It would be very easy to write this week's column about the incompetency of the current administration. But even the liberals in the mainstream media are criticizing Joe Biden and his handling of Afghanistan, so why pile on? That would be too easy. Instead I'm going to relate a conversation I had earlier this week that I believe reflects why our country is headed down the wrong path.
About 15 months ago I was asked to put a book exchange in front of my office. I was more than glad to do so given that the library was closed and then my daughter had started a reading program while in high school that received national awards. I understand the joy and importance of being well read. since then, I believe we have had over 2000 books come through our exchange. It was everything from children's books to fiction to nonfiction. But not all of it was a good experience.
At one point we had a donor drop off several large bins of paperback books. These were all by the same author and were fiction novels that are mass produced for a very specific audience. They are popular and I noticed that right away several people took three or four books at a time. I did not initially put the bins themselves outside but after a point I put two of the bins next to our bookcase. I arrived at the office the next day, which was a Saturday, and noticed both bins were gone. My first thought was that someone really liked that author, and I was glad the books were taken by someone who would enjoy them.
As it turned out, one of my neighbors told me that a well-known person had come and taken the bins to resell in their store. That was disturbing enough because to me that is theft. If the person wanted to donate the books to that particular store, they could have but they did not. It was the intent of that person to have the books given away.
Earlier this week the person who had coordinated the book exchange stopped by the office to check on how many books we had. We were having a conversation about how successful the program was and I related very quickly the story about the theft. This individual said well that's fine because I know the books are getting out to people. She then said she's glad to support entrepreneurs. That is in no way shape or form entrepreneurism. This store owner took books that were donated to someone else and is selling them. I asked if she would support someone coming into her house and taking her property for resale. She did not have a comment. I suppose she saw the illogical justification she was making but she stood by her original comment.
Our discussion was not long but it revealed two things that I think are plaguing our society. First, justification of immoral or illegal actions because the end result might be desirable. It is something we have seen become more open in our governmental bodies, even President Obama made several comments that the ends justifies the means.
Secondly, even though I do believe she realized that if she were put in the situation of someone taking her property for resale for a good cause she wouldn't like it, she refused to admit that I might be right and that the actions of this individual might be wrong. She was going to stick by her original premise because there is some feeling inside of her that suggests changing her mind would mean that she was not a caring individual. Or she just doesn't want to be wrong.
We are seeing this too much in our society these days. Right now, so many people who voted for Joe Biden are eerily quiet about his overall job performance. These were people that were very vocal in opposing a man who did a great deal of good for this country, but they believed he was mean. They do not want to admit they were wrong in supporting Joe Biden nor do they want to admit they were wrong about the job that Donald Trump did as president.
We also see this in the discussion concerning mask mandates, vaccinations, and coronavirus. Anyone with an opinion different from that of the administration is accused of killing people despite medical evidence that there are legitimate questions about the seriousness of the Delta variant, the efficacy of masks and vaccinations, and the contradicting information and actions taken by the federal and state government. People have lost their ability to think critically and have open discussions.
Their silence on Joe Biden's job performance and desire to feel good about themselves by not admitting they might be wrong is taking this country down a path that will result in the ruin of this nation.