By now everyone has heard that Bill Cosby admitted to using Quaaludes to drug a woman back in the 70's. He claimed, in his deposition, that she met him backstage, he gave her (does not indicate whether she requested it, or if he slipped it in her drink, etc) the drug and they had sex. First, let me state equivocally that is is NOT okay to have sex with someone who is unable to give clear consent. Let me also state that in the 70's 'ludes were very popular.
David Herzberg wrote an interesting article called "Quaalude Nostalgia: A Retro Drug That Everyone Remembers Fondly." In the article found at http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/quaalude-nostalgia-a-retro-drug-that-everyone-remembers-fondly/252285/ he explains first the history of methaqualone, the generic name of Quaalude, William H. Rorer Pharmaceutical's brand name. It was synthesized by Indian researchers in 1951 but was unprotected by patent which led to Japanese and European pharmaceutical companies grabbing it up. It was introduced to America in 1965. Adam K. Raymond writes, in his article found at http://www.thefix.com/content/where-are-they-now-drugs-edition7098 that 'ludes were prescribed as a sedative and to treat insomnia. They became prized recreational drugs once people found out they both lowered inhibition and increased physical sensitivity. Raymond notes that by the mid-70's around four million Quaalude prescriptions were written each year. He goes on to say that bars with names like "The Inferno" and "Fudge Factory" started popping up in New York so people could dance and pop 'ludes together.
The drug remained an ordinary prescription-only drug until 1972. So when the press notes that Cosby had seven prescriptions for Quaaludes it wasn't that fantastic, it was particularly popular with the celebrity crowd. However, when abuse had become quite evident medical journals and newspapers began reporting about an "epidemic" so Congress convened hearings and changed methaqualone to a Schedule II Controlled Substance by the end of 1973. The DEA also aggressively lowered domestic production quotas each year after.
Now, considering the history of the recreational use of 'ludes we can not assume that Cosby thought, first, there was anything wrong with sharing them, or that she did not willingly take them. Of course, again, let me state, that I am not blaming the victim. She was in no condition, under the influence of a sedative, to consent. My point is that the media is oversimplifying Cosby's "drugging" his victims. Which brings up another point, she is the only one, and not mentioned by name I might add, with whom he has admitted to giving drugs and having sex. Stay with me here because in about two more sentences I'm going to piss off the greater portion of the celebrity worshiping population. Finally, let me say, that one of the Internet "news" headlines was "The Jig is Up: Why the Media Were Right to Convict Bill Cosby." NO, Howard Kurtz of Foxnews.com (just saw the feed in Google news, don't regularly visit). NEVER is it okay for the Media to convict or even take an opinion on a news story. But that's a rattle for another day.
Okay, here's where I piss a bunch of people off. Ready? Bill, why didn't you just pay the ladies off and hide out in Switzerland for a while? That's what Michael Jackson did. He was accused by no less than 20 MINORS...20 young boys. It is said that he paid $200 million dollars to his victims to keep them quiet. And yet he is still worshiped by many, there are television specials devoted to him, his music still tops the charts, people still write beautiful posts about him on the anniversary of his death. Why? Because he had the foresight to pay off his victims in exchange for silence and then die young. Michael Jackson should be held to the same standard as Cosby. Okay, I know, you're thinking where are her websites of information backing up these claims? Here ya go:
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2015/04/06/michael-jackson-allegedly-paid-200-million-20-child-sex-abuse-victims
http://www.etonline.com/news/162324_michael_jackson_accused_of_paying_millions_hush_money_to_alleged_molestation_victims/
http://www.people.com/article/new-sexual-abuse-claims-against-michael-jackson
http://www.inquisitr.com/1944509/michael-jackson-molestation-accusations-timeline/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2716878/Australian-choreographer-alleges-molested-Michael-Jackson.html
http://nypost.com/2014/08/10/michael-jacksons-ex-maids-reveal-madness-at-neverland/
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/michael-jackson-ex-maid-sex-abuse-accuser-played-dress-up-king-pop-article-1.1796671
Michael Jackson's victims (okay, alleged) and Bills Cosby's victims (again, alleged) have been failed by the system as well as their families and the celebrities that abused them. They have also been failed by the media. Jackson's victims didn't stand a snowballs chance in hell after Jackson was deified in the media. Meanwhile Cosby was immediately vilified by the same hacks. Now it's Jared's turn. Hey Jared, you're screwed.
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