Germaine Greer's comments on soldiers and rape

kowloon

Originally posted in the Gentleman's club forum by koth:

Feminist writer Germaine Greer was under pressure to apologise today after she suggested that British troops might take part in rapes if they are sent into Libya.

Patrick Mercer, Conservative MP for Newark and a former Army officer, accused Ms Greer of showing “extraordinary ignorance” in her remarks.

Ms Greer said on BBC1’s 'Question Time' programme on Thursday that all soldiers, in certain circumstances, will rape.

She was speaking during a discussion about allegations that Colonel Gaddafi had given his soldiers Viagra and ordered mass rapes as a weapon against rebels.

She said: “Rape is always present where you have slaughter and you don’t have to have a government fiat (order) to do it. One of the interesting things you might ask about what happens if we send in ground troops, how will be sure they don’t do a bit of raping in their turn?”

And she added: “All soldiers, in certain circumstances, will rape, regardless of whether they’re ours or theirs or whose.”

Mr Mercer, who was an Army officer for 25 years, said today: “It shows extraordinary ignorance from someone who patently has no understanding of the conduct of disciplined forces, such as the British Army, Navy and Air Force.

“For her to confuse the British forces with irregulars from other countries is not only ignorant and foolhardy from her point of view, it is also insulting.

“She should stick to things she understands. I think an apology would be very much in order.”

Colonel Stuart Tootal, who commanded 3 Para in Afghanistan, said: “The British Army is a modern, disciplined army, and it’s also a law abiding army as well.

“The British Army is a force for good, and these remarks are ill founded and not well considered.

“I don’t think there are many people, given the huge respect for the British Army and what they are doing, who will treat these remarks seriously – and rightly so.”

Ms Greer was not available for comment today. source

koth wrote:

As a guy I have to say that it's truly depressing that some people still hold the view that given the right circumstances, all men will rape.

Is she just taking the piss? The sad thing is people listen to her. Will she next start comparing modern western forces to the einsatzgruppen?

Original thread:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056295419

xflyer

Germaine Greer may be old but she is an old fashioned radical, who it seem has learned nothing and certainly gained little in wisdom over the years. She is stuck in her old anti the Vietnam war, mindset. Yes, she is that old.

One of the problems with old radicals, is that they almost gain some credibility merely on the basis of living so long.

But her time is gone and few will pay much attention to her. She lives in a timewarp. Hit the ignore button.

blondie83

I'm female and find this sort of "all x does this" "all y does that" "all men are evil" attitude kinda depressing. I mean no one with any actual intelligence will believe such a generalisation! I wouldn't be hugely worried tbh

johnny_doyle

her story appeared in the Daily Mail this Saturday; 3 pages later was a story re an ex-soldier convicted of rape whilst serving in the Army in Germany being imprisoned once again for rape. L/Cpl James Lang, Royal Logistics Corps had been court martialed and sentenced to 3years in prison but released on licence.

MickJB1989

Epic logic fail. Her statement is tantamount to saying that all soldiers are sociopaths because soldiers kill people.

Just because certain individuals in a group display a particular characteristic or act in a certain way, this does not apply to the whole group. She really should go back to school, or some one should teach her this very basic example of logic:

#1. Correct Use of Logic:
- Socrates is a man
- All men are mortal
- Therefore Socrates is mortal

#2. Incorrect Use of Logic:
- All men are mortal
- Socractes is mortal
- Therefore Socrates is a man.

BrianD

I think her article is sensational but unfortunately there is no smoke without fire.

Victorious armies who have fought difficult campaigns with many losses have been known to take vengence on the local population and rape has been a part of these actions. The Japanese in Nanking, the Russians in Berlin, Americans in Vietnam and various armies in the Balkans.

A point that she does miss is that while rape has been a part of warfare that in the examples that I have quoted above most of the armies fighting consisted of conscripts i.e. "unprofessional" soldiers drafted in at a time of war. The British Army if it were to go to Libya would consist of professional soldiers. I think this is an important point.

Also, you have to bear in mind that nations send armies to war on behalf of their citizens. Ultimately, all citizens bear the responsibility of the way they wage war.

Donny5

I don't think we should send [the poster above] to Libya because if we do send him, he might rape some people. I'm not saying he's a rapist, but I've never heard him deny it and there's no smoke without fire.