Wise advice - yes or no?

Wise advice – yes or no?

 

The Head of the Australian Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, has just raised some noise when addressing new cadets at the Defence Academy in Canberra, when he advised them to avoid becoming prey to some sexual predator, by avoiding the 4 A’s – alcohol, after midnight, alone and attractive.

 

This immediately raised quite a bit of reaction, especially amongst defendants of women’s rights, who see this comment as a continuation of female victim blaming for sexual abuse they might be subjected to.1

 

Before commenting on Campbell’s controversial advice, I’ll make a couple of observations.

 

The first is that sexual abuse, including rape, is an abhorrent act performed, predominantly, by men, and is an abuse of power that society still permits them (as it still to this day places them in a position of social, political and other forms of power generally higher than that achieved by women) and also abuse of physical power (as men are generally physically stronger than women).

 

The second is that blaming victims for their abuse when it occurs, one would be deviating attention from the perpetration of this abuse, reducing the aggressor’s responsibility.

 

Let’s now deal with Campbell’s advice.  I do not see this as victim blaming at all.  Firstly, Campbell  was talking to both male and female cadets.  Secondly, the abuse of these cadets has not yet happened, so I take it that General Campbell is encouraging the cadets to take precautions so that the abuse does not occur if possible.

 

It would be so much better if predators do not exist, and that everyone, young and old, would be able to go out and about at any time, without the thought or fear of some malign person who’d have already singled them out for later.

 

This place exists – heaven, I assume.  Is this place heaven?

 

The fight against sexual abuse needs to occur, strengthen, become widespread and relentless.  Is any one of you under the illusion that this fight will lead to this evil being totally eliminated?

 

If you take a precaution, does this mean your stopping or inhibiting fighting the abuse?

 

If you go to a bank to withdraw a lot of money, stuff them in your pocket and then pass through a flea market, there is a chance that upon leaving you could find your pocket being rather emptier even without purchasing anything.  If the thief is caught, wouldn’t he be considered guilty of his criminal act, just because you had the money in your pocket?  Yes he would be (if caught) but wouldn’t it be advisable to place the money in a wallet and hide it inside your jacket before immersing yourself in the crowd?

 

If there is a precaution that can be taken, wouldn’t it be in your interest to take it?  To be clear, taking precautions does not guarantee that evil does not occur, but reduces the risk that it does.

 

I am sure that some of you disagree with Campbell’s advice.  Well then, advise your children to consume alcohol, stay out after midnight, while being alone and attractive.

 

I’ll be advising mine otherwise.

 

1https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/defence-chief-angus-campbell-tells-cadets-to-avoid-being-prey-to-predators-20210303-p577bf.html, retrieved 3/3/2021