I am not my brother's keeper

or am I? It is an interesting question I suppose. The absolute glee with which the downfall of a very public figure has been met suggests that the responsibility for other people's behaviour only exists when it can be used against us. At that point mere association of any negative sort is sufficient. Let me explain.

I was at a meeting a couple of days back. Prior to the meeting people were standing around and talking about the alleged misconduct of a former prince. I use the word "alleged" with reason. No misconduct has yet been proven.  

Ah, but it doesn't really matter does it? Here is a public figure who has "probably" done something he should not have done. That's enough isn't it? He's a public figure, a lazy man who has never "worked" in all his life, who lives a life of luxury. He "isn't very nice" and never has been. He deserves everything which is coming to him and, here's the big one, so does the rest of his family.

Really? Is that enough? 

I do not for one moment think I would like the man if I met him but if we really believe that "everyone is equal under the law" then is this how we should be behaving? What happened to "due process" and "admissible evidence" and "the law"? Why is "hearsay" suddenly acceptable?

And why are his brother and other members of the family suddenly also responsible for all this? No, the media is not saying they are directly responsible but they are responsible by association, simply because a family relationship exists. There are people who want to bring down what has been a highly effective and stable system of government and this seems like an ideal time to do it. They wilfully misunderstand that the only power a monarch has is because the monarch has no power at all and democracy works because of it. Yes, that sounds ridiculous but that is the way it works.

On another forum someone pointed out that there are many other people named in the files surrounding a convicted sex trafficker. Many of them are people who held very high positions, who still hold very high positions. Their appearance in those files is not being given the same attention. Why? The simple answer is that it would be politically inconvenient to do so (and could also lead to litigation.)

Not so long ago the nephew-by-marriage of a politician in this country was charged with an offence. It had absolutely nothing to do with the politician in question but this is how the media reported it. Unless they did it that way the item was not likely to have been of any interest at all.  You need to be "someone's" associate for the alleged offence to matter. The idea that "I am not my brother's keeper" only applies to those with whom you have no relationship. When it becomes convenient then the relationship applies.

At the meeting I did not participate in the "discussion". It made me feel uncomfortable. One other very quiet person also clearly felt uncomfortable. She eventually asked, "And what about the parents of those underage girls? What were they doing?"  Then she walked out of the room and came back when the meeting started. Her question was a good one. I have often wondered the same thing. 

More often than not we are guilty of misquoting the Bible when we say "I am not my brother's keeper" because, from memory, Cain actually asks God, "Am I my brother's keeper?" That's a question, not a statement.