Sexual harassment and sexual assault in the United States are finally getting their just due. Historically, society has tended to blame women for these problems, describing them as “loose women” if they drank alcohol, or labeling them temptresses for wearing makeup, jewelry or provocative hair styles or if their clothes were deemed to be too inappropriate. In 2017, however, women have come out of the woodwork from all classes and races to tell their stories. And people are actually believing the victims. (One can only speculate if it would have made any difference if this phenomenon had taken place in 2016 when Donald Trump was running for President.)

In 2017, large numbers of celebrities started saying that they, too, were victims of sexual harassment or sexual assault. As of December 17, 2017, 97 famous men (and one famous woman charged with sexually harassing a man) have been charged with sexual misconduct. Due to the influential outpouring of women willing to tell their stories, the TIME Person of the Year 2017 award went to “The Silence Breakers.”

This just seems to be one more example of the fact that social progress usually comes about very slowly. Human beings just seem to be extremely slow – and very afraid – to accept badly needed change.

It is interesting to note that the #MeToo movement was actually started in 2006, the brainchild of a Black woman named Tarana Burke. As often happens, however, the movement did not take off until a privileged White woman, actress Alyssa Milano, along with other privileged White women, told their stories. It raises the obvious question: Why is it that so often a serious problem cannot get attention unless or until a certain number of Whites give voice to it? As Richard Pryor used to joke, a problem doesn’t become an epidemic unless “… it’s happening to White people.”

It is bemusing to see that some of those charged with sexual misconduct were men who had supported feminist issues and causes and who were once embraced by feminists. Two excellent examples are Bill Cosby and Al Franken.

When former President Bill Clinton was credibly accused of sexual harassment, many feminists supported him because they found him to be politically useful. They sold their souls to the Devil (metaphorically speaking, of course). Now, though, it seems that feminists – and women in general – are far less likely to embrace such hypocritical positions. Still, a whopping 63% of White evangelical women voters in Alabama voted for credibly accused sexual predator Roy Moore in his failed bid for the Senate. (It’s as if these conservative White women will gladly cut their own throats just to help the White men in their lives advance a patriarchal, reactionary, theocratic and White supremacist agenda.) For this reason and others, it is not clear that the #MeToo movement will make a lasting change in the way that society views and treats women.

Many of these famous men have ruined their careers because of their sexually abusive behavior. However, a related phenomenon shows that, when women are believed, the consequences of crimes against women could be far-reaching.

In 2017, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott had been suspended for six games for domestic abuse. His former girlfriend had alleged that he had committed acts of domestic violence against her in Columbus, Ohio. She filed police reports and requested that the city’s District Attorney charge him in July 2016. Despite the fact that no charges were filed against him, the National Football League investigated the charges for over a year and found that Elliott had attacked his ex-girlfriend three different times.

The National Football League Players Association fought long and hard to defend Elliott by filing a lawsuit against the NFL. In the end, however, the League prevailed and Elliott’s suspension was enforced.

Prior to the suspension, many saw the Cowboys as Super Bowl favorites. After the suspension, however, the Cowboys lost crucial games without their superstar running back, and are likely to miss the playoffs. Thus, Elliott’s suspension hurt him, his teammates, his coaches, the team’s owner, and Cowboys fans all over the world. Kudos to the NFL for going above and beyond to take a stand they did not have to take, and for setting an example for others to go after women abusers who escape the “long arm of the law.”

This raises the question as to what should happen to the work and recognition of talented people who have been involved in unsavory actions. Should their accomplishments be discounted? Should they be exempt from receiving awards for their accomplishments? Should they have awards revoked? Should they be considered untalented? Should they ever be permitted to practice their crafts again? Should we feel guilty for appreciating their talent, buying their work, and so on?

One’s talent does not and cannot magically evaporate just because he or she has committed an abominable act. We should be able to separate one’s negative actions from his or her talent and accomplishments. This is especially true if the person has already been justly punished or lost employment, status, and so forth. Moreover, to give someone an award for their accomplishments has nothing to do with condoning (or condemning) his or her acts of immorality or illegality. They are receiving awards for their accomplishments, not for their despicable behavior. Any punishments or negative fallout for their bad behavior should come from the legal system and the judgment and treatment they will receive from others. There need be no feelings of guilt for appreciating a scoundrel’s talent as long as his or her bad behavior is roundly condemned and/or punished.

Should someone who has committed an immoral or illegal action get another chance? Christian teachings would say yes, and I would concur. We all have faults, and we all need forgiveness at various times in our lives. As long as the guilty party sincerely apologizes and is contrite and seriously committed to not repeating the infraction, he or she deserves forgiveness.

Al Franken admitted to his wrongdoing, apologized, and stepped down from his prized political position. Franken’s harmful actions do not change the fact that he is an absolutely brilliant and hilarious political satirist. His books, Rush Limbaugh Is a Big, Fat Idiot and Other Essays and Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right are masterpieces of political humor.

Ironically, Franken has wonderfully defended women. For example, in his book Lies, he humorously challenged National Review editor Rich Lowry to a fight, even though Franken has never been in a fight. He wrote:

One area where Lowry seems paleo-conservative…is in the realm of gender politics. When Massachusetts governor Jane Swift had twins, he called for her to step down. I agreed, but that was because she was a Republican. (p. 333)

Franken’s political humor has been a powerful weapon in the war against right-wing politics. It is hoped that he never loses his edge in this regard and continues making great contributions to progressive politics.

As a military veteran, what has shocked me are the numerous instances of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military. When I served in the Air Force from 1980-1984, we were told in basic training by Social Actions that sexual harassment would not be tolerated, and that those found guilty of it could be dishonorably discharged. This message was repeated to us throughout our careers. I was certain that the message was so serious that instances of sexual harassment in the military had to be practically non-existent. How wrong I was!

In order to far more effectively combat sexual harassment and sexual assault, we have to change our cultures. We must begin by teaching children that sexual harassment and sexual assault are wrong, and why they are wrong. These actions are disrespectful and dehumanizing. They are violations of basic human rights, including the right to human dignity. They harm people and ruin people’s lives. And now, hopefully, more people will see that sexual misconduct can have grave consequences far beyond those that accrue to the victimizer.

Finally, more feminists are beginning to speak of enthusiastic consent before people have sex. This is a great idea. After all, if the parties engaged in the sex are not enthusiastic about it, just how enjoyable can it be? The idea of consent wedded to enthusiasm should be a boon to sexual relations everywhere and could very well help reduce instances of sexual harassment and sexual assault.