Not That Sane. V Lakshman. Every Wednesday.

Only 24! (Jan. 28, '98)

I don't care very much whether Bill and Monica made out in the White House. Personally, I think the media is playing on the prurience of the general populace and dragging the "scandal" on. This is national television's version of those breast-implant and bra-size stories you see on the local news broadcasts around ratings time. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't comment on it.

Still, Ms. Lewinsky's lawyer has been going around claiming that people have been taking advantage of a 24-year old girl. The tenor of his comments suggests that 24-year olds are immature and unable to articulate their feelings and desires. Harumph! Someone should remind the medical malpractice lawyer that even 18-year-olds are considered adults; a 24-year old employee of the Pentagon is nobody's candidate for naivette. And even if 24-years is an immature age in the lawyer's estimate, youth does not equal insanity; it is neither excuse nor defense. Whatever Ms. Lewinsky did or declined to do, her lawyer shouldn't be invoking erroneous notions. Twenty-four-year olds are quite capable of forming judgement.


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