Debating fairness of Brown’s downfall
Re Brown’s downfall an affront to fairness, DiManno, Jan. 26 Sadly, one of the dominant responses to the #MeToo movement is to complain about fairness. As it applies to Patrick Brown, Rosie DiManno spent considerable ink decrying the lack of fairness that she says ruined Brown’s career and life.
Maybe she did not notice, but Brown’s career didn’t end when he stepped down as PC party leader, and his life wasn’t ruined. He quit as party leader, sure, but he didn’t give up his well-paid gig as an MPP and he plans to stay employed while he fights these allegations.
Yes, allegations like these are hard if not impossible to prove either way, which is exactly why so many men get away with assault and harassment. Women have been under the thumb of men forever and what’s really unfair is the long history of mental, physical and sexual abuse women have endured and obviously continue to endure.
I believe #MeToo is providing a little justice, but it seems that Ms. DiManno and other enablers believe there is some secret cabal of women scheming to take control by filing false claims about men in power, and that women are willingly putting their private lives and worst moments on public display to prevent an opposing political candidate from getting elected, knowing that people like DiManno will re-victimize them, as she has done. Colin Whitworth, Toronto
Thank you, Rosie, for being a voice of sanity. Years from now, the excesses of #MeToo will be evident. Guilty until proven innocent and, in the meantime, be humiliated in the media and see your career torn to shreds. Due process be dammed. Tillie Clapp, Fenwick, Ont.
I was momentarily distracted by DiManno’s comments, like how it wasn’t Patrick Brown’s job to ask for the woman’s ID and how there isn’t a man in the world who hasn’t asked someone to suck his d---. And it’s not like Brown is Harvey Weinstein or Louis C.K.
Then I got steamed. Are you serious? Maybe asking for her ID should have been part of the conversation. And maybe all men don’t say “suck my d---.” And who are you to categorize predatory behaviour?
Then I pulled into focus. DiManno is missing the point. Women have been told for decades that no one believes them, that a man’s opinion is worth more, that there is no proof so shut up, that she must be lying to get something out of it, that they are not worth the effort, that women should just take it from their boss.
Women are no longer being dismissed. Women are being heard. Sarah Eddenden, Whitby
While Rosie DiManno seems willing to police women about what not to wear (hijabs and burkas as a recent example), she seems to have expanded her agenda by dictating how women ought to respond to unwanted sexual attention. What women wear, and how they handle jarring sexual attention or sexual abuse, is really a matter of personal choice.
I agree with Ms. DiManno’s argument that “there is no crime here,” with the exception of buying alcohol for underage teenag- ers. With the hindsight that comes beyond the teenage years, most people would view the sober Mr. Brown’s interest in teenagers in a drunken state as disturbing, and not a notable qualification for a job offer in a constituency office.
It is his judgment regarding the favours he offered that make him unsuitable for leadership. Losing the Tory leadership can hardly be described as ruin.
A public forum is a harsh place to debate what is appropriate behaviour but the debate itself is necessary to clearly define and clarify boundaries and decisions for both genders.
Implying these women are cowardly for wishing to remain anonymous ignores the reality of the vicious backlash and re-victimization of women who have publicly exposed themselves with their complaints of abuse. Joan McGoey, Toronto
Thanks to Rosie DiManno for her sane and sensible response to the unfair attacks on Patrick Brown.
I don’t know Patrick Brown either, but I agree that even if the allegations are true, they amount to nothing more that awkward miscommunications between adults and possibly a cautionary tale about decisions made when drunk.
In the span of an hour or two, in response to spurious accusations by unidentified women, the leadership and membership of the Conservative Party became a lynch mob to destroy their leader. Media and political figures jumped on the hurtling bandwagon. Bravo to DiManno for speaking the truth about this sordid display of political opportunism and appalling disloyalty. Mary Ellen Kavanagh, Mississauga
While Rosie DiManno may wish to screech at the lack of due process shown to Patrick Brown, she needs to be reminded that the only people who denied Mr. Brown his right to a fair trial were the kingmakers at the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. To blame the court of public opinion is spurious and disingenuous. Greg Stock, Toronto