OUTRAGE

WHEN DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER SAYS SHE IS "ENRAGED BEYOND ALL MEASURE," BY THE CONDUCT OF A SPECIFIC YOUNG WOMAN, DOES SHE LEGITIMATELY DEFINE OUTRAGE? OR IS OUTRAGE THE BODY OF A DEAD AMERICAN SOLDIER DRAGGED THROUGH THE STREETS OF A FOREIGN CITY? OR IS OUTRAGE THE 23 MILLION DOLLAR SALARY TO A BASEBALL PLAYER OVER 5 YEARS? OR IS OUTRAGE THE UNJUSTIFIABLE COMPENSATION TO A STAR REPORTER OR HAS-BEEN DIVA OF SONG?

THESE INDIGNITIES TO MY SENSIBILITIES COME NO WHERE CLOSE TO THE MY OUTRAGE OVER AN INTERVIEW WITH A YOUNG, 20 SOMETHING, FEMALE, MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER WHO REPEATEDLY COPULATED WITH A 14 YR. OLD MALE STUDENT. A SPECIAL RELEASE FROM HOUSE ARREST (HER PUNISHMENT FOR THIS OUTRAGE) FACILITATED A MEETING WHICH PANDERED TO THE INTERPLAY OF PULCHRITUDE AND THE PRURIENT. I WAS OUTRAGED AT THE REPORTER, OUTRAGED AT THE NEWS NETWORK, OUTRAGED AT THE REPEATED, MEDIA COVERAGE, OUTRAGED AT THE LACK OF PARENTING TO THIS WOMAN WHO WAS SEXUALLY ACTIVE SINCE THE AGE OF 13, OUTRAGED AT THE RESPECTABILITY GIVEN TO THIS SINFUL 'HOTTIE', OUTRAGED AT THIS INSULT TO THE MORAL FABRIC OF A SOCIETY. SURE, SEX SELLS AND SEX SCANDALS SELL EVEN BETTER. BUT THAT OLD-TIME TELEVISION GAME SHOW'S TITLE, CAPTURES THE SINKING OF SHAME IN AMERICA BEST. "DOWN YOU GO." GUILT IS PALPABLY ABSENT FROM OUR POPULAR CULTURE AND PROUDLY NOT ON DISPLAY.