It’s not politics or entertainment; it’s society

The last few weeks have seen plenty of stories on sexual harassment and misconduct in the national and even in the Minnesota media. Entertainment figures such as producer Harvey Weinstein and performers like Kevin Spacey and Louis CK have been accused by a number of people of abusing their power in the entertainment industry by exhibiting lewd behavior and sexually harassing others. The trend has also spread to politics, both nationally and in Minnesota, with US Sen. Al Franken having been accused of forcing a kiss and groping a fellow performer during a USO Tour and of groping women who have had their photos taken with him. A sitting state senator, Dan Schoen, and state representative, Tony Cornish, have also been forced to resign after complaints of harassment. And in Alabama, the news has been all over reports that US Senate Candidate Roy Moore had a habit of pursuing relationships with teenage girls while he was a District Attorney years ago.

Partisan observers seem to want to point out that this is a “Democratic” problem or a “Republican” problem. It is neither. Cornish, Moore and President Trump, who has been accused of harassment over the years, are Republicans, Schoen, Franken and former President Bill Clinton, whose issues with women have been the topic of discussion for years, are Democrats.

Others seem to want to look at it as a problem isolated to the entertainment industry or politics. Again, it is not. Sexual assault and sexual harassment in these fields are part of a societal problem. Harassment goes on in workplaces across the country - and across the world.

It shouldn’t seem too much for a person to ask to be left alone to do their job without having to face unwanted advances or be forced to view illicit photos. Perhaps these recent news reports will force people to take a closer view at behavior in the workplace and take a stand when they see it happening to others