In Iowa, three women have tragically lost their lives to men who assaulted them. Mollie Tibbitts and Celia Barquin Arosamena were alledgedly killed by their assailants, while Sadie Alvarado's death is still being investigated as she allegedly jumped out of the automobile of her boyfriend during a fight. These deaths are senseless and tragic both from the perspective of their unfulfilled ambitions and to women who continuously fear for their lives from the men in them and in the periphery. Currently, a nomination for the Supreme Court is being held up while aging Senators, mostly male, pursue whether the male nominee, Brett Kavanaugh as a teenager assaulted a teenage girl, Christine Blasey Ford, who now alleges that he did.
While understanding that what happened to Ford is not exactly the same as what happened to the three women in Iowa, nonetheless, the symptoms are the same. Men believing that they had the right to inflict their will on these four women and a society that often fails to see how assault and rape can lead to the unspeakable. Every day, women are assaulted by men and, for generations, have felt betrayed when they reported these incidents when men walked away with either a light slap on the wrist or no justice at all. It is only recently that the charges are being treated more seriously, in part because of high-profile cases involving celebrities.
Once again, a man of questionable character is being considered for the highest court in the land and his behavior may be given a pass, just like Clarence Thomas' was where Anita Hill's sworn testimony was concerned.Our Senator Grassley chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and has the right to call witnesses, as he has to look into the allegations, but unlike a court of law, ironically, the Senate is not a court, it is a political body whose Republican leaders are hell-bent on putting a conservative-minded justice on the Supreme Court before the mid-term elections, fearing that they may not hold that power after the mid-term elections.
And what if Brett Kavanaugh has been unjustly accused? What about his rights? The statute of limitations has long expired to file charges against him, so why bother? The question is that of fitness to serve a life-long appointment to the highest court in the land. We have seen other nominees "Borked" for far less serious things (e.g., Douglas Ginsburg who was nominated by Reagan was withdrawn when it was revealed he smoked marijuana with his students at Harvard). There are plenty of other conservative judges that could be nominated and likely would be approved, but this is ultimately about what is possible here and now and with a famously stubborn President and Senate, Brett Kavanaugh is there guy.
Christine Blasey Ford has earned a right to be heard, especially because she was a reluctant witness whose business was put on the street because of politics. No one could risk more than she can. If she is telling the truth, she still will be excoriated as she gives her testimony, if she is not, all other women who step forward in the future will be treated as instantly suspect. She is reluctant, and she has asked the FBI to hear her out prior to testifying to Congress. However to Grassley and his cohort, the clock is ticking.
And what of Kavanaugh? What Kavanaugh has to lose is relatively minor. If he did what she accuses him of, his nomination should be dropped, no question. But he could also be awarded the seat despite it all. Will his current job be imperiled? Probably not, though he might face judicial review, if he gave false testimony in being approved for that seat. If has been falsely accused, he either chooses to fight for the nomination or decides it isn't worth it. Either way, other than not being seated, he still would likely have his appellate court seat.
However it goes, we should not forget Mollie, Sadie, and Celia. They are the unfortunate ones who died, while their assailants live. Brett Kavanaugh may prove to be a very fortunate one as well and that could be the greatest injustice of all.
While understanding that what happened to Ford is not exactly the same as what happened to the three women in Iowa, nonetheless, the symptoms are the same. Men believing that they had the right to inflict their will on these four women and a society that often fails to see how assault and rape can lead to the unspeakable. Every day, women are assaulted by men and, for generations, have felt betrayed when they reported these incidents when men walked away with either a light slap on the wrist or no justice at all. It is only recently that the charges are being treated more seriously, in part because of high-profile cases involving celebrities.
Once again, a man of questionable character is being considered for the highest court in the land and his behavior may be given a pass, just like Clarence Thomas' was where Anita Hill's sworn testimony was concerned.Our Senator Grassley chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and has the right to call witnesses, as he has to look into the allegations, but unlike a court of law, ironically, the Senate is not a court, it is a political body whose Republican leaders are hell-bent on putting a conservative-minded justice on the Supreme Court before the mid-term elections, fearing that they may not hold that power after the mid-term elections.
And what if Brett Kavanaugh has been unjustly accused? What about his rights? The statute of limitations has long expired to file charges against him, so why bother? The question is that of fitness to serve a life-long appointment to the highest court in the land. We have seen other nominees "Borked" for far less serious things (e.g., Douglas Ginsburg who was nominated by Reagan was withdrawn when it was revealed he smoked marijuana with his students at Harvard). There are plenty of other conservative judges that could be nominated and likely would be approved, but this is ultimately about what is possible here and now and with a famously stubborn President and Senate, Brett Kavanaugh is there guy.
Christine Blasey Ford has earned a right to be heard, especially because she was a reluctant witness whose business was put on the street because of politics. No one could risk more than she can. If she is telling the truth, she still will be excoriated as she gives her testimony, if she is not, all other women who step forward in the future will be treated as instantly suspect. She is reluctant, and she has asked the FBI to hear her out prior to testifying to Congress. However to Grassley and his cohort, the clock is ticking.
And what of Kavanaugh? What Kavanaugh has to lose is relatively minor. If he did what she accuses him of, his nomination should be dropped, no question. But he could also be awarded the seat despite it all. Will his current job be imperiled? Probably not, though he might face judicial review, if he gave false testimony in being approved for that seat. If has been falsely accused, he either chooses to fight for the nomination or decides it isn't worth it. Either way, other than not being seated, he still would likely have his appellate court seat.
However it goes, we should not forget Mollie, Sadie, and Celia. They are the unfortunate ones who died, while their assailants live. Brett Kavanaugh may prove to be a very fortunate one as well and that could be the greatest injustice of all.
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