by: F.R. Duplantier

"Could Someone PLEASE Explain? PLEASE READ AND REPLY!" That was the plaintive headline on the following message, posted anonymously on the Bulletin Board of the MSNBC Internet website, at 14:03:41 Pacific Standard Time, on Wednesday, September 16, 1998, soon after the historic electronic publication of the Starr Report. All the pundits and all the politicians have had their say on this subject, but none has been more incisive, more eloquent, or more compelling than this unnamed American woman:

"When I was 16 years old, I had to testify in a case against the man who raped me (and others). I was asked many embarrassing questions about my private sexual life, questions I did not want to answer. My parents were unaware that I was sexually active and I didn't want them to find out. I also did not want my friends at school to hear the details about my sex life. It was humiliating beyond belief, but I knew the law. I took an oath and I knew the consequences of lying under oath, so I told the truth.

"Even at 16, I knew that lying under oath was a serious offense. I knew that obeying the laws of this country was more important than my personal reputation or the embarrassment I would endure.

"I am far from the only one. People across this country answer embarrassing questions about their sex lives in court every day: in criminal court, in divorce court, in civil court, in harassment suits, in domestic abuse cases, in thousands of cases that are heard in courts across this country every day!

"I voted for [Clinton] and I am personally offended that he seems to be excused from perjury because the truth would have been embarrassing! I suffered great embarrassment by being frank and honest, but I upheld the law.

"I am willing to believe that Ken Starr may have an agenda against the President, but can that be an excuse to lie under oath? I was questioned by a biased defense attorney whose goal was to besmirch my character and let the man who raped me go free, but his agenda had nothing to do with my oath to tell the truth!

"I have read the Starr Report and the two White House rebuttals, yet I'm sure many of you know more about this than I. Could you please explain to me why I am expected to respect the laws against perjury while the President is allowed to skirt around and even break those laws with the support of many elected officials, many in the media, and many of my fellow Americans?

"Again, I don't really care what the President did in his personal life. I just want to know why he should be above the laws that I have to obey.

"Thank you for your attention. Please reply."