Putting the Central Park Crimes in Perspective
Lisa De Pasquale
Featured Rightgrrl February 1999
Program Director, Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute
July 12, 2000
On June 11, Americans were witness to the appalling and disgraceful crimes against 50 or so women at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. Radical feminists were quick to point to these incidents as evidence of an epidemic of violence against women. And, of course, feminists say it is a problem that can only be remedied by federal legislation (currently, any type of assault is a crime). "The recent horrendous attacks in New York City's Central Park and the reports of outrageous police indifference must spur political action," said National Organization for Women President Patricia Ireland.
The inaction of the New York City Police was inexcusable. However, they were shackled for fear of appearing culturally insensitive of Puerto Ricans and overly aggressive. (Not necessarily a good excuse, but certainly a valid one).
Luce Institute speaker Ann Coulter wrote in a recent column, "It's sensory overload to have The New York Times suggesting that police aren't being aggressive enough."
In reality, the police have arrested at least eight men involved in the incidents and are continuing an investigation in order to find other assailants. Despite this, many of those who were attacked are suing New York City for failing to protect them.
The loudest voices against the Central Park crimes and the actions of the police neglect to place blame on the real culprits: those who committed the crimes. Instead, these radical feminists are using the brutish actions of a few to forward an anti-male agenda that views all men as oppressive to women.
As evidence of widespread "bias-related" crime sprees, feminists also point to another Central Park crime: more than a decade ago a runner was raped and beaten by a group of teenagers. Just as terrible as this incident were the beatings of several men that day by the same group of teenagers. The NOW crowd conveniently leaves this portion out of their "gender-based violence" rhetoric. Contrary to what feminists report, those who are violent and aggressive toward women are also aggressive toward men.
The overwhelming majority of American males do not, as feminists suggest, feel compelled (or entitled) to grope and maul women. Such behavior should not be characterized as masculine or patriarchal, but as criminal, violent and intolerable. The solution to the Central Park and other violent crimes is punishment for the assailants. Once again, attempts by feminists to polarize men and women and portray females as victims of a patriarchal society have fallen short on logic.
This article copyright © 2000 by Lisa De Pasquale, Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute and may not be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of its author. All rights reserved.