Trust
Recently, I have been struggling with “trust”, the word and its meaning. It could be a sign of old-age setting in, having seen and heard so much over time. Trust is a simple five letter word that most of us use rather often, but what does it really mean to us?
A dictionary definition might include the following: confidence in a person or thing because of the qualities one perceives or seems to perceive in the person or the thing…acceptance of something as true or reliable without being able to verify it…a responsibility, charge or duty involving the confidence of others. That partial definition came from, The New Lexicon Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language, Encyclopedic Edition.
Each of us can perceive individuals and situations in differing ways. Therefore, trust is an individual thing, yet two or more individuals might trust someone or something in the same way.
The Gomery Commission of inquiry into the “sponsorship scandal” has caused me, as well as many Canadians, to raise the question of: “Who can we trust?”
On March 27, I wrote a blog: “Can we trust them?” Although that writing focused mainly on politicians, today I am thinking of Canadians in general.
When it comes to our system of justice, we rely on judges and juries. They “represent” us in their activities, findings and judgments. That is our system; we trust our system.
In the past, our system of justice has found many individuals guilty of crimes that they did not commit. For many and varied reasons their guilt was “established” by the actions of strong crown attorneys and sometimes through incompetent legal assistance. In other instances, true criminals are not convicted because of the actions of weak “crowns” and/or the actions of highly competent and expensive lawyers for the defence.
We have learned of a number of convictions that have been reversed because of new evidence that has resulted through the use of modern techniques such as DNA studies and analyses. How many individuals have not only been found guilty but subsequently either have been executed or have spent many years in prison? Individuals have been punished within our system for things that they did not do. Yes, this is our system, a system in which we have “trust.” Here, we must have a continuing trust that justice will be done.
Returning to the Gomery Commission, I have a trust in that the report will be sound and the recommendations just. This reminds me of a few words by Alfred, Lord Tennyson from his “In Memoriam”:
“Oh yet we trust that somehow good
Will be the final goal of ill.”
Some good must come from the Gomery Commission. It will, I have that trust!
A dictionary definition might include the following: confidence in a person or thing because of the qualities one perceives or seems to perceive in the person or the thing…acceptance of something as true or reliable without being able to verify it…a responsibility, charge or duty involving the confidence of others. That partial definition came from, The New Lexicon Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language, Encyclopedic Edition.
Each of us can perceive individuals and situations in differing ways. Therefore, trust is an individual thing, yet two or more individuals might trust someone or something in the same way.
The Gomery Commission of inquiry into the “sponsorship scandal” has caused me, as well as many Canadians, to raise the question of: “Who can we trust?”
On March 27, I wrote a blog: “Can we trust them?” Although that writing focused mainly on politicians, today I am thinking of Canadians in general.
When it comes to our system of justice, we rely on judges and juries. They “represent” us in their activities, findings and judgments. That is our system; we trust our system.
In the past, our system of justice has found many individuals guilty of crimes that they did not commit. For many and varied reasons their guilt was “established” by the actions of strong crown attorneys and sometimes through incompetent legal assistance. In other instances, true criminals are not convicted because of the actions of weak “crowns” and/or the actions of highly competent and expensive lawyers for the defence.
We have learned of a number of convictions that have been reversed because of new evidence that has resulted through the use of modern techniques such as DNA studies and analyses. How many individuals have not only been found guilty but subsequently either have been executed or have spent many years in prison? Individuals have been punished within our system for things that they did not do. Yes, this is our system, a system in which we have “trust.” Here, we must have a continuing trust that justice will be done.
Returning to the Gomery Commission, I have a trust in that the report will be sound and the recommendations just. This reminds me of a few words by Alfred, Lord Tennyson from his “In Memoriam”:
“Oh yet we trust that somehow good
Will be the final goal of ill.”
Some good must come from the Gomery Commission. It will, I have that trust!
posted by croweagle at
10:57 PM
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