While the nation’s media revels with unbridled enthusiasm over the newest reality television show, ‘Christine Blasey Ford vs. Brett Kavanaugh’, and as new sexual depravity allegations surface against Kavanaugh, I wonder if this spectacle within our democracy exemplifies decency in peril, or hypocrisy in play? Truth be damned. The term “reality” should inherently mean truth, but we can’t seem to get the truth out of any of our leaders and lawmakers, or anyone.
(Truth: The quality or state of being true. True: In accordance with fact or reality.)
So, who is telling the truth, Kavanaugh or Blasey Ford? They both can’t be telling the truth, so someone is lying. These are two seemingly grown, professional adults, one an attorney, United States Circuit Judge and Supreme Court Nominee, and the other a psychologist and professor of statistics at Palo Alto University. They were both high school students at elite Washington DC area preparatory schools, she at Holton-Arms and he at Georgetown Prep., a Jesuit university-preparatory school. Perhaps this is where the indulgence began.
The accusation by Ford is that Kavanaugh tried to rape her when they were at a party in the 1980‘s. They were both teenagers at the time, he 17 she 15, both underage minors. I wonder how the scenario would play if it was junior high he 12 she 10, or if he was 8 and she 6 in elementary school? Would accusations be made? Would either of them even be physically or mentally equipped for sexual promiscuity? At what age does a first innocent kiss turn into something demonic? Who calls the shot? But more important, is this a pattern of behavior that escalated and continued through adolescence into adulthood? “Rape” is a strong word and a stronger accusation with serious implications and consequences. Kavanaugh denies the allegation, he even denies being at the party.
Okay, so on face value this is Thursday in America. Maybe not worthy of a mini-series on Netflix starring Dennis Quaid and Heather Locklear, but possibly a B movie staring Randy Quaid and Rosie O’Donnell.
Kidding aside, the political conundrum is the main story here. It’s part of the ultimate, ongoing reality show called ‘President Donald J. Trump’, or ‘Who Do You Trust?‘ Trump wants Kavanaugh pushed through quick and confirmed to the Supreme Court before the November midterm elections because he needs Kavanaugh’s support for the run of presidential pardons and subsequent impeachment proceedings coming up. Having Kavanaugh on the bench for Trump would be an ace up his sleeve, a ringer, like having the NRA backing a Republican presidential candidate.
But what’s up with Kavanaugh? Looks are deceiving, but if I was going to cast a politician gentleman rapist in that Netflix mini-series I’d be looking for someone who looked like Kavanaugh. Weak chin, groomed, pink cheeks, not innocent looking, head of his class, too smart for his own good. Unfair profile, but, hey, this is my oped. And Christine Blasey Ford? Professor, Doctor Ford? Again you can’t tell a book by it’s cover, but if you read the book, especially between the lines, you may see a party girl. The immediate, on-site excuse for both of them is that this was 35 years ago in high school. Actually, it’s a pretty good start for excusing rude, adolescent behavior.
But Kavanaugh insists he wasn’t even there. Quite a leap of faith in our plausible deniability quotient. Blasey Ford was reported to have been wearing a bathing suit. They have both been rumored to be drunk. On and on the rumors and speculations go, where they’ll stop no one knows. These two are both desperate individuals with a lot on the line, both with a past, both with their share of baggage, as are we all.
Ford’s job is to halt or delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation process. Kavanaugh’s job is to discredit Ford. They are both discrediting themselves, and America, as this goes on depending on who’s telling the truth and who you believe. It’s almost a matter of not who’s telling the truth, but who’s the better liar.
Just remember one thing, Trump picked Kavanaugh. They must be cut from the same cloth. Trump is famous for his sexual promiscuity, and depravity, and was elected president. Trump is facing many publicized sexual allegations, yet they seem to roll off his back like water on a duck. Based on that, look for Kavnaugh to be confirmed.
I say delay the hearings and put these two in the hot seat. Get to the truth, and severely reprimand the liar because they are both making fools of the American public as this disgraceful spectacle continues to unfold. Subpoena witnesses, force lie detector tests, interview parents, teachers, friends and relatives, anyone who knows or knew them. Hypnotize them. At all costs, get to the truth for once.
Peer pressure is a strong force. So is alcohol. Personal responsibility and discretion sometimes lose out to these influences. However, the character of a young man of 17 is largely shaped by his parents. Same for a young woman the same age. If mistakes were made and life lessons were neglected, and worse, if this behavior was learned by observation and inference, then this is where to begin the investigation, and maybe where to end it as well.
Our children, their children, are watching, listening, and learning.
John Kushma is a communication consultant and lives in Logan, Utah.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-george-kushma-379a5762
http://newsbout.com/a/John+Kushma
...
