Kaitlyn Lewis, Opinion Editor
Monica Lewinsky, the woman who in 1998 made her mark in history during President Bill Clinton’s adulterous affair and impeachment, has carried a shameful reputation for many years. Her mistake has been recorded in history books, but her great achievements have been ignored. Although Lewinsky’s reputation may be forever stained, her character is stronger than the pain and hurt she endured.
Last week the TED Talk organization published Lewinsky’s redeeming speech to their website. For me, a millennial born in 1995, this was actually the first time I have been able to see Lewinsky’s personality and hear her voice.
I admire her bravery and her willingness to remain in the public light in spite of the reputation she has earned.
If anyone had a reason to give up, it was Lewinsky, who could not escape her public humiliation.
“I was branded as a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo and, of course, ‘that woman,’” Lewinsky said in her speech. “I was known by many, but actually known by few. I get it. It was easy to forget ‘that woman’ was dimensional and had a soul.”
Lewinsky criticized the “shame industry”—gossip sites and news outlets that publish articles that may humiliate people. These are some of the grey areas of journalism that I wrestle with in my major.
While I believe it is important to report the news—including both the good and the bad stories, I think Lewinsky is right in that we should be slow to judge the people in the news stories.
“I know I’m not alone when it comes to public humiliation,” Lewinsky wrote in Vanity Fair in June 2014. “No one, it seems, can escape the unforgiving gaze of the Internet, where gossip, half-truths and lies take root and fester.”
The Internet is cruel to those who make mistakes, and the humiliation can never fully disappear. Embarrassing videos stay online for years and are continually shared on social media websites.
“We talk a lot about our right to freedom of expression, but we need to talk more about our responsibility to freedom of expression,” Lewinsky said in her TED Talk.
Shame is a powerful tool that can be used to silence people. Not many have experienced shame quite like Lewinsky, but we relate to her.
I admire Lewinsky for being able to overcome her shame and have compassion for those who have been in her place. Her story is something we all need to hear, especially on a college campus. She proves that pain is not permanent and compassion is stronger than regret.
