As I listen / watch the hearings today … the questioning from Congresswoman Sewell to Ambassador Yovanovitch, I had a sudden moment of PTSD. The PTSD moment came about when Ambassador Yovanovitch’s talked about her reputation being sullied. How President Trump “sullied” her reputation. Wow. The Ambassador and I have something in common.
What do we – folks who have had FALSE ACCUSATIONS made against them – do with those FALSE ACCUSATIONS? Answer: Nothing. Literally… nothing. How are you going to change the mind of the ignorant. Naïve. Unaware. Unknowing. Uninformed. Imbecilic. ?? You can not and here is why: We are now in a time of lazy thinking.
It is easier for us to believe those who are part of our tribe. Therefore, when a student says something about a teacher, we seem to automatically believe the student, especially if there are five students who are saying the same thing.
Hmmmm .. seems to be the same about the President WHOMEVER HE IS: Clinton; Bush; Obama and now Trump.
Instead of standing on your own, it is easier for you to go with the flow. The “one” with the power… and in today’s world of education: STUDENTS HAVE THE POWER. It is easier to stand by your tribe.
So, what do I do when I am falsely accused? I breathe. Sometimes I cry. I pray. I read the Bible. I realize that I am on my own. No one … No one … is obligated to stand next to me and publicly support me.
Watching the Ambassador start to tear-up (which by the way … great for TV; Congresswoman Sewell; got what she wanted; she knew what she was doing) moved me. It did. The ambassador is somewhat accurate: REPUTATION IS ALL WE HAVE.
“Somewhat ACCURATE.” It is part of what we have… it is not all we have. What is another part of what I have? GOD. That is all I have. I can not count, nor should I count on my wife / my family / my friends to stand with me. I would love them to stand by me … that is different than expecting them to stand by me.
In thirty years of teaching, I have had more than my fair share of students and parents say quite damaging / harmful / defaming words & statements. What would it be like if I could share my thoughts of those folks who have said opinions / even lies?
Yet, in the Bible, there are plenty of statements that say, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF ME / PROTECT ME…
But, let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love y our name may rejoice in you. Psalm 5:11
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19
Now, for you who do not believe in God… Please … do all you can to find those who are strong enough to be your friend. I have those people, but knowing that GOD will always be with me, helps ME. Does not have to help you. Just know … God is waiting to help you. You just need to ask.
Make sure you, as well, are the friend that will be willing to stand by your friend who is wrongly accused. At least make them cookies / visit them / listen to them. Do not abandon them.
Let me end my brief article with quotes about “reputation.”
Congresswoman Speier: CHARACTER ASSASSINATION. Amazing that Congresswomen Speier believes that only Trump does “character assassination.” NO… never the democrats. Anyway…
Interesting… 1:53pm ET …. I digress….
Moving on… here are the quotes
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. – John Wooden
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. – Thomas Paine
If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself. – Dwight Lyman Moody
Reputation is often got without merit and lost without fault. Proverb
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Find peace by knowing peace. Peace of mind comes from knowing who you truly are and also, you being willing to helping others obtain peace.
People are going to attack you. Be strong. Kind of a strange feeling: peace knowing you are going to be attacked. If we know / expect to be attacked, then why get upset / why not have that peace? Hmmmmm…. Because, it hurts. After thirty-years of teaching … it still hurts when parents and their children say lies / make false allegations. I get it.