Rule of Law vs. Due Process [View all]
Both my older brothers were Viet Nam combat veterans. One came home with a Silver Star, the other came home, period, and the war wrecked both their lives, same difference. My second older brother was particularly affected.
He was home post out of country, and was at some posting somewhere, can't remember, but he was walking somewhere as some drill sergeant was drilling a platoon of new recruits. He wanted to leave to do something, so he put my brother in charge of the marching. My brother marched the whole platoon around the corner of some building and promptly dismissed them all. He was crusty and wasn't putting up with any bullshit. Maybe it's good to be able to march long distances, like in WW2, but not on his time. He was weary.
I have always looked at that as a metaphor. I remember it and still analyze it. Turn a corner, and what existed is suddenly gone. Or, turn a corner, and the meaning of something no longer exists. Life changes, and must change. Without change, nothing means anything. That's how you learn.
I am troubled by the Rule of Law stuff. I am basically a rule follower, I admit. I was a good little girl who could be trusted by my Mother to do stuff. That tells a lot about me, and I now suffer guilt if I step out of line. My goal is to not harm anybody. But, I have reached a point where I am becoming so intolerant of this rump crap that I have almost perpetual anger. I can see where our present circumstance is going to lead to physical fighting. This is most certainly not the Rule of Law. I would not be troubled by this if I weren't such a believer in the Rule of Law.
As I try to resolve my feelings over this, it occurs to me that I can replace the words "Rule of Law" with the words, "Due Process." Due Process is something we all can believe in without any reservation. Due Process ensures that, eventually, we will be right. Due Process provides that murderers go to jail, and the innocent walk. It is not perfect, and it is subject to bias, etc., but basically, Due Process is the bony backbone over which we drape "Rule of Law." It provides the support needed to make "Rule of Law" work. It supports "Innocent until proven guilty." It works, even for Trump, et al.
I know this is stupid, but I feel so much better, heading into the big suck for my country. We can fight toward due process for those evil Nazi creatures, round them up and stick them in prison for all I care. Let due process work. Let my country be whole again.
The Repubs tell lies. Everyday they tell hundreds of lies. It grates on my nerves. I am preparing for Civil War 2. I'll do nothing but march with a protest sign, and vote in the Great Election Lie that will be 2026 and 2028, but I'll be there, if not six feet under, or powder on the wind.
Due Process. Know it, use it, fight for it. It applies to everybody. It is the backbone that makes America great, not worship of Trump. I may put it on a blue hat. Due Process.