I would never be naive enough to expect an immediate turn-around from those in power, who have found themselves – either directly or by implication – in the firing line for years, decades, centuries of abuse of their position.
But I had hoped that maybe, just maybe, they would, as a group, at least accept that the status is no longer quo. That they would stop making excuses, complaining about witch hunts, denying active or passive acceptance or participation. And by the way, thew term ‘witch hunt’ is also unacceptable. Just saying.
But no. Not a chance.
Admittedly some, Michael Fallon being one, have taken ownership of unacceptable behaviour. Others, such as Damian Green, deny everything. Never even blinked in an inappropriate way.
I am thankful that this have moved on from the entertainment industry, as it has long presented itself as a very different arena from the rest of humanity, where the abuse has a veneer of glamour, and the results of success can be significantly higher than the norm. “So, stop moaning about a bit of exploitation, you are minted now!”
And there is no-one that is surprised by politics being a shit-pile suitable for overturning. But the excuses, the excuses are the same.
Misunderstood at one end, drunk in the middle, acceptable in previous years at the other.
No. None of those are acceptable. At all.
Misunderstood? Invading anyone’s personal space is a big step to take. If you are invited, then okay – just be prepared to step back when told to. But not when there is an in-balance of power. If there is any honesty in the intent, then you remove yourself from the position of power.
Otherwise, there is always an intent to use your position to apply leverage. When those not in power do not have to worry about abuse, then is the time to re-assess the approach.
Drunk? Really? When victims can still be held accountable for perpetrators actions because they were drunk, how is it an excuse for leniency on the other side?
No. Never acceptable. Ever.
Acceptable in the past? Are you really saying that? The answer unfortunately is yes.
Just to make it very clear to all those neanderthals out there, it was never acceptable. Ever.
It may have been more quietly tolerated, but it was never right. There was never a moment, 10, 15, however many years ago, when suddenly, in a light bulb moment, women were seen as equal. When the exploitation of power was suddenly a ‘bad’ thing.
It has always been ‘bad’. The only difference is that now we can hear the demands for a stop to it.
Whether we listen, well that is up to each and every one of us.
But there are no excuses. There are no ‘acceptable’ circumstances. And there is no pecking order of sleazy and inappropriate.
It all has to stop.
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