2006-12-30 13:09:51 · 5 answers · asked by Diesel Weasel 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
It is difficult to adhere to absolutes, so I would have to say yes. To say no, would mean that perjury is never acceptable. I am sure I can come up with a scenario where committing perjury would be for the greater good. You know, one of those improbable situations (I'm on the witness stand and if I tell the truth, the mob is going to wipe out my whole family and if I lie, the bad guy is still going to be convicted) that gets constructed just to prove the exception to the rule? But the real question is must we all be completely rule-bound? I can accept the argument that it is generally better to tell the truth than to lie. I can also believe that it is good to be faithful to ones oaths and promises. But with no exception? Sorry, can't go with that.
2006-12-31 02:10:29 · answer #1 · answered by c'mon, cliffy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This, my friend, is a difficult question to answer, indeed. The problem is, most people only associate the word with a courtroom, and as shown below, that's not the case. (no pun intended...)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Main Entry: per·ju·ry
Function: noun
: the voluntary violation of an oath or vow either by swearing to what is untrue or by omission to do
what has been promised under oath
This means, any oath, vow or promise could be perjured, and we all know that all oaths, vows and promises are not kept, and, whether people admit it or not, some degree of such, is acceptable, to any number of people.
It could be as simple as a child swearing he won't go in the cookie jar, then giving in to temptation as soon as Mom leaves the room. Or, as bad, as a person swearing that they will respectively manage a person's money, then using said money to buy them self a very big boat.
2006-12-30 21:38:49 · answer #2 · answered by persnickety1022 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. If you take the oath, then you should abide by it or claim your fifth amendment rights beforehand.
When sworn in you swear to "Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." This means that you are swearing to 1) tell the truth (so what you say is true), 2) tell the entire truth (don't omit anything), and 3) only tell the truth (do include lies). This covers any form of lying from occurring if abided by, so if a person intends to not abide by it they should not be sworn in.
2006-12-30 21:15:10 · answer #3 · answered by marklemoore 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO! If you swear to tell the truth; then you must do exactly that! To do otherwise means that you have been a false witness. In a court the truth must prevail otherwise there can be no justice.
2006-12-30 21:31:15 · answer #4 · answered by geegee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no it isnt.
2006-12-30 21:14:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋