Why I Love France
From today's New York Times:
France: Bill Would Outlaw Harassment by Partners
By MARLISE SIMONS
Published: January 13, 2010
The government has proposed a law that would make psychological abuse within couples a punishable offense. The law, applicable to both sexes, would cover repeated verbal abuse, threats of violence, insults and other forms of harassment. Critics have said such a law would be very difficult to enforce, but the draft has the backing of two main parties and Prime Minister François Fillon.
France: Bill Would Outlaw Harassment by Partners
By MARLISE SIMONS
Published: January 13, 2010
The government has proposed a law that would make psychological abuse within couples a punishable offense. The law, applicable to both sexes, would cover repeated verbal abuse, threats of violence, insults and other forms of harassment. Critics have said such a law would be very difficult to enforce, but the draft has the backing of two main parties and Prime Minister François Fillon.
posted by Ted Rall at
3:55 PM
6 Comments:
Harassment and especially threats of violence are already illegal here. All it takes is someone to press charges.
Now I understand more about this law. So you support people being thrown in jail for saying mean things and hurting other people's feelings?
You've changed a lot since your MRR days, but so have I, I guess. We all have.
"The bill's aim is to protect women from the verbal threats and intimidation that often lead to physical violence."
- http://www.wbur.org/npr/122362876
What about protecting men?
I'm a forty-four year old male in the (not so)United States and I have been celibate for 10 years (and counting) because of chronic, vicious, mental-and-emotional abuse from past "partners".
Here in The States, women have indeed achieved "femmenist" equality; they are equally mentally-and-emotionally abusive as men.
Not to mention how expensive they are...
"Relationships" are indeed a luxury item increasingly beyond the means of many.
"Here in The States, women have indeed achieved "femmenist" equality; they are equally mentally-and-emotionally abusive as men."
Monkey, your ideographic reference here isn't supported by the facts here in the US, women are far more abused still, verbally, mentally, emotionally and physically. Abuse suffered by men is certainly a major problem and made worse by silence, taboo, and insane levels of machismo in American culture.
Overall we are exceptionally abusive to each other.
Reverend Smith: I do support a steady decrease in the tolerance we have for abuse. In a world where societies still permit child rape, honor killings, and the beating of spouses and children, keep in mind that we in the West are not that far removed from allowing these things as 'legitimate' in our own societies. Yes, one might thing jailing a person for verbal abuse is silly, 100 years ago they might have thought that beating a child is just 'the way things are' and the rape of a woman was just 'boys will be boys.'
With those things in mind, this type of legislation does move us in the direction of recognizing that the amount abuse we tolerate in our society is excessive, especially given the levels of harassment and abuse that take place on blogs.
Equating mean words with beatings, rape, and worse is what's silly.
My goal within 10 years is to escape society onto some private land, already being procured, on which I will build a solar-powered cabin and live off the grid. I can't fucking wait. You're all insane.
"women are far more abused still, verbally, mentally, emotionally and physically."
Not true, studies show that women are just as likely to physically abuse their partners, it just isn't advertised as much. As for verbal, mental and emotional abuse, how do you measure that anyway?
"Abuse suffered by men is certainly a major problem and made worse by silence, taboo, and insane levels of machismo in American culture."
Nothing to do with machismo. The legal system favors women, that's the reason for silence. A man can be arrested for just raising his voice, where as a man battered by a woman is not even taken seriously. He cannot even defend himself, because the HE will be the criminal.
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