News

SEND YOUR NEWSWORTHY VIDEOS TO VIDEOS@NEWSTALK1010.COM

Comedian Addresses Krista Ford Comments on Twitter

Posted By: David Woodard · 8/30/2012 1:02:00 PM

Dear a lot of people, but specifically Ms. Krista Ford,

In advance I’d like to say I am sorry.  This is not the ideal situation to first acquaint oneself with someone and I am mortified. Sorry! However, under the circumstance, I feel like you owe me a moment of your time, even though we’ve never meet.

The circumstance being you called me a whore.           

I should clarify: I’m one of the victims of the recent string of sexual assaults in the Annex.  ‘Sup?  It’s nice to make you acquaintance.

So, you’ve called me a whore.  Here we are.  This is awkward now, isn’t it?  You’re probably wondering if I’m going to challenge you on having been a member of Lingerie League.  I’m not, because I’d never slut-shame another woman.  I believe you have a right to your body and regardless of how you do or don’t dress it I believe you have a right to respect and personal security.  I guess that’s the key difference in our thinking.  You could wear a t-shirt that says “I’m literally asking for it” and I’d still advocate for your security.

That’s what I’m asking for this brief moment of your day, for your edification.  You’re a woman and you should know that your body is yours and yours alone.  No matter how you dress it, you have a right – an actual Charter of Rights and Freedom right – to not be sexually assaulted. You are entitled to life, liberty and the security of person.  Welcome to Canada – you live here!  If you weren’t aware of your Charter rights, other Canadian things you may have missed out on are double-doubles, good maple syrup, and Beachcombers*, so check that shit out.

For the record, I was sexually assaulted while wearing a knee-length polka-dot dress.  The last time I wore that dress, it was to Easter dinner at my Gran’s, where I’m fairly certain I could make little to no money whoring.

With due repect / sorry,

Alice Moran

Canadian / Comedian / Beachcombers Enthusiast

*I love Beachcombers.

Leave a comment:

showing all comments · Subscribe to comments
Comment Like
  • 12
  1. Dave posted on 08/30/2012 02:15 PM
    Alice I'm sorry to hear about your situation, and I wouldn't wish any kind of assault on anyone, regardless of how they dress.

    Having said that, I don't think letting someone know how to prevent an attack is advocating that they better take the advice or be attacked. Ms. Ford might be suggesting that because women have power and control and need to use it with respect, dignity, and of course wisdom.

    If you leave your front door open, expect someone to walk in. Then call the police, but don't expect too much sympathy.

    Don't dress in a provoking way and you may not be provoked.
    1. Sally posted on 08/30/2012 03:08 PM
      @Dave Dave,

      A few years ago I was living on College at Spadina, where one of the recent attacks took place. One night my room mate not only forgot to lock the front door, he left it wide open. All night. You can guess what happened.

      Nothing. No one came in, nothing got stolen, no one got raped.

      I reckon it's becacuse the mostly good people of Toronto understand that if it isn't yours, you have no business going into an apartment or a vagina unless explicitly invited to do so.
    2. maria posted on 08/30/2012 03:58 PM
      @Dave A woman's body shouldn't be compared to material possessions. There should be a greater respect for woman's rights than that. Rape is about power, it may be even more empowering to rape a modestly dressed woman or a strong athletic woman to a rapist.
    show more replies
  2. Ryan posted on 08/30/2012 02:37 PM
    "If you leave your front door open, expect someone to walk in. Then call the police, but don't expect too much sympathy.

    Don't dress in a provoking way and you may not be provoked."

    You, sir, are part of the problem.

    Instead of encouraging women to prevent attacks in this big boys club of a world, instead of putting the responsibility on THEM, as if it's reasonable to allow and expect this kind of assault and attention, maybe we should, I don't know, put our efforts into making it unacceptable to rape women?

    You say "Don't dress in a provoking way and you may not be provoked" I say "let's not tolerate rape. Let's teach people not to rape. Period."
    1. PaulH_8674 posted on 08/30/2012 06:20 PM
      @Ryan I am totally in agreement with "Let's not tolerate rape." Nobody has any right to touch another person sexually (or in any other way, for that matter) uninvited. I have a young teen daughter, so this is a subject that is very important to me. I have told her that nobody (male or female) has the right to touch her without her explicit permission.

      I have also told her that because there are a lot of people out there who don't care about individual rights, laws, or decency, I would prefer that she try to avoid potentially dangerous situations. She has the perfect right to dress any way that she wants to, and to go to any public place in the city that she wants to; but I have asked her to be cautious about exercising those rights, because there are too many people out there who do not care about her rights, only their twisted and sick wants. She understood, and agreed with me, that as long as there are those sick people out there, a bit of extra caution, both in where she goes and what she wears, is a good idea.

      I think the word "whore" was a pretty bad choice, and I totally reject the idea that anybody is "asking for it"; but I do believe that it is a good idea to use some care as long as we live in this very imperfect world.
  3. Kate posted on 08/30/2012 07:49 PM
    I'm not sure where the idea that women get raped because they are dressed provocatively comes from. I think that's false. Most rape and sexual assault cases are perpetrated on female victims by men known to them. So the best advice to give your daughters, if you believe a woman has any control over whether or not she gets raped, is to not be a woman and not know any men.

    If that's sounds ridiculous it's because it is. Giving women advice on how to protect themselves is almost as ridiculous.

    Teach your sons to wait for enthusiastic consent. ENTHUSIASTIC consent. To look for signs that a woman is very interested in his sexual comments, touch, and attention. That's the best way to acknowledge the power and control a woman has.
  4. Alexandrab52 posted on 08/30/2012 09:33 PM
    I know what we should do to combat the violence... but a curfew on men,. no man should be allowed in public post 7pm.
  5. calvinhc posted on 08/30/2012 10:00 PM
    When people got shot at the Eaton's Centre, we didn't hear things like "stay away from the Eaton's Centre" as a warning to avoid getting shot. So why do some individuals think that rape is a problem with the way women dress?

    Ms. Ford's words contained three disturbing points that should not be overlooked:

    1) All rape victims are whores.
    2) All whores deserve to be raped.
    3) Women should carry a banned weapon to defend themselves.
    1. PaulH_8674 posted on 08/30/2012 11:13 PM
      @calvinhc Obviously there are a number of very different personalities here, and it's a hot button issue for sure. Ms Ford did not say any of those three points. Her words were unnecessarily incendiary, but she most certainly did NOT blame rape victims. She was giving her opinion as to how to lower the chances of being attacked. To attribute those 3 point to her is flat-out false, and you know it. Dislike her idea if you wish, but don't put words in her mouth that she did not, and I'm sure would not, say.

      The shooting at the Eaton's Centre was a very unusual event. Sadly, sexual assault is not. The comparison is ridiculous, and does nothing to add to the conversation.

      I have the right to walk anywhere in the city I want to. There are parts of the city I avoid, because I know that there are elements in those areas which do not give a rat's ass about my rights. I would be in danger. It is a compromise, to be sure, but it is, in my opinion, a reasonable compromise.

      Dress any way you wish. Go anywhere you wish. I truly hope that you are safe, and if you are not safe I AM NOT BLAMING YOU for your choices. I will say, however, that there are ways to try to be safer, by relinquishing a bit of our rights in exchange for trying to be safer. How much we are willing to relinquish is a personal choice. I'll say it again: I DO NOT BLAME THE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE FOR IT. I blame those who perpetrate it, 100%. All I was trying to say is that there are steps which one can take to lessen the odds, while all of us work to change attitudes and make the city safer.

      Misconstrue my words if you wish. I stand by them, and I suspect that most people would agree.
    show more replies
showing all comments

Videos

Top Stories

Trending