Say NO to verbal rape by Celine Leduc edited by
Norman Simon August 28, 2015
CJAD in Montreal, reported a very disturbing
incident that involved Valerie Assouline the Conservative candidate in federal
riding of Pierrefonds/Dollard des Ormeaux that was not only sexist but sexual
harassment and sexually explicit. I could say that it was a verbal pornography
that encourages sexual abuse and condones rape of women, all women. She took action and called the media and CJAD
responded with an article. Highlighting
these problems matters as she condemns all attacks be they verbal, graphic -
such as graffiti, or defacing posters of the candidate. This time the vandals
and hooligans went one step further: they used sexist and sexual explicit
messages.
This is very disturbing and needs to be talked
about. Women from all parties should get together and talk about this important
topic.
Vandalism: Political campaigns and posters are
targeted by graffiti artists. You see mustaches on candidates, glasses are
added, the vandals use a marker, a paint brush or a spray-paint can. At times you can see a swastika. Or political
comment on the leader regardless of his/her party. I have seen words like communist or leftist
spray painted on posters of the NDP or the Green Party.
Racism: Nazi or the swastika spray-painted on
posters of Jewish candidates. Even some said “Jews go home” First Nation candidates had words like
“savage”. Muslim women had words like
“terrorist” or Muslim preceded by a religious slur spray painted.
Sexism: First Nation women candidates saw words
like “savage” or “Fat Cow” spray painted.
Black women could read: “Whore” on their posters. Derogatory words I saw
targeting women of all parties included: Whore, Lesbian, and the "F"
word used a prefix…
This graffiti destroys private property, on one
hand, and is sexist and racist on the other.
Women have been sexually discriminated against for years. It is time for it to STOP. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! STOP raping women physically and with words.
These racist and sexist vandals, hooligans MUST
be exposed as such. In an ideal world,
they would be held responsible for their choice of words and would be
prosecuted and labelled as racist, sexist,
misogynist jerks. Too many men
have swept it under the proverbial carpet. Time to lift the carpet because it
is hiding a hill that can become a mountain.
Some may think that the vandals are teenagers
while it has often been proved that some older men in the 50s and 60s were the
criminals. These men need training; first in gender equality, second in respect
of women, all women, regardless of their political affiliation, nationality,
ethnicity, religion, or sexuality. We share one thing in common that makes us
daughters, sisters, mothers: We are WOMEN.
Women, both individually and collectively, are
waking up. They are taking charge of their lives and are entering politics.
Each woman who is a candidate has a cause that matters to her. Let us listen to their message, discuss the
issue, think and respect. Let us use words to offer a rebuttal or to offer an
alternative solution. Let us use our pens and the power of words to expose
those misogynist hooligans who rape women verbally, who spray paint sexually
explicit words, be they on the sign of any woman candidate of any party. It is
easy to dismiss it and say, “Oh well, she is (add the party)”. The
reality is that it affects all women.
The “old boys” Clubs had signs saying, "No
girls allowed." Yet, there is a New
Boys’ club where men include WOMEN. I think: WOMEN as a group, must be stick
together and develop a gender inclusive girls/women's club or sisterhood.
