This week …

I have been heartened by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony against Brett Kavanaugh – to finally break her bargain with the patriarchy and speak about about a traumatizing assault was an act of personal and civic courage. Thank you, Dr. Ford.

This week …

I have been troubled by Brett Kavanaugh’s reaction to the allegations against him. Of course he has the right to “categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation”, but to do so condescendingly does not befit someone about to take a seat on the US supreme court. His belligerent response to this entire process is worrisome. Shame on you, Brett Kavanaugh. Your obligation as a judge is to be a steward of our laws and our systems, including the investigations which might bring justice to those who break our laws and to the victims of their crimes. At the least, you should have acknowledged the investigation as a necessary step to validate your confirmation.

This week …

I have been perplexed by the public reaction to the whole case. On the one-hand, I am entitled, as a private citizen, to my opinion about Dr. Ford’s believability, or lack thereof; and Brett Kavanaugh’s innocence, or lack thereof. But as a member of the pubic my responsibility is not to decide either of these things, but instead to demand that the systems and institutions which make the decisions are allowed to do their work.

On the other hand, our systems and institutions routinely fail to consider and investigate allegations by survivors, especially when the guilty hold real or symbolic positions of power. As was the case this week, when the FBI rushed and failed to conduct a full investigation. And the Senate subsequently placed a suspect candidate in the highest court of our land.

So what are we, as the public, to do but loudly declare our frustration?

And, #voteinthemidterms