Mass sexual assaults in Cologne on New Years Eve Part II

[Pinkchampchoccies]

Just in case people want to continue discussing this.

Rooner I totally agree it is a European problem, and that Schengen in particular ensures it will spread, and that there should be a European solution: but I am not convinced this lies within European-wide law-making. I think part of the problem we already have (within the UK this is the case- and probably elsewhere too) is that some European diktats are problematic, and national governments can avoid actually doing anything or taking responsibility by blaming something on "Europe".

It's interesting to me how, in the dialogue surrounding human rights, the EU has been conflated with the ECHR (which, of course, we were signatories to decades before we joined the Common Market) for example, and the EU is cited as the reason we can't xyz. It's neither the EU nor the ECHR - it's our national government's failure to find a solution -France manages, Italy manages: why can't the UK? Imposing a law at Community level would, I think, just allow the misogynists to dismiss this as being something imposed by the EU blah blah blah.

Rooner sorry, posted too soon - I totally agree with your points, though!

Maybe the 2016 that someone suggested, in the suffragette colours? I think Lurcio is right about the rebel/slave business; however it will be very important for any campaign on this to have NO racist overtones, because anyone with an axe to grind will jump on it (Lefties: 'See, they claim to be liberal but they are racists really'; neo-Nazis: 'They think just like us!') That said, the suffragettes were amazing, and got us where we are today, and I don't think what they stood for should be allowed to sink into obscurity because of people misinterpreting what they said.

I wrote a long post on FB, linked it to the Der Spiegel article and put it up this morning. Amazingly my friends are reading it (at least, I assume they are, because they are liking and commenting and my cousin has asked if she can share it). I will be basing this afternoon's letter to my MP on what I said in that post. I want to tie the whole issue of women's rights into the wider discussion about immigrants rights vs existing norms, and go from there. If you like I could post it here a a possible template for you to mash about as you see fit. 'You' = 'any poster who wants to write in'.

Also, yes, it's right that we need to keep the language non-academic. I have to write in that awful jargon and it does my head in: I much refer normal English!

when there are people alive today who were enslaved by the Japanese within living memory
Indeed. One of my relatives almost ended up as a comfort woman (she was in a camp on Sumatra). So anything like this feels a bit close. It's probably why I get so agitated by things like this.

I think you are probably right that at an EU level it might just become words on paper.

But a European stance would send out a European message - women are treated as equals in Europe. This would also extend to individual countries sorting out their own criminal laws e.g. Germany's laws on sexual assault and what constitutes it

hiddenhome I don't think it's quite that bad. There's too many of us to actually enslave. The Yazidi are the worst treated , that is because they are seen as devil worshippers. They are the ones who are enslaved.

Lumela would you mind posting? That would be really useful! I will write to my MP, but she's bloody useless as a constituency MP, so I don't hold out much hope of anything other than one of her fill-in-the-blanks responses

Okay, hefzi, I will. I'm writing it now. I'm pretty crap at writing officialese so it will sound a lot like 'me' so you're very welcome to alter it to make it sound like you!

Don't hold your breath: dog walking time is approaching and they REALLY don't understand politics!

I think it is more than just the rebel/slave thing though ...

www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2015/10/what-did-suffragette-movement-britain-really-look
Another link - yes the Americans were racist.
Of the British ones some went on to be black shirts - but then again one founded an anti racist thing ...
(And that film caused offence by ignoring anyone who wasn't white who was a suffragette...)

I'm on the fence about whether you could use the colours or not. (But then I am useless at making decisions!)

I had vaguely came across the story about the t-shirts and something about the suffragettes being racist (not just the t-shirts) and maybe not as politically correct as I have imagined them to be-
Some of the accusations seem more a reflection of the times - things like help white British women to get the vote and then we will be able to help women of colour - I still am in awe of the suffragettes.

As Lumelo says I think my worry would be that any racist aspect could be used to further an agenda...

could you PM me with the info as well LumelaMme?

I agree with the poster who pointed out the pan-racial aspect of slavery.

At a recent discussion, the cry of 'suffragettes were racist' was used to close a debate on how far we still have to go with equality.

Sound familiar? 'You're a racist.' And then, whatever you're saying, you absolutely must shut up.

It's like feminist Mornington Crescent.

So frankly, bollocks to that.

Those colours are in the public consciousness and represent, in my opinion, the indomitable spirit of incredibly courageous, revolutionary, strong and truthful women of all classes and creeds.

Happy to help draft MP's letters.

Someone used the phrase 'cultural terrorism.' Can we use that? It's what we women are under threat from.

feminist Mornington Crescent

yy to Olive

Watched made in Dagenham the other day. The left wing trade union leaders were quick to throw the women under a bus when their aims didn't complement the male workers rights. Similar thing here. Women need to realise we are on our own and must fight for our own rights as those that went before us had to.

The most intolerant and racist ethnic groups are from the ME/NA and yet they call Europeans racist and we allow it! The classes that Belgium intends to start for non-European migrant men in how to relate to European women will not make one iota of difference. I listened to a bit of the dreary Petri Hosken on LBC. The majority of the migrants have NO intention in partaking in European culture. They hate it and us. Yes, they wouldn’t mind a shag, but beyond that do not understand that women have the right to step out with whoever they want. Non-European men in Europe and England are laughing at our media as it tippy-toes around the attacks and passes them off as robberies. For fear of this repeating, women will curb their usual habits, and Germany will sooner or later sacrifice the free movement of women on the grounds of appeasing the immigrants’ sensibilities. Truth is, they have no finer sensibilities at all and seeing so many women walking about day & night enrages them.
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I'm not sure that Schengen isn't basically dead. Numerous countries have started reinstating border controls. At least for now.

The German Police managed to get the water cannon out to break up the Right Wing demonstration. Not that I object to that but it's clear that action cam be taken when there is a will to do it. But there was no will to break up people with brown skin, even when they were assaulting large numbers f women, because that might be deemed racist, eh?

Women are simply not important enough

Help Non-European men in Europe and England are laughing at our media as it tippy-toes around the attacks and passes them off as robberies This is so true, and the longer these incidents are minimised and go unpunished, they will laugh even more and more attacks of this nature will happen.

This is why action must be taken now!

I noticed they'd found the keys to the water cannon cupboard!

I'd like to contact my mps and mep too. I'm not confident with wording though.

Contacting will achieve little I suspect. Voting against parties who support uncontrolled immigration, will achieve something (eventually).

Perhaps people supporting the Labour party, could reconsider their vote next time?

www.socialistparty.org.uk/pic/17/17471.jpg

Nobody is going to listen to us. We have no voice. Women are hugely affected by all manner of serious issues which are not addressed adequately

I fail to see what can be done.

This issue of 'racism' needs addressing as well. It's constantly used to close down discussion it's a club used to hit people over the head with. Animals is correct. They are laughing at us. We're utter fools.

hiddenhome pick yourself up love. this is what they want. Don't give into them.

Voting will achieve nothing. It doesn't happen often enough and, due to our voting system, most people's votes don't count. Politicians do what they want anyway regardless of what they promise at election time.

I think we need to be out of the EU though. It's a sinking ship.

Feel depressed noeffingidea can't stop thinking about this. Feel despondent and fearful for the future.

None of that hidden, we will not be beaten. In any sense

I was just thinking ........ wait till summer comes; these recently-arrived men wont know what to do with themselves. I predict a load more problems, frequent but random attempts at groping every day. Women will have to run the gauntlet when taking the bus or walking to work.

I understand but look at the amazing, intelligent, bolshy, supportive women on this thread. And there will be many, many more lurking. Be inspired, not despondent.