The Age of Sexual Harassment: Today's News for October 26th

CNN:

Five women accuse journalist and 'Game Change' co-author Mark Halperin 

of sexual harassment

Veteran journalist Mark Halperin sexually harassed women while he was in a powerful position at ABC News, according to five women who shared their previously undisclosed accounts with CNN and others who did not experience the alleged harassment personally, but were aware of it.

"During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me," Halperin said in a statement to CNN Wednesday night. "I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I'm going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation."

...But women who spoke to CNN say he also had a dark side not made public until now. The stories of harassment shared with CNN range in nature from propositioning employees for sex to kissing and grabbing one's breasts against her will. Three of the women who spoke to CNN described Halperin as, without consent, pressing an erection against their bodies while he was clothed. Halperin denies grabbing a woman's breasts and pressing his genitals against the three women.

Three women claim it? If true, this is pretty damning evidence. Even a trial jury would have a hard time ignoring the same testimony from three witnesses.

Halperin is clearly a serial harasser/misogynist/sexual predator. But there are a lot of sexual harassment charges being tossed around these days:

Breitbart:

Hollywood’s Accused Harassers, Molesters, Rapists – The Rap Sheet, So Far

As the Harvey Weinstein scandal spreads like an STD throughout the entertainment industry worldwide, as the courage of those coming forward to name names inspires similar courage in others, we cannot allow ourselves to become so accustomed to the allegations that they lose their power to outrage.

Although some male victims have come forward, the alleged victims here are mostly vulnerable young women and children. Worse, so far, all of the alleged abusers are the very men whose primary responsibility in any civilized society is to protect women and children.

As a means to understand just how, yes, institutional these allegations are, here is a list (in no particular order) of the accused and their alleged misdeeds, which will be updated as needed.

Unless otherwise indicated, these stand only as allegations.

So far, 43 and counting… 

Click the link above to see the entire list, but 43 is significant. While there are a few serial harassers on the list, there are also a few one-timers, such as:

4. Oliver Stone – Oscar-Winning Director
Accused of groping a woman at a party.  

Maybe Stone is guilty of this. but one incident (at a party no less) shouldn't lump him in with the likes of Harvey Weinstein or other serial harassers. People who use their power or fame to allow themselves to sexually abuse women is inexcusable on a far different level than one simple indiscretion at a party.

This isn't excusing Stone's alleged action, but it is a recognition that this is beginning to look more like a witch hunt than a serious investigation into institutionalized sexual harassment within the entertainment industry. Try to keep this in perspective.

In other news...

Daily Mail:

Legendary Blueberry Hill singer and rock and roll pioneer Fats Domino dead at 89

Fats Domino, the amiable rock 'n' roll pioneer whose steady, pounding piano and easy baritone helped change popular music while honoring the traditions of the Crescent City, has died.

He was 89.

Mark Bone, chief investigator with the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, coroner's office, said Domino died of natural causes early Tuesday.

His daughter said he was surrounded by family and friends and died peacefully the previous day.

It's a sad day for music.

But in somewhat brighter news...

Quartz:

A new American revolution is starting in New England—against Daylight Saving Time

“Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?” Donna Bailey, a Democratic state representative in Maine and crusader against anachronistic and dangerous institutions, asked the Wall Street Journal (paywall). It’s an excellent question.

Earlier this year, Bailey sponsored a bill that would move Maine to the Atlantic Time Zone, an hour ahead of its current position in the Eastern Time Zone, and no longer observe Daylight Saving Time. The bill passed both chambers of the Maine state legislature. But the Senate added a provision that Maine voters must approve the change in a referendum, and the referendum could only be triggered by neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire changing their time, too. Since neither of those states had immediate plans to change their time zones, the move seemed doomed.

But now there is hope. Massachusetts is considering a permanent change in its time zone. A commission is studying the issue was prompted by public health advocate Tom Emswiler. He argues that a shift to Atlantic Time would boost the economy by encouraging college students to stay in Massachusetts, instead of moving to sunnier places like New York City. If the commission votes to recommend the change next week, the report will move to lawmakers and maybe result in legislation. It is a long shot, to be sure. If Massachusetts moves to Atlantic Time, Maine probably will too, and that will pressure New Hampshire to follow.

...A better part of these proposals is the ditching of Daylight Saving Time. There are well-documented costs of changing clocks each year, including car accidents and heightened stress. Not every country, or even state, observes twice-yearly time changes, and those that do, change clocks on different days. It creates a semi-annual state of chaos.

We can only hope that this changes soon, and spreads throughout the rest of the country. End the daylight savings insanity!

By the way, daylight savings time ends November 5th.