First of all, the addition of a book club section is fantastic and should be considered as a wonderful way by which we can talk about major issues while at the same time, joining together to love and support our neighbors who have gone through so much turmoil during the last few years...
ALL Neighbors...
THE SECOND EDITION
When the head of the Chicago LGBTQIA+ Book Club created a chapter-by-chapter Reader’s Guide, was so good, I decided a second edition of the book was warranted.
A Dr. Lindsey McCall Medical Mystery — Book 5
What happens when a doctor and an investigative journalist find themselves caught in a federal indictment?
In Plausible Liars, Dr. Lindsey McCall and Kate Townsend face a high-stakes legal battle where medical ethics, investigative reporting, and difficult questions of truth collide.
For readers who enjoy medical mysteries, courtroom suspense, and stories that challenge easy answers, discover the novel that has earned reader attention and award recognition.
First, I'd like to explore the title... It's an important title, and, really, could be used as a stand alone phrase describing people, today, who are running our country in a totally unwarranted manner.
Plausible is a word that rolls off your tongue--just like the lies that can slip out easily for many, but are also of major significance when done on purpose... Don't you think?
Plausible is an adjective that means seemingly reasonable, probable, or worthy of belief, even if it has not been proven true. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, something that is plausible appears fair, sensible, or logical on the surface, though it can sometimes be deceptively so.
Key Meanings & Uses: Believable or Realistic: An explanation, story, or theory that sounds like it could be true. (Example: "She gave a plausible excuse for being late."), while Superficially Persuasive (with a catch) sometimes describes an argument or person that sounds convincing, even if there is room for doubt or hidden deceit. (Example: a smooth, plausible speaker)
It is not my intent to spotlight the ongoing interaction about the political scene now taking place and which we will be voting on within a few days... Rather, by spotlighting the reality of today's world, we must also recognize exactly how plausible liars have, perhaps, always, acted. Either as we listen to possibly realistic lies OR, more importantly to those who superficially use plausible lies as tools... Personally? I find at this point in our nation, there may not be as much of a difference as we think...
Consider this story from my own life... Years ago I went into job burnout. My doctor said that I had to choose between my job or my life. I chose life...and walked off the job after receiving a medical leave of absence. I knew I needed to talk to somebody and called my pastor. He and his wife came to my home where I was crying without being able to stop. I cried out, pray for me and they did... But as we talked, the pastor soon also talked to me about getting medical help. At that time, in order to gain prescriptive care I also had to visit a psychologist who could prescribed medication... At that time, the psychologist went through what I might need to do--I had already done all she suggested about on-the-job actions. I saw her, as required, to gain ongoing support...
At the same time, my older sister called and said to get to church to the altar to be blessed... She also sent her son who I ignored as he pounded on my doors. I have no idea what he could possibly have done and I felt was totally inappropriate for her to have sent him...
So why do I bring this up? Right now? After many years of reading and studying--and especially seeing the evangelical christians support a conman, I began to evaluate just how religion, itself, had really been a tool often used to persuade individuals into a blind trust that may or may not have been appropriate. In my case, attempting to shut out my obvious medical needs where my mind was out of control, could not have been appropriate. Yet, my family immediately expected me to go to the altar... Think about it, if you would, it was like my brain was split in two. One part thinking logically that I needed help. One part totally helpless and needing guidance and immediate support.
In other words, if we are so blinded by religion that it is seen as the only way that God can help us, we are ignoring the fact that God is Love and has given the gifts of science/medicine to support all of His children... Thus, our need and love for our neighbors...
Lin Wilder, in exploring the issue of transgender activities drew a similar parallel where a teacher who had studied under one professor who had provided plausible lies had totally acceptable those lies that children, no matter what age, should be encouraged in their fantasies, even of wanting to be like his sister... And she immediately acted to not only support that brief thought of a child, but continued to act, continuously, in support of implementing what her professor had taught, and which she had fully absorbed--Without Question! Encourage a child of whatever age, to immediately respond to a need for sex change.
At the same time, however, another individual came to see the horror of the child when that teacher attempted to celebrate what that child had expressed just once of actually becoming his sister, giving him a dress and changing his clothes... And it was the woman who stopped that action who was criticized... Even at the end, after the child had changed into his earlier clothes, the teacher continued to assume that she had done the right thing in encouraging a very young child with such a major issue!
When we speak Truth as we know it, I have learned that it may or may not be true. At this stage of my life, I have no problem in differentiating. I have read many different religious experiences of people as a book reviewer. That never meant that I would automatically accept what was said as Truth, but merely willing to read one person's experience and acknowledge it... We Must Work to Know What is True, even if we doubt what our own family tells us... Or what a teacher has told us, or even what sounded right, but...still...there is doubt? You must learn for yourself what is True and that includes about your religious training...
“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not when it came time to die, to discover that I had not lived.”
The first excerpt I highlighted on my second read was in the first chapter. I felt a response to this brief quote from one of the characters. Why would we NOT want to learn more than what was known after the first day in a garden of eden? And yet, many have become so insulated and so believing in a book that was written thousands of years ago, that no further information is of value? I find that incomprehensible... First of all, if we believe God is alive Today, then we must be ignoring His life by sticking purely to something said at a distant time, don't you think? Some continues to be Truth; some was intended for a season that is perhaps past...
“We’re friends. That’s all.” Had anyone ever called me their friend? Then I thought about how weird she is. Maybe even more bizarre than me, if that’s even possible, and I wondered why I felt so comfortable around her. “Are you happy?” I had just taken a big bite of my hamburger when Morgan asked that question. As usual, I didn’t know what to say to her. So, I put up my hand and made a show of chewing and wiping my mouth. She had barely touched her food. That’s why she’s so skinny. She doesn’t eat, unlike me, who eats continuously. Finally, I emptied my mouth, but still didn’t know how to answer. Are you happy? What kind of question is that to ask someone? “Joey, it’s a simple question. There are only two possible answers.” I picked up a French fry, but Morgan put her hand on mine and fixed me with those eyes that seemed to penetrate my soul. “I don’t know, Morgan. I don’t have any idea what happiness is,” I said. Then, right there in front of her and everyone else, I started to cry. But Morgan ignored my blubbering. “A few weeks ago,” she said, “I heard Michelle asking when you would get your top done. You said this month, in a week or so, is that right?” I nodded. Her emotionless reaction was helping me get control of myself. “Joey, is this your idea or someone else’s?” She can’t know about him. I’ve never said anything to her—or to anyone else—about him! “What do you mean?” I asked. Morgan just sat there, studying me. She acted as if she could have waited for hours. But as I sat there looking back at her, I smiled. “Can I tell you a secret, Morgan? Something I am happy about?” Morgan looked surprised but nodded. I told her I was off the testosterone and had started taking estrogen, thanks to her friend, Dr. McCall.
Do you miss talking to a special friend? I do... It seems that with all this technology now available, we rarely actually spend personal time with others... Our nation has lost its ability to take time to spend talking. Even our doctors are restricted time-wise and don't take the time to learn more than what is necessary to give us a pill... I know. Simply because I've lived through the evolution of that traumatic change and find myself resenting what has occurred.
When you feel like communication is not really two-way, you become more attuned to seeing the results of the loss of the warmth of spending time with somebody with whom you are sympatico--that you can say anything and not feel like you are tied forever to what was said at one time which you later might not think of as a good idea... This book has a special character who has both limitations of communicating and yet has a wonderful ability to see through what is, possibly, not true, or that we may not even realize that we are unsure about how we feel... When that relationship develops between a young person and an adult, there is sometimes a subtle deference that can occur where somebody's opinions--their truth--can be extremely misleading... When planning to sign up to vote after moving to a different state, I was asked what I would register as. I said Independent, knowing that I wanted to look at the individual rather than affiliation to a party. The individual to whom I was responding immediately said, "If you're a Christian, you must vote republican..."
I had thought I was close to that individual. Since then there have been a number of times when I've questioned how I thought of her as my friend. You see, each of us is extremely complex. We think deeply, yet most of our thoughts belong only to ourselves. When we are suddenly thrown into a situation where somebody else's opinion is so different, how we receive it is often based upon the relationship between the two. If the adult is also a teacher, we have a tendency to accept what we hear as truth...
But what happens when two different adults present two different "truths" as they see it? Obviously the third individual would either be confused, decide which one is correct, or take the time to research the issue and arrive at your own conclusions... This becomes even more complicated if the difference of opinions/truth are presented as facts that you previously didn't know about. This book has several specific issues that are addressed which ultimately led to legal action. I realized that this could happen with many different topics, not just controversial issues, but those, simply, which had never been taught except from one perspective...
Take the issue of slavery, also ending in legal actions and war... And still the issue continues to be manipulated even today... Just One Issue, that affects millions of people! I met my first Black girlfriend in the 7th grade. We remained friends through graduation of high school. That is truth--my truth of having a good Black friend. Nobody can manipulate my mind about what is being done right now under DEI to hurt/destroy the lives of non-white people because of race. Truth can indeed be confirmed from our own truths...
Have you been presumed guilty for a crime you know is not true?
“Rich, are you sure?” Lindsey asked. “It feels like all I’ve done lately is drop in for a visit and then take off again.” Her husband began to hum, then sway with the girls from side to side, and then the three of them began to sing the following song. I’ve seen a lot of places I’ve been around the world I’ve seen some pretty faces Been with some beautiful girls But after all I’ve witnessed one thing still amazes me Just like a miracle you have to see to believe ’Cause God blessed Texas with his own hand Brought down angels from the promised land Gave ’em a place where they could dance If you wanna see heaven, brother, here’s your chance I’ve been sent to spread the message God blessed Texas First he lit sunshine Then he made the waters deep Then he gave us moonlight For all the world to see Well everybody knows that the Lord works in mysterious ways He took a rest then on the very next day God blessed Texas with his own hand ….
“Kate, sorry to bother you. Are you somewhere you can talk?” “Sure, Jeff, just give me a few minutes. Can I call you back in five?” Kate’s editor, Jeff Simmons, sounded very different from the cheery man she’d talked to two days earlier when he welcomed her back to Texas. It was only 7:00 p.m., but Lucinda and the boys were already down for the night, and Kate didn’t want to wake them with her conversation. At Kate’s enthusiastic agreement, Steve had accepted an invitation to dinner with the dean of the medical school and a few other chairs of medical departments. They had narrowed the list of potential houses to three—two if Steve nixed one after sleeping on it—and planned to return to Palo Alto on Sunday morning after placing an offer. Kate was pleased with their progress but was tired. None of them slept well because of the almost constant sirens of ambulances and police around the medical center. Furthermore, although the three-bedroom suite had felt spacious when they arrived, it felt cramped for the five of them after nearly a week. Even JH, who was usually phlegmatic, was getting irritable. Kate pocketed her key and walked outside into the warm evening. “Hi, Jeff, what’s up? You sound—” “Worried? The wolves are circling, Kate. Jaworski’s using all of his leverage to keep you out of the local Texas media circuses. And mostly, he’s managing to hold them off. But he’s heard rumors that the Northern California Federal Court impaneled a grand jury to indict you and Lindsey McCall on a conspiracy to commit a federal hate crime against the American transgendered community and unintentionally murdering a teen named Joey Carmichael. Jaworski’s worried. He doesn’t hold any heft with the US Justice Department. “I’d guess you know about Lindsey’s involvement with detransitioning a transgender female-to-male teen at Cal Poly. He’s dead. Because of your articles about Lindsey’s wrongful conviction for her mother’s death four years ago, they think they have enough to indict both of you for conspiracy.” John Jaworski was a senior partner of Fulbright and Jaworski, one of the leading law firms in Texas. He was also President of the Board of Trustees for the Houston Tribune, wielding enormous power in the state. Jeff said, “Someone at the Transgender Law Center has the Attorney General’s ear.” Kate’s mind reeled. She thought That poor kid died? Lindsey’s being accused of causing it? This is happening so fast! But she said, “I’ll need to look up the definition of a federal hate crime.” Jeff had worked with Kate for fifteen years and thought he knew her well. However, she occasionally managed to stop him short with her unflappability, like now. Kate didn’t even sound surprised. Shaking his head at her calm reply, Jeff said, “I’ve got it right here. Are you ready? “Fire away.” “‘In violation of 18 USC 249: prohibiting willfully causing bodily injury to another because of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.’ Co-Prosecutors are from the Transgender Law Center, the ACLU, and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Jaworski’s source says there may be more because this isn’t just hot, it’s sizzling.”
In the book, two professional women have lived lives, in good faith working to help others. While at the same time, others who disagreed with their opinions, chose to act on their perceptions of what truth was actually happening... Have people all over the world had this happen on an ongoing basis, and, especially, when some are acting for personal gain or power... Just how do we see a past AND a future if we are unable to talk and give out opinions so that we come to at least an understanding of what is right or wrong related to any given issue?
Instead, they understood what this could do to Rich’s hard-won battle for serenity. The consequences of his intense need to “fix” those who misused their power could be very bad indeed. Following his confession, Rich regarded the priest. “How do I deserve a woman like that? She’s the one in handcuffs, and yet she’s worried about me?” “None of us deserves anything, good, Rich, but what we do deserve,” the priest paused to finger the crucifix he wore under his collar, “he already bore. And yet he rains down his mercy and goodness on us daily.” He looked at the exhausted man before him. “If you don’t get some sleep, you’ll be no good to anyone.”
“Behold, I am sending you out in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.” Father John’s words fell like a blessing on the group. As well as a tacit “Go for it...”
Both sides were on the lookout for their ideal juror. The US attorney and his prosecution team sought younger, single, areligious, college-educated people. Race was immaterial. The defense wanted people who were married with kids, blue-collar, and Christian, believing that race and ethnicity were irrelevant in this case.
Are we so tied to politics that we have become so predictable?
Are we so predictable that lawyers think of us, first, as an individual within a certain race, financial status, or education, that we do not have the ability to form our own opinions? As we read the book as written, readers may find their emotions being instantly involved in one way or another. Important for me was that the several involved characters were in turmoil and needed guidance... Are we past that point in the United States? Are we unable to have the sympathy and, possibly, empathy, to place ourselves into a given situation and evaluate our own beliefs and/or moral code? This book may help you find that ability to look beyond your own personal opinions and seek truth in various ways, rather than just from those who have vested interests in controlling lives based upon a desire for power, recognition as an expert, or "relevant" in whatever today's world might attempt to seduce you with?
“Each human being is created in the Creator’s image and likeness. When he breathes life into us, he also breathes knowledge of his law: our conscience. Uniquely among all God’s creatures, we have an intellect and a will to develop that conscience.” The volume of his voice dropped. “His great gift to humanity: free will, Zach. Either we choose to follow the laws we know to be true—or declare ourselves gods.”
He took her trembling hand. “Child, don’t be sorry. Never apologize for using one of the best cleansing agents our gracious Lord has given. Tears.”
...Or do you see two women who stuck their necks out in completely unrelated situations instead? Two women who could have easily decided to do nothing, fully aware of the risks they were taking in this politicized climate where so little can be discussed but so much condemned?”
Do they know how precarious their freedom is?
This is a special time period for the nation--indeed, for the world...
I believe each of us has heard the voice of God as from the Pope, other politicians, religious leaders, teachers, medical personnel...
We watched the fear, pain and suffering to children who do not understand
Mostly, because we adults, also do not understand...
But we have Hope... Just as the Two women in Plausible Liars
knew that what they were doing was what was being guided by God...
Now is our time...
We face the loss of democracy
We've already watched murders in the streets
Inciting wars and death across the world...
I believe it is a time when God is depending upon His followers
of any and all religions, to fight hate, violence, and greed...
Simply because I know He Loves Us ALL
Gabby
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