Issues involving kids vs. those of adults can’t be compared
‘Zero tolerance’:
I find it difficult to understand how Jonathan Zimmerman (Dec. 26 Perspectives, “Liberals, Make Some Distinctions”) believes that analogies can be made between “zero tolerance” for schoolchildren and challenges to inappropriate conduct by adults.
Children, by definition, are not yet completely capable of correct behavior. We should expect them to make mistakes. Their brains are not fully developed, and they are only in the process of learning how to relate to other people. Add to that picture both the typical trials and challenges of a growing child and the special challenges presented by poverty, mental illness and family strife and it is clear that distinctions must be made between rule violations that warrant removal from the school community and those that warrant only assistance with modifying behavior.
Adults have no such excuses. Any adult who does not understand that it is inappropriate to touch another person without permission, that it’s obnoxious to pursue another person verbally and that witnessing such behaviors and not preventing them is unacceptable in general, and especially so in the workplace, does not deserve to be treated with kid gloves.
Many women who have testified about their “#MeToo” moment have pointed out that even a culture that includes pervasive sexual innuendos without physical follow-through can be stifling and cause longterm damage to those who have to endure it. Al Franken has accomplished many good things in his senatorial career. Had his only offense been that he patted someone on the shoulder and made her uncomfortable, I might agree with Mr. Zimmerman. But that was not the case: Several women accused him of actions that a fully competent adult should have known were socially unacceptable. In fact, I’d argue that Mr. Franken understand this: As a comedian, he would be aware that the biggest laughs on stage come from transgressing social boundaries. But his accusers were speaking of off-stage events, demonstrating that he has not learned the difference.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was right to call for Mr. Franken’s resignation, and he was right to recognize that he should leave. I’m looking forward to the day when such clear understanding results in women feeling free to speak up without fear of retaliation or challenges to their credibility when they are harassed or attacked, and to far fewer adults feeling free to cross social boundaries. CINDY HARRIS
O’Hara