The reaction to Lea Michele's return to Broadway tells us something about redemption in America.
In the criminal justice world — and in the drug and alcohol recovery space, too — the idea of "second chances" is a centerpiece of rehabilitation efforts. There are a plethora of organizations named for it; restorative justice programs often lead with the idea; there's even a month (April) that the White House dedicated to it. The message seems to be: We are a nation of fresh starts, where atonement is possible, and nobody is the sum of their worst mistakes. |
And yet, when it comes to The Culture, in which public figures rise and fall quickly (and repeatedly), where we don't elect our idols, and where social media has become a judicial arbiter and nuance is so easily lost, we don't have a very good way to talk about redemption. Who deserves it, and what must they do to attain it? |
I've been thinking about second chances this week because of Lea Michele, the actor and former star of "Glee," who returned to Broadway on Tuesday as the lead in the much talked about musical "Funny Girl." Michele was "canceled" two years ago, for alleged disparaging behavior on set, some of which occurred when she was as young as 12. |
And so, when it was announced this summer that Michele would replace Beanie Feldstein as the star of "Funny Girl," not everyone was happy. It was, as one theater blogger put it, like "watching a Karen win a Nobel Peace Prize." |
And yet I found myself wondering, if we abide by the thinking of restorative justice, don't even those accused of wretched conduct — if they are willing to take accountability and grow — deserve another shot? How are we to know whether people can change if we don't give them the opportunity to show us? |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
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