A brief exploration of recent moral dilemmas
My friend Cathy uses a phrase that I have found one of the most reassuring in this American life: “We’ve all done it.”
For example, last February I slipped and fell down my spiral staircase to the basement of my Queens apartment. I am usually, always, really, until then, so careful it’s absurd: “don’t die, don’t die, don’t die,” I chant, as I carry down recycling. Then on that morning, for whatever reason, I held onto no rail and thought I’d just pop down there and bammo, bruise city, swollen ankle, trip to the ER.
“We’ve all done it.”
And let’s face it: before you judge the bonehead accident of another person, it would not kill you to take a breath, think to yourself, “Have I done that, or something like it?” And then, reassuringly say to your friend, not the judgy thing, but the true thing: “We’ve all done it.” This, I feel sure, would be a really helpful thing to do and go a long way to calming both you and your friend.
Breathe. Who among us hasn’t left a stove burner on, forgotten to time something in the oven, or left coffee in the microwave for three days? And who among us didn’t try to sneak at least once into a movie for free? “We’ve all done it.”
But there’s a limit that also might be constructive to consider.
It occurred to me as I was washing the dishes just now (I spend a lot of time in the kitchen), thinking about how we’ve all gone a whole day and not bothered to wash one dish, that surely this phrase of reassurance does not always apply to all missteps.
Murder, say. Or insurrection. Or violating another’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
So I’m writing today because I think this phrase, “We’ve all done it”—the thinking of it and considering it—might help a bunch of Americans right now who are either undecided about or outraged over former President Trump’s 91 indictments, arrest, and, finally, mugshot. Or say, the painting of swastikas on the houses of Black people in Montgomery, Alabama. Or, perhaps, the mass murder of Black people by a racist white supremacist in a store in Jacksonville, Florida. Or the lackadaisical attitude of sportscasters as people and players ran screaming during a mass shooting during a high school football game.
That phrase, “We’ve all done it,” may be the test you need as to whether, or not, a big ass really criminal crime might have been perpetrated as opposed to the human mistake.
I, speaking as an occasionally above average, certainly flawed human being, can honestly say about the charges of voter fraud, treason, intimidation, etc., to say nothing of the weekend’s racist attacks and mass murder, that I cannot utter the reassuring phrase, “We’ve all done it,” with anything like conviction.
On the contrary, some major convictions are what we need.
And don’t get me started on that GOP “debate.”
This has been a public service announcement on behalf of sane and sentient citizens everywhere. We’ve all done it…or have we? If we haven’t, and it’s not art, chances are it’s a big ass crime. And if you can’t tell the difference, you are the problem. See your ass in court, no doubt sooner than later.
Kisses from Miss O’.
The Miss O' Show (Teacher's Edition) 