Epstein was disgraceful; is American justice the same?

Think about all the ways the United States touts its exceptionalism. Whether referring to the country's higher education institutions, its commitment to humanitarianism or the notion of it being a beacon of freedom, public officials and private citizens rarely miss any opportunity to tell themselves and the rest of the world just how great America is.

Now ask an American to square all of that with the years and years in which Jeffrey Epstein carried on his disgusting plan to traffic underaged girls and young women to become the sexual playthings of powerful men.

Here is the answer: There is no way to square it.

Let's accept that Epstein, who died while in jail in 2019, deserved to be reviled for what he did. But what also cannot be ignored is that he was protected by influential men. And, finally, we cannot deny that the legal system aided him as well.

Epstein's victims will never have the chance to hear a jury convict him of his crimes. But they can take at least some comfort in knowing that the men who preyed on them are finally getting what is coming to them. The list is long, and it includes men who built seemingly successful and honorable careers in the legal, political, higher education and other systems.

Americans have long accepted that it is nonsensical to believe that the justice system treats all people equally. Money can buy many things in the United States, and protection from legal scrutiny is one of them.

Epstein successfully used his connections to powerful men to create what one journalist called "a protective barrier that afforded him credibility and shielded him from suspicion for years despite widespread rumors of misconduct". Let's also not forget that Epstein's longtime girlfriend recently claimed that more than two dozen people who knew Epstein were also shielded from prosecution by the US government through "secret settlements".

There is no other way to say it: Epstein became the vile man he was because roadblocks of all kinds were set up to ensure that he could waltz through life worry free.

Epstein was not alone. The rich and powerful have segregated themselves from the rest of the American people. They justify their lavish and decadent lifestyles on the idea that they have "earned" their wealth. They are accountable to no one. They want it that way. And the legal system will enable them.

And yet there are men who could have lived that way and chose not to. Consider Warren Buffett. His net worth is reportedly estimated at $151 billion, making him one of the 10 richest men in the world. Over the past two decades, Buffett has donated roughly $60 billion to social causes, and he has made public that he will give away more than 99 percent of his wealth during his lifetime and upon his death.

In explaining why, he stated: "Too often, a vast collection of possessions ends up possessing its owner. The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends."

Does all of this make Buffett a perfect man? Nonsense. There is no such person anywhere on this planet. However, Buffett and others like him provide an important reminder that generosity — whether it is defined by money, time or effort — is noble. It should be recognized and celebrated.

Perhaps more importantly, Buffett makes it as clear as possible that being wealthy should not mean being selfish or worse caving into prurient interests.

When Jimmy Carter, America's 39th president, passed away on Dec 29, 2024, one tribute after another poured in, and almost all of them focused on Carter as a humanitarian, a man who eschewed the most fancy trappings of wealth and opted instead to use his privileged position to aid in making the world's most dangerous places safer or healthier. That same message of honor and respect will follow whenever Buffett dies. And it should.

How much better the information environment would be if the acts of decent men — such as Carter or Buffett — drew more headlines and the "losers" are ignored.

The author is an associate professor in the Communication and Organizational Leadership Department at Robert Morris University in the US state of Pennsylvania. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily or Robert Morris University.