Truth tellers

Shannon Bohrer

(9/2020) When someone tells the truth, it is supposed to be a good thing. When John McCain was running for president, his campaign bus was named the ‘Straight Talk Express.’ Peoples liked that given that politicians seem to have a gift that enables them to answer questions they wished they were asked, not the question that was asked. Many believe John McCain would have won the presidency if he had not picked Sara Palin for his vice-president candidate. Mr. Steve Schmidt, McCain’s campaign manager, said she "was manifestly unprepared to take the oath of office should it become necessary…." Ouch!

Straight talk is what we want and asked for, that is until the straight talkers say something with which we do not agree. It was reported that Steve Schmidt and others in the campaign, who were critical of Sara Palin, were not invited to McCain’s funeral. Sara Palin was also not invited. Why they were not invited, is unknown to me. What is known is that while we say we value the truth; it is not always beneficial to the truth teller.

We say we value truth, nonetheless when faced with a truth that does not fit our view; we reject what is being said. The pandemic is real, and the scientist and doctors tell us that we should all wear facemasks and socially distance from others. Then there are politicians that tell us that everything is improving - when things are getting worse. In some cases, politicians are attempting to discredit scientists and facts because they disagree with the political narrative. That does that square with truth.

Disagreeing on theory or philosophy is understandable, however when people disagree with science and facts, that seems illogical. Early in the presidency of the "Very Stable Genius" we heard phrases like "alternative facts’ and "truth is not always truth." The "alternative facts" was spoken by an administration official and the "truth is not always truth," was spoken by an attorney.

Apparently, there are either motivations or inhibitors, at least for some people that allow them to disregard facts and science. It would be easy to say that when talking about politicians and attorneys, that truth can have multiple meanings. However, that does not explain the mistruths, fairy tales and misrepresentations that are universally used in our society, including this administration.

It should not be an unrealistic expectation for police to tell the truth.

Since the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police in Minneapolis, we have heard of numerous incidents were law enforcement has misspoken, lied or just ignored the truth. It has been proffered that if every officer that witnessed excessive force by a fellow officer reported the incident, excessive force incidents would cease to exist. So, the simple question is, why officers that witness these events do not report them? It should not be an unrealistic expectation for police to tell the truth. Is being silent and not saying anything, akin to lying? We know that some officers do report these incidents, but we also know that many do not.

Discussing police misconduct, we talk about the need to change police culture. Theoretically, the culture of silence, or the blue wall, stops officers from reporting of crimes committed by other officers. There have been numerous reports of officers being harassed and ostracized by other officers, after reporting on fellow officers.

For many people, that is the culture that needs change.

In a somewhat analogous example, the police often criticize citizens for not reporting crimes they witness. The police want and need the help from citizens to solve crimes. However, citizens know that they may pay a price for reporting crimes. In Baltimore City, Mrs. Angela Dawson and her five children were killed when her house burned down. Ms. Dawson had reported drug dealing in her neighborhood, and yes it was the drug dealers that set the fire. So, while we say we value the truth, the culture of society tells us that telling the truth can be harmful. After the arson at Ms. Dawson’s residence, how many neighbors would call the police?

The culture that often hides the truth, that people say needs changing in police agencies, is prevalent in our society. The large drug companies that sold Oxycontin told everyone the drugs were safe, is just one example. There were thousands of drug company employees, salesman, doctors, and pharmacies that knew the dangers, and said nothing. They literally hid the truth with their silence. Does silence imply complicity?

During the impeachment trial of the ‘Very Stable Genius’ there were members in the senate that defended Trump with Russian propaganda, regarding Ukraine. While our intelligence agencies verified the fact that it was Russia that interfered in our election in 2016 and not Ukraine, there were members in both houses pushed the Ukraine theory. Many of those pushing the "alternative fact", had received intelligence briefings, so they knew better. So, what was the motivation that allowed them to not just ignore the truth, but to offer an alternative story?

Fiona Hill, the former National Security Council director for Europe and Russia testified. In her opening remarks she stated that she refused to legitimize the narrative that Ukraine interfered in our elections. She said that it was Russia that attacked us in 2016, not Ukraine. She was forceful in her testimony and when asked specifically about the alternative theory she responded with "This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves." Mrs. Hill was vilified in some media circles as not being loyal? It was reported that she was even part of the deep state, and out to get the president.

Another witness at the impeachment trial was Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. His testimony confirmed much of what was in the whistle blower complaint, and yet he was also vilified. After the impeachment, when Trump was acquitted, Col. Vindman was escorted from the White House. It was later reported that a list of allegations against Col. Vindman was sent to the Pentagon, from the White House. Was that his reward for telling the truth?

Maybe it should not be a surprise when some people do not tell the truth.

"Many of them, indeed, know better, but, as you will discover, people find it very difficult to act 0n what they know. To act is to be committed, and to be committed is to be in danger" - James Baldwin