OPINION:

When I watched the Golden Globes, I thought, “This protest is amazing. The united effort they showed about a topic swept under the rug for too long is revolutionary.” And it was. But, the message on how to change society was not in the headlines.

Actors and actresses have become suddenly similar to every day people in that they are impacted by the same crimes as normal people are, and they too are afraid of vocalizing what happened to them. In the wake of hundreds of allegations, countless actors and actresses have been brave enough to call out their attackers.

By now, it seems to a commonplace fact that yet another person has been harassing for years without being caught. It seems to be the new normal.

Was it not the point of naming accusers that the society that has been condoning this behavior would finally be shocked by the multitude? Or have we been shocked by our own capacities to get used to the terrible things we see in the news?

I personally hope that we have not reached this point, but I know that the headlines read “[Name] accused of sexual misconduct” not “How one school can change society” or “What one business does to prevent misconduct.”

The point of putting these stories into the world is to motivate a business associate or manager or hotel employee to ask, what rules in the workplace that protect accusers? Or what questions, what change, can I push in my sphere of influence?

It has become popular in Hollywood to call out names, which is a courageous act, but I hope they too wanted more from the public.

Educate about sexism. Listen to those who share their stories. Do not be a bystander or a silent listener, support those being victimized.

Idaho lawmakers had an anti-harassment training session, then updated policies. It is just a start, but hopefully one the rest of the nation will follow.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

I do not know what it is about television locations that are actual places (and not sets), but they fascinate me.

Growing up, hands down, my favorite show was “Full House.” This past winter break I went to San Francisco, and one of the top things on my list to go see was the “Full House” house, which is the house they show for not even five seconds on the show.

That was not the first time my family has done something like this.

We have visited the “Home Alone” house, taken a family photo in front of the Solow Building in New York (more famously known as Chandler Bing’s office), and have even seen the “Brady Bunch House.”

The reason why my family and so many other people are eager to visit these sites is because when you get drawn into a television series or a movie, you get invested in the lives of the characters (which, when you think about it, is kind of sad), and you want it to become real life.

There is amusement when you go to these places–it is exciting. I mean, who would not want to go to the hotel where Nick Parker famously got pushed into the pool in “The Parent Trap?”

Speaking of the “The Parent Trap,” when I was 11, I was in the process of looking at sleep-away camps. I found out my grandma went to Camp Walden in Maine. I was later notified that the camp in the movie is inspired by Camp Walden.

I did not end up going there, but I have to say that would be pretty sick!

TV shows give viewers have these goals and desires based off of what they are watching, and seeing real sets makes it even more apparent. There is nothing wrong with obsessing over these locations.

As a matter of fact, I plan to visit more famous locations in the future.