Mr. Josephson,

Awhile back I heard your radio spot about Michael singing to his sick sister. I was very moved by it. Today on the radio I heard your apology for that spot because the story turned out to be apocryphal.

Please don't feel bad. We all make mistakes. That's why they put erasers on pencils. My erasers usually wear out long before the pencil becomes too short to use. Then I have to put another eraser on it.

Though the story wasn't true, the moral behind it is. The power of love is redemptive, healing, and transforming. You did the right thing by updating your loyal listeners, but you have by no means alienated us. We enjoy your commentaries very much. For some of us, they are a daily highlight and will continue to be so.

Just stick a new eraser on the end and keep going.

Respectfully,

Pete
San Diego, CA

While I appreciate your willingness to see a contradiction and admit fault I am somewhat troubled by this commentary. The story of young Michael may be viewed as a parable, but that does not mean it lacks any truth.
I sang those very words to my baby girl as she was hooked up to various machines during her 6 week stay in the neonatal intensive care unit after she was born. Although she did not come home within days, she is now a healthy and energetic 2 year old.

Please do not discount the truth many people found in a story that evoked reality rather than a powerful story.

- JS

Pete,

Your comment to Mr. Josephson is well said. It is wonderfully written and I agree with you that an eraser is a handy tool for each one of us to use in our daily lives. The idea is to learn from our mistakes. Mr. Josephson does a beautiful job with his commentaries; I look forward to them. So Mr. Josephson you keep on SINGING! You have an audience ready to listen and learn.

Irvine, CA

Mr. Josephson,

I want to thank you for sharing the story of Michael. I also want to say how much I admire the courage that you've shown admitting that you told the story without knowing that it was fictional. To publicly acknowledge a mistake and attempt to correct it exemplifies the character that you promote with the Josephson Institute.

Thank you,
David

Michael,

I'm not sure whether this comes from realism or cynicism, but I concluded a while back that a lot of the tales you told were parables. This doesn't diminish their power to deliver a message and it places you in a long line of great teachers who have used them.

With regard to the movie issue, I understand the term "based upon" allows for much leeway in the manner in which events and persons are portrayed. Usually, I conclude that details were left out, but leave my mind open to the possibility that items have been added. There is no reason to take any supposition as fact without independent verification.

I don't expect memoirs to be error-free historically, given my own faulty memory. But I do expect some honesty when it comes to verifiable details. If I were writing a memoir, I would certainly check the historical accuracy of the material and state clearly where my memory and that record differ.

Best of luck,
Sean
OC, CA

RE: "Keep Singing, Michael"

I heard Mr. Josephson on the radio this morning talking about a young boy singing to his newborn sister, and the near-miraculous recovery she subsequently made. So I tried looking it up on the internet.

Far from not being able to find it, I found numerous versions of the story. But many of them varied in the details - where, when, age of the boy, etc.

And here's the funny thing: one site dedicated to trying to verify (or debunk) such material was not able to verify the story.

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/sunshine.asp

So, here's an idea for Mr. Josephson the next time he is stuck for an idea of what to talk about, as he seems to have been today: maybe he could do a couple minutes on the 'ethics' of telling apocryphal stories on the radio, and either failing to verify them first or knowingly passing them off as true.

Please let me know when he'll be running his correction, as that is the only ethical thing to do here.

Remember, character counts!

RESPONSE FROM MICHAEL JOSEPHSON
RE: "Keep Singing, Michael"

Dear Robert:

I appreciate your note concerning my commentary about a little boy singing to his ailing sister.

First, I must confess I was initially tempted to ignore it because I found the tone of your note so off-putting. My impression was that you took a special smug delight in “unmasking” what you believe was a serious ethical breach. And your conclusion, “Please let me know when he'll be running his correction, as that is the only ethical thing to do here. Remember, character counts!” was particularly self-righteous. I really wish your point could have been made without the negative assumptions and accusations.

Still, once I moved past my defensiveness I recognized the essential validity of your point about failing to distinguish between verifiably true stories and parables.

It is something I’ve thought about before, a fact that compounds my guilt. I’ve simply been sloppy and lazy.

In fact, in a version of the Michael story I broadcast several years ago I included in the written newsletter the following disclaimer: “Variations of this story can be found on many inspirational sites on the Internet. It is originally attributed to Women's Wear Daily, but is, in all likelihood, a parable.”

For unknown reasons we did not reprint the same disclaimer in last week’s newsletter (that will be corrected). The point is I was aware of the fact that at least some listeners and readers would assume the story is true even though I knew it couldn’t be verified. What’s more, while I cautioned my readers I said nothing to alert my listeners to the probability that the story is a parable.

Thank you for holding me accountable. Today, I broadcast an apology commentary, titled "Mea Culpa!", which addresses this issue.

RE: "Keep Singing, Michael"

My tone was "so off-putting" because it was not the first time - and probably not the fifth time - I've heard one of your stories and thought it sounded "too good to be true"; it was just the first time I was near a computer with the details fresh in my mind to be able to check. I remain dubious that you and your staff could be that credulous...but I appreciate the retraction/correction, and I appreciate the email.

Robert

RESPONSE FROM MICHAEL JOSEPHSON
RE: "Keep Singing, Michael"

Snopes.com, the website dedicated to dispelling internet rumor that Robert cited in his comment, also offers the following thought in relation to this parable:

“True story or not, there's nothing wrong with taking inspiration from this (or any other) glurgy tale. Inspiration is not dependent on the truth value of any given story, despite the attempts of many to make it so. Modern day parables that stir the heart have the power to do so whether those narratives are based on real incidents or not. Likewise, stories that don't set the spirit to soaring on their own merits will not suddenly gain this ability from being labeled 'True story!'

"In answer to the expected 'Yes, but is this story true?', the definitive answer is 'No.' That doesn't change its value one whit, it's every bit as inspiring (or syrupy, depending on point of view) whether the events depicted happened or not."

To see the full text, click on the following link or copy and paste it into your web browser: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/sunshine.asp

Dear Mr. Josephson -

I appreciate your candor and your willingness to make an honest confession to your readers. However, not knowingly using a fictional or nonfictional story to illustrate a point is in no way an attempt to dupe another. I feel that the life that one leads daily is the example that others around us will use to measure our sincerity.

There are many stories and examples we can use to clarify or magnify our opinions; if possible when using such examples we should use a disclaimer if we're unsure of the facts or accuracy.

But, all of us, your regular listeners and readers, continue to be encouraged to be honest and truthful in what we do and say each day by your commentaries. Please continue expressing the thoughts and stories you share with us and know that you are successful in your mission, pointing out by your example, that "Character Counts!"

Thank you, for your efforts to make this world, and how we live in it, a better place.

Sincerly,

Larry
Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Dear Mr. Josephson,

Last week, I once again had the pleasure to be touched by your story of Little Michael, and his song. It again brought tears to my eyes while I was driving on my daily trek to the office. I am a 46 years old, and I’ve been listening to your commentaries via KNX 1070 off and on for about 10 years. In January, my wife and I were blessed with our first child together, Mykhail Josef. According to our doctors and specialist, he was a baby who was a miraculous occurrence, having been conceived and later born to parents who tried unsuccessfully for several years to have child, then having an unsuccessful invitro process. We were told that we would not be able to have a child without some sort of medical assistance. Five months later, my wife and I found that we were indeed expecting.

This morning, I heard your commentary in response to the apparent numerous emails or letters, to which with great humility, you shared a common frustration from having heard, read or seen stories which have been said to be true, yet apparently embellished.

I wished to share with you, which I am sure is a common feeling for many of your listeners. Thank you for this story of love, and even though it may be fictitious in origin (or maybe not?), I hope that you continue to share this, because it is a poignant story which reminds us that there is power in love.

Thank you for gracing my life with stories such as these.

And please keep Little Michael around.

Kindest Regards,
Rob

Mr. Josephson,

I don't care if it's true or not!

I heard the commentary on the radio and the story brought tears to my eyes helping me prove that I don't have ice in my veins.

I intend to sing to my soon be born grandson. Thank you!!

Carson Chism
Edwards AFB, CA

The story about Michael may not be precisely true but I'm sure it is not false. My son was 5 when his sister was born. She underwent major surgery the next day. It was several days before he could see her. He and his 8 year old sister gowned, masked and scrubbed and entered the NICU. Our baby was not dying, but she was not thriving either and she was not very responsive to anyone. As soon as she heard her brother's voice, her affect changed, she became both calm and attentive in a way that was new and was surely "healing." For 9 months of my pregancy he put his head on my tummy every morning and every evening and prattled at the baby, "Hi, baby. How are you baby?" I have absolutely no doubt that she recognized his voice and that it comforted her because I saw it. It was as if she had felt lost and his voice let her know that she was found. That was in 1989 and today that baby is a college freshman studying nursing. I'm pretty sure the "Sing" story started with a real Michael somewhere out there who eased his sister's journey whether or not he actually saved her life. . . and even then, who knows, maybe he did?

I too have heard the "keep singing" story, I've often thought that it is too bad that it cannot be verified. I chec a lot of the stories that I receive with TruthOrFiction.com. To my knowledge they do check out all thesd stories and is or was started by a minister.

If you've never heard the story of "Smells Like Rain" check it out on TruthOrFiction. It is inspirational and TruthOrFiction say they checked out and it was found to be true. It is a beautiful story, and will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

I don't get to hear your commtaries on the radio but do receive your news letter and do very much enjoy your stories/point of view. Keep up the great work.

Sincerly,
Sharon

How refreshing when any one of us is person enough to admit error, intentional or otherwise. Thanks for being who God has apparently ordain that you be, my friend!!

BrotherJack

How can a fictitious story remind us of the power of love? Isn't that oxymoronic? There are so many people out there who are desperate for a glimmer of hope; I think it is a travesty that we lie to them and pass it off as truth. When it is discovered a lie, we've defeated the purpose and most likely set the person in a much deeper state than before. We must be very careful about what we say and especially what we print. It can be permanent! Only true stories can remind us of what is and what can be. Thank you Mr. Josephson for all that you do.

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

I am, perhaps, late to the party with my comment here, but "Swift boat veterans for truth" also had a message that used the same kind of "inspirational" language. Was their use of that power to move people ethical? Is the use in itself ethical or must we weigh the message? It is at the core a case of ends justifying the means.