Some things are just too big, and too important not to write about, so for this post, I’m going to take a break from sports and write about the current situation with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and it’s impact, both socially and politically. It’s just too important not to address it and its impact.
When it was announced that America would get to witness the hearing involving Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh regarding Dr. Ford’s sexual assault allegation of Judge Kavanaugh, many thought that we’d come out of it with a clearer idea of whether or not Kavanaugh should indeed be pushed forward as the Supreme Court nominee, and how this country could process forward, both politically, and psychologically. Four days after the historical, unforgettable day, and things are anything but clear. While there isn’t a piece of evidence or even a witness that directly and clearly points to Kavanaugh’s guilt, America’s conscious is at a crossroads. Because while most find Dr. Ford credible, and believe her accordingly, how do we set the precedent of denying someone a seat on the highest court in the land simply because of an uncorroborated allegation? And conversely, how do we let someone who, more likely than not, attempted to do one of the most disgusting things one human being can do to another, onto a court where nuance and empathy and morality and limited bias are all paramount for the job, which is perhaps the last trusted institution in America?
The divisiveness in America was highlighted yet again, and absolutely worsened. This time, the divide and resentment came not just across party lines, but across genders too. This Ford-Kavanaugh case, to some, is as if the Me Too movement has reached its pinnacle, its biggest test yet, and what happens to Kavanaugh in the next week, will, to them, determine how far the movement has come, and whether women are valued appropriately in society. But to others, Kavanaugh is innocent, and is undergoing a massive smear campaign from the left, and is a sham. His nomination being withdrawn would represent injustice and unfairness to the highest degree, and perhaps, may be the first giant domino leading to Trump’s downfall.
America, long so sure of its core values and shared deep commonalities, now seeks to find its footing. The moral bar has lowered before our eyes, and no matter what result occurs in the next week, that moral bar will take another unfortunate hit. What’s most important is how this country moves forward, how we can learn from this ordeal, and how we must keep trying to love thy neighbor to the best of our ability.
Straight Shuster 