Jennifer Smith [04/10/2002]

To the editor:This is in response to Ron Figulys letter (April 2). I am curious how such an allegedly well-educated man could let such a weak, feminist woman such as Lois Smith get him so upset that he felt the need to write and be so viciously mean. After all, she is just a female. It sounds to me like she made you think and that got you upset. How dare a woman do that to a man. Why, it sounds like you would benefit from moving to an Islamic nation; then you will not have to worry about those terrible, radical, feminist women. I happen to know Lois and her father. Both are wonderful people. The relationship that they have is respect on both sides, and I also happen to know that she does not have that hatred for men that you claim she has. If there is hatred being shown by anyone, I would have to say that it is by you towards her. I guess the question is, who should grow up and get a life? I do not believe she needs to grow up. That has already been accomplished. Maybe you should reevaluate your idea of what grown-up means. Also, how can you compare one woman from the 1930s to today? Do you realize that the standards of life are different? Also, just to let you in on a well-kept secret, people die in America also. I hate to burst your bubble, but rights were given to women some time ago, and we have the right and responsibility to practice those rights. What would you have said to people like Harriet Tubman (how horrible, a black woman fighting for freedom from people like you), plus many other women like Rose Parker, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Matilda Joslyn Gage? This is just to name a few. By the way, men even supported these women during their struggles to have some rights and freedoms, instead of remaining second-class citizens, which is where, evidently, you would like us to remain. The one that is most celebrated is the Virgin Mary, chosen by God himself. By the way, there are many more.Do you realize that it was women fighting for the rights of all women that helped make this country great, and without women, you, for one, would be a very unhappy man. Just think, then you would have to do your own laundry, cook your own meals, and clean your own house. That would be an interesting sight. You wished Lois good luck. Well, I would also like to wish you good luck on becoming a real man and learning to live peacefully with women and playing nice with the other children. Maybe it is you that should expand your horizons. I will let you know how to start. First, take your head out of the sand and look around. Then maybe you will have something worth saying and others may actually want to hear.Sorry it sounds like you are the one that has to grow up to become a real man.