An apology isn’t enough
An apology from Al Franken is welcome, but I think he should find an appropriate public forum to explain his sexually abusive behavior. It squarely fits in the middle of a social crisis — massive sexual abuse of and violence against women — that has exploded into the national consciousness and turned this commonplace, but up to now socially hidden behavior into something that is socially exposed and unacceptable. Of course, this shift in social attitudes wouldn’t have happened without many courageous women — young and old — coming forward to painfully tell their stories of this destructive behavior, perpetrated by men of all ages — all of whom are in some way in positions of social power. Franken in my opinion owes a fuller accounting of what he did and why he thought it was acceptable to the Democratic Party, the progressive movement, the people of Minnesota, the country, and, most of all, Leeann Tweeden.
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As widespread as ‘this’ is, we can’t simply condemn and get these men out of sight. We have to figure out how to deal in a larger societal way. I think of South Africa’s truth and reconcilation process. I wish I could discuss further, but I have a two year old (a week or so shy) grandson to tend to.