Weekly St. Helena Star Column
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
TURNING A BLIND EYE
Turning a blind eye is essential life in a civilized society. Were we not to “look away” from certain transgressions of our neighbors, kids, spouses, City Hall, whatever, we would not be able to function as a communal society.
How many times a day does each of us turn a “blind eye” to something we’d rather not see—or confront?
When one’s spouse fails to hit the hamper with his socks, how many times does the wife have to just ignore it in order to avoid a confrontation which will inevitably end up with him telling her how nosey her mother is and with her reminding him how she could have married the high school quarterback?
Little things lead to big things, so we often choose to look away because it just isn’t worth ti to bring a person to task.
Freeway drivers routinely go over 70 miles per hour. Cops turn a blind eye—up to a point. At 80 or 85 they may act. At 76?
There’s a cost/benefit ratio being computed in his mind. Is the speeder driving recklessly? Is he apt to make me show up in court when he protests his ticket? Does it look like he might be a guy who could shoot me—all for going 5 miles over the speed limit?
This, of course, is where a form of Nepotism or at least favoritism comes in. If a housewife (regardless of race) with a car full of kids is going 30 in a 25, maybe a warning is sufficient. The cop is hard wired to think she probably knows the rules—and shaming her will do as much as a ticket. It’s a judgment call.
If it’s a gang banger, showing his colors near a school, maybe it’s worth pulling him over. Trouble may be brewing. Of course there must be probable cause for this to occur.
Why does a cop turn a blind eye to one transgressor and not to the other? Is he racist? Or is he simply playing the odds? Odds are a housewife, with a car full of kids is not a threat to society.
An 18 year old male in a car filled with like minded cronies (of any color) poses a different situation.
Due to scarce resources, adequate enforcement depends upon educated judgments and turning blind eyes. Cops get accused of racism, when often it’s simply making a professional judgment as to whether one car is a threat to society or not.
It happens in schools as well. The Goodie goodies get breaks the others don’t. It’s not about race. It’s that the teachers are willing to turn a blind eye to the transgressions of the “goodie goodies”, one, because they’re responsive to discipline and two because they have “earned” the right to goof off a bit.
Which one of us when called on the carpet by a teacher didn’t point the finger at the “teacher’s pet” and say, “Why me. What about the time she….”
When we’re getting disciplined we consider it unjust that the goodie goodies have performed the same transgressions, but have been allowed to skate.
We’re incapable of grasping why.
It’s one of the things which has made pro football so unwatchable in these past few years. Kids and coaches yell at officials and point to the other players—-in effect saying, “You’re not fair. You turned a blind eye on them, but you are picking on us.”
What goes on between plays today, is a recent phenomenon--rarely seen in our day.
As parents it is really tough. Ever notice how each parent says, “My kid doesn’t drink but her friends do.” How can that be? Someone’s not telling the truth. Or are some parents turning a blind eye?
We must always decide what is youthful rambunctiousness, and what is lack of character.
The art of looking away or “turning a blind eye” is a tricky one. One is required to walk a tightrope between integrity and hypocrisy. As a society we more or less agree upon general rules of behavior. They have evolved over time.
Spitting in a man’s face for no apparent reason is generally considered unacceptable behavior. It needn’t be codified. From time immemorial, this concept has been germane in all cultures, from Aztecs to Zulus.
Mores of course, change. It was once quite normal for a man to blow his nose on his sleeve. Somewhere along the line folks considered that to be uncouth. Hence buttons on a man’s coat sleeve. The buttons were originally sewn on there to remind the wearer that gentlemen do not blow their proboscii on their sleeves in public.
Belching may be a compliment in one society and tres gauche in another.
In certain cultures, wives turn a blind eye to their husbands’ mistresses. Yet, they swear fidelity at the altar.
Good manners dictate that if your guest picks up his bowl of soup and slurps it without a spoon, the host should do likewise. The art of being a host is turning a blind eye to the many horrible manners of one’s guests.
Because we turn more of a blind eye than our parents did, does that mean civilization is going to heck in a hand basket?
For too long, we turned a blind eye to segregation. Good Germans turned a blind eye to Hitler. The international community turned a blind eye to Rwanda.
Clearly there’s a difference between Hutus hacking Tutsi’s with machetes, and going 70mph.
How does one know when to stand firm and when to turn a blind eye? I could tell you—-but I’d have do it with a wink and a nod.
Jeffrey Earl Warren
James Warren & Son
1414 Main St.
St. Helena, Ca.
94574
707-963-2748
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
How many times a day does each of us turn a “blind eye” to something we’d rather not see—or confront?
When one’s spouse fails to hit the hamper with his socks, how many times does the wife have to just ignore it in order to avoid a confrontation which will inevitably end up with him telling her how nosey her mother is and with her reminding him how she could have married the high school quarterback?
Little things lead to big things, so we often choose to look away because it just isn’t worth ti to bring a person to task.
Freeway drivers routinely go over 70 miles per hour. Cops turn a blind eye—up to a point. At 80 or 85 they may act. At 76?
There’s a cost/benefit ratio being computed in his mind. Is the speeder driving recklessly? Is he apt to make me show up in court when he protests his ticket? Does it look like he might be a guy who could shoot me—all for going 5 miles over the speed limit?
This, of course, is where a form of Nepotism or at least favoritism comes in. If a housewife (regardless of race) with a car full of kids is going 30 in a 25, maybe a warning is sufficient. The cop is hard wired to think she probably knows the rules—and shaming her will do as much as a ticket. It’s a judgment call.
If it’s a gang banger, showing his colors near a school, maybe it’s worth pulling him over. Trouble may be brewing. Of course there must be probable cause for this to occur.
Why does a cop turn a blind eye to one transgressor and not to the other? Is he racist? Or is he simply playing the odds? Odds are a housewife, with a car full of kids is not a threat to society.
An 18 year old male in a car filled with like minded cronies (of any color) poses a different situation.
Due to scarce resources, adequate enforcement depends upon educated judgments and turning blind eyes. Cops get accused of racism, when often it’s simply making a professional judgment as to whether one car is a threat to society or not.
It happens in schools as well. The Goodie goodies get breaks the others don’t. It’s not about race. It’s that the teachers are willing to turn a blind eye to the transgressions of the “goodie goodies”, one, because they’re responsive to discipline and two because they have “earned” the right to goof off a bit.
Which one of us when called on the carpet by a teacher didn’t point the finger at the “teacher’s pet” and say, “Why me. What about the time she….”
When we’re getting disciplined we consider it unjust that the goodie goodies have performed the same transgressions, but have been allowed to skate.
We’re incapable of grasping why.
It’s one of the things which has made pro football so unwatchable in these past few years. Kids and coaches yell at officials and point to the other players—-in effect saying, “You’re not fair. You turned a blind eye on them, but you are picking on us.”
What goes on between plays today, is a recent phenomenon--rarely seen in our day.
As parents it is really tough. Ever notice how each parent says, “My kid doesn’t drink but her friends do.” How can that be? Someone’s not telling the truth. Or are some parents turning a blind eye?
We must always decide what is youthful rambunctiousness, and what is lack of character.
The art of looking away or “turning a blind eye” is a tricky one. One is required to walk a tightrope between integrity and hypocrisy. As a society we more or less agree upon general rules of behavior. They have evolved over time.
Spitting in a man’s face for no apparent reason is generally considered unacceptable behavior. It needn’t be codified. From time immemorial, this concept has been germane in all cultures, from Aztecs to Zulus.
Mores of course, change. It was once quite normal for a man to blow his nose on his sleeve. Somewhere along the line folks considered that to be uncouth. Hence buttons on a man’s coat sleeve. The buttons were originally sewn on there to remind the wearer that gentlemen do not blow their proboscii on their sleeves in public.
Belching may be a compliment in one society and tres gauche in another.
In certain cultures, wives turn a blind eye to their husbands’ mistresses. Yet, they swear fidelity at the altar.
Good manners dictate that if your guest picks up his bowl of soup and slurps it without a spoon, the host should do likewise. The art of being a host is turning a blind eye to the many horrible manners of one’s guests.
Because we turn more of a blind eye than our parents did, does that mean civilization is going to heck in a hand basket?
For too long, we turned a blind eye to segregation. Good Germans turned a blind eye to Hitler. The international community turned a blind eye to Rwanda.
Clearly there’s a difference between Hutus hacking Tutsi’s with machetes, and going 70mph.
How does one know when to stand firm and when to turn a blind eye? I could tell you—-but I’d have do it with a wink and a nod.
Jeffrey Earl Warren
James Warren & Son
1414 Main St.
St. Helena, Ca.
94574
707-963-2748
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
