In response to Robert Hawke (“That’s an apple, right?”, Dec. 28) who seems to make the classic mistake of comparing apples and oranges. There is a fundamental difference between a “truth/apple” and a “lie/orange.”

A truth is defined as: The body of real things, events and facts. A lie is defined as: A statement used intentionally for the purpose of deception.

Slavery was never an orange. Gay sex, while once a crime, was never an orange. Marriage between consenting adults is not an orange. Social progress is not an orange.

Claiming to have done or said something that is not factual for the purpose of deceiving the public is a lie. It doesn’t matter who originates the statement.

It’s amazing to me that we will tolerate behavior in our public officials that we will not tolerate in our children, friends, or business associates.