Chinese proverb: Society prepares the crime, the criminal commits it.
Lately it seems that the news has been awash with incidents of extreme sexual misconduct: Anthony Weiner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Casey Anthony, Dominique Strauss-Kahn,. Or is it - extreme? I don't think they did anything unusual so much as they just got caught. And then we judged them and weighed the evidence and adjudicated as we saw fit, then maybe we were outraged when the verdict didn't go our way or the story didn't just go away. I know I did, and was.
What fascinates me in particular is the idea that the accuser has to be, STILL, in this day and age, the political, intellectual, and moral better, the victim. Prostitution? There was talk of money to be made? Comes from a third world background where sex is a commonly traded survival commodity? Being the Casey Anthony of Hotel Sofitel? Tsk tsk. I'm guessing college educated financiers and their ilk never behave beneath their station or profit from our perception of their inherent respectability in a way that might have them behave in reprehensible ways behind closed doors. Personally, I believe inequality will always be with us so let's focus on the real issue here: misuse of power. I think we can all agree that Casey Anthony and her family misused their power and that Arnold and other powerful men are capable of objectifying and victimizing women and they often do. After all, why else be powerful? What else is there to be gained?
For me the primary issue, the gain here, is force. Rape. Abuse. Murder. Lies. I'm willing to bet some good money that on any given day people with real power say and do things that us ordinary folk would find mind crushingly revolting but these mongers are usually well dressed and well spoken and they don't make their living cleaning toilets for crying out loud. Still, on one particular day, for whatever reason, one of them might underestimate their intended victim and then they, and we, find out just how inflated their self-importance really is. Feeling duped and perhaps somewhat duplicitous if we're really being honest with ourselves, we seek justice/revenge.
Luckily, the justice system found Casey Anthony innocent. Not because she actually is but because the even hand of the law requires not a show of force but proof beyond a reasonable doubt and the prosecution didn't do that. Maybe the Strauss-Kahn incident can turn out differently so let's give it some time, let everyone have a field day with it until the legal system finds out whether it has the stomach for it and will allow jurisprudence to step in. But then, I imagine the jury's verdict will mostly matter because we'll want it to turn out the way we predicted.
10 comments:
Maybe this is so beautifully written I can't disagree. I didn't follow the Florida case until this week NPR told us we were obsessed with it. Funny to find out your obsessions after the fact. I did follow the the other case, though.
There's probably a sociological study out there that groups us into five or six categories with one major prejudice in each. All you have to do is appeal to that single, heart-held prejudice, or alienate it.
And I'll bet they're right. That's my major prejudice, anyway.
This is my response to the TV telling me we're all obsessed with ________, you fill in the blank. If they want to provide some good, factual information I'm fine with that. But the opinions expressed are ratings driven and I wanted to think about this for myself, it's an exploratory piece if you will.
No, I'll tell you what is more disingenuous than tabloids -- tabloids are, after all, pretty obvious in their intent.
It's when reputable news sources want to jump on the ratings without seeming to. So rather than get their hands dirty in the story, directly, they think they can tell the story by reporting not the story, but the obsession with the story.
Interesting commentary. thanks for the musical interlude...
Well, that's their stock and trade now isn't it? I want to think these things out for myself but even more so, I'm finished asking women to meet impossible standards of behavior.
I didn't follow anything until I saw a side-line to the Casey verdict. I watched a clip of the closing arguments and am still laughing. The defence said something like "Just because your a liar and a slut doesn't mean you killed your baby" a far cry from the defense speech Gary Peck gave in To Kill A Mocking Bird.
oops Gregory Peck. "Just because you can't get your names straight doesn't mean your stupid"
I haven't followed any of these stories beyond a few headlines and the stand-up comics' perspectives (mainly on Weiner). The reason, I guess, is that I know I'll never know the truth; it's likely that even the juries and other principals don't.
Of course, that's true with politics as well, and I do let myself get suckered into caring about that to the point of wanting to throw things at the TV.
(Paula, please excuse my tardiness--I'm still getting adjusted to your more frequent presence. I promise to do better).
I don't have a TV. I get most of my news online and from NPR, so I haven't followed any of these stories too deeply. Last night a group of friends, including a couple of Brits, were pretty heated up about the Murdoch madness. Talk about abuse of power.
On another note, I've had Dear Prudence in my head since Hiker suggested the name for the pretty pittie. Now after listening to the song I remember I was learning to play it on guitar a few years ago, B.T. (Before Tommy). So, I just moved Prudence to the top 3.
PA, there seem to be a lot of people who weren't "obsessed". Also, stupid is as stupid does - Forrest Gump.
B52, no apologies required. Chill ma homey.
SC, I like to watch TV at night but I'm beginning to think I need to go back to not watching. We did that for two years after Hurricane Ivan. I think Hiker might have mentioned Prudence after reading this post and that would be a great name for your girl!
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