Making allegations about

someone or something should never be done lightly. Repeating those allegations as "facts" is just as serious.

A lot of allegations are made during war. They are often untrue but they are designed to bolster the side of the individual or individuals making the allegations.

Let me start though with something else. A young person has made an allegation of rape against another person. The matter has been set down for hearing in court later in the year. As such it should not even be mentioned in the media now. The matter should be well out of the sight of any potential jurors. This is one of the cornerstones of our legal system. 

In this case that is not what has happened. The matter has been the subject of much media discussion. There has been so much discussion that the court has now warned those involved the case may never get as far as a trial.  That is surely a matter for concern? Despite that I was told during a meeting yesterday that, "Of course X is guilty." And how did they "know" that? "That's what everyone says."

This is "knowing" something in the same way that we "know" certain things have happened in Ukraine. I had an interesting exchange with someone on Twitter - someone I don't know. He was reluctant to accept that the Russians may have bombed a hospital with women and children inside. We don't "know" that he was saying. No, we don't "know" that. We were not there. We did not see it for ourselves. At the same time we have to accept, even if it is accept with reservations, some reports about such things. No, of course the Ukrainians have not behaved perfectly but yes they are fighting for their country. Action is being taken by people who know far more and the results of those actions are being relayed to us. Some of those relaying that information I trust more than others. It's a personal judgment - sometimes based on actual contact with them. I know I still need to be cautious about accepting what people say.

What "everyone knows" and what is actually the case may be two very different things. All I can say is ask "what am I being told" and "who is telling me", "why are they saying this", "were they there when this happened" and "what sort of language are they using to describe what they are telling me"? 

We need to learn to listen and read behind the words.