Rushing to judgment

LARRY ANDERSON
Larry Anderson

Three summers ago, The Missus and I zipped to Red Cloud, Minnesota, to see Bill Cosby who was appearing at the Treasure Island casino. I believe it is the farthest we have driven specifically to see someone perform.

I was — am — a Cosby fan.

My opinion is The Cosby Show of the ‘80’s was the best family sitcom ever produced for television. We even have Cosby’s comedy albums from the ‘60’s when Bill’s career took off.

Cosby’s special talent was to evoke laughter by finding humor in everyday situations.

His comedy is pristine compared to what one hears from some of his contemporaries and especially from those comedians who have followed.

He laughs about life, kids, and marriage. People can relate.

The theater was sold out.

Cosby’s show was typical Bill. He wandered onto the stage in his sweater, sat on a chair, and chatted with the audience for over an hour about life’s observations. It was all familiar and comfortable.

We left satisfied by the interaction, knowing we were seeing the best of an aging icon who still performed because he enjoys people.

But that was then, this is now.

Today, Bill Cosby stands accused of sexual misconduct by a string of women who allege he drugged and abused them. To date there has been no confession and little evidence beyond accusation.

But that doesn’t matter. In New America, accusation and guilt are synonymous if the conditions are ripe.

Cosby has paid for the finger pointing through the destruction of his reputation, his career, and much of his fortune for his defense.

One can assume many of the accusations of wrong-doing, some of which allegedly occurred decades ago, would disappear if compensation were forthcoming. Cosby is resisting, recognizing financial destruction once that door is opened. He did pay once, several years ago, but admitted nothing.

Accusers multiplied as financial opportunity seemed probable. After all, in today’s world, a man can touch an elbow and be accused of assault.

Connected to this unseemly scenario are new insights into the power of unrestrained political correctness.

Over the half century of his career in show biz, Cosby collected many forms of recognition, including honorary degrees. At the time of dispensing, universities and other institutions were falling all over themselves to bestow honors on a household name.

Now that Cosby has been muddied, universities are revoking his honorary degrees with the zeal of the self-righteous eager to please the politically correct crowd and/or to firm up their reputations as such.

Linked to this, I believe, is the fact Cosby has been critical of the excuse/victim industry that feeds the politically correct beast.

Bill has had the audacity to state, rather bluntly, that some of the problems contained in the African-American community may actually extend from their own behavior, attitude, and unwillingness to productively participate in a society designed for success.

In other words, not every issue springs from the Caucasian segment of society. Education, hard work, and the determination to overcome society’s obstacles, especially those unjustified, might just be a better road than the route of “It’s not my fault.”

Cosby offered himself as an example of a multimillionaire who pursued his ambitions and got things done. He brought something to the table and was undeterred by any racial component along the way.

Well, no promoter of victimization wants to hear that.

Keep in mind, Cosby’s career was already underway in 1965 when the welfare state was introduced as a redistribution placebo. Cosby’s point was not to let this situation dictate the direction of one’s life.

He challenged the position of limousine liberals who exploit minorities to stay in power. Any such challenge is a gauntlet in the dust.

Criticism of a once beloved figure has been brutal.

Now, I can’t say Bill Cosby didn’t do something wrong.

I don’t know, nor do you.

I’m saying the public was rushed to judgment by the p.c. mob and a Big Media more interested in personal destruction than justice.

If it turns out that Cosby did exploit these women, even one or some of them, then I am done with him.

Men who exploit women are weaklings and cowards in my book, as are women who accuse men for financial gain and/or notoriety. That happens too.

I refuse to judge Cosby until he either admits his guilt or is convicted of a crime.

That’s fair, isn’t it?

No matter how the Cosby situation turns out, his immediate destruction is a sad commentary on our social condition.