"IF The Allegations Are True ..."

By Michael The Libertarian

That's an awful phrase, isn't it?

Ordinarily, I become very suspicious of any sentence that starts with “If”. “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” or: “If the queen of England had _____, she'd be king”. Kind of obvious, no?

“If' is a huge word, though. It appears right in the middle of the word “life”. I almost don't think that's an accident.

Lately, the phrase in the title has come under some fire. People have said it's nonsense, in light of recent events.

I think, in today's times (more precisely, the current news cycle) it's an important one. It is a phrase that sets up the “disclaimer” for what is to follow.

“If the allegations (that Pete Rose bet on baseball) are true ...” People can now feel free to excoriate their target in any way they feel warranted.

In the current climate surrounding the Weinstain allegations and others in Hollyweird, it seems like the sewers of the bastion of liberal forward-thinking are being flushed, entirely. I think there are some “questionable” allegations, when you find out what happened.

Sexual harassment is not very well defined with the definition usually be left to the accuser. That's not very prudent. I'm responsible for my actions; not your feelings about them. If my actions are wrong, then your feelings may (or may not) be valid.

I often think back to Mike Tyson's rape conviction. I have nothing but disdain for Mike, but I watched every second of that trial. In the “victim's” own words, she had consensual sex with Mike. She enjoyed herself. Then, when she said she needed to get back to her own hotel, Mike said he'd send a car for her.

“It was then that I began to feel used, like I'd been raped”, was her statement.

Mike behaved like a cad, but he hadn't raped her. People didn't like him, anyway. He got convicted.

In regards to “IF the allegations are true ...”, I defend that phrase and the people using it who are, essentially, “hedging their bets”. Why?

Tawana Brawley.

Duke Lacrosse.

The “Rolling Stone”/UVA fiasco.

“Hands up. Don't Shoot!”

Zimmerman killed “Saint” Trayvon in cold blood. Zimmerman was a racist.

You see, like it or not, sometimes allegations aren't true. That's just the way it is.

When looking at the accusation against Judge Moore, in all fairness, the timing stinks like a Staten Island garbage dump.

He “became national” back during the special run-off election. Why no accusations then? That was almost two months ago. Could it have been a political move? I think that's a distinct possibility.

This particular instance puts me in mind of a thirteen-year-old that accused (then) Candidate Trump of some horrible things. As soon as the election was over, those charges were rescinded, the young lady never heard from again. Unfortunately, it's a tactic that has become prevalent in today's politics … mostly coming from one side.

What really struck me in the newspaper article I read about the Moore allegations was the writer took great pains, early on (within the first two paragraphs) to make sure the whole world knew the young lady had since become a Republican and voted for President Trump. No one asked, but it seemed very important, before getting to the allegations, everyone should know this person was “one of the good guys”. It stinks like a three week old's diaper that hasn't been changed in six hours.

Do I dis-believe Moore's accuser? I can't. I wasn't there. Do I think this was, at the very least, politically expedient for someone(s)? Unfortunately, maybe I've become jaded, but I do.

Let me just say this, in closing:

IF the accusations against Moore are true, they are disturbing, but not just for the way some people are portraying. Is there any chance this young lady lied about her age? Has that ever happened, before? Is this some kind of political “dirty trick”?

Rape, molestation, even some real harassment are problematic issues of today, but ruining someone's life, on a political whim is a sin.

- Michael