Impeachment hearings are here whether we want them or not. The next few weeks, like all of the weeks before them, will be full of misinformation and half truths.
There will be concerted efforts made by politicians and members of the media/entertainment complex to smear and attack people: most of whom none of us have ever heard of.
Some of you will feel a knee jerk reaction to defend politicians and/or public figures you identify with. This is a natural instinct; I'm not asking anyone to transcend their humanity. I'm asking each and everyone to use their commonsense. Think about all of this in a clear and simplified way.
Ask yourself:
1. Who has more motivation to tell the truth: someone under oath- who potentially faces perjury or someone outside of the legal scope of this investigation- who doesn't face any consequences for their words?
2. Why would so many career civil servants risk their pensions and their family's economic future to come forward?
3. Would you feel differently about any of the sworn statements or testimony if it were given about a politician you didn't identify with?
4. What do all of the investigations, guilty pleas, and convictions say about this White House?
5. Who benefits from the way you feel?
There will be people trying to convince you not to believe what you are hearing and seeing. There will be people ascribing the most insidious motives to their fellow citizens. There will be people, with a history of lying, trying to convince you they are telling the truth. There will be people trying to convince you that loyalty to ideology and political affiliation are more important than loyalty to the principles of truth and justice.
Donald Trump's innocence and guilt has already been decided by a majority of the country. There are people on both sides of the aisle who won't be swayed by any evidence that challenges their beliefs. We know this, but it shouldn't stop us from thinking critically about this process.
The next few weeks will be a test of our collective integrity. We will either call a thing by its name or we will twist ourselves into knots to avoid speaking the truth. We will invest our intellectual horsepower into substantive dialogue or we will chase every distraction waved in front of us. We make this choice as individuals and collectively.
Our judgement won't come from our peers in this moment, but from the progeny we bequeath this country to. This thought should dictate how we move forward.
