WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEI)P'14 't APRIl.8, 187. PAGE 5 A good friend of mine considers himself one of the original supporters of feminism. Yet in his view, women will never achieve complete equality - because they don't want it. "Feminists say they want equality, which should mean the sharing of rights and responsibilities, and the power that goes with them. Instead, most seem more interested in gaining power for its own sake," he says. "Wé are deluded into thinking it possible. But if feminists were to have their way, our society would end in oblivion." Harsh words. What does he see as the biggest threat to the vitality of our civilization? "Well, look at what feminists want from men. Rather than equality, they are more interested in robbing males of their dignity. See, the first thing females want - a sign of male caring, they say - is to see men in tears. Next they'll want us changing diapers and doing dishes and ironing and cleaning house and looking after little kids." Well, I replied, that's not too far off the mark. Most men I know will change wet diapers but will balk at anything heavier. But what is so wrong with men pressing shirts or vacuuming or making beds? He pounces on the point. "Once women. have reduced men to performance of menial tasks, then they will have nothing but derision for us. And in the process our society will be weakened." How so? "Look, women are turned on by power. How else do you explain the fact that old, fat, ugly men with money always have beautiful young women on their arms? Because power is an aphrodisiac. "And when the males in our society have been reduced to whimpish sops, crying over soap operas and fit only for WITH OUR FEETUP by Bill Swan Males left with myths playing ring-around-the-rosy with infants, then watch the Russians or some other vital society invade us. And who do you think the women will turn to then?" "They'll be swept off their feet by these virile young in- vaders who push them around and dominate them." Hold on there! That's not a very flattering picture. "It's nature. For hundreds of centuries, this is the way human society has developed. From the time we were dwelling in caves, males provided protection while females gave birth and raised children. "We forget that the relative stability and peace we have now in North America - some American cities don't count - runs against the pattern of human history. Do you think women in Beirut talk about equality? Nonsense. They gravitate naturally to the men who can offer them the best protection. The species needs this to survive." Huh.. He makes human society sopnd like one huge collection of madmen with Biker mentalities. "The savage motorcyçle gang image isn't too far off. When our civilization crumbles - and it must, all, civilizations eventually crumble - we will resort to such savageliving." He may, of course, eventually be proven right. Pessimists do have a way of prevailing. But in tribal societies, females only seem to be given a subservient role. But on examination, it is females who hold such societies together. Females, with all their charms, keep males nearby for when they're needed. While the males wait, they are allowed their sport - often in the guise of war games. But it takes no genius to figure out that society has changed irrevocably in the past-century. .Technology has forever ended tribal societies. What is now happening is the reshaping of male-female relationships. Males are no longer needed for their superior strength. We are left with the myths of superior male aggression and dominance in mathematics. But as females are given more opportunities to perform in traditionally male areas, undoubtedly the mythical barriers will-fall. Bruce Kidd, the former Canadian track star, points out that female records in all sports are falling much faster than male records. Soon, he says, we may find that the difference in performance attributed to male strength really is due to inequality of opportunity. If this is true, then perhaps my friend is right. Feminists may be in the first stages of taking all power away from men. And when they discover that aside from breeding purposes they really don't need us... The ants and the bees have been there before us. Police warn of holiday scam If you are one of those "lucky" people who have recently been ad- vised by mail that you have won a free vacation in Florida, don't get your hopes built up. According to Durham Regional Police, it might well be part of a large scam'that has recently hit the Toronto area. Det. Schumacher of Durham's fraud squad says he has received several calls from local residents inquiring about the validity of free vacations - he has received the postcard type information himself. "I took one look at it and threw it in the garbage", says Schumacher, adding he had thought no more about it until people started to call. He says that there is really nothing that can be done at the present time~because the firm is located in the United States. But he indicated the best thing residents can do is to follow his advice and throw the "junk" away. The postcards in question came from House of Holiday cIn. of Rossville, Georgia. The inform the recipient they have been serected by Contest Clearing House to receive a holiday in Florida. They go on to say that complete informa- tion can be given by calling a cer- tain telephone number between certain hours on a specified date. At the bottom of the card, they add that the party will be reimbursed for the telephone call. In the Toronto area, several people have complained they inad- vertently gave a major credit card number to House of Holiday (to which the reimbursement was to have been made) and now fear other charges might be made to that card number. Schumacher advises that legitimate firms do not operate in this way and advises that residents not give any charge card number over the telephone. "If something sounds too good to be true....it probably isn't" says Schumacher. Whitby school trustee Ian Brown is seeking suggestions for a new name for Whitby Senior Public School. The school will become a kin- dergarten to Gr. 8 facility in Sep- tember this year, so the name will have to be changed. Board policy states that schools can be named: to recognize persons who made a significant con- tribution to society; after a historical name which once applied to the area in which the school is located; after the district to be ser- ved by the school; after the street on which the school is located. Suggestions can be sent to Brown at the Durham Board of Education office (555 Rossland Rd. W. Oshawa, LiJ 3H3) or can be left with the principal of Whitby Senior Public School who will forward them to Brown. THE Custom Cover Sale Savings of 20% Save now on The Barrymore Silver Line of Sofas. Loveseats or Chairs. Choose from over 90 beautiful decorator fabrics. and have a Barrymore. custom nade for you. McALLISTElRS 70 ROSSLAND RD.W. OSHAWA-5i6-6465 Mon., Tues., Wed. 10-8. Fri. 10-9. Sat.10-5 luuit îiiui uwi uuu inn uu......... Board seeks new name for school Crime Stoppers Crime Stoppers and Durham Regional Police are asking for the public's help in solving a robbery which occurred on Dec. 30 last year at the Canadian Tire gas bar on Brock St. N., Whitby. At about il p.m. a man knocked on the basement office door, identifying himself as an OPP officer. The attendant opened the door and was hit in the stomach with a steel pipe. Two bandits en- tered the office and the attendant was forced to lie on his face. His hands and feet were tied with an extension cord, his head was covered with a coat and he wast told not to move. Cash and keys were stolen. The attendant managed to free his legs, making his way upstairs and attracted the attention of a customer who freed him. The suspects were described as: one male, 5'9", medium build, deep voice, wearing a jean jacket and blue jeans, a white skull mask covered his entire head and he had on mirrored sunglasses; and a male wearing a blue ski mask. A re-enactment of this crime will be shown on CITY-TV on Thur- sday, April 9 at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. also on CHEX and CKVR-TV on Friday, April 10 at the same times. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the persons responsible for this offence. Similar amounts will be paid for tips leading to the arrest of per- sons responsible for any serious crime. Callers do not have to give their names or appear in court. Crime Stoppers numbers are: 1-800-387-8477 toll free for all calls; 222-8477 local to Toronto. Sgt. Sandy Ryrie, co-ordinator of the Durham program writes this column to help combat crime in the community. A citizen board of directors administers the local program, one of more than 650 Crime Stoppers programs in North America. lut imi liffir illiri iiigirir iLliz, ýf'vK Il