Spring is here but with all the newness we are remembering the past. We have three anniversaries about now… with very different remembrances. The events are the bombing of the building in Oklahoma City, the shooting at Columbine High School and the tragedy at Waco. Every year from who know how long we will be remembering some of these events. And every year the media will remind us that the victims (the families of loved ones will be seeking “Closure”. The families of Waco will seek “closure” and grieve in private… the media has little time for that event.

The President will go to Colorado and Oklahoma City… but Waco is not on his agenda. But that is not the topic of the column… a couple of words are. They are “closure” and “Confession”.

The word “closure” comes through the TV with regularity whenever an anniversary of a tragic event is mentioned… Whether it be the crash of the 747 in Lockerbee Scotland or whatever event that saw multiple lives lost… except Waco. The victim’s families are seeking “Closure”. The family members hear the word so often and are asked about it they seem to think that is what they are looking for. I’ll bet they wonder why it never comes.

If anyone has ever lost a child, a close relative or friend they know that “Closure” never comes. Oh, sure, you think less often of the pain, you do go on with life, but never “closure”. To do so would be a disservice to your memories and to the person no longer near you.

“Closure” is a word that fills a void… it sounds good, means nothing and is just something to say when nothing else comes to mind. I wish they would forget the word… or maybe we could have “closure” on the word “closure”.

The other word is “Confession”. We have fallen in love with “confessions”. Most recently John McCain felt it was necessary to come clean and confess his sin of lying about his statements about the Confederate Battle Flag in South Carolina. The Straight Talk Express must have had a flat tire or ran into the ditch. You have to wonder what else he told us that was not the truth. He went out of his way to tell us he would always “Talk Straight” with the American People. We now know that that was not the truth. He told us that he would tell us the truth…. But we now know that was a lie. Or do we? Do we really know which story is the truth? But confession is good for the soul and it does seem to have a ring with the American People.

We seem to value “Confession” over Character. In fact we confuse “confession” with character. If someone confesses to wrongdoing they seem to think that that relieves any consequences. We even ascribe good character to someone who has come clean. Attorney General Janet Reno stood up and took the heat for the decision at Waco. She did not stand up and say that she “screwed up” and would resign… No, she was a “stand up guy” and we gave her a pass and even cheered.

Confession can be a sign of character, but it also can be a sign of an outbreak of politics!

So when the word “closure” comes across the TV, know that for the most part it is from an empty headed reporter talking. That along with the reporter shoving a microphone in the face of a mother who has just lost a son and asks “How does if feel?” should be the subject of “closure”.

Now, if we could just get them to “confess” that they don’t have a clue!