Friday 4 July 2014

Angel's Advocate: Rolf Harris

First Savile, then Stuart Hall, now Rolf Harris. The whole business is a revision (and a self destructive  inversion) of the whole celebrity culture, and also reflects the dark side not only of these famous personalities, but also the dark side of the permissive 1970s, where people, particularly famous people, felt they were free to do what they wanted.

Nevertheless, such activities were what was once considered to be people's private lives. The saddest thing in this case in particular, is that a lot of the victims are Rolf fans, and as great as their pain is from personal experience is also the prospect of their hero being brought down.

The baying public and Media are quick to condemn a person that until this week, they didn't believe was guilty. Sadly, all his monuments, some of his art and even possibly his honours, are being removed. It was once said that the deeds of a man outweigh his faults.

Many of these offences were also committed several years ago. I hope in decades to come, people will remember Rolf Harris as much for his entertainment as his personal history, once the public's indignation and horror has
a chance to cool down.