Dear Editor:
John Unger, in his letter in the Jan. 25 edition of The Record (How about some common sense?) is making it very clear he is among those men who believe a woman is to blame if she makes herself vulnerable.
He's saying today's woman must be accompanied after dark, by a man or perhaps a group of women. And he's right about that.
Unless this city changes and becomes more community-oriented, it is in danger of becoming a very dangerous place. Whether it's drug addiction, or just a failure of society to prevent predatorial behaviour, we face dangers around every corner. And if I'm following his logic, anyone smaller and weaker must be ready at any time to take the beating they so readily deserve for being alone!
In fact, Mr. Unger takes the side of the attacker. He stands proudly beside the attacker urging him on in his gruesome task of beating the hope out of this young woman, proving for certain that any woman foolish enough to believe the world is a safe secure place deserves to be assaulted, robbed and put in her place.
That's a clear violation of the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees all Canadians "the right to life, liberty and security of person and the right not to be deprived thereof, except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice."
Let's be very clear about this: it is wise not to walk around wearing a device that blocks your ears, however what about deaf people? And who is to blame here? The victim or the attacker?
Here in Canada the attacker is clearly the only offender.
Don't let Mr. Unger's sick, twisted logic confuse you. He comes dangerously close to inciting hatred and promoting violence against the technologically vulnerable. What about people in wheelchairs and the elderly?
Leah Sonne, New Westminster
