I will say it up-front: I am a big David Letterman fan. I always have been. I imagine I always will be. I was a Letterman fan when he had a daytime TV show. Remember? Yes, eons ago. I don't watch religiously. In fact, I rarely watch at all anymore. I have a bedtime.
So what do I think about the David Letterman Sex Scandal? Did anyone notice that a person has allegedly tried to extort money from Dave? That this person is allegedly blackmailing Dave? Do people realize that that is actually a crime?
I feel the same way about the David Letterman Sex Scandal as I did about President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, John Edwards and whoever, and every other celebrity, politician, or common person who is involved in a sex scandal. How do I feel? YAWN.
I'm sorry, but I just don't care. Unless the person is forcing someone, having sex with a child or with my dog...I DON'T CARE. Really.
If anyone had filed charges against Dave for sexual harassment, my answer would be different. But that isn't what has happened. What is happening now is that the media (and I usually defend the media just to be contrary to popular opinion) is speculating about what if David Letterman pressured these women or used his position to...What if...What if...What if...
What if no one comes forward and says they were sexually harassed? What if this were truly consensual?Well, then, I hope the focus would shift from David Letterman aka the VICTIM, to the actual alleged crime of extortion...
I'm not holding my breath, though. People in this country, in spite of the prevalence of "racy" advertising and entertainment, are essentially a bunch of prudish, little sex-obsessed pilgrims. Let me correct that, we're a nation of dirty capitalist, sex-obsessed pilgrims. I'm sure that there are many people who see nothing wrong with blackmailing a person and attempting to extort money from them IF THEY DESERVE IT.
But it is wrong, oh so wrong. As much as we like to judge one another, and hey, we are all GUILTY of constantly judging everyone and everything around us, we have laws and courts of laws to define the parameters and define what is actually legal or illegal (which should not be mistaken with what is right or wrong--when we're lucky they're one and the same thing, but not always).
I am of that generation that kind of straddles generations and movements. I consider myself a feminist, but I'm not really comfortable with that label and less comfortable with how many different things that label means to different people. I don't always jump on the side of the woman. I don't assume the woman is always right or that the woman is always the victim. I know plenty of stupid people of both sexes. Oh, and by the way, pay me the same for the same job AND you can hold my door open for me and I'll love you for it. I don't think that is contradictory. Equality doesn't mean that manners and custom fly out the door. Manners and fairness and common sense are of value to me. In fact, men with good manners are gold.
I like men. I'm no man-hater. Just can't do it. I sincerely like them. I couldn't tell you why and there are days when I might really scratch my head to try to find an answer to that one. But essentially, on a day-to-day basis, I like men. There are many individuals that I don't like and there are many TYPES of people, for example racists, that I openly and unapologetically dislike. But I don't hate or distrust half the population based on gender. And I don't assume that men are pigs.
I also don't assume that women are victims. I don't assume that women get involved with men because they were coerced OR that they were trying to further their careers. Sometimes people get involved because, well...they want to be involved. They need that human connection. The attraction, the intimacy, the comfort. Gee, how horrible. How insidious, how criminal. No wait...that was the other guy. The one who is actually being charged with a crime.
I like David Letterman. I admire the way he has handled this situation. I think he has done so with honesty and class. He seems a little naked right now, vulnerable, still humorous, but it's self-deprecating humor to say the least. No matter how he feels inside, no matter what is being said or felt in his household, he has been fearless in his candor. I don't know how anyone could not admire him at this moment. Your child steals a piece of candy from the store and you make him take it back and confess his crime and everyone pats everyone on the back and says, "good job. That was hard to do, but I'm proud of you for doing it."
So whether or not anyone thinks I'm a traitor to my sex, I'm proud of Dave. I don't think he could have handled this any better. That doesn't make it any easier for him. I hope the sex and scandal-obsessed will wake up and smell the crime. I hope they will get off of Dave's case and focus their attention where it belongs. Yeah, good luck on that one, Dave. Truly, good luck.
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