Big Wide World

i took a lot of politics in university. that's what happens when you declare your major as a political one. so, as you can guess, after 3 years of it, i'm pretty sick of it. and i try hard to avoid it (pandora's box you might say). however, i have to get in on the recent posts about the switch by belinda to cross the floor and go liberal. its not so much about the move, but what people are talkin about as a result.

first of all, as a woman, you know that the talks are going to be different. instead of dealing with her political agenda and its changes, media is focusing on what this means to her relationship with MacKay. excuse me, but what the hell does that have to do with anything political? but that's the least of my disgust.

i want to specifically deal with two comments made by other MALE Ministers. the first was the following: former ontario cabinet minister bob runciman (i refuse to capitalize his name b/x that would signify respect, which i have none of for this man) stated that Stronach was a dipstick, an attractive one, but still a dipstick. if you think that she's a dipstick, that's your opinion, but one professional does not comment about another professional's and peer's attractiveness. what the fuck does it have to do with her choice, or anything else remotely having to do with her job. i'm sorry, but there's just no reason to try to reduce her move to nothing more than being a pretty girl with no brains. why do we need to focus in on the fact that she's a woman, not just an MP that made the decisions that she made.

the final comment was made by tony abbott (again, no capitals) who stated that Belinda had "whored herself out for power", and by conservative MP maurice vellacott, who stated that "some people prostitute themselves for different costs and different prices". when people confronted about these comments, the response was that "prostitute" has long been used as a term when referring to when people sell themselves out for some benefit. yeah, ok, cause prostitution is often associated as a gender neutral professional and is often referred to when men sell themselves out. oh, wait a minute, no it isn't, and while we're at it, i don't often hear that men have sold out, they just weighed all the pros and cons and made the most logical profitable, and wisest choice. gimme a fucking break. the comments were made by men about a woman, and were strictly misogynistic and sexist. lets not kid ourselves. no matter what advances we make, women are still, at the end of the day, seem as women, who, if successful, got lucky, had a man help them, had rich powerful daddies, or probably slept their way to the top.

i don't know about you, but i'm writing to these politicians, and demanding a public apology. dipstick and whore and prostitute were not used to describe men, the last time i checked.