Tolerating the Intolerable

A friend - college-educated, affluent, professional, mother of two - recently asked me why the American public tolerates a lawless regime which operates with zero regard for the public good. She was animated with incredulity, exasperation and genuine curiosity.

"Well, why do you tolerate it?" I asked.

It was a simple question, and, unlike hers, answerable. I felt cruel for having asked it, like I had suddenly lunged across the table and slashed her with a razor before casually resuming my Stoli and waiting for her response.

"That's exactly I'm wondering," she said. "Why is it that any of us, including me, put up with this? I don't know."

A psychologist (which I am not) hears I don't know a lot. More often than not, the patient (which I have been) knows. It's easier to say we don't know - to pretend we don't know - than it is to explore a painful truth that cuts to the bone.

I took a drink and delivered the indictment as only a co-conspirator can, my Caribbean Joe shirt saturated with the warm blood of guilt and complicity. "Because your immediate needs are being met."

Unfortunately, the hour was late and the conversation brief. When the discussion resumes, my hope is that it won't be over the last cocktail of the evening.