Given the press coverage that the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for a seat in the US Supreme Court and the 24/7 media circus that has followed him since Christine Blasey Ford announced she had been assaulted by him years ago at a party, it is almost a challenge to read about anything else in the world. In fact, the September 28th earthquake that registered 7.5 on the Richter Scale unleashing a powerful tsunami against Palu, Indonesia resulting in the deaths of at least 800 people, has barely registered a blip on the US news media cycle. This is disconcerting, especially for those of us who consider ourselves "global citizens" but it is not alone in being shunned for more "newsworthy" items.
For some time now, the Swedish Academy, that awards the annual Nobel Peace Prize, has been embroiled in a controversy that it would much rather go away. On October 1, a court in Sweden sentenced the renowned French photographer and cultural icon Jean-Claude Arnault to two years in prison for rape. Last November 18 women had come forward to charge him with assault. Naturally, Mr. Arnault proclaimed his innocence, but that is not the controversial story here. His wife, the poet Katarina Frostenson, is a member of the Academy, but was not asked to leave. Inexplicably, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Sara Danius, was. Ms Danius was the first woman to ever lead the Academy.
Two former secretaries, Sture Allen and Horace Engdahl, have not only been very critical of Ms. Danius, but they have decried the reaction to the allegations against Arnault. They just cannot seem to accept that a woman held a leadership role in an organization that is essentially an all men's club. Shame on them. It appears that they suffer the same malady that has afflicted many of the who have attacked Dr. Blasey Ford. It is ironic that this mentality retains its global vitality; no borders check this sad condition.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the Brett Kavanaugh-Christine Blasey Ford saga, but one thing that we should keep in mind is this: we should not be distracted by the circus, the media frenzy, the numerous memes travelling the Internet and the screeds and tirades on the blogosphere. We must also look at what is going on with the Swedish Academy and put the matter in perspective. The issue is much more than that of a Democrat vs Republican or whether Kavanaugh is fit for the Supreme Court (I don't believe he is); it is about the issue of balance of male-female power and how it is often balanced in favor of males around the world. Let us not get too caught up in the Kavanaugh-Blasey Ford situation; let us look at other similar situations and bring them to the fore. They also need media attention.
Much like the US Senate Judiciary Committee, the Swedish Academy is a venerable and historic institution that needs to join the 21st century. Only by directing massive media attention at it, can we hope to spur change.
For some time now, the Swedish Academy, that awards the annual Nobel Peace Prize, has been embroiled in a controversy that it would much rather go away. On October 1, a court in Sweden sentenced the renowned French photographer and cultural icon Jean-Claude Arnault to two years in prison for rape. Last November 18 women had come forward to charge him with assault. Naturally, Mr. Arnault proclaimed his innocence, but that is not the controversial story here. His wife, the poet Katarina Frostenson, is a member of the Academy, but was not asked to leave. Inexplicably, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Sara Danius, was. Ms Danius was the first woman to ever lead the Academy.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the Brett Kavanaugh-Christine Blasey Ford saga, but one thing that we should keep in mind is this: we should not be distracted by the circus, the media frenzy, the numerous memes travelling the Internet and the screeds and tirades on the blogosphere. We must also look at what is going on with the Swedish Academy and put the matter in perspective. The issue is much more than that of a Democrat vs Republican or whether Kavanaugh is fit for the Supreme Court (I don't believe he is); it is about the issue of balance of male-female power and how it is often balanced in favor of males around the world. Let us not get too caught up in the Kavanaugh-Blasey Ford situation; let us look at other similar situations and bring them to the fore. They also need media attention.
Much like the US Senate Judiciary Committee, the Swedish Academy is a venerable and historic institution that needs to join the 21st century. Only by directing massive media attention at it, can we hope to spur change.
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