terrshee's Diaryland Diary

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Deep Throat and Loyalty

Now we know who was Deep Throat. I don't suppose it has much impact for anyone who wasn't around during the second Nixon administration. But I for one congratulate the man who told the truth and those who kept faith in keeping his identity secret at the same time. Would that we lived in a world where whistle blowers were praised rather than punished.

I am reminded of how tense and angry people were about so-called attacks on a sitting president, as if a president could do no wrong by the very nature of the office. And I remember how angry and tense people were that powerful figures could behave with such callous disregard for the law. There was very little middle ground. How little has changed in 30 years.

The problem with loyalty is that it is very easy to have it slip into idolatry. We should always remember that the principles should transcend the person. Where we give our alleigance says a lot about us as a person. When you support corruption, you become corrupt. And who wants to believe that of oneself? No, the loyalty must take the place of self-examination. The idol has to be right because it is an extension of self. To deny it or see fault is to betray oneself. Once the psychology is in place it becomes nearly impossible to break. Who is willing to face the shame and culpability associated with such a profound break of public trust?

Ah well, it is easy to opine and chastise, much harder to feel absolutely right. When does the good in someone outweigh the evil they do? In fairness, humans like Nixon do have qualities that bind people to them. They are expert in manipulating our deepest sense of identification and all their actions are not necessarily bad. Sometimes they inspire us to be more than we thought we could be and to achieve beyond our expectations. But ultimately we have to judge, and for my part, Nixon didn't get nearly the disgrace and exile he deserved.

10:21 a.m. - 2005-06-01
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past tense - always tense - future tense