Soup du jour or

Once upon a time, I wondered each morning what the day would bring, weather-wise.

It was one of the first things I would reflect on while waiting for my faithful Keurig to dispense the first cup of caffeine desperately needed to begin my day.

That has radically changed in the past few weeks.

I no longer think about clouds, sun, rain or snow. No, rather I think “I wonder who will be accused today.”

That might provoke a smile, if the reality wasn’t so dreadfully grim.

What has happened to our country, to our culture, to our integrity?

This morning’s headlines reflect two or is it three, more accusations.

The accuser instantly becomes the celebrity du jour, and the accused loses his reputation, and often, career, based on a unverified statement from someone most of the public has never heard about before.

I can’t recall reading about a background check on the accuser or other verification of the indictment; only the bold glaring headline about another suddenly recalled memory.

Menus once reflected the soup du jour, now newspapers quote the accusation du jour. I have lost count how many have been printed in the last 30 or 60 days.

I have lost confidence. I have also lost interest, and will until I begin to see, hear or read some of the rebuttals. Haven’t there been any? I can’t recall any headlines mentioning one or even two people defending themselves.

I would like to believe there are some or possibly, were some. Can everyone be guilty as charged without due process?

Is this the way 2017 will be remembered? Hasn’t history taught us to be fair and not judge prematurely until the accused is proven guilty?

And what will 2018 bring? Who is left to indict, to accuse? The gamut of names vilified include almost all categories; actors and athletes, cooks and comedians, journalists and TV commentators, and of course, politicians and members of Congress. Will we now retreat into yesterday’s list of Who’s Who in America, and erase the aura of dignity from past Presidents whose sexual exploits went unpublicized during their lifetime?

When will the current climate of approval for unverified accusations end?

Perhaps we have arrived at a time for caution rather than inflammatory tabloid headlines.