Roy Moore

So . . . I realize that there are some things one just should NOT talk about. But this Roy Moore shit is ubiquitous right now. CNN and MSNBC are on it non-stop. And I have to put my 2¢ worth in. Can't help it.

So first and foremost: anyone who preys on children sexually--or in any way--should definitely be punished harshly. No doubt about that. And if Roy Moore sexually assaulted a 14 year old girl, then he must be made to pay for that, statute of limitations be damned.

But here's the thing.

First off, that picture from CNN? I don't mean it as a cheap shot against the woman holding that sign. But I do want to focus on that sign.

Not in terms of the woman made a spelling error. But in terms of what that error says. And at the very least it says this: when she made the sign, the woman didn't check the spelling of the word pedophile. And that also strongly suggests that she made this sign in a hurry. And what I'm seeing on the news suggests that most of the people who are reporting / commenting on this story are functioning in a similar manner: they're saying whatever is on the top of their heads, not thinking through the consequences of their words . . . or maybe just not caring about the latter. 

So here's what I want to say to them.

First, the concept of Innocent Until Proven Guilty is a major component of our justice system. The fact that you look guilty or that I don't like your looks or that I don't think you're a good person is irrelevant so far as justice is concerned. In fact, that's precisely what is wrong with racial profiling, isn't it? So I have to say that people who are suggesting that Roy Moore step down because he has been accused of a crime are just wrong. Anyone can make an accusation. And there have certainly been false accusations made in the past. As a teacher, I certainly felt the sting of false accusations a time or two. Once a girl decided that she wanted to get out of my English class and into another one because the other teacher didn't have vocabulary tests. So she told her mother that I took her out into the hall and cursed at her, using the word fuck amongst others. Well, that never happened. Later on, the girl even admitted that it didn't happen. I know it's paltry in comparison to an allegation of sexual misconduct, but it certainly caused great upheaval in my life. There's a reason that we have a process to try people for crimes. 

Second, if Roy Moore had a sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl, then he should certainly be punished for that. But when I was listening to the news reports on this story on CNN and MSNBC, they didn't stop there. They went on to report that there was also at least suspicion that Roy Moore had had sexual relationships with 18 year old girls when he was considerably older--in his 30s. The pundits commenting on this--both male and female--went on and on about how terrible this was. 

Well. First off, in the interests of full disclosure I will say this: after my first divorce, when I was 42 years old, I was approached by three 18 year old girls in a row, all of them former students. The first came to my house and professed her love for me. We kissed. I liked it. I was lonely and aching and she was beautiful and sweet. She asked if I wanted to have sex with her. I told her no, that I didn't think that would be right. The second one stopped in at school to see me. She asked me if I wanted to go to Italy with her, where she was modeling. I told her that I couldn't. The third was a post-student coffee buddy for some time--usually as a part of a group. One night about a year after she'd graduated she came over to my house alone, and while talking about one of her friends she began to cry. I came to sit beside her and she began to kiss me. And I told God that enough was enough, and we had sex. And after that we had a relationship. And after that we began to live together. And after that we got married. And after that we got divorced. According to the standards evinced in the condemnation of Roy Moore by the aforementioned pundits, I am guilty of Something Or Other--Inappropriate Choice of Sexual Partner, I suppose. Not because it breaks a law, as it doesn't. Not because there was any kind of force or influence involved, because there wasn't. In fact, in all three cases I was the passive party. But that doesn't matter, I suppose, because I was considerably older than the women in question. And that is just bullshit so far as I can see. I didn't take notes on the news, but I remember one of the pundits saying something along the lines of, "What kind of 30 year old man wants to have sex with an 18 year old girl?" Well, I can answer that question: "Every kind." I mean, I guess that is no longer politically correct to say, but for fuck's sake, why pretend? I'm just sick of that bullshit.

Third, Roy Moore has said that this accusation is happening now for political reasons, and non-Republicans have responded to this suggestion with unbridled fury. But I have to say that I think that asking "Why now?" is a fair question. Leigh Corfman says that this sexual assault happened in 1979, when she was 14. Why did she wait until she was 52 to make the accusation? I realize that that is not a simple question . . . nor is it a kind one, and my heart aches for this woman if what she is saying did happen. But I don't think asking "Why now?" is unwarranted. At very least, some context would help to make this whole thing more comprehensible. If the timing was not politically motivated, then what was the motivation?

Enough. 

I loved Sen. Lindsey Graham when he said, “My party has gone batshit crazy." Recognition is the first step (in a long journey) towards political sanity. But it's time that Democrats echoed those words. CNN, MSNBC, fellow-liberals: You are all going batshit crazy. Let's try to get back to some clear thinking and stop acting like fucking idiots, okay? And take a goddamned minute to think about what you're going to say before you shoot your mouth off . . . or pen a sign.

And if the evidence shows that Roy Moore is guilty of sexual assault on a 14 year old girl, then I don't think any penalty is too harsh.