To the editors:
I was reading Arianne R. Cohen’s condemnation of the violent ways of men (Opinion, “Women Don’t Do This,” Sept. 20) when one thought passed through my mind: men don’t do this. Men don’t take a tragedy like last week and selfishly twist it into some kind of ammunition for a personal agenda. A few dozen men may have attacked the World Trade Center, but Cohen seems to conveniently ignore the hundreds of male rescue workers who died trying to save their neighbors, or the thousands of men of the armed services who may make the ultimate sacrifice trying to make this world a safer place.
So men are more violent. Got me there. But women of power can hardly boast blush-free resumes. Queen Elizabeth I oversaw the colonization of the Americas, highlighted by mass genocide of Indians, while leading the persecution and execution of Catholics. Queen Victoria sat idly by while millions of Irish starved to the point of emigration or death. Indira Ghandi introduced mass sterilization, imposed martial law after waiving all civil rights and jailed political opponents. Even Margaret Thatcher, an inspiration to me, has the Falklands and ruthlessness in Northern Ireland to her credit. Women of power are not immune from spells of violence, injustice or sheer abuse of power.
Cohen criticizes our president’s response, but does she need a history lesson on the “hairy-backed war tactics” of Golda Meir in the Yom Kippur War of 1973? She responded with force, as she had to. So may President George W. Bush, as he may have to. Sometimes, the correct action of the state involves the use of force. Gender has nothing to do with it.
Brian C. Grech ’03
Sept. 20, 2001
Neither Do Swedes
To the editors:
Cohen might be right; perhaps women don’t do this (“this” referring to the terrorist activities of Sept. 11, 2001). Swedes also don’t do this—so what? I am afraid I don’t understand the point of blaming large groups for the acts of individuals.
It could likewise be said that men don’t drive their children into lakes (per Susan Smith)—but such statements are inappropriate and useless. Such generalizations about a group lead to the kinds of prejudices that we have seen against Arabs and Muslims in this past week (but for some reason, it is more acceptable to apply them to gender than race or religion). Most men don’t fly planes into buildings either; and, while 98 percent of violent crimes may be committed by men, the majority of men don’t commit violent crimes.
It may be correct that men tend to be more violent then women—but why does it matter? How does placing this blame help us to prevent violence? That women don’t form terrorist groups and attack civilian populations doesn’t prevent some men from doing so.
Kyle B. Peterson ’03
Sept. 20, 2001
Women Terrorists Too
