By Judi Curry
At the risk of alienating a lot of people, I am absolutely incensed by the City Council naming a day after Peggy Shannon for the “harassment suffered by the mayor of San Diego.” A day in her honor? For what? What did she do that was so honorable? Stop a thief? Adopt orphan children; Save people from a burning building? Fund a scholarship for children that can’t afford to go to college?
She is having a “day of honor” so that the city does not have to pay out any money from the harassment of the former mayor? She is having a “day of honor” because she told the world about the mayor’s flirting with her? She is having a “day of honor” because she “. . . had butterflies in her stomach because she didn’t know what was going to happen the next time the mayor came to her desk”?
Hell, lady. I am also a great-grandmother. I have been flirted with – and flirt back – all the time. I am older than you and still enjoy the attention of the opposite sex, be it a few words, a hug, or a kiss. The complaint that he “kissed her on the lips” certainly is harassment and has no place in the working society of today. Sure, it was “unsolicited” and uncalled for, and the mayor lost his job over it. But my goodness – a day in her honor?
How many other people have been granted “days of honor” for far more severe things then being flirted with by the mayor? What about all the women that have said they were sexually harassed by members of the San Diego Police Department? Are they going to be given “days of honor” too? Are there enough days in the year for all these proclamations?
A “Day of Honor” should be reserved for deeds well done; for extraordinary and exemplary actions that are not the usual. This “Day of Honor” for Ms. Shannon is a sham perpetrated by the desire to not have to pay anything for the mayors dastardly deed.
I am sorry that Ms. Shannon was harassed; I am glad that she reported it; I am sorry that she is viewed as a “victim”; but does she deserve a day of recognition? I, personally, think not.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
And what accompanies the “day of honor”? Key to the city? A limo ride? Sea World pass? Zoo tickets? Free bus pass? Nordstrom gift certificate?
I’d like a day of honor. Once I was in a scuffle w/ a bouncer at a cafe downtown. The cops failed to show up quickly enough. I was pushed through a plate glass window & had to get stitches in my head. I think I have been scarred for life because the bouncer had testicles of steel for receiving so many thrusts of my knee to his crotch; and he was still able to push me through a window. The cops questioned me for about 8.5 seconds, then they took the other guy to jail.
Wait, my logic has failed. The bouncer was not a city employee. Never mind.
You deserve to have a “day of honor” – as much as she does.
Thank you so much. I’ve always wanted validation.
Well, I think you are a little too dismissive of her experience by suggesting this is something some women might embrace. Flirting with co-workers, peers, subordinates is no longer acceptable in the work place. It just isn’t. Ever. And, according to her, he actually said lewd things, which is really bad.
However, I have to agree with you that a Day of Honor is pretty ridiculous and can’t imagine who came up with such an idea. I can’t imagine being a victim of sexual harassment and being told by my employer that they will make it up to me with a public apology and making me queen for a day. It’s beyond patronizing.
I agree with Judi. This “Day of Honor” business is a little bit too much. However, with her pit bull attorney–Gloria Allred at her side, I am very surprised that this victim of Bob’s DID NOT cry out for a monetary settlement to ease the pain of her “humiliation.” Since Ms. Shannon is not your usual money hungry legal grubber, I say give her a “Day of Honor” for not being greedy & having a conscious about not fleecing the hard-pressed San Diego tax-payers, despite the pain she suffered.
Hello, Gail.
This same article is at the San Diego Free Press. You might be interested in checking out the comments there also. http://sandiegofreepress.org/2014/02/one-womans-thoughts-on-a-day-of-honor/
Perhaps the reason that Ms. Shannon was given a “day of honor” was because there is no proof these things actually happened in the way she described them. (Now you MUST look at the comments on the other site!)
Kudos Judi – my thoughts exactly!!!
Thanks, Mari. If you look at the same article at http://sandiegofreepress.org/2014/02/one-womans-thoughts-on-a-day-of-honor you will see that there are many that agree with us.
(Note: See the link in my response to Gail, just about your note.)