We often decry violence and try as much as
possible to eschew it from our homes and the society. This is even more so when
the victim is a woman.There's no gain saying the fact that the major problems
of several countries today are all linked to violence, directly or indirectly.
That said, it becomes rather funny to me that
ever since the release of the Jay Z- Solange video, several hilarious comments
have been made about it with almost no form of condemnation on the violence it
portrays. Also, no one has thought it worthwhile to commend Jay Z's ability to
hold back despite the quite tempting and provoking circumstance.
Regardless of the provocation or how rational
the reason might be, violence or counter violence to a woman is grossly
unacceptable and often seen as a sign of weakness in a man. Little boys are taught values of never hitting women no matter the circumstance or
the provocation, because women are seen as tender, weaker and require more protection.
To that extent, the mere fact that Jay Z never
struck back or made counter attacks at Solange should evoke some sort of
appreciation and commendation for being an example of how a man ought to react
when face with such plight. Mind you, in the confines of that elevator, and
away from the ogling eyes of the world (acting
under the ignorance of the circuit camera in the elevator), no one besides
the two other person there would have seen it if he had retaliated. It becomes
their words against his. Any other crazy man would have taken several swipes back at Solange on an occasion as this.
Let's also consider Hove's nature as a disciple
of gangsterism and product of thuggery. It’s totally antithetical with his
gentlemanly behavior in the elevator, thus making it utterly difficult for him
to act against his much professed nature as a gangster and its attendant disregard
for women. For a lover of rap music (and maybe hardcore/gangster rap
especially), like the writer, who boasts of being able to manage same with
being a gentleman and lawyer, it is indeed extremely difficult on several occasions when faced with certain
circumstances to maintain a perfect synergy of both and not lose your cool or
tilt towards the 'quick response' approach which these lyrics and ideas implant
in him.
Violence is violence. Pain is pain, irrespective
of who's giving and who's taking. pain, hurt, harm, maiming or even death has
never been gender discriminatory. They don't affect the victim less simply
because its a guy or a lady.
Also, if the much heralded message of gender
equality is to make much sense or not be counterproductive, there is a need to
also emphasise that equality implies equal benefits and equal burden. Not some form
of selective equality which tends to bend certain ‘rights’ (such as to be
violent to the male folks and not vice versa) in favour of one gender against
the other. Hence, if Jay Z had stuck back, the world by now would completely
forget the #bring back our girls campaign and adopt a “#bring Jigga to Justice”
or “#bring down Jay Z the Beast”. Find a perfect example in Shaquille O’Neil’s
instagram incidence of mocking a Michigan man with a rare disorder or Donald
Sterling’s racist comments. Two instances in which the media, blogosphere went
awash with several vile and unprintable words about the culprits. It’s simple;
as much as we condemn wrong deeds, we ought also to praise people when they do good
stuff.
The mere fact that it’s a woman striking a man
doesn't make it a lesser or more tolerable and acceptable vice.
#Zeus Telescope/the Diary of a Recluse.
www.zeustelescop.blogspot.com
