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Thursday, November 16, 2017

LET'S CREATE A TEST!

November 16, 2017
November 26, 2017 edit: 
Today is the birthday of Michael Butler, the producer best known for his involvement with the musical HAIR. With Michael Arabian at the helm of the revival of the show in April, 2018, it looks to be a very special updated, yet true to the values of Ragny and Rado's 1968 production. The play has been running constantly around the world for fifty years. (almost)  Happy Birthday to Mr. Butler!  Check out The Palace Theatre (built in 1911) on Broadway in Downtown LA. See you in April!... 

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To continue the comment on the current scandals that are 'rocking' Hollywood and the rest of our country.   The following is something that bubbled up in me that may be a bit repetitive ..  More accusations about 'sexual misconduct' are coming and as the layers of this uncomfortable onion peel away, I wonder if all of the accusations against the current president will ever come to anything? That his behavior is disgusting to me is irrelevant. When you can rationalize your behavior, that's that?  Maybe the USA has to crash and even burn to recover? I hope not.  But, it's feeling pretty crumbly right now... to me. 

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Fact is that any male worth his salt has lusted and probably said or done something that will now be deemed to be "inappropriate." The trouble is that the scale from one to ten to examine the perceived type of sexual annoyance encountered by anyone and the degree: (annoying, harassing, abusing physically, attacking to do harm), the severity of the activity has not yet been established. 

"You have a great butt!" to a woman who has a great butt is intended as a compliment unless she decides that it is offensive, even if she really does have a great butt and knows it. She probably works at it. Women decide what's okay and what's not okay. This 'scale' I want to see should go along with an electronic test to conclude the veracity of the complaint. Ditto for gay people. It's time to create checks and balances that define the nature of the 'offense' and the subsequent damages. This is NOT to dismiss anyone's complaint. It's just that  Hysteria is now in becoming out of control and anyone, including me.. could come out of the woodwork and make a claim. Every single person who has had an encounter and desires to be heard, should be heard. And,  as the USA circles the drain with a maniac at the helm of the ship of state, we may just be getting what we deserve! 

The news media is in a feeding frenzy that distracts us from the issues that may sink our country.  It's the juicy stuff like the LA radio 'host,' Leeann Tweeden, who, today, graphically boosts her Q with a press conference, the logo for her radio station on display, to graphically declare that Al Franken did unwelcome things to her.  Franken immediately steps up and apologizes.  Fact is that Leeann is a babe! She probably works at it. Is that sexual harassment? Leeann? Was I inappropriate?  You sure look like a 'babe' to me! Though, you are not my type. Sorry.

Let's publish a scale from Sexual Annoyance to Rape and Murder.  Let's see in graphic terms what this whole business is about and define it. Let's have accusers take a lie detector test that will establish .. though not legally.. to what degree the accuser is being honest.  This is not to doubt! This is to establish the reliability of both the accused and the accuser.  Make the accused take a test, too.

The insanity will persist until another massacre of innocents steals the spotlight and then, here we'll go again until the issues fade.  I'll bet Bill Cosby is really happy for Weinstein and the current batch of miscreants stealing the spotlight.  And, on the Cosby page, I am just sad to have lost the enjoyment of his comic genius.  
Being ever tainted is really awful. 

Michael Sheehan

 

Thursday, November 9, 2017

THE HEW AND THE CRY AND RESPONSIBILITY

November 9, 2017

I almost made the mistake of posting this on Facebook.  The trolling and short responses there: supportive or not, tend to be antithetical to any real discussion.  Tempers are flying.  This current explosion of accusations by 'victims' of sexual harassment, abuse, assault and battery must be taken on a case by case basis. This is NOT to defend any of the accused nor to vet any of the accusers.  It just seems to me that the wave of 'victims' coming forward, some after tens of years past, has the air of panic and hysteria that colors the whole issue.

Intelligent people follow the law and it troubles me that the finger pointing and tears we now see daily on TV and in the news, should be mitigated by perspective and wondering if any of the accusers take any responsibility for putting themselves in harm's way?  

Children are not responsible. Ever. But, who is a child? Under eighteen? Legally, probably, but there are gray areas. There must be.

What is the age of sexual consent? A woman or a man under the age of 21 consenting if he/she says 'yes' or doesn't say 'no?' Is the age of consent Eighteen? State to state? Twelve years old in the deep South? Are consenting sexually active sixteen year olds engaging in mutual sexual assault? Are the consenting fifteen year old unwed mother and consenting eighteen year old father guilty of anything?

Is the seduction by say, a nineteen or twenty year old woman of a fortysix or fortyseven year old man something? These are not frivolous questions. Every case is unique. Who are actual victims of a predator and who are people who just made a bad decision? We are quick to judge. What is that often quoted Bible passage? "Let he who is without sin.. etc?"

When alcohol and drugs are on the scene that makes a huge difference. Being star struck as I was by a famous TV actress who invited me to her home and wanted me but I didn't want her.. is that something? After one glass of wine, I excused myself politely. Could I make an accusation? Would I?   Never.. but.. each case is unique. 
 
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Sexual Battery.. Responsibility.  These are all factors in this current issue and until charges are filed and a court trial.. as in the horrible case of Bill Cosby..  until that happens and there's a verdict.. it's all accusations.  
 
This is NOT to doubt any of the accusers.  
 
Each of us has a perception of 'what happened.' (Roshomon?)   In court, one has the burden of proving that something really did happen. In my case, the actress in question would never have thought that she was sexually harassing me.  In fact, it was the 'pre' harassing vibe that got me politely out the door.  
 
A lesson learned in Hollywood. No hard feelings. 
 
michaelsheehan 

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Post November 8th.. on taking a knee

Noon today in the parking lot at the Credit Union I took a knee for about a minute. 
Not a very glamorous vista. Wearing a black arm band, not one person I encountered seemed curious.  What is success with an idea like this?  I guess just doing what I intended to do and wondering what, if anything, others did is enough. Subtle demonstrations may be naive.  It's important that we stay vigilant and get local elections lined up for locals to support leaders who will side against this administration.  

Onward to art and the movies and theatre.  If you took a knee today. Thank you.  How did it feel? How do you feel? What else can we actually do? 

November 8, 2017