“Some of that would destroy lives, if it came out.”
After reading that I had several thoughts. 1: that it’s good you left because knowing things could “destroy your life”. 2: that that comment just reinforces my and many others opinions of the so called elected officials that make law in this country. 3: that having to live with this knowledge would compromise your own values and morals. Which leads me to believe that it takes a saint to stay clear of all the corruption. What a mess!
I have to admit that what you say is persuasive, I am leaning a lot harder towards the belief that Craig is a pervert, but also feel that he created his own bed and now lies in it. No compassion for him here, but the way the police handled him was questionable too. All of this is disgusting!
Take care Billybob, I wish you good nights of sleep knowing the things you live with!
For instance, as a lawyer I have read the autopsy records for two sisters whose Mother I represented. She asked never to see those records, and I kept them from her. When you have survived 64 years, and you've paid attention to the people around you, you acquire information you'd rather not know.
But there is no way to unring a bell. What you know, you know. Lastly, this is not a product of Washington culture -- thought there is more corruption, pound for pound, there than in the small town I live in now.
But, there are secrets here, too. When you develop a pattern of listening to other people with care, information flows downhill. It just happens. In a few instances, I've found out about the end of stories which began two or three decades ago.
Recently, I've made friends with two retired doctors who live in Highlands, NC. We're in a writing group together, and they are founts of incredible stories. We always change the names and stories, not to protect the innocent, but to protect the guilty.
I am certain that all professionals who have spent a career dealing with other people, have collected a box full of stories like these. It goes with the territory. And the process of learning to be a lawyer, or doctor, etc., includes learning to process that information. When the burden gets too heavy, you walk away.
A good friend of mine spent decades working as an EMT for a Volunteer Fire Department. Then, they answered a call for an auto accident where a mother had inexplicably made a sudden turn into the path of a tractor trailer. She and three of her children were killed on the spot. One was cut out of the wreckage in critical condition.
That day, he resigned from the Fire Department. He walked away when he knew he needed to. If I ever reach that point, I will do the same with no regrets. Until then, this is just part of my ordinary life.
That's a long response to a post on FR, but you raised a very thoughtful point.
John / Billybob