A public flogging is so much fun, why is that?

The following letter to the NY Times made me stop and think about my own reaction to the James Frey - Oprah Winfrey news.

To the Editor:

Am I alone in feeling uneasy about the public shaming of a human being by a major celebrity on live television? In truth, it seems Oprah Winfrey's apology was an excuse for her to self-righteously berate the author James Frey for duping her.

With all of her power, was it necessary for Ms. Winfrey to take such an "eye for an eye" approach to her apology?

One thing is clear: The public support for her handling of the Frey fiasco proves that society still loves a good flogging in the square.

Patricia Madden, Orlando, Fla., Jan. 27, 2006

I was surprised at my own self-righteousness, and being caught up in the all the praise for Oprah being the grown-up and taking Mr Frey out to the woodshed. But Patricia Madden's letter is a good one. And I'm asking myself why the issues between Mr Frey and Oprah Winfrey, and how they resolve them, have any place on public television, or in public anywhere. I don't have any good answers.

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