Today I read something that happened almost two weeks ago which occurred during a Queens of the Stone Age concert when a video clip shows its frontman Josh Homme striking the camera of photographer Chelsea Lauren which ended up also kicking her on the head.
As a man and photographer let me say from the go, that kicking anybody anywhere is wrong. From the video it shows Mr Homme kicking Ms. Lauren's camera, which is disgusting, then got worse since her camera also hit her face which sent her to the hospital. I dont think that race, gender, or whatever could be add to this has anything to do with any of what went down. By reading the article and comments I discovered that the singer also kicked male photographers as well but none of that matters for what he did was wrong. Obviously he was in the zone, probably high on something, and acting like a lunatic like many bands do and probably didn’t know what he was doing even if it was the erroneous thing to do. If I had been the singer/band I would issue an apology right away, which he did when most celebs never do, I would replace her camera if it was broken and pay any medical bills due. I would also invite Ms. Lauren to be at my next concert with all expenses paid, plane/hotel, and to have full front/backstage/anywhere access from the moment the bus arrived until it leaves with the band. And of course I would make sure not to kick anybody again.
Too many terrible things done mostly by men has been coming down the pipe and I am glad that is been put on display specially by the moving force of strong and courageous women who had been abused and denigrated for too many years until they say "BASTA" and from there it gave birth to "MeToo" as a rallying cry to fight back any sexual abuses. Let's also keep in mind that not all men are equal, not all men are pigs and not everything is done with evil intentions for the sake of assaulting and disparaging any person due to their gender. Mistakes do happen and a direct conversation and an apology should suffice instead of yelling then pointing the finger at an innocent person. There is too much drama going on specially here in the USA and is getting to the point that even an innocuous handshake or a hug from a friend, a colleague, a teacher or a coach could be construed the wrong way. All it takes is an instigator to install the wrong counsel in someone’s head and to make it worse for all. But the painful reality is that most of these women are telling the truth. For a few of them vindication finally is arriving but at a terrible price while the stories of many more have been shoved to the side.
After reading my blog a long time dear friend wrote me and educated with some facts which I was oblivious to it. Is difficult to fathom that 1 our of every 6 women in the USA as been a victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. With sadness and pain I also discovered that my friend, who is very strong and can stand on her own, was raped when she was 4 years old. What sick influential person goes around acting like an animal while destroying the life and future of young girls or for that matter of any age?
All these new revelations is also making it difficult for men of great character and integrity for it have placed them on the edge and afraid that any wrong move can be construe the wrong way.
How difficult will be for people of great intention to work with others, be a mentor, a coach, become friends or date in the future? Most couple meet at their work places so if Joe ask Liza out and she said no, like it happens in real life, then a few weeks later Joe asked her again, like most men do when pursuing a girl they like, then she can easily go to her boss and say, “I can’t sleep now and due to the stress cant eat either for Joe had asked me twice about going out and I said no already.” Next day Joe is fired and send home.
Who in here hasn’t asked a man or a woman out and was turned down. Then later you see that couple dating and one of them saying, “She/he kept asking me out and I kept saying no. I was even getting flowers each week then finally we went to supper and the rest is history.” That is how humanity functions and the same goes for the rest of the animal kingdom. This new social behavior happening in the USA is troubling and accusations on the wrong person, even if the percentage is low, could continue which for others may lead to isolation and sitting most of the time behind a computer instead of been part of the human race and enjoy life.
Lets reflect and try not to jump so easily into the bandwagon, with arms and missiles ready to launch, and to loose all the respect for someone we admire without checking out all the details or who the accused really is or worse without given that person the benefit that him/her could be totally innocent yet once that line is crossed we had destroyed someone based on hearsay and emotions or worse someone else pushing us to go that slippery road.
