I haven't typically followed Supreme Court nominations very closely. It's not that I don't appreciate what they do, the power they possess, and the decisions they make, I just hope that I never have a personal matter escalate that far...plus I don't have a lot of influence in that level (or any) of politics. But since the media continues to push this story and people are asking questions, I want to look at it from three different perspectives.
First, what would I do if I was the father of the accuser - how would I respond if Dr. Ford was my daughter? I would cry. I would feel sadness, pain, anger, and likely some hostility. I would want to bring justice to whoever had caused my daughter this type of pain and agony that she had suffered with in silence for so many years. I would talk with her, I would pray with her and for her. I would seek counseling and help and do whatever I could to help her move past this terrible experience. But eventually, we would all be faced with this cold hard reality - that with a lack of evidence and witnesses, she would likely never see the person whom she accused of these actions brought to any type of legal justice. I would hate this fact, but I would be forced to face it. I would then hope that through her strength and her story that other women who events like this happen to would be willing to come forward with their stories sooner, while witnesses still remember, before evidence is lost, while the memories are still fresh.
Second, what would I do if I was the father of the accused - how would I respond if Judge Kavanaugh was my son? Like any loving parent, I would believe the best in my child. I could never imagine him doing anything like that. I would ask him for the truth and look him in the eye awaiting his response. And I would defend him from anyone wildly accusing him of transgressions without sufficient proof. I would pray for him as well, that if he did what he was accused of doing, that he has sought forgiveness - both from his alleged victim and most importantly from God. I would do all that I could to clear his name. Though sadly, the damage (whether true or false) would be done because we live in a world that lacks patience to gather facts and grace to forgive wrongdoings.
Lastly, how do I see the accusation? Honestly, I am left with a number of questions:
If Dr. Ford discussed this in 2012 with a therapist, why didn't she pursue justice then? (this is based on an article I read - hopefully that info and date is accurate but I have not verified it)
If Judge Kavanaugh has committed this act, or others, how did the FBI and all the other investigators who looked into his past miss them? He is not new to law and politics.
Why was the initial notification of this incident sent to politicians (again, based on what I've read online but not verified)? I would have called the police!
Which leads to my next question, why the quick push to involve the FBI? If something like this happened to my daughter, yes I would want the FBI, CIA, SLED, and any other investigative institution working on it. But my first call would have been to the local police department to start an investigation.
So for my analysis:
With the timing of the accusation and the methods of how it was released (with politicians who claim to be seeking justice but sat on the info since July) I just cannot get past this being driven more by politics than by justice.
I'm not in any way saying that women deserve this kind of treatment (if received), or that influential men should be given "get out of jail free" cards (if guilty). I'm also not saying that I believe everyone's memory from 30+ years ago, or that everyone accused of a crime is guilty if the media says they are.
I am saying that we all should have some perspective here and start with we know. The location and date are vague memories. There is no physical evidence. There are no corroborating witnesses. By legal standards, that unfortunately won't hold water.
Then as to if he groped her without her consent, let's consider this - Is there anything in your past that you did between the ages of 15 and 25 that would disqualify you for the position you're in now if the whole world knew? I made dumb choices, I made stupid mistakes. I did these things as a child. Right or wrong, I view the choices someone makes differently based on their age at the time. If he was 30, 40, or 50 when something like this happened, whole new ballgame. But with information currently available, the testimony of one person with no evidence, I cannot justify condemning a man for a mistake he possibly made while he was a boy.
First, what would I do if I was the father of the accuser - how would I respond if Dr. Ford was my daughter? I would cry. I would feel sadness, pain, anger, and likely some hostility. I would want to bring justice to whoever had caused my daughter this type of pain and agony that she had suffered with in silence for so many years. I would talk with her, I would pray with her and for her. I would seek counseling and help and do whatever I could to help her move past this terrible experience. But eventually, we would all be faced with this cold hard reality - that with a lack of evidence and witnesses, she would likely never see the person whom she accused of these actions brought to any type of legal justice. I would hate this fact, but I would be forced to face it. I would then hope that through her strength and her story that other women who events like this happen to would be willing to come forward with their stories sooner, while witnesses still remember, before evidence is lost, while the memories are still fresh.
Second, what would I do if I was the father of the accused - how would I respond if Judge Kavanaugh was my son? Like any loving parent, I would believe the best in my child. I could never imagine him doing anything like that. I would ask him for the truth and look him in the eye awaiting his response. And I would defend him from anyone wildly accusing him of transgressions without sufficient proof. I would pray for him as well, that if he did what he was accused of doing, that he has sought forgiveness - both from his alleged victim and most importantly from God. I would do all that I could to clear his name. Though sadly, the damage (whether true or false) would be done because we live in a world that lacks patience to gather facts and grace to forgive wrongdoings.
Lastly, how do I see the accusation? Honestly, I am left with a number of questions:
If Dr. Ford discussed this in 2012 with a therapist, why didn't she pursue justice then? (this is based on an article I read - hopefully that info and date is accurate but I have not verified it)
If Judge Kavanaugh has committed this act, or others, how did the FBI and all the other investigators who looked into his past miss them? He is not new to law and politics.
Why was the initial notification of this incident sent to politicians (again, based on what I've read online but not verified)? I would have called the police!
Which leads to my next question, why the quick push to involve the FBI? If something like this happened to my daughter, yes I would want the FBI, CIA, SLED, and any other investigative institution working on it. But my first call would have been to the local police department to start an investigation.
So for my analysis:
With the timing of the accusation and the methods of how it was released (with politicians who claim to be seeking justice but sat on the info since July) I just cannot get past this being driven more by politics than by justice.
I'm not in any way saying that women deserve this kind of treatment (if received), or that influential men should be given "get out of jail free" cards (if guilty). I'm also not saying that I believe everyone's memory from 30+ years ago, or that everyone accused of a crime is guilty if the media says they are.
I am saying that we all should have some perspective here and start with we know. The location and date are vague memories. There is no physical evidence. There are no corroborating witnesses. By legal standards, that unfortunately won't hold water.
Then as to if he groped her without her consent, let's consider this - Is there anything in your past that you did between the ages of 15 and 25 that would disqualify you for the position you're in now if the whole world knew? I made dumb choices, I made stupid mistakes. I did these things as a child. Right or wrong, I view the choices someone makes differently based on their age at the time. If he was 30, 40, or 50 when something like this happened, whole new ballgame. But with information currently available, the testimony of one person with no evidence, I cannot justify condemning a man for a mistake he possibly made while he was a boy.
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