March 28, 2024

GOOD RIDDANCE

Good riddance to bad rubbish (definition); said when you are pleased that a bad or unwanted person has gone.
The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things–the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.

Will Durant

Time will be the final judge in determining the performance of Attorney General Eric Holder. In view of his resignation today, effective when his replacement is confirmed, we are certain that opinions will vary. One thing is not debatable; he has been the most polarizing figure holding that post of recent years. His extreme allegiance and support for his friend and chief, President Obama has made him a favorite for our president’s supporters. In the same token, this same backing has made him suspect to the opposition in view of the multiple scandals that faced the administration of which the Department of Justice was part of, or had to investigate.

The Attorney General post has always been political, and has served as a “punching bag” to deflect criticism against the president. Some though, have been able to do this and equally uphold the law of the land and the Constitution. Mr. Holder has used his position to change, not defend, the execution of laws to conform to his, and the president’s, political agenda. His stance and obvious disregard for the power of the legislature, provoked his being called in contempt of Congress, for his refusal to provide documents related to the “fast and furious” affair. His critics, mostly Republicans, also have included some democrats who dislike his rules concerning civil liberties, and his harassment of AP and Fox News reporters. On the flip side, he has been praised by many for his work for civil rights. In the IRS scandal, where serious allegations about the targeting by that institution of political adversaries of the administration, AG Holder has been very slow to react, in contrast with the zeal he demonstrates in the cases that favor his ideology.

His record in his cases presented to the Supreme Court, loosing over twenty, is worse than any of his predecessors. Of all his controversies, the one that upsets me the most is his constant allusion to our country’s racism. In one of his first public statements he called us “a country of cowards”, explains criticism for our President and himself as racially motivated, and mentions all the difficulties he has had as part of discrimination for his skin color. Of course racism is an ongoing problem, but I wonder if our first black President and AG are examples of racism, or if using their accomplishments will better serve as proof of our progress in this issue. Also, in my opinion, if we avoid criticism of policies because of fear to be called racists, isn’t treating public officials different because of their skin color, discriminatory and racist? Makes me wonder what the real agenda is behind these expressions, that only divide us instead of uniting us.

Fernando J Milanes MD

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