by Mary Wakefield Buxton –
Urbanna, Va. — The question to mull over for the day is why human beings always have to be right. It’s quite a humorous issue.
Settling who is right and who is wrong are major issues in my marriage. My husband is such a nice man. It seems a shame that I’m the one who is always right!
Yes, its food for comedy, this trait, having to be right, is so strong in homo sapiens. It must stem from some deep-seated inferiority complex, but then, my college psychology class notes might be wrong? I don’t think animals worry about who’s right and who’s wrong. If there is a stand down, teeth, claws and muscle power immediately settle the issue.
It’s even funnier to think how often when we think we are right, we are actually wrong as so much we believe to be true ends up being false (and vice versa.) Even then, another comic human trait saves us from accepting truth. Humans have the amazing capacity of denial. Not accepting truth is so powerful it can remain with us right into the grave.
An example is the latest unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision that threw out guilty convictions in former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s infamous “Bridge Gate” case that sent two of his assistants to prison. They had been convicted in a lower court of manipulating traffic that caused a massive traffic jam in order to “pay back” political opponents.
Yet many were convinced of their guilt and even connected the governor to the scheme. Many media commentators assured us they were guilty. Now we are left wondering. The accused were found guilty and were tragically sent to jail. One wonders how could we be so right one day and so wrong the next?
This latest courtroom overturn reminds me of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s case where he was convicted of bribery. (At the time Gov. McDonnell was being considered as a possible GOP presidential candidate). Politicians should never accept gifts under any circumstances because it suggests possible bribery, but some wondered in this case if the persecution was politically motivated. In the end the Supreme Court, again by unanimous consent, overturned his guilty conviction.
Of course, it is possible that Supreme Court justices could be poltically biased in forming opinions as the justices are appointed by presidents who are either a Democrat or a Republican. But when a decision is unanimous, it suggests the decision is apolitical.
It should concern us if and when politics ever enters the courtroom. If judges and prosecutors act according to allegiance to a political party, they do great damage to the nation. The public has a right to expect the question of guilt and innocence of any crime does not depend on party affiliation but proven evidence of breaking a law.
The $30 million-plus Mueller investigation of President Trump for the charge of Russian collusion also comes to mind. I have no illusions about this president, but did politics trigger this investigation? For years commentators told us there was absolute and irrefutable evidence of Russian collusion. Yet when the investigation was complete, it turned out there was none. Was this entire affair legitimate or an utter waste of time and money not to mention a disruptive chapter in government?
Now we wonder about Gen. Flynn, which is a case even now unfolding. The man pleaded guilty to lying to Congress but evidence previously withheld indicates that he may have been entrapped by the FBI that is alleged to have faked and doctored reports to take the case to federal court. Could such allegations be true?
Watergate was a lesson that taught my generation we cannot trust politicians, as they are just as prone to misuse power and be tempted by corruption as the rest of humanity. Yet many Republicans at the time disbelieved Nixon was personally involved in the break-in of Democratic headquarters but, in the end, there was solid evidence of guilt. Nixon spared the nation a painful and expensive impeachment trial and resigned. We learned partisanship is dangerous business because some politicians in both parties do outrageous things. In my mind it’s foolish for anyone to give allegiance to any political party.
A wiser approach when it comes to politics might be to disconnect from partisan media that work day and night to sway public opinion. Practice the art of “Cogito ergo sum.” That is, listen to both sides but — doubt everything. Do your own research and thinking on the issues.
Keep in mind we may end up being wrong in what we now believe is true. It’s best to leave a door open to continue processing new information should it unfold so that we can reconsider our humble opinions.
But not when it comes to marriage! The woman is always right! And that’s a fact that will never change! ©2020
