Anti-feminist Charlotte Allen of The National Review suggested that the Sandy Hook Newtown shooting occurred because, “There was not a single adult male on the school premises when the shooting occurred.”
She goes on to say, “In this school of 450 students, a sizeable number of whom were undoubtedly 11- and 12-year-old boys (it was a K–6 school), all the personnel — the teachers, the principal, the assistant principal, the school psychologist, the “reading specialist” — were female. There didn’t even seem to be a male janitor to heave his bucket at Adam Lanza’s knees. Women and small children are sitting ducks for mass-murderers. The principal, Dawn Hochsprung, seemed to have performed bravely. According to reports, she activated the school’s public-address system and also lunged at Lanza, before he shot her to death. Some of the teachers managed to save all or some of their charges by rushing them into closets or bathrooms. But in general, a feminized setting is a setting in which helpless passivity is the norm. Male aggression can be a good thing, as in protecting the weak — but it has been forced out of the culture of elementary schools and the education schools that train their personnel. Think of what Sandy Hook might have been like if a couple of male teachers who had played high-school football, or even some of the huskier 12-year-old boys, had converged on Lanza.”
Vicki Soto, a teacher who lost her life in a heroic effort to shield the children from the shooter wasn’t mentioned at all. None of the women who worked at the school and risked their lives received any praise by Allen. The only exception was Principal Hochsprung, who only “seemed” to act bravely.
The inference that having ex high school jocks or husky pre-teen boys lunging at a heavily armed, mentally disturbed man would have resulted in anything other than more carnage is absurd. It is just as absurd as suggestions in the Conservative sphere that armed teachers would have made a difference.
Allen is joining the list of people who are citing preposterous reasons why this tragedy occurred. Recently Conservative Mike Huckabee used “abortion pills” as the reason and James Dobson chimed in, adding marriage equality to the mix.
This is the public Conservative reaction and it’s not surprising. Instead of focusing on what we can do as a nation to prevent this from happening, they wish to place the blame on unrelated issues in order to sidestep the real problem. The real problem is that our gun laws make it too easy for people to acquire guns. No one is suggesting that all handguns be banned. No one. Those who wish to reduce the number of gun murders simply want to ban assault rifles and work to create better firearm regulations
The New York Times reports that the “N.R.A. has become a formidable player, with a $300 million budget, millions of members around the country and virtually unmatched ferocity in advancing its political and legislative interests.” This is where the problem really lies and it’s not just the Republican Party, it’s Democrats too.
As a nation, we are handling this tragedy poorly. It’s bringing out the worst in many; the proof is on Facebook. The arguments and the anger provide a sad commentary that the gruesome deaths of these twenty young children have not resulted in us coming together to find a positive solution to insure this doesn’t happen again.
As a feminist, I am appalled at Allen’s attempt to divert attention away from the real issue. I am appalled that the National Review gave her the forum to validate the disgusting notion that a “feminized setting” is somehow inferior and I am appalled at anyone who screams “Don’t take away my gun!” after children lost their lives.
This shooting was not political. It isn’t a Conservative or Liberal issue. It’s a human issue and it needs to be addressed with respect and dignity. Why are we failing at that?
Kimberley A. Johnson – A.K.A. The Anti Coulter is the author of The Virgin Diaries and an activist for women’s rights. Like her on Facebook, Twitter or friend her on FB HERE. Visit ARKStories to check out all of her books
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