The term "kiss cam" is certainly on the tip of everyone's tongue now. Has the celebrated incident reminded us that in these Sodom and Gomorrah times, when the "Access Hollywood" tape could not take down Donald Trump, we still draw a line with certain things? So we still draw a line with adultery? I would be most happy if that was the case.
Many of us I'm sure have been close to adulterous relationships. I'm sure an adulterer might even come across a piece like what I'm writing. How do adulterers react when they are confronted about their behavior? Like by a co-worker?
Oh indeed, the workplace is notorious for bringing people together in an amorous way. Women's lib caused women to flow into the workplace. Conservative values may have resisted that a bit. Remember, it wasn't until 1970 that the far-reaching Lutheran Church of America even allowed women pastors! And where would we be without them now? Truth be told, we're in pretty bad shape the way it is. I will state again that the day may come where we're thankful for gays wanting to go into ministry.
In the heterosexual world, put men and women together in the workplace and guess what happens?
Our taboo against adultery has appeared to remain strong. Looks like there was no forgiveness coming out of the "kiss cam" incident of the last few days. It was the classic workplace romance. In its immediate aftermath, the woman who was cheated upon rejected the philandering husband. So the man was crushed in the public eye.
The sinning couple got caught up on the big Jumbotron screen or whatever it was. And ironically such scenes were supposed to be so charming. We'll have to see if the big venues keep allowing this sort of thing. And why shouldn't they? The people operating the roving camera cannot be expected to assume that they are going to catch something shameful and scandalous. Man it's just a male and female responding to natural love hormones. If they're married to other people, well then that's their problem, right?
Tickets for these events will have "fine print" making clear that you might get on camera in a conspicuous way. I smiled as I remembered a scene from the old Monday Night Football when it was in its early prime. To remind: the days of Howard Cosell, "Dandy Don" and Frank Gifford. The camera would rove now and then, sometimes purely at random, not necessarily to find lovers doing their thing.
And so here's a scene with a woman wbo your average heterosexual young male would find quite attractive. There was silence for a few seconds as her face filled the screen. And then - my Lord - she reached up and picked her nose! And Gifford commented "she was almost perfect." Embarrassing for the ingenue, yes, but pales in comparison with what came forth in the last few days.
I have suggested that a main problem was how the lovebirds "panicked" the instant they realized their canoodling was up on the Jumbotron or whatever it was. Their reaction made it instantly clear that they knew that what they were doing was wrong! Obviously they acted like they wanted to hide.
Was this just "15 minutes of fame?" I've already forgotten their names. They were big money people from one of those flashy tech companies - heaven knows what they actually did or what they contributed to society. Their private lives have been thrown totally off course. But as public figures they are here today, gone tomorrow.
This news item coincided with WNBA All-Star Weekend. I write on my companion blog "Morris of Course" about how the growth of this event could make it a late-summer "marker" for us all. So it helps get us through the dog days of summer. These are days leading up to the county fair. Here's a link to my "Morris of Course" post and I thank you for reading like always. Get well Caitlin!
In my own case, I worked within a few feet of a pretty well-known adulterous relationship during my time with the Morris Sun Tribune newspaper. No one can ever forget or downplay an experience like that.
As I was familiar with the people, I can conclude with a fair amount of certainty that it was the woman who hit on the man. She had tried this before. Not with me! One might suggest that her marriage was not very well cemented.
If her husband knew about her proclivities, why did he stay with her? Logical question. But logic can weigh in very little with matters of romance and commitment, n'est-ce pas? Man, I sure can't understand it. I have never had a girlfriend. I doubt anyone would be interested, but that's a topic for another time (let's say never).
The man in the relationship of which I speak was the most disgusting person I have ever been around. So why would a woman be interested in him? I sure don't know, do not pretend to understand these things. They left the newspaper before they got married. I don't know if they were induced to leave because of the "scandal." Would be conjecture.
They had no problem announcing their marriage plans on the front page of the paper. We live in a surreal world sometimes. There's a million stories in the naked city.
How did it all turn out? Well they got divorced. I couldn't care less what happens to them now. The woman was totally Machiavellian as a department head in the business. She really functioned as the general manager even though that was not her title, but again, a topic for another time, maybe never because who cares now?
Workplaces have a lot of discomfort and anxiety that are mostly kept under wraps. The great commentator Ed Schultz talked about this once. His background included being quarterback for Moorhead State football! Anyway, Schultz noted one day that "people get fired from jobs all the time." And this doesn't happen like with "Mr. Spacely" from "The Jetsons." "You're fired!" Well, sometimes it might happen that way.
In my case, I'm sure the company wanted me out. My abilities were greatly held back during all my years with the Morris newspaper. Neverthelsss I found joy in simply being close to journalism. It's the main thing I will always care about. And I had lots of precious experiences with the newspaper in spite of the shoals I always faced.
Every year when the time comes for MAHS graduation, I imagine myself showing up with notebook and camera. No one can take those memories away from me.
I wish there was a way to put the memory with the adulterous relationship into the dumpster. Then have it hauled off.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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