Long Live the Queen! But not some others

Cheers to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, who will celebrate their 70^th anniversary on Monday with a private family dinner. In a world dominated these days by sex scandals, their union is a bright ray of hope, a testament that true love does exist. They are also celebrating with a stunning portrait taken in their private quarters in Windsor Castle. Giving my age away: I remember getting up—I guess it was early in the morning here—to listen to the ceremony on a crackly radio. My Canadian father was an Anglophile through and through, and that wedding was a big occasion in our household.

In high contrast, in our country you cannot read a newspaper or Facebook or turn on the TV without being hit in the face with another sex scandal, the details of which you probably don’t want to know. I know I don’t. We have too many Harvey Weinsteins, Donald Trumps, and Roy Moores. But what I feared seems to be happening—accusing sexual predators has gone beyond a search for truth and justice for a few and become a grasp at the brass ring, a chance at fifteen minutes of fame, and, just maybe, a political tool.

When I told a younger friend I’d never been harassed, I recalled a couple of cases of wandering hands and one uninvited kiss that stopped when I said no. To me, harassment is fondling, groping, real physical abuse. My friend patiently explained I have been harassed and don’t realize it (does that imply I’m too dumb to know?). I think a definition is needed here, a line beyond which men—and women—should not go. On the other hand, I think it oversensitive to interpret every move as sexual aggression. An older man wrote today that he sure was glad he was old and married, because he wouldn’t know how to court a woman today without offending. I hate to tell him that being old and married in no way exempts him from an accusation.

That brings me to Al Franken and Leeann Tweeden. Franken of course is the comic turned serious and valuable senator from Minnesota—I certainly had my doubts when he made that dramatic career change, but I have since been impressed with his record. His colleagues praise him, former employees testify to his respect for and defense of women, and—oh yes—Republicans hate him. The incident of the kiss and fake groping took place on a USO tour to entertain the troops, an atmosphere generally known for horseplay. The photographer who took the now-infamous groping photo once claimed it was staged and that the victim was feigning sleep. Note Franken does not actually touch Tweeden’s breast—he was horsing around. Stupid but true.  (The photographer may have rescinded that—I’m not sure).

Far be it from me to accuse the victim but there are a couple of things to think about: Leeann Tweeden is an avowed supporter of 45 who has been active in right-wing causes, appearing on Hannity’s show and other things. Her radio station says she has openly talked about the incident for years, so why is she suddenly so offended—I suspect it’s that “me, too” bandwagon I feared. And a photo of “the kiss” shows her with her arms wrapped around Franken, not fighting him off. Roger Stone, drum beater for the president, apparently knew the Franken accusation was coming before it was public. Mitch McConnell is leading a fervent charge for a complete investigation, while ignoring charges against the titular head of his party and not being nearly as loud in his call for a look at Roy Moore, though I think and hope Moore’s career as a politician and as a predator is toast.

Al Franken has been a gentleman, immediately apologizing, apparently both publicly and privately (the White House had the gall to use that against him), and Tweeden has accepted his apology. Franken has also called for an investigation—and I hope he gets it, because there seem to be a couple of sticky wickets in there. To my mind, he is guilty of one incident—please note that—of boorish behavior in bad taste. A sexual predator? I hardly think so.

If we destroy the lives and careers of good men like Franken, we are going to be left without leadership. I wonder if Jimmy Carter would get a pass today on his admission of lustful thoughts about other women. It’s an atmosphere we’ve allowed to balloon. Men like  Weinstein,Trump, and Moore deserve everything we can throw at them, but let’s show some common sense here.

Okay, all my good progressive buddies, you may start to throw those stones.