
Along with countless other people, I was glued to the TV yesterday, to watch the Senate hearing with Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh. There were so many thoughts swirling around in my head throughout, that I thought I’d never be able to make sense of it enough to write anything. Yet here I am, writing something.
On the surface, the hearing was a she said/he said event. I know about that. I raised three kids and I’m a former teacher. He said/she said events, or any other version, are flawed. The parent, the teacher, the judge, the jury, will make a decision. Most of those decisions are based on human fallibility, not on the discovery of some elusive “truth.”
Two people. One, the victim. Holding up her hand with fingers pressed together, hand slightly cupped. We use hands like this to pray, to express supplication, to express fear. The accused perpetrator. Holding up his hand upright, tensed, fingers splayed. We use a hand like this to defend, to attack, to deny. Behind each, a lifetime of achievement. A profound knowledge that there is much at stake.
It would not have been even remotely possible for anyone, least of all the accused, to overtly challenge Ford’s story. Instead, the words “something happened” was repeated over and over and over. After awhile I lost count. “Something happened,” the nebulous description to cover an event that could have involved an unlimited number of possibilities. Kavanaugh’s emotional words, “My ten-year old said we should pray for her,” were less the words of an astute and caring child than those of a religious adult talking about a fallen woman.
Ford and Kavanaugh were not the only ones with much at stake. The Senators, whether they were running for reelection or not, were there to represent their party’s best interests. We have long ago abandoned the notion of public service or compromise for the common good. We have, instead, learned how to express an outrage that overrides either of those.
Surrounding these two people were the Senators, pretty much entrenched in their personal committment to the paths they have already been on. I don’t know that anything said could have changed any of their preconceived verdicts. Both Ford and Kavanaugh could have each recited favorite lullabies sung to them as children, and the result would have been the same.
The vote will be taken, and I believe it will align neatly along party lines. The result is that there will be three losers in the process. One is women. The message here is that you may, indeed, prevail against high-profile media figures or Congressmen. But there is a glass ceiling to justice. You will not prevail against a womanizing and demeaning President of the United States nor against his nominee to the Supreme Court.
The second loser is the judicial system. It will join the executive and legislative branches as being perceived of as being after their own interests, rather than the interests of the people. We now know that the presumed Supreme Court Judge Kavanaugh believes that there is a Democratic plot behind all this, fueled by people who wanted Hillary Clinton to be President. This is the man, self-described as impartial and seeking only justice, who will be impacting the lives of countless others for decades to come.
The third is all of us. Whether you believe Ford or whether you believe Kavanaugh, you are probably outraged by a system that has, at its core, become oblivious to the people it purports to serve. And right now, in this toxic atmosphere in which we are forced to live, this may be the only thing we can agree on.
BABYBOOMER johanna van zanten
September 28, 2018
Well said. I just don’t understand how reasonable people can condone the process without the benefit of a decent prior investigation. To me it looked like a modern-day witch hunt: we saw a forum of (mostly white) men, its spokespersons angrily diverting the unassailable story of a woman’s assault by two men from white privilege, one of which was the choice of the president for the highest court. Guess who wins. I feel embarrassed and so sorry for all women and men of reason in your country.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
Our tendancy to politicize everything now simply results in nothing working properly. Your last line says it all.
gary loggins
September 28, 2018
The whole thing is just a big mess, and illustrates the need for term limits in both houses of Congress. All this obvious partisan bickering may make compelling television, but it does our country no good. There is one thing I agree with Trump on: this swamp needs to be drained – of both Democrats and Republicans!
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
There is no doubt that we are in a dark place, politically. And it began way before Trump took office. It seems to be coming to a head now.
Debra Heermann
September 28, 2018
Well said, as usual. Thank you for helping to put my thoughts together.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
Thanks, Debra, and thanks for reading.
RetirementallyChallenged.com
September 28, 2018
Beautifully said. Thank you.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
You are welcome. I had spent the entire day before being outraged, saddened, confused and apprehensive. I needed to vent even before the vote was taken.
aginggracefullymyass
September 28, 2018
I am furious and trembling at the dismissal of Dr. Ford’s allegation with no serious investigation, and I am not a survivor of sexual abuse. I can only imagine the emotions of those women who are survivors and have to relive their trauma and subsequent dismissal. Aside from Dr. Ford’s accusations, Kavanaugh looked and sounded unstable and unhinged and frankly, a bit crazy. Certainly not the demeanor I would expect or want in a Supreme Court judge. That alone, in my mind, should disqualify him. But since unstable, unhinged and crazy seem to be the cocktail of the day in this Administration and the GOP, he’ll fit right in. And we all lose. Maybe more than we can imagine…
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
I watched two human beings, both pushed to the limits of what they could bear. Guilt or innocence aside, Kavanaugh is a son, a husband, a father. The public spectacle of the hearing placed both of them in a setting that afforded no dignity. It resulted in punishment for the victim and penalty for the abuser, even before the verdict was in.
Ellyn Dooley
September 28, 2018
Thank you for the chance to express my feelings, something that feels necessary in order to process what is happening…not just in this circumstance. This situation is another occasion where partisanship is wagging the dog, on both sides and it is so unsettling to witness. It raised a question in my mind today…our forefathers created our form of government with 3 branches that have checks and balances presumably to ensure the workability of our government so it truly can serve the people. What seems to be totally unchecked is the partisanship in our legislative branch that makes it a disfunctional entity and has turned our legislative process into a boxing match where self interest and winning trumps all else. As a citizen I don’t feel served. I feel disenfranchised, unrepresented and powerless. Everyone speaks about how awful it is and that something should be done, but short of voting (and the reliability of that system is now very suspect) I don’t see any other means of “checking” this unproductive and disfunctional behavior among our legislators. The problem seems to go much deeper as that one option, namely voting, which in many ways did work because so many people really wanted fundamental change, elected a Washington outsider and gave us what we have now. I’ve always found some element of personal power by recognizing that when I see myself pointing fingers, that it’s time to turn my finger around and examine my own part in the problem that I’m complaining about. How can I surrender my own self interests for the good of the whole? How am I contributing to the mean, nasty rhetoric that surrounds me? Where am I falling short in doing the difficult work of setting aside my own agenda to embrace those who have opposing views and have compassion, try to see the view through their eyes? It seems so hard to think that this is what it will take to create some sanity in our country because it feels like it will take too long and we don’t have enough time for this to work. It seems simpler in some ways to put on the gloves and join the fight because maybe with more force, more brutality we will beat the truth into the other side. But, in my heart I know that’s not the answer. The real work will take time and it is much more difficult to stand down and find common ground. That takes courage and strength, especially since I’m not always sure how to do it. If I can just remember to be that person, even if I practice this for just a few minutes of every day, it is a start and feels like the most authentic way forward.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
Thanks for these thoughts, Ellyn. There is nothing more I can add.
bone&silver
September 28, 2018
Thank you for your perspective, & I agree completely. In heartfelt solidarity with women everywhere, G in Australia #thefutureisfemale
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
Thank you.
ammaponders
September 29, 2018
One of your best! I, too noticed the difference in their hands, especially how he jerked his up as if slicing the air. Your insights about everyone involved put words to all I felt. Thank you.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
Wow, many thanks. It’s one of those posts I wish I didn’t have the need to write.
Sonjey
September 29, 2018
I watched all day, as I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. What do we tell the children? Yes it was a circus, and too many gaps for my ears. I feel for both families. Their lives will never be the same. Thanks for your thoughts renee. I can always count on you for putting it in perspective. Can someone please step up to the plate and bury this guy???
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
Yes, the children. I can’t stop thinking about that. They are the ultimate victims. We are setting a terrible example to all children, and the consequences to Kavenaugh’s own children are immense.
Shelley
September 29, 2018
I recall Anita Hill’s testimony so well. How sad that we have progressed so little in the ensuing years.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 29, 2018
We haven’t learned very much at all from recent history. And now we have a president who spins his own version of history. No progress can occur under circumstances like that.
Widdershins
September 29, 2018
What a grotesque joke. 😦 … each time I think the soul of the US can’t get any more damaged, yet another wound is added to it.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 30, 2018
I had the same reaction. I try to avoid drama, here, but the phrase “Democracy had a good run” keeps going through my mind.
John Smith
September 29, 2018
So the GOP just gave women a GIANT FINGER!! They just threw you off/under the bus.
Ladies, what are you going to do about that? I hope 100M of you go and throw these jerks (stronger language is probably warranted) out.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 30, 2018
I’m trying to remain in my current non-hysterical mode here. Wait out the week. Trust in the FBI investigation. If nothing comes up, start protesting. And there will be massive protests, I’m sure. Then VOTE. And make sure this election is the largest turnout of women ever.
Deborah Pearson
October 1, 2018
No presumption of innocence?
Life in the Boomer Lane
October 2, 2018
I’m not sure what the question means. It wasn’t a trial. I think the only “verdict” is which version of events you believe.