Wednesday, February 18, 2009

What is wrong with this?

Some ANIL CHAWLA wrote:
"Maidservants working in our locality live in a slum called S. Farm. The slum had a country liquor shop. A large number of the men in S. Farm used to visit the liquor shop and blow up their earnings there. This used to cause hardships to their families. A few months ago under the leadership of a social worker (a woman I do not know) all the women of the slum decided to do something about the menace. One fine evening all the women surrounded the country liquor shop. They were holding placards in their hands demanding closure of the establishment. All the men who were inside were beaten with footwear. In many cases wife/sister of the man being beaten were cheering the crowd to do a more thorough job. Police watched as spectator only ensuring that the beating did not cross limits. The next day, the shop owner decided to shift the liquor shop away from the area. The women were jubilant. They had emerged victorious and felt empowered."

"Contrast the incident of S. Farm with the protest against pubs in Mangalore. The tables have surely turned. Instead of women protesting against men drinking, it is the men who are protesting against women drinking. When women protest against men drinking, there are no issues of individual freedom or human rights or "who gave you the right to do this". I am not in favour of beating up any one – whether men or women. But surely, for all those who believe in equality of women, beating up of women drinkers is in no way worse or more condemnable than bashing up of alcoholic men."

I invite your reaction.....