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Do not for a minute consider that the outpouring of distress and sadness at the passing
last year of the Diana, Princess of Wales, was because she was pretty or had the
common touch. The issue was that of sexual fidelity. She was perceived by the public
as being betrayed by Charles, Prince of Wales, who had opportunistically married
her to give the British monarchy succession and once accomplished he turned to his
mistress and his wife was able to convey her situation to the world and achieved
immediate sympathy for the exploitative situation she had gone through.
We are now seeing, as the media digests the Starr Report the realisation
that the young California Intern, Monica Lewinsky deserves support and consideration.
Television was decorated the last two days with images of Clinton’s long time mistress
Jennifer Flowers and complainant Paula Jones (right), both of whom
had been subjected by the President’s staff and comedians to ridicule. Now in the
light of the Report, these women are seen in considerably different light and there
is a steady growth in compassion toward them. It would seem appropriate for Jay
Leno and David Letterman to at some point, voice their apologies for capitalising
on the situations these woman experienced, it is even conceivable that both of these
and others like them, will have no choice but to act in this manner as public opinion
shifts.
The bottom
line, the result of the whole process is that women and their relationship with men
is being reevaluated. It is no coincidence that one of the most important network
television shows of the past year was about the female situation in the work place.
“Ally McBeal”(left) engages
the issues of this era, it does not resolve them, but it certainly examines the variations
and attitudes about male/female interactivity. Popular music, either the gingo style
of the Spice Girls or in country music,
Deana Carter's (right) “And I Shaved My Legs For This,” draw attention
to a marked realignment of how women see themselves and how men are having to come
to terms with that changing view. The American President deserves the black eye
he is getting and no matter what achievements he is able to carry out in his two
terms as leader of the American people, he will go down in history as the guy who
acted badly and lied about it.