We Live in a Les Misérables World Now

I'm referring to how in public discourse — TV news and punditry, politics — when everything is evaluated by the letter of the law. And, out of context many times.

Les Mis ... like the guy who's family is starving. He steals a loaf of bread. Gets sent to jail for stealing. Legally, he is guilty. Yet, what would you do? Retrain for a new career, then get a high paying job? Law without justice is ... what? Tyranny. No heart. Ah, there it is. Heart.

And then, let's not even start on the subject of how so-called news journalists ask question with embedded implied biases. 

I watched the other day as a very well known TV journalist asked a former FBI official about whether the FBI could "recover" from the current onslaught of negativity coming from the White House. You know, the "Deep State" conspiracy to undo Trump. And, the collusion to manage Crooked Hillary. 

"Recover" as in, it's now a shambles, and needs to get its game back.

The official very presciently responded that the question had embedded the implication that the FBI was in disarray, or wounded in some way. Off course. He went on to say the FBI was strong. Then, the interviewer asked the question about how the FBI recovered from the J. Edgar Hoover period. Not exactly the same thing. But close enough to seem like he was doubling down on the "recover" point. Well, yes, there was some recovery to do for sure from Mr. Hoover's reign.

But, it occurred to me that the TV news man was not in fact aware of how he was introducing his unconscious bias on the matter. Probably explains a lot of what goes for news in the broadcast media around now. Just because someone is on television or on the silver screen, don't assume they have their sh#t together. In fact, recently, we've been made all too well aware that many don't. 

Excuse me, I have to go and watch my favorite liberal bigot, Rachel Maddow, with all her entertaining disparaging attitude displays, vocal inflections, body language. And, especially, the eye rolls.

Now, what was the topic? Oh, yes. Les Mis times.

If you still don't know what I'm talking about, carefully observe the news. Especially things related to what Mr. Trump may have said. He's not the kind of guy you should take literally when he's talking casually. And, he does have a way of using words which can be interpreted many ways. Slick. Not a fool. For sure.

If you still don't know what I'm talking about, see the movie Deliverance. Sometimes circumstances thrust one into a situation where doing the right thing, and doing the legal thing, may be at odds.

Just now that you are woke to the matter, keep an eye out for when everyone seems to be pouncing on the precise letter of the law. Don't be fooled. It's just a ploy to garner advantage. 

Here's one in the "When they're out to get you, you can't win' category. A fellow saves a young woman in a restaurant from choking with the Heimlich maneuver. Thankful at first. Then, she sues him for what? Inappropriate touching. 

Any comments. Please. I would prefer, however, that you keep them to yourself. I like being right just like the next guy.