To Tell The Truth

This unprecedented week in American history when a former US President became a witness in his own defense in a New York City* court room ought to mark a significant moment of telling “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” because as we all know, those are the words sworn to on a bible in a court of law in the USA. There are grave consequences under the law, and presumably from above, for lying under oath. One way to circumvent telling the truth is to plead one's right to the fifth amendment. This is what all citizens understand when stepping into the witness stand. No matter who you are, you know these basic rules.

I have served on a jury in a murder case in Boston. The courtroom had its own aura. The judge spoke directly to those of us empaneled for two weeks: “Do not talk about this case with anyone. Not even your spouse.” He said this at the end of each day. The following morning, he asked: “Have you talked about this case since you were here in the courtroom yesterday? Remember you are instructed not to do so and that you remain under the oath that you swore to the first day.” I assumed he meant it. I took it seriously. I said nothing about the facts, the witnesses, or, the day the jury and the judge and the prosecutors were taken by bus in silence to the scene of the crime by police escort, stopping all traffic on busy downtown streets, so that we could get out to examine the evidence. As the weeks moved on, photos were shown of the getaway car abandoned in front of the church I attended and where the bloodied knife had been dropped, allegedly, into the sewage drain. I said nothing to anyone about the way that I felt, and the nightmares that I had during this time.

The truth was supposed to emerge through all this in such a way that justice would prevail. Truth seemed a bit slippery on days when a street person took the stand to say he/she was an eyewitness. Truth seemed more believable when a college student said in his own words how he saw it happen on his way to an early shift at work. The murder happened at 8 a.m. on a Sunday. I also went to work early because I was a church youth group leader. One of the perks of the job was not having to commute during the weekday rush hour. It seemed pleasant to walk or take the train without very many others, except the homeless ones who were emerging from some shelter for another day on the city streets. I could never have imagined only blocks away that someone might be, and was, in fact, murdered.

In the end, the jury did not reach unanimity. The judge came to talk to us, still wearing his black robe. “I know it is hard for a jury after you have spent the time to hear all the facts and sit together day after day to be left without resolution. It is not the end for this defendant, there will be another trial. You have done your civic duty. The court thanks you.” The words soothed the disappointment and emboldened a bit of pride for having tried to do the right thing. We all went our separate ways and never saw one another again. I still remember the one hold-out and how angry other jurors felt and how upset she was by their pressure to join them. “What would you do?” She asked me in the bathroom. “We are not supposed to talk about this,” I said, while empathizing with her tears. That was the Truth . . . We were not supposed to talk about it. Period.

What happened? Did the truth fail? Did someone not tell the truth? Is the system corrupt? Is the system another construct that should be dismantled? Is the system the problem? In my own estimation, emotions ran high for some and that helped to shape the outcome. Juries are after all, just you and me. Lady Justice herself is blind. We try to be impartial, but we cannot be immune to emotional outbursts of tears and anger or shame and regret. When emotions take over a courtroom, when the rules to tell the truth, and to not speak about the events during the trial are disregarded, our system of justice, "innocent until proven guilty," breaks down. The system itself goes on trial. Like it or not, the judicial system is a backbone of Democracy. It is the place of accountability for one’s own actions and decisions. It is the one place where Truth is meant to be spelled with a capital “T” even if your last name begins with a capital “T”!

Everyone of us is equal under the law, and should be treated equally. Special rules, or exemptions and exceptions weaken the system for us all. Whether or not the accused former President will be held accountable to the state of New York, and to all of the other states, we may in the end hear the judge say: “It’s not over for this defendant, there will be another trial.”

*For over two centuries, courthouses throughout New York have been adorned with portrayals of Lady Justice. The sculptures, carvings and murals, many by renowned artists, are our constant reminder that, in the words of George Washington: the due administration

of justice is the firmest pillar of good Government.

The White Man

I wondered as I opened my eyes in the predawn darkness why they want to dismantle the State? The Government? Democracy? Would those who have so much to share, have so much to lose by letting these systems and ideals stand? My mind wandered back to my days at Episcopal Divinity School. There, after fifty years of living, I encountered what I had not yet seen because I had eyes wide shut. I learned that I was not the only one. So the question is “Why?”

Why do White Men fear a system created by White Men? Why do they feel oppressed by the system that intends to give everyone the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”?Why, when they have their rights all locked up, is it imperative for them to shut out everyone else? Why are they afraid of me, the White Woman, born into the same system of rights they themselves labeled “unalienable rights?” Look no further to find the answer.

If I, a White Woman, sister, wife, and mother of their children am a threat, everyone else has to be an enemy. Ask yourself, would the White Man want to maintain a system that supports White Women along with all their other perceived enemies? Why not?

The answer requires opening our eyes to the fact that the White Man (with the exception of those who are enlightened) cannot let the systems of Democracy stand because to their eyes this is not the world they envisioned when a White Man declared the belief that these truths are self-evident. Self-evident! There's the rub. The White Man knows these truths and therefore fears them more than he fears the White Woman, all women, and the "others."

As the scales of Truth tip away from the White Man, the threat to Democracy increases. Yet, Women stand with those White Men who signed their names to the United States Declaration of Independence.

Collective Conscience

In times like these, when the whole world is focused on one particular event, we hear the voices of wise ones, if we listen. They speak to us of our collective conscience. Their words are reminders to us all to listen to the voice of our conscience before adding our voice to the universal call on either side of the event that captivates our attention. These messengers, prophets of the world, have said it so well, that I will share their words rather than contribute my own to the impossible situation unfolding before everyone’s eyes:

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Dr. Martin Luther King

”It takes no special talent to see what’s ugly, numbing, depressing, and death-dealing in our world. But staying aware of what’s good, true, and beautiful requires us to open our eyes, minds, and hearts, and keep them open." Parker Palmer

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” Mahatma Gandhi

"“...morally speaking, there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings, that indifference to evil is worse than evil itself, that in a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.” Rabbi Abraham Heschel

"“Let there be justice for all.Let there be peace for all.Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. President Nelson Mandela

"We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children." President Jimmy Carter

There's no difference between one's killing and making decisions that will send others to kill.

It's exactly the same thing, or even worse.” Prime Minister Golda Meir (the one and only woman prime minister of Israel)

We condemn the killing of any civilian whether Palestinian or Israeli." Queen Rania (of Jordan)

"Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." Sung in 1973 by my graduating class just like these students in 2023.

―

―