December 06, 2005
I can't believe it's been 16 years!
Since Marc Lepine entered L'Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal with a mission to kill women who he percieved to be the 'enemy'. Those 14 women serve us a reminder that we've still got plenty to do in order to protect those who are vulnerable.

While I don't condone what occured one must look into Marc's past and understand what brought him so much rage that he felt the only viable option was to go into the school and attack those who he felt were the one's stopping him from ever reaching his full potential. Like many people who commit very violent acts Marc was victimized in his vulnerable state. He was abused by his father, he witnessed spousal abuse and dealt with cultural clashes--his father being a muslim arab and his mother being a former christian nun growing up in a Montreal society. Over the years he was rejected from various aspects of society. Many of his girlfriends did not last very long in the relationship, he was not "suitable" for the Canadian Armed Forces and the final blow being rejected from L'Ecole Polytechinique in Montreal. His hatred of women was born from his father's nurture. He listened numerous times to his father's belief that women were the spawn of evil. From this type of upbringing it's no wonder that the stressor that triggered the uncontrollable rage was his faulty perception that women were getting special treatment.

This incident has brought about some awareness to the struggles of children and women around the world and more specifically Canada. I know what barriers the vulnerable face. There is plenty of awareness going on but not enough action being sought to prevent the violence against the disenfranchised. In Ontario this past year there have been 22 murders at the hands of abusive spouses. One was in my own community. While this generally falls under the umbrella of violence against women and children I'd like to expand this umbrella. While the majority of reported violence is against women and children there is a growing trend for men to report abuse at the hands of people they trusted or trust. Spousal abuse does not just happen to women. While physical abuse is more common among women it is not only restricted to them. I think it's safe to say that for most men the abuse they encounter is more emotional. Women are generally social, emotional and psychological abusers. Women are social bullies while men are physical bullies. It's the way our brains are wired. And the way we are socialized. It is with that knowledge that one can use to empower those involved in bringing about change.

There is a lot to be done yet in this area of anti-social phenomenoms. There has to be change at all levels of the sociatal spectrum. Governments have to change their approach, communities have to change their approach, families have to change their approach and the individual has to change their approach. There has to be a shift to create a kinder, gentler and very honest society. This takes time and awareness of the issue is a start. That is why on this date every year I make note to challenge beliefs put forward by unkind, ungentle and dishonest people. With challenge comes change. Change is good!