How Lewd!

Seeing as how we live in a society that pretty much revolves around the Internet, smartphones and social media, I think it's safe to say that scandalous events are, sadly, becoming more and more common. Whether it be a professional athlete, movie star, politician or just your average citizen, our ever-growing dependence on technology has made it more and more difficult for individuals to maintain any sort of privacy. And that begs another question; why is what anyone does in the privacy of their own home any of our business?

That being said, I think the fact that so many public figures are being outed for their lapses of judgment has been inevitable – and even more so since social media has evolved to what it is today. Yes, public figures should be more cautious about how they are portrayed and try to be the best role models they can be, but I have serious qualms about the way in which their privacy is constantly invaded. I honestly think our society has become so wrapped up in what celebrities are doing that we have lost sight of what's truly important. Did the fact that Brett Favre sent lewd photos to a sideline reporter really affect how he played football? No more than the late Wilt Chamberlain's reputation as a womanizer affected his basketball skills, I'm sure.

But I digress. This week, Rep. Anthony Weiner, a democrat from New York, admitted that he sent a lewd photo to a female college student over Twitter and lied repeatedly to protect himself. While Weiner declared that what he did was a "hugely regrettable mistake," especially since he's a public figure, he has refused to resign. So, does this married politician not think what he did, as well as lying and admitting to inappropriate contact with six other women via social networking sites and over the phone, was inappropriate? Apparently not, as he has adamantly declared that he had done nothing wrong.

Though I'm sure he will continue to be the butt of many jokes in late-night talk show monologues, I can somewhat understand why he has chosen not to step down. When you look at the indiscretions of former president Bill Clinton and former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, who had extra-marital affairs while in office, what Weiner did is a somewhat trivial matter. To be honest, if every politician were to step down for their unsavory actions, it would be difficult to keep people in office. After all, these individuals are only human and, as humans, they are sure to have lapses in judgement just like anyone else. Regardless of the fact that they are held to a much higher standard, they, too, deserve second chances.

Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times