When Donald Trump complained about Mexico sending rapists to the US, I did not know that is because he wanted (alleged) rapists imported from Romania!

Apparently, Donald Trump wants the Tate brothers to be free to travel away from Romania.  I doubt he means that the extradition warrant that the UK has against them is to be enforced. 

We in the UK could send our people, not our best. We could send people that have lots of problems, and they could take those problems with them. There would be no need for them to be bringing drugs. And the Tate brothers would not be bringing crime as they have alleged been involved in criminal activity with US citizens already. They are considered rapists by some (though they are innocent until proven guilty). And some, I assume, think that they are good people.

I will admit to being surprised by this, but I suspect that I am going to be surprised a lot in the next four years. 

Jess Phillips, Elon Musk and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon

 

I think that Jess Phillips is amazing. I love the way she communicates, I love her honesty and I love the way that she stands up against intimidation and injustice.

Elon Musk disagrees. Instead, he backs a stalker who has convictions for assault. Tommy Robinson has other convictions as well including fraud and travelling on a false passport. 

When it comes to British values, I know who represents our nation best and I am proud to be born in the same nation as Jess Phillips.

International men's day

It was International Men's Day on the 19th of November.  When I first learned about this, I thought it was a stupid idea to have one, but over the years, my view on this has changed. 

I think that such a day is important to promote health changing behaviour, and also to challenge toxic masculinity, including what is and is not consent. 

We saw the need for change in the media in September when the failure of Dan Wootton to say Maaate to Laurence Fox resulted in both making the news for the wrong reasons. Since the original comments, Dan Wootton has been sacked by the MailOnline, and Laurence Fox has (finally) apologised for his comments.

I have posted before about the pressure on men to be toxic. We see those like Andrew Tate venerated by other men, but we also see people like Russell Brand being defended by some women. When it comes to toxic behaviour in men being tolerated, it is the 'right type' of man who is able to get away with this. While it is not with most woman, there are enough women who are attracted to bad boys which makes men see such behaviour as the right thing to do.

There are so many things that we can do to help society become better, but that includes addressing the issues that men face, not just to their own health, but how they affect others. Examples of this include teaching men how to act in relationships to reduce rates of domestic violence, ensuring that women do not have to fear being killed by men (or boys) due to an actual or perceived slight. And of course, reducing the numbers carrying knives.

A minister for men

This issue has come up after the recent misogyny that has made headlines.  First of all, the update.  Dan Wootton has been sacked by MailOnline, and Laurence Fox has (finally) apologised for his comments.  The failure of Dan Wootton to say Maaate to Laurence Fox is one of the reasons why we should consider having a minister for men.   

There is a lot of pressure on men to be toxic.  We see those like Andrew Tate venerated by other men, but we also see people like Russell Brand being defended by women.  When it comes to toxic behaviour in men being tolerated, it is the 'right type' of man who is able to get away with this.  While it is not with every woman, there are enough women who are attracted to bad boys which makes men see such behaviour as the right thing to do. 

As noted in the video, men have higher suicide rates, not just because men are more successful when it comes to trying to kill themselves, but it is seen as a failure for men to talk about their feelings.  Men are less likely to seek help when it comes to other health issues as well.  

There are so many things that we can do to help society become better, but that includes addressing the issues that men face, not just to their own health, but how they affect others.  Examples of this include teaching men who to act in relationships to reduce rates of domestic violence, ensuring that women do not have to fear being killed by men (or boys) due to an actual or perceived slight. And of course, reducing the numbers carrying knives full stop.

A Minister of Men would have spoken out when it came conversation on GB news about Ava Evans, though I suspect Wootton and Fox would consider the values that such a minister would promote to be too woke.  

 

#Maaate and toxic masculinity

Too many times, men have not challenged other men who have been misogynistic. We had it when Donald Trump talked in 2005, about how he would sexually assault women (the recording was released in 2016 a month before the election). We have had another blast of misogyny this week. Dan Wootton and Laurence Fox engaged in a bit of misogynistic banter, live on TV. Fox discussed the views of a female journalist, and his way of dismissing her was to say that no one, other than an incel, would shag her. Wootton, when he had the chance to say Maaate, and challenge this outburst of misogyny, laughed. 

Later, when suspended, he admitted what he did was wrong. However Fox threw him under the bus by tweeting the conversation that they had on X (the App formerly known as Twitter). 

What Wootton should have done, is to follow the advice of Sadiq Khan. He should have said Maaate, and then challenged his friend and given him the chance to apologise for what he said.

As a man, if I see sexism like that, I should speak out, if I was in the situation Wootton was in. Banter is one thing, misogyny is another. Boys are taught Toxic Masculinity as teenagers. Such teaching can be unlearned, and that requires it to be challenged.

Innocent until proven guilty

 Recently, Mason Greenwood has been allowed to leave ManUre, basically because of what he did to his partner. 

It turns out that the team had wanted to keep him, but it appears that a whistleblower did the right thing and exposed this.

Based on the premise of innocent until proven guilty, he is innocent of the charges he faced. But the video that has been widely shared seems to indicate otherwise. I am glad that the right thing has been done as actions should have consequences, and if he was allowed to continue playing football for ManUre, that would have sent the wrong message to those engaging in domestic violence.