I suppose that I shouldn’t be shocked. The celebration of brutality for its own sake is scarcely novel in our “culture.” Compared to the open gloating about the possibility of many of our soldiers coming back in body bags that was so common prior to Desert Storm, this article [“Fight Like a Man,” September 9] was mild.
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Nevertheless, let us examine what is being celebrated here. A group of young women went out, and beat each other bloody, because they enjoyed doing it, and others enjoyed watching them. That is, by definition, what occurs during boxing. Incredibly, one is left with the suggestion that the increased willingness of these young women to practice violence against each other, and to be the victims of this pointless, sadistic violence, should be viewed as a victory for feminism! While, of course, open-minded, “progressive” men will sit back, get off on watching them do this to each other, congratulating themselves for having such good attitudes toward women.
Yes, men have been doing this to each other for generations–and what a screwed up bunch we’ve been encouraged to be. But now, apparently, “progress toward equality” means, not showing all equal concern, but rather, being equally callous toward all. I quote from your own article: “Chris hates to lose. When you hate to lose, you’ll do anything to win. Chris, when she gets in the ring–I hate to say this, it’s my wife–she would think nothin’ of killing you, maiming you. She wants to hurt you; that’s the killer instinct.”
