Getting to the Root Of Endemic Sexual Misconduct

I'VE ONLY BEEN GUILTY OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT once, as far as I can remember, it was a mild infraction, methinks, and I have forgiven myself. A friend asked me to give his girlfriend a ride home. He was too drunk to drive. So was I. Instead of suggesting that she spend the was, as I say, uniquely unqualified. night, on his couch or wherever, I agreed to be the designated driver, though I was, as I say, uniquely unqualified. Drunks make bad decisions. I wanted to please my buddy. She was semiconscious in my car, as as I parked in front of her house, I kissed her. She objected, so I stopped. Pretty mild stuff, in the grand scheme of things, but still, not good. Maybe not even sexual harassment. Maybe inappropriate affection, or excessive French behavior. From this episode I lost a friend, a high price to pay, but avoided any further sexual harassment charges, appropriately. A stolen kiss or casual shoulder rub is best met with a cold stare, and a word of warning, not litigation. I have always tended to avoid that sort of behavior, for fear of face slapping, or incarceration. President Trump takes another approach. he brags about it, citing his wealth and fame as enabling virtues. He has all but endorsed Alabama senatorial candidate Roy Moore, reminding us that Mr. Moore claims to be without sin. A large number of Alabamans, including some within the ministry, have indicated that they intend to support Moore whether or not he is guilty of the accusations levied against him. This is a shocking display of low standards by the Christian right. anything to defeat a democrat. Trump would rather a probable serial serious sexual offender be elected to the U.S. Senate than a democrat, just as the evangelical community would, just at the evangelical community preferred a self proclaimed serial sexual offender as president to a democrat. The values revealed by that speak volumes. Rush Limbaugh, a de facto leader of the conservative movement, is trying to politicize sexual harassment by emphasizing recent allegations against liberals, ignoring those made against conservatives, and claiming that democrats will do anything to protect their own , while the prize for that behavior goes to the supporters of Roy Moore. That Limbaugh is so twisted and dishonest is both humorous and tragic, and that his listeners keep listening again speaks volumes about their integrity. Sexual harassment is not a political issue. even a cursory consideration of the matter should reveal that much. It is not a political issue associated with any particular political ideology. it is a societal and moral issue. Women are attracted to men with resources. Resources include wealth, fame, and power, the "big three". good looks at a factor, but of less importance to women than to men. Thus, women try to look good, and men try to become wealthy, powerful and famous, all for the sake of sex, a fundamental motivator among animals. A culture in which sexual behavior is powerfully associated with morality and religion, and in which the value of exploitation is given free reign, and sexuality is exploited for commercial gain, and a perfect storm is created. Out American epidemic of sexual misconduct, like our national epidemic of gun violence, is a cultural phenomenon directly related to fundamental American values, and hs been a part of American culture since before the nation was a nation. And so it will remain, without fundamental changes in American culture.