Whole lotta rapes been goin’ on.
That is a logical thought about the sexual bonfire. The one set alight by Harvey Weinstein’s accusers. More about those rapes later.
Meanwhile we are awash in hypocrisy. Good example is how politicians reacted to the accusations against Judge Moore. He is running for the Senate. Women claim he was sexually obnoxious to them. Many years ago when they were teens.
So Senator McCain and several others pronounce Moore guilty. Threaten to drum him from the Senate if he arrives. This from a Congress that runs a secret “shush” fund. To pay off women who accuse members of sexual garbage. This from the Senate that showered Ted Kennedy with honors. He, the man who abandoned a young woman to die and lied about it.
Bill Clinton was accused of sins far greater. Greater than those of which Moore is accused.
Let us suppose Clinton won a Senate seat. Would McCain and McConnell try to bar him? You know the answer. A woman just accused Al Franken of groping her years ago. Will McCain try to drum him out? We will see. But if you bet he won’t, you will probably collect.
In other words, we play favorites with our damnations, don’t we? If we love Cosby and Clarence Thomas we find it hard to condemn them when women accuse them. Ditto for other favorite stars. We are silent about President Bush senior. When we learn he grabbed the tushes of young women. If we adore Bill O’Reilly we struggle to condemn him. For the sexual sins of which he is accused.
Feminists still embrace and excuse Bill Clinton. Despite his despicable behavior. One recently trashed Paula Jones as not believable. Even though Clinton paid $1.3 million to her (today’s dollars).
Do you believe this behavior goes on only in Hollywood, the Big Apple and Washington? C’monnnn. This is common in America. And in every country. In some it is worse, of course. In some it is virtually legal.
There are countless women among us who suffer rape. Yet keep silent for various reasons. They are shattered and tortured by shame. They feel pain. They are haunted and humiliated. They feel no one will believe them. They fear punishment.
There are millions more women who suffer sexual assault. Near-rape. Millions who are groped, touched inappropriately.
There are millions of women who have to endure comments from guys about their backsides or chests. Millions who are hounded by men no matter how often they say “Not interested”.
Do you hear the echo of Lord Acton’s remark? “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
By tradition men held power over women. In law. In families. In work. Throughout society. Some men were and are corrupted by that power. In that corruption they force women to grant sexual favors. They hire, promote and pamper women who accept their advances. They fire, demote and threaten those who spurn their lust.
Some men are corrupt at the absolute level. They destroy women’s careers. They drag the reputations of women through cesspools of public humiliation. On her powerful husband’s behalf Hillary Clinton trashed his accuser Gennifer Flowers. On national television, no less. Called her “some failed cabaret singer who doesn’t have much of a resume to fall back on.”
Hillary called intern Monica Lewinsky a “narcissistic loony toon”. Clinton advisor James Carville called out women who accused Bill Clinton. “Drag a hundred-dollar bill through a trailer park, you never know what you’ll find.” This is absolute power corrupting absolutely.
What can we make of the bonfire of sexual revelations? Methinks it illuminates the likely future.
As women gain power on various fronts they gain voice. They gain support. More prominent women will stand, and deliver secrets men want kept secret. Millions of silent sufferers will speak. To expose corrupt men. To stop men from humiliating and punishing them. Millions of men will have to clean up their acts.
From Tom…as in Morgan.
Find Tom on Facebook. You can write to Tom at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com.