Hypocrisy run rampant

Recently, Roger Ailes, CEO of Fox News, was ousted for his alleged inappropriate behavior with women on his staff. Bill O’Reilly, the top rated commentator on Fox, was fired for his indiscretions with women.

Now Harvey Weinstein, founder of The Weinstein Company and producer for many of America’s favorite movies, is accused of predatory actions against women stretching over decades.

He is one of the most powerful people in Hollywood and a friend of many national politicians and liberal causes.

For years, his behavior has been, it is reported, well known. Basically, it has been general knowledge in Hollywood and the movie industry, but not widely known elsewhere.

That has changed.

Since the New York Times revealed his sorted history, he has resigned from his company and perhaps faces criminal charges.

This episode will tell a lot about our society and our ethics.

Weinstein has given to causes most cherished in Hollywood. He is a friend of the rich and famous. He has supported liberal causes.

In part because of fear and in part because of his position and his political views, his behavior has been tolerated and kept under wraps. When the New York Times published its story, Weinstein was outed.

This rather than his behavior brought him down.

Now, hypocrisy has been unleashed.

People are rushing to denounce him. They have nothing new to proclaim that they could not have proclaimed years before.

The reaction may be as basic as politics. The people who were gleeful and vengeful over the fall of O’Reilly and Ailes seemed quite capable of living with the same ugliness they decried so vehemently in them. Why did Harvey Weinstein not outrage them, too? The same may be asked of Bill Clinton. On the other side, the same may be asked of President Trump.

Does it mean that our ethics and concepts of right and wrong are simply functions of our politics? Are deep immorality and lack of decency judged simply as function of political interests?

Such behavior against women should generate universal condemnation and outrage, regardless of politics.

The situation can be described in any number of ways. One word that comes to mind is hypocrisy, and both sides are guilty of it.

This hypocrisy is rampant, and we are the worse for it.

Gordon Forgey,

Publisher