Dear Editor,
A response to Is it Possible to be too ‘woke’? editorial from Dec. 12 Ponoka News edition.
Mr. Heyden-Kaye gets at least three things very right in his most recent editorial. First, to “…prioritize the wrong issue over a more serious one only harms what you’re trying to protect.” Second, people who disagree “…could care less about what a person believes and more about creating chaos.” And third, “…there’s maybe a little more to this issue than meets the eye.”
Neither song Baby It’s Cold Outside or Blurred Lines are about sexual assault: they both describe seduction (or attempts at seduction) and temptation. If we conflate seduction and temptation with sexual assault we “prioritize the wrong issue over a more serious one” and this has happened recently. We need to remind ourselves that men and women are guilty of seduction and temptation, and while such acts are abhorrent, we fail to protect victims when we mix two issues which are related but not equal.
Let’s try to apply Heyden-Kaye’s second observation to the two songs in question. First, we cannot assume that either the song writers or singers are guilty of sexual assault. These two songs reflect two beliefs. One, seduction makes them more likely to receive sexual favours and talking about temptation in this manner is acceptable. I cannot imagine that speaking this way is going to help their ignoble causes. They sound desperate and weak. Perhaps these two songs are confessions. Hopefully to temptation only.
Read More: OPINION - Pulling Baby It’s Cold Outside will hurt #MeToo movement
What is the ‘more to this issue’ than meets the eye? Why would someone write, record, produce, and release a song about seduction/temptation? They must have thought the song was good on some level. The only other motive is money. Someone buys this stuff. I don’t know who, but maybe I should try to get to know these people. Why do some people enjoy these songs? I would need to broaden my understanding of music to appreciate either of these songs even a little bit.
And to answer Heyden-Kaye’s main question, no. We cannot be too awakened. For our present topic, it is important to admit that there is a link between temptation, seduction, and sexual assault. If we do not control temptation, we can seduce and be seduced. Failed attempts at seduction could lead assault. To recognize a possible link is to be awakened. But this is a knowledge that we must turn on ourselves first.
Timothy Nelson