Say it ain’t so, Santa!
Okay, you know things have gotten out of hand when the memes
start appearing.
Today in the News, the Captain learned that Matt Lauer, the
star of NBC’s TODAY show, was fired after accusations of sexual misconduct were
leveled against him by several women.
The accusations were dated – going back as far as 2014 – but
were apparently plausible.
And suddenly he’s gone.
Those pesky “moral turpitude” clauses in contracts!
Captain’s Note: I
don’t believe for a moment that Lauer’s dismissal is permanent. NBC was paying
him north of $10 million per year to keep TODAY at the top of the morning show
competition. I expect him to re-emerge back at the top once the whole sexual
misconduct accusations craze has blown over.
Captain’s Note #2:
What, are we supposed to start watching CBS’s “Morning Show”, from which host
Charlie Rose was recently removed dues to accusations of sexual misconduct?
Captain’s Note #3:
The Captain calls it a “craze” not to demean the women who have been abused,
but because so many of these accusations languished for years – if not decades –
until the Harvey Weinstein business blew up. Within weeks, more than 40 famous
names have been accused of inappropriate behavior. But the American public has
a short attention span and people will soon tire of hearing about who the
latest perv is and move on to the next “thing”.
But that’s not today!
A short time later, word came that MPR has fired Garrison
Keillor!
The same. Sexual misconduct.
Minnesota Public Radio supposedly conducted a thorough
examination of the charges launched against Keillor. As a result, the retired
Keillor is to have no future connection to MPR, his name will be removed from everything
he has touched, and his 40-year catalogue of work – from “Lake Woebegone” on
down – will not be played on public radio ever again.
The Captain hasn’t heard the sordid details revealed by
Keillor’s accusers, but I doubt they will top Lauer’s gifting a sex toy to a network
employee with a note attached describing what he would like to do to her with said
toy.
By mid-afternoon it was announced that Andrew Kreisberg was
relieved of his responsibilities as producer of the “Flash” and “Supergirl”
television shows. And this evening it was announced that a producer at CNN has
also been fired.
Sexual misconduct.
By the way, Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) this
week was added to the list of disgraced politicians. Seems he likes to disrobe
in his congressional office.
And yet, with 19 charges of sexual assault leveled against President
Trumpf, as well as his own bragging that makes the accusations plausible, Trumpf
is still President.
SMH!
Now, many of these accusations have been kept private. But as
part of the uninformed public, the Captain wonders what types of accusations
would lead to the immediate removal of celebrities so adored in the public eye.
Are they being accused of rape / attempted rape?
Or did they pat women on the fanny? Maybe squeeze a boob?
Did they “Grab ‘em by the pussy!” – as our illustrious President
once boasted?
Captain’s Note: No,
Mr. President, you know as well as I do that recording was not “faked”. You’re
a perv too. You were just lucky enough to be elected President with a Congress
that lacks the backbone to do anything about it.
The Captain wonders, are these men accused of “Oops, you saw
me naked”, or of intentionally wagging their thangs in front of female – or male
– co-workers?
Did they intentionally leave a pornographic photo on their computer screen
where an innocent intern would find it?
Or did they tell an off-color joke that made someone feel
uncomfortable?
I once had a church member who would greet me at the door
with, “Hey Preacher, I’ve got a joke for you!” It was always racist or sexist
or otherwise inappropriate. Finally I started stopping him and asking, “Is it
something I can use in a sermon?” “Oh, no!” he would exclaim. “Then it’s best
you not tell it to me.”
And he would traipse down the hallway and tell the joke to
the Women’s Bible Class.
To the Captain, the nature of the accusation makes a
difference. Rape is a crime, a crime of violence. Patting a fanny, while often
unwanted, is rude – an invasion of one’s personal space – but not really
grounds for dismissal.
Or is it?
Captain’s Note: As
a rule, the Captain keeps his hands to himself. Other peoples’ bodies are their
property, not mine. In fact, I don’t proposition or grope anyone but the First
Mate. She would hoist me by me scrote from the mainmast, to be sure!
That doesn’t mean me eyes don’t linger in appreciation of an
attractive gam from time to time.
But seriously, what behavior is deserving of losing one’s
job? What behavior is deserving of having 20 or 40 years of one’s life’s work erased?
Am I no longer allowed to sing “The Methodist Blues” just
because Keillor misbehaved?
Sexual harassment / sexual abuse is a serious problem. As the
Captain has written in a previous post, I suspect we need a “Me too!” movement
for men, confessing that at one time or another we have acted inappropriately
toward the opposite sex.
Because I know you have.
I know I have.
The sexualization of women is a part of the culture I grew
up in.
Secretaries. Stewardesses. School girls. Hotel maids. Wenches.
All fair game.
Just look at the recent spate of Halloween costume offerings
for women – most prefaced with “sexy”.
There was even a “Sexy Poop Emoji” costume!
I shit you not!
Captain's Note: Did you see what I did there? LOL!
Of course, that's all a lie.
And that doesn’t mean we can’t educate men - it's mostly men - and do better in the future.
But that requires the victims to speak up. Immediately.
Not 40 years later.
As a friend suggested, just kick him in the nuts and be done
with it.
Much more satisfying, and it saves the media circus that inevitably comes later.
Yes, I get that some women are afraid to talk about sexual
harassment / sexual abuse. They’re afraid of the “good ol’ boy” system. They’re
afraid they will lose their jobs. They don’t want to cause trouble. They don’t
want to be labeled.
But from the Captain’s perspective, had the woman who
accused Lauer of sexual misconduct come forward back in 2014 when she claims it
happened, something might have been done that could have actually improved her
work environment and saved other women from the same abuse.
Then all this drama would be unnecessary.
And we could focus instead on the absolutely immoral budget
that Congress is about to pass.
Oh, yes. The Captain can pay attention to more than one
thing at a time!
