Selective Memory

A therapist is always challenged by his patient’s memory, because patients select what they want to remember so they can place themselves in the best light or support the positions they’ve chosen. This becomes even more of a challenge in couples therapy, which often involves one party arguing a position against the other, as he produces only selective evidence that would lead to a “win.” People, in general, do not approach reality with honesty.

This aversion to embrace the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is also displayed on the national stage as large contingents of ordinary people embrace the selective memories of individual leaders who present themselves so dishonestly that their account of history, including their own words and actions, bears no resemblance with reality.

The teachers unions universally supported closing all government schools for two years from 2020-2022. This school shutdown irreversibly damaged an entire generation of children. It’s still unclear when or if the victims of this crime will recover. The president of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, led the charge to shut down the nation’s schools, frequently speaking out on the need to “keep teachers and students safe” from a cold virus. Today, though, she insists that she was on the other side of the issue and never suggested that schools should be closed. At the time, her position was widely popular among Democrats. Now that parents, Democrat parents included, see the injuries extended school closures caused to their own children, the tide has turned. And Randi Weingarten now wants to be on the right side of history, despite her despicable behavior five years ago.