, or left it there for him. Alternatively, the two of you may have had a special place or activity that you shared, like camping or sailing, and you might want to take the letter there and “bury it at sea.” Remember, although truly letting go of your boyfriend may take you years, whatever you do must enable you to feel that you have adequately said goodbye to him.

His Family: It is difficult to understand why your boyfriend’s family did not inform you of his funeral and ask you to participate. However, your love for him is obviously greater than their rudeness. Here again, do what you have to do in order to make peace with the situation in your own mind. Would you be out of line to say something or send them an angry letter? Not at all. Nevertheless, the question you must ask yourself is, “Will saying something or sending them an angry letter help me feel better?” You have to decide for yourself if confronting them is worth it to you.

Personally, even though we have had people in our lives whom we were justified in confronting because of their utterly disrespectful behavior, we often decided that they were really not worth the effort. Certain individuals always justify their own (poor) behavior, and in all probability, they would have never truly listened to or understood us. Your boyfriend’s parents may be the same: Do what is best for you, but make sure your expectations are realistic.

Your Work: Your inability to focus at work is completely understandable and expected, and if your supervisors knew about your situation, it is unfortunate that they did not take it into consideration during your review. If you did not tell them before, please tell them now. Many employers will work with their employees if they are aware of extenuating circumstances.

Although it is hard, try to let go of all of your other problems and fully concentrate on your job when you are at work; however, do not expect too much from yourself. No one can be the perfect employee 100% of the time, and there are times when life must take precedence over work. Moreover, please realize that your difficulties in your professional life will most likely resolve themselves once you have had a chance to heal your personal life.

Our hearts ache for you, and we thank you for allowing us to try to help. Please let us know how you are doing.

–Anna & Ellie

Do you have a life or relationship question for Anna and Ellie? Do you want to know how Magna Sententia applies to your situation? Submit your question here!

Disclaimer
Anna Sherise and Ellie Sherise are not licensed or trained healthcare professionals, counselors, or financial advisors. “Ask Anna & Ellie” is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to take the place of the care and advice given to you by your physician, counselor, other healthcare professional, or financial advisor. Sherise Media LLC, its members and representatives, specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this article and/or website.

Free Writing Fridays: Doing A Better Job At Parenting Our Children

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

I have been a mother for almost three decades now. I would never claim that I have every answer or that I am an expert on children, but I have learned a bit through all of these years, and I must tell you that I am increasingly concerned about the quality of parenting I see throughout our nation on a daily basis:

Yesterday in the headlines, we learned of a Greenfield, California father (biologically speaking only!) who “allegedly arrang[ed] to sell his 14-year-old daughter into marriage in exchange for $16,000, 100 cases of beer and several cases of meat.” (“Man Allegedly Tries to Sell Daughter Into Marriage for Cash, Beer and Meat“) (Watch “Man Tries To Sell Daughter For Cash“)

Fathers, please listen: You are one of the greatest influences, good or bad, in your daughter’s entire life. Whether or not our nation’s daughters live honorably and successfully starts in the home, with a large responsibility falling squarely on your shoulders. How you speak to and discipline your daughter, whether you spend time building a close relationship with her, and if you take an interest in her activities and dreams, all set the tone for her future life decisions, including the mate she chooses.

For both our sons and daughters, if we treat them with dignity, they will know they are worthy of respect and accept nothing less. Likewise, if we abuse them or spoil them rotten, they will always be unhappy and cause great problems for their own children. If we treat them so disrespectfully as to place a dollar value on them, they will surely live up to our low expectations. Parents, you gave your children life, and you are responsible for every single aspect of that life. Take your job seriously, and do the best you can — you only get one chance.

Another headline from yesterday’s news concerned a three-year-old boy named “Adolf Hitler” and his two sisters who were “removed from their New Jersey home last week and placed in state custody.” (“Young ‘Adolf Hitler’ and Two Sisters Removed From Home“) Not only did little Adolf Hitler’s parents irresponsibly curse him with this horrendous name, his sisters are just as unfortunate: One is named JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and the other is Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, named after Hitler’s SS commander, Heinrich Himmler.

Now, they are not releasing specific information as to why these children were taken away from their parents, but Kate Bernyk, a spokeswoman for New Jersey’s Division of Youth and Family Services, said it had to do with more than their poor name choices. Whatever the reason, I do know that our children should not be used to make political statements or advance our particular ideology. I am not alone: “Forensic psychologist N.G. Berril said naming a boy Hitler could be considered child abuse.”

Unfortunately, our nation has countless children who suffer daily at the hands of their parents as they attempt to live out their parents’ political and/or religious agendas. This is unfair to these children and has the potential to scar them for life. Parents, you have every right to guide your children; however, they are not your “property,” and you have no right to treat them as such. Allow your children to be exposed to beliefs that are different from your own so that when they are adults, they have the tools and knowledge required to live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling for them, not one that mimics your own.

Lastly, in my personal life, I have recently met some children who were abandoned by their parents because they did not turn out the way their parents had hoped, literally being kicked out of their homes and the lives of their families. This is the ultimate form of parental abandonment, and I say to any parent who has kicked his or her children out of the family because they are pregnant, homosexual, transgender, or whatever else: Shame on you. You brought your children into this world, and you must support them and care for them until the end. Period.

We as a society are failing our children, and it is my hope that parents will begin to use the concepts of Magna Sententia to evaluate how they are doing their job. Please, if you are a parent that requires help or is falling short in meeting your parental responsibilities, search out the resources and support you need. You, and only you, are responsible for your relationship with your children, as well as the job you do raising them.

Anna Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Disclaimer
Anna Sherise and Ellie Sherise are not licensed or trained healthcare professionals, counselors, or financial advisors. This article is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended to take the place of the care and advice given to you by your physician, counselor, other healthcare professional, or financial advisor. Sherise Media LLC, its members and representatives, specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this article and/or website.

Herman Rosenblat’s False Memoirs: What We Say & Do Does Matter

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Herman Rosenblat’s memoir, Angel at the Fence, is yet another false memoir that has “touched, and betrayed, the world.” (“Anger, Sadness Over Fabricated Holocaust Story“) In it, Rosenblat weaves the tale of meeting his wife of 50 years, Roma Radzicky, “at a sub-camp of Buchenwald” during the Holocaust when in fact the two met “on a blind date in New York.” Regrettably, by writing a story that is not true and calling it fact, not only has Rosenblat duped “his agent and his publisher, [ . . . ] Oprah Winfrey, film producers, journalists, family members, school children, and strangers online,” he has also further eroded the general character of our society. As individual citizens, we must recognize that our actions directly affect others, and our nation as a whole, and we must never underestimate the significance of each and every one of us.

Defending his deceitfulness, Rosenblat maintains that he intended to “bring happiness” to others, claiming that he “brought hope to a lot of people, [and that his] motivation was to make good in this world.” “In a statement issued Saturday through his agent, he described himself as an advocate of love and tolerance who falsified his past to better spread his message.” Apparently, Rosenblat never learned that lying always catches up with you and that no true “good” can come from such a misleading fabrication.

We hope Rosenblat realizes that his actions hurt many more people than he claims to have helped. For many, “the damage is deep. Scholars and fellow survivors fear that [his] fabrications will only encourage doubts about the Holocaust.” Michael Berenbaum, Holocaust scholar and former director of the United States Holocaust Research Institute at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, said, “‘In my research I rely upon the survivors to present the specifics of their existence with integrity. When they don’t, they destroy so much and they ruin so much, and that’s terrible.’”

Sadly, we feel that Rosenblat’s dishonesty has even farther-reaching implications: With the frequency of such falsifications (Misha Defonseca, Margaret B. Jones, and James Frey to name a few), it is easy to call into question any story that is told or written as fact. With so many people publicly telling bold-faced lies, it is easy to wonder, “Does anyone value telling the truth?” The ripple effect isn’t pretty. If we cannot believe an elderly couple like Rosenblat and his wife, whose literary agent Andrea Hurst describes as the “most gentle, loving, beautiful people,” then who can we believe?

People are constantly serving their own interests, both blatantly and subtly, at the expense of the truth. It’s time we as a nation started living according to Magna Sententia and acting as though we actually value honesty. If Rosenblat had believed in and lived his life following Magna Sententia, he would have understood the immeasurable importance in being a person of your word and avoided the pain his deception has caused. If we as a society embraced the value system of Magna Sententia, we would no longer live in a society where suspicion is the norm for good reason.

Please remember: What we say and do does matter, and anything short of the truth only causes problems.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society