Two nights ago Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sat down, his wife beside him, for an interview on FOX News. Following his denial of the sexual misconduct he has been accused of, anchor Martha MacCallum said to the nominee, “So you were a virgin during all these years?”
Huh?
Questions and answers
What journalistic standard was the FOX anchor using? Had she gone all the way to ensure ratings? Whatever happened to propriety and respect?
I wanted the SCOTUS nominee to use his professional judgment and experience. To respond directly,“Your question, Ms. MacCallum, is not relevant.” Alas, that did not happen.
That spectacle-ular interview was the third recent event to point out to me that standards, they are a-changing.
To read or not to
I belong to a book club for writers. Each month members read a selected book and analyze it using criteria for a specific genre. The September genre was humor. A review on the back cover of the selected book praised it as being “the sweetest and most charming novel about pornography addiction….”
Huh?
What is “sweet” or “charming” about porn addiction? I don’t think those are the words a woman I know would use. She recently described the heartbreak she felt after inadvertently discovering her husband’s addiction to porn. Shocked. Devastated. Threatened.
A personal note
I learned last week of a conversation between my grandson and his mother about an upcoming comedy show in which he’s performing.
“I don’t think Nam ought to come to the show.”
“Why not? She always enjoys seeing the shows you’re in.”
“I don’t think Nam would be comfortable with this one, especially the song about porn.”
Huh?
A humorous song about porn? In a show intended to spotlight the comic talents of high-school actors? Directed by adults?
Where have all the standards gone? Long time passing?
With apologies to Pete Seeger — I hope not every one.
