Jian Ghomeshi: Take Responsibility

Posted on November 3, 2014
Last Monday, I was totally on Jian Ghomeshi’s side and supported his facebook letter. Like most of my friends and probably most Canadians, I thought CBC was narrow and conventional when they fired him. A little BDSM, who cares? Consensual sex between two adults needs wide and private space.

But as the week unfolded and women started to reveal what he had actually done to them, I understood that Jian was the same as other men who are violent toward women.

I have a clear, feminist analysis of men who are violent with women: they do it because they can.  My worldview is that most white men are indoctrinated to use their institutional power and some use it when and how they want. And this is linked to our vicious history of racism, colonization and oppression.

However, Jian was charismatic, as well as a first generation immigrant who spoke directly to me through the radio with such warmth. Plus, I really liked his incisive and witty interviews. Did you hear his interview with Billy Bob Thornton? Pure magic. He won the Gold Award at the New York Festival and Q is aired on 120 public radio stations in the States for a reason.

And last night I became angry with him personally, as though he was my friend.

Damn it, Jian, take responsibility. Accept your behaviour for what it is: Violence against women. You have hit, beaten, and raped women. You are legally and morally reprehensible.  Use your power and your privilege that you have and with your disarming, intelligent brilliance bring about the change we all want to see in the world. Accept responsibility.