It seems as though moral fortitude, in ’public figures’ is becoming less fashionable nowadays. Two well known ‘iconic’ Americans are languishing in the throes of scandalous, historical behaviour, that came back to haunt them decades after the events. Dozens, if not scores of would-be actresses had made allegations of sexual impropriety, unwelcome sexual advances and even rape. The legal system, grinding slowly as it does, eventually caught up with them.
What we should not forget however is that the allegations, or disclosures if you prefer, were a very long time in coming. Also they only came after ‘the first woman, had made the first allegation’. This says so much more about the perpetrators’ moral fortitude than it does about the victims’. This observation should not be misconstrued as a device to blame any of the women for what happened to them. Fear of reprisal, shame and campaigns of ‘dirty tricks’ are powerful motivators to keep your mouth shut. In some cases, money is too.
One British actress has waived her anonymity to ask the question ‘Why am I the only actress in Britain with the guts to speak out?’ The answer is found in the power that powerful men can bring to bear. It will take time for other Britons, who have suffered at the hands of the ‘icons’(if indeed there are any) to garner the strength, courage and bravery to come forward.
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