I can't believe that even on an article about the *Montreal Massacre* for dog's sake, I'm reading comments saying "well ALL violence is bad, not just against women" and "women are violent too".
Way to miss the fricking point... or derail the clue-train.
The people who don't remember the national impact of this event (including myself, because I was too young) need to just shut their faces. This is a major part of Canadian history. This shattered lives. Many awful things happened in Quebec in the 60s, 70s and 80s, this being one of the most gruesome. People need to remember that our nation has never been a utopia, and stop acting so superior.
Women are violent, too? Maybe. But violence against women is purposeful. Brutal. Pointed. We can't ignore this fact, not now, not ever. It's like saying it's acceptable to beat a child if they "deserved" it.
On a "patriotic" note, we Canadians often boast about being more socially sensitive than our Southern neighbours, but we really aren't. I think a lot of people need to re-examine what being Canadian means.
Being that I am now studying engineering myself, I found the article a bit close. In my engineering class though, I think we're somewhere between a third and a half women. Though our school is by comparison a relatively minor school for engineering. In the western half of Sweden, the most outstanding school for engineering (Chalmers) is also the one with the worst reputation for female students. (At least some years ago.) I'm happy with my choice of career, feeling that I've finally found my path. But this kind of thing can worry me. Going into a man-dominated working place. Almost lucky that I have such a masculine/androgynous personality. (I'm about half feminine/half masculine to my general behaviour and personality if we go by what people nowadays consider traditional gender patterns.) Ugh, now I'm starting to worry... Sweden still feels somewhat safe, with our egalitarian view, but I'm a bit worried about one of Newton's laws as applied to asshattery. The better things get for equal treatment, the more asshats that are going to oppose it. (Rise of homophobia noted during later years, as we got gender-neutral marriage laws this year.)
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dancing_serpent
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-07 04:23 am (UTC)Way to miss the fricking point... or derail the clue-train.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-07 08:05 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-07 09:31 am (UTC)And I'm sickened to see the ranting against gun control laws in a Canadian newspaper.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-07 04:02 pm (UTC)Women are violent, too? Maybe. But violence against women is purposeful. Brutal. Pointed. We can't ignore this fact, not now, not ever. It's like saying it's acceptable to beat a child if they "deserved" it.
On a "patriotic" note, we Canadians often boast about being more socially sensitive than our Southern neighbours, but we really aren't. I think a lot of people need to re-examine what being Canadian means.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-12-07 09:00 pm (UTC)