I would walk through fire for the women of DU, my wife, my daughter, my mother, every woman I know.

[The Traveler]

83. Summarizes my feelings on the matter rather well

I point out we guys have to expect women's sensitivities to some of these subjects have to be, must be, and unavoidably are elevated. After all, advances in women's rights are under direct assault from a couple dozen different directions, and indirect assault from dozens more. The outcome of the struggle to preserve (and dare we hope, expand to include equal pay?) women's rights is by no means certain. All this fuels a certain tension.

I personally don't know a single woman who is not apprehensive about the future status of women's rights in this country. Not one. Think about that for a minute.

"A lot of hard feelings around here lately. We men are far from perfect, and the anti-woman evil currently stalking the land leaves wide, deep footprints. It shakes the very ground."

It does. It does. But we cannot let these tensions divide us. We have to hold this line! We cannot allow the knuckledraggers the power to oppress half of our fellow citizens and undo the progress painfully made over decades. We should be building on that progress, yes. But at the moment, we have to circle 'round and defend its very foundations.

On the subject of violence ... I sympathize with those who object to its use, but in this context I cannot agree with them. I don't know Will. I can't speak for him. Perhaps he was speaking hyperbolically. But having read his stuff over the years I am unconvinced of that. I can well imagine Will, were he to encounter a man assaulting a women, surfing in on a tidal wage of rage fueled adrenalin, fists swinging fast. I would do the same. I HAVE done the same. Expect no apologies.

Sometimes, ya got to call the cops and wait for them to arrive and sort things out. Sometimes, ya gots to intervene, and sweet reason seldom works in that scenario. Seconds are precious and excruciating to a woman (or anyone) under assault. I acknowledge that we do tend to resort to, and even glorify, violence too frequently in this nation. I get that. But that does not make it acceptable to stand by, waiting, while something like that goes down. There are many who will disagree with me, and that is their right, but I am fairly convinced they are wrong.

Trav