the importance of your name

a friend of mine stand accused of rape.  this is one of the most horrible things i consider possible because either my friend is guilty of ruining someone else's life, his family's well being and also a business; or someone has decided that she is more important than anybody else around her and can not only destroy the reputation and lives of good people, but also lessened the chance of someone who has gone through a horrific experience to come forward.

this is something that should not be taken lightly and i hope i don't come across as flippant or glib, i have an acquaintance who was accused of something like this in the early 90's by a girl who changed her mind afterwards.  it took him countless dollars and years of headaches trying to get people to give him a second chance at life even though he was never charged.  and though it is on no level near this, when i was accused of being a terrorist my face was plastered on newspapers and tv coverage around the world (this past spring the story was "re-visited" in newsweek). 

the worst part of being falsely accused for me was the possibility that the truth might not win out.  i had always been raised to tell the truth to the police when they ask questions, but i learned the hard way that it is not that simple.  as i faced the charges knowing that i was innocent, there was a part of me that realized a jury of my peers could be twisted into seeing things from a different perspective and convict me.  people rarely grasp that with a simple twist of fate though you did little wrong, you could be put into prison and even if it were just for 1 day that is one hell of a stigma to carry.

i hope and pray that the truth wins out in this case and that people find a way to piece their lives back together afterwards.