Validity Or

I don’t know.

Do we have room on the internet, newsprint or TV for more accusations?

They are bouncing off the airwaves so rapidly, it’s difficult not to feel like a tsunami has invaded our landscape.

“Twenty years ago when I was eleven, someone touched me.”

“Forty years ago when I was six, someone made a crude remark.”

“Thirty-five years ago I received an obscene invitation.”

Okay, okay, some may be legitimate causes for complaint, but all of them, I doubt it.

If I were a prominent male personality whose name has been public in any way, shape or size in the U.S. during the past fifty years, I would be afraid to open my computer lest someone who I cannot remember has uttered “J’accuse.”

Silence may be golden, but when invoked for decades, it becomes suspect.

And re-emerging memories are always questionable, especially if they only relate to celebrities.

The sad part is that while many of those being named may be guilty, there also may be several who are innocent and will never be able to clear their names and reclaim their reputations. Unfortunately, the only news items seem to be the accusations. Then there is silence and the loss of a career.

I am beginning to recall the infamous Salem witch hunts and tales of the Inquisition. Admittedly, I have always found both incredibly unpleasant.

I also rather doubt if there is a woman over forty who at one time in her life has not heard an uninvited sexual remark or invitation.

Most of us declined, avoided the person in question and didn’t dwell on it. We did not let it scar our psyche. Nor did we wait another twenty or thirty years to publicly recall the conversation and make an accusation.

Unfortunately, I also believe any woman could today point a finger at any innocent male and state “He once said,” or “He once did.” Sadly in today’s volatile climate, the female accuser would be believed whether or not it was an accurate or valid accusation. Reputations can be shredded so easily.

Obviously, rape is a criminal act and should be prosecuted at the time of the incident.

Offensive remarks, looks, invitations are another matter, and frankly, difficult to certify. I might add some of those in my own vague memory bank came from other women.

If 90 per cent of the men being accused are guilty, what about the other 10 per cent who will never regain their reputations or careers?

It does appear a bit ironic that an industry that has promoted, advertised and reaped financial rewards from today’s totally accepted sexual freedom has now suddenly become so self righteous. Obviously, that includes all the prominent female stars who have remained so incredibly silent enjoying their limelight until quite recently invoking memories.

Perhaps there should be a moratorium on some of the unsubstantiated emerging memories that may be akin to the witch hunts of yesteryear.