I am never so amazed as when so-called news journalists/reporters point out violence among males as “youth violence” or violence in general. However, when a female commits an act of violence, it’s reported as “female violence.” If a male commits an act of violence, it is rendered neutral by labeling it only “violence.”

This case came home to me this morning when my news station of choice, NPR, perpetuated the tradition of sexism by reporting that a terrorist attack in Iraq was committed by a female terrorist. Again, the overall reporting of terrorism is about male suspects, but to point out that a terrorist is female rather than just a terrorist is patriarchal society at it’s worst. The bulk of violence in the world is perpetrated by males. Ninety eight percent of domestic violence cases in the US are males harming females. The same can be said of violence in the world, yet to report that a terrorist was female is more than reporting the facts; it’s revealing something about our culture, our values as citizens in a partiarchal empire.

Some may take my statements as support for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman. Nothing can be further from the truth. Hillary is part of the Club; just as I would say Obama is part of the Club. The recent speech by Obama on race showed conclusively that Obama understands the issues, but refuses to make an issue of the issues of race. Then again, he’s said nothing about gender. Even as race and gender are important issues, the class warfare fought against poor and working americans ultimately engender sexism and racism, since it is fierce competition among a people that sets one against the other. When all things are equal, that is when all people no longer have to worry about their healthcare, a decent wage and benefits; when all people have opportunities to support a family, send their children to college to give them a better life; when the civil rights of GLBT are respected, then we can put aside our differences and work together toward a better, more just world. peace