The Coz

Bill Cosby is under fire. Allegations of sexual assault are being made by over fifteen women at last count.

The ABC program 20/20 did a small segment on the matter. At the conclusion, they encouraged people to tweet their opinion on the matter. To me, this is becoming a problem of great enormity.

We are under a continual deluge of stories like this and the procedure is always the same. First the story comes to light. Then the accused is attacked and slandered incessantly. Next, the public is encouraged to share their thoughts on the matter without knowing any facts. Yes, they know what they are being told on television, but do not know the facts. The news media does a very poor job of reporting truth. I have been interviewed personally by newspaper and television reporters and then read the article only to wonder who it was they were talking about.

The scariest part of all is next. A discussion begins as to whether or not the grand jury will rule justly or to appease the rioting masses. If that is a question we have to ask, we are in trouble.

The only truth to this story is that millions of people talking about it do not know the truth, any truth. Yet, we are ready to assign guilt or innocence.

I do not know Bill Cosby. I have watched his tv shows from Fat Albert all the way to the short lived, “Cosby.” I have seen him perform in person once. I do not know him.

I must not presume to know he is guilty or innocent. It is not my place to have an opinion.

Maybe every accusation is true. Maybe every accusation is a lie. We do not know nor is it our place to have an opinion.

The saying has always been, “You have a right to your opinion.” But do we have a right to have an opinion about everything? Especially if that opinion is so hostile that we riot if the rule of law does not agree.