The new Original Sin
- Men Are Automatically Guilty: Americans are putting the final touches on the new, improved Original Sin and are applying it exclusively to men (the Original Sin of Maleness or OSOM).
- Radical feminists interpret it this way: men are inherently evil and when given the opportunity to perpetrate evil on women in the form of sexual abuse, they will do so.
- Society and the courts have an obligation to not only hear women out when they voice their charges against men, but to consider their claims to be just and true and to suspend a man's presumption of innocence when he is challenged, in all cases.
Catholics know the concept of 'Original Sin' well. It's one of the first things taught in catechism class and one of the very first (and enduring) guilt trips perpetrated by the Church of Rome - the Bishop of Lyon, Irenaeus, first alluded to it in the 2nd century. Then along came the theologian and bishop, Saint Augustine of Hippo, in the 4th century and elaborated on it. For those non-Christians, let me explain. You remember Adam and Eve, right? And that nasty serpent - the Devil - that tempted them to take a bite out of the forbidden apple that hung on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden?
As punishment for taking that bite and for disobeying God's order, successive generations of mankind inherited a black mark on their souls that is called, the 'Original Sin.' Catholics believe that it's something you're born with like a physical birthmark only this one's on your soul. It is thought that this sin impacts a person's ability to exercise their free will and do the right thing, whatever the right thing is. Baptism in the faith is the only thing that can remove it and free up the soul and, presumably, improve our decision-making in the bargain.
A couple thousand years later, Americans are putting the final touches on the new, improved Original Sin and are applying it exclusively to men (the Original Sin of Maleness or OSOM). Radical feminists interpret it this way: men are inherently evil and when given the opportunity to perpetrate evil on women in the form of sexual abuse, they will do so. Therefore, society and the courts have an obligation to not only hear women out when they voice their charges against men, but to consider their claims to be just and true and to suspend a man's presumption of innocence when he is challenged, in all cases.
In short, all women's claims of male sexual abuse or misconduct are considered to be unassailable from the outset unless and until a man can prove, conclusively, that they are false. The OSOM gives women a distinct advantage - a few start-up points if you will - that are added to their total score. A woman doesn't have to be a credible accuser anymore, only a believable accuser, and if she presents her case with a heightened degree of emotion she earns a few more points. Facts, which used to be critical to proving a case, have now been replaced by using 'memory lapse' as an excuse. (Men are forbidden from using this as a defense because they are assumed to be perpetrators.) The most current example of the new OSOM is the Senate confirmation hearing of Judge Brett Kavanaugh - a kangaroo court-type hearing which has effectively ripped up hundreds of years of applied presumption of innocence. The judicial worm has turned, much to the delight of radical feminist groups and the Democrats who see the OSOM as a powerful weapon to curry favor with women voters in the upcoming mid-term elections and the Presidential election of 2020.
In order for that ploy to work, however, Democrats must keep the momentum going so they are extending the principle of OSOM in men's sexual relationships to men's inherent propensity for drunkenness, aggressiveness and volatile temper outbursts. The Kavanaugh case is their test case and they are throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks. That can be flash mobs, trespassing, coercion, harassment in restaurants and other private spaces and a variety of other tactics.
No one knows if these tactics will succeed in derailing the Kavanaugh nomination or permanently tarring every man with the same sexual abuser brush, but they are being adopted by an increasing number of special interest groups like the MeToo movement, Hollywood celebs, Democrat candidates for public office and women's organizations. If OSOM becomes the conventional and prevailing wisdom what then is the cure? If we follow the Catholic example, it is baptism, but before the first drops of holy water are applied to our foreheads, we must all cleanse our collective minds of this cockeyed concept and perversion of right and wrong. Only then can we repatriate our ability to objectively and fairly judge our sins.
Stephan Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat. He is now a political analyst, strategist and author of nine books and 900 articles on politics, economics and social trends. He can be reached at stephan@stephanhelgesen.com
