The River of De-Nial

It is sad - and instructional - to witness the public whimperings of PoCo Mayor Scott Young.

This is a case study in addiction denial.

"This is not the person I am known to be and that is certainly out of character."

Would somebody please expunge for all time the deceptive phrase "out of character?" Anything we do is in character. If we did it, it is us.

It may not be all of us all the time for all time, just as swimming (something I do occasionally) is not All David All the Time for All Time, but, as I do splash about in waters once or twice a year, apparently I am a swimmer.

And, yes, I OWN that ominous responsibility.

Which young Scott does not. He drinks, he breaks down doors, he hits people, but none of that is his "character."

Question. Whose character is it? Was someone wearing his clothes at the time?

Now, look at the first part of Young's sentence. "That is not the person I am known to be."

In other words, it is the narrative of my life, the fictive arc that really counts, not what I actually do or say. Life is all presentation. Really?

"Young denies allowing his addiction to affect his work as mayor," says The Sun report. Really? What does he call his present circumstance? Smooth sailing? Business as usual?

Denial in full flight. This is a text book entry on the subject.

"At the end of the day all our family are there for one another," says the Mayor. This is just after he explains how many members of his family are alcoholics.

News flash, Scott: Drunks are not there for anyone. In fact, one of the single best definitions of an addict is that he is never there for anyone, self included.

Please get this guy into A.A. asap.

There's nothing scarier that real self knowledge. And nothing more curative.