THE reaction to our story about rape-advocate Roosh V has, in many ways, been brilliant.
We knew the views of this odious creep would upset and disgust our readers and the people of Scotland.
What we could not have expected was how quickly, how efficiently and how brilliantly you took action.
Within hours a petition, started by The National’s columnist Cat Boyd, was and still is attracting thousands of signatures. Although there is little the Scottish Government, and possibly even the UK Government can do to ban him and his poisonous ideas from the country, the symbolism of some 30,000 people saying no is powerful.
Despite his pathetic threats to attack anyone protesting, the demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow will likely be attended by hundreds.
Now they are no longer about disrupting or scaring off the misguided supporters of this moron, but, again, about saying no.
Because this isn’t just any demonstration at any time. These will be demonstrations in the heart of Scotland’s biggest cities on a Saturday night. It’s the first weekend of the month. People will have been paid. Our clubs and pubs will be full.
That is important because this is not just about saying no to the ideas of Roosh V and his army of so-called pick-up artists.
It’s about saying no to the everyday sexism, the everyday sexual assaults that women suffer. It’s about saying no to the men who grab, or grope or poke or touch because they think they can. It’s about saying no to the men who catcall, who whistle, who think they’re complimenting but who are degrading and insulting and exerting ownership.
It’s about saying no to entitlement.
For most, the idea of sex without consent is an anathema. The idea that people would take what has not been given willingly when it comes to another human being is unthinkable. But, as Rape Crisis Scotland wrote yesterday, “one of the single most powerful motivating factors underpinning rape and sexual assault is a hatred of women, pure and simple.”
Roosh V has caused such a reaction because that hatred, that disregard for consent is not normally shared so publicly.
Those of us who are so opposed to all that he stands for should therefore respond just as publicly.
Over the coming days we’ll be working with Rape Crisis Scotland, Engender and Scottish Women’s Aid to campaign to make sure our laws are adequate enough.
We’ll be arguing that there needs to be a law that adequately protects women from hate crimes in Scotland. And we’ll be looking for your help. We’ll need you to contact your elected representatives. We’ll need you to ask the political parties asking for your vote in May if this is a priority for them.
Because it is a priority for us.
Bid for new law banning hate speech against women as Scots plan protests against rape advocate
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here