On a similar note, I found myself quite annoyed with #MeToo founder Tarana Burke yesterday, when she publicly called upon E! brass to summarily remove Ryan Seacrest from his anchor gig for the network's Red Carpet coverage at last night's Academy Awards ceremony. (Never mind that I and probably many others find Seacrest to be an ingratiating boor.)

Now, an independent investigation recently undertaken of Seacrest at the network's behest found insufficient evidence that he harassed and / or assaulted his former stylist. But that wasn't enough for Ms. Burke, who apparently belives that Seacrest should be seen as guilty until he proves himself innocent. (And even then.)

Look, I get it. Speaking as an historian, it's long been well established that men's behavior toward and treatment of women in western societies have generally been, to put it mildly, appalling. Something's clearly got to change, and we're likely at a crossroads-type of moment when such change is indeed possible.

There's no doubt in my own mind that anger of the #MeToo movement is entirely justified. But that being given, here's the thing. Most social movements, provided that their leaders and members truly desire a long-lasting and positive impact upon the societies in which they live, must eventually transition from a desire for vengeance upon their tormentors to a quest for justice and reconciliation, if they are to ultimately be successful in their mission to change hearts and minds.

However, that transition will never occur so long as #MeToo's proponents continue to insist upon dispensing with due process and treating mere allegations of wrongdoing as findings of actual fact, while further holding fast to the notion that men are somehow simply incapable of seeing reason, learning from their mistakes, and rectifying the errors of their past ways.

I really and truly want women to win this fight, for the sake of my daughters and yours, as well as for that of our grandchildren. But as most women no doubt well know, while intimidation may initially spark fear in its targets, it eventually fosters anger and resentment in the same, as well.

So long as Tarana Burke and #MeToo continue to target individual high-profile miscreants, rather than do the thankless and less-than-glamorous work of addressing and tackling the underlying system of patrimony which protects and favors men while shackling and oppressing women, nothing's really going to change.

Fear and intimidation have never ensured a just and lasting peace in any society. I can assure you that eventually, #MeToo's targets will learn to cope with the movement's tactics and respond accordingly.

If and when that finally happens, and -- Heaven forbid -- men eventually feel compelled to band together and break the siege, the movement will be left with only a few celebrity heads mounted on its wall, but otherwise will have achieved nothing of lasting social consequence.

At the end of the day, if this movement is ever to realize a positive and proactive socio-economic impact over the long term, women are going to need enlightened men to see reason, embrace their perspective and take their side. And I'm telling you right now, you're going to have a lot of imperfect allies in that regard, of whom I'm one. (See also "Franken, former U.S. Senator Al," et al.) And as both you and I know, perfect is always the enemy of the good.

With beautiful eyes and the eternal French cigarette.