Sargon of Akkad - Carl Benjamin - The Pope of Feminism

All Episodes

Previous Next

March 21, 2016 - Sargon of Akkad - Carl Benjamin

27:30

The Pope of Feminism

Large

Audio Only |

Scroll

Time	Text
	As you know, empowerment is one of those concepts that's easy to talk about, but challenging to put into practice.
	Only if you think women are inherently inferior to men which, unbelievably Justin, appears to be your position.
	Anything that fundamentally shifts a power balance is going to take time, a lot of hard work and real dedication.
	Oh, wow.
	Okay.
	Sorry, I wasn't expecting you to go down the planned society route so early, at least.
	But okay, so you're measuring the power in society, and there is apparently an imbalance.
	Go.
	I know this firsthand.
	I'm here this evening because I helped to bring about Canada's first ever gender-balanced cabinet.
	So it is literally as basic as measuring the number of women and the number of men to measure power.
	Is that...
	I mean, are we...
	Am I following what you're saying, Justin?
	Or is it just 2016?
	But before we arrived at that goal, we had to do an awful lot of work.
	Really?
	Because it sounds like choosing your cabinet members based on their gender is actually the minimum amount of work.
	In the years that preceded it.
	Oh, right.
	So the actual choosing of the cabinet wasn't the hard work.
	Okay, sorry, I'm following.
	Yes, it may be.
	The current year?
	2016 now, and it was 2015 then.
	Nailed it.
	My SJW algebra is fucking perfect.
	do have progress to show for it.
	But we are where we are because of the hard work that we did in 2015 and in 2014, in 2013 and in 2012, when I first ran for the leadership of my party.
	I don't mean to be cynical, but that's not really that long.
	You're like 40 years old.
	You see, here's an interesting fact that I'm sure many of you are familiar with.
	Studies have shown that women are 50% less likely than men to consider themselves potential candidates for elected office.
	You know, Justin, I'm going to take you at your word because you have identified a non-problem and you're trying to make it into a problem.
	So it's funnier if I agree that, yeah, I'm sure you're completely right.
	Because now you can just take it away, can't you?
	Of course, we didn't need a study to tell us that.
	We saw it firsthand every time we asked women to step up and run for politics.
	Oh, how dare they?
	How dare women in a free liberal society make choices of their own that don't align with your priorities?
	I can totally see why you need to take over and implement a planned society.
	Please go ahead.
	What is your solution?
	You see, when you ask a man if he wants to run for office, his very first question is, when do I start?
	Alright, Justin, that has actually pissed me off for a couple of reasons.
	One, you really don't know who you're talking about there.
	Two, why would you think men would just automatically agree to your request?
	I'm a man and there is no way I would run for politics if you asked me.
	In fact, that would probably be the reason I wouldn't.
	And three, you're going to make this into some way of making women seem inferior, aren't you?
	Oh, and four, people don't ask you to become a political candidate.
	The people who want to be political candidates volunteer on their own initiative.
	But we found that when we asked a woman the same question, her first reaction was different.
	It was, really, why me?
	She'd ask if we were serious.
	She'd want to know why exactly we thought she was qualified for the job.
	Well, thank fuck, Canadian women are intelligent and introspective enough to look at themselves and go, well, I'm a secretary.
	I don't actually know anything about politics.
	Why me?
	I'm not this way inclined.
	I'm not skilled, and I'm not necessarily inclined to want to do this, so why are you asking me?
	I hear that from business leaders all the time.
	They encounter similar reactions when they're recruiting for executive and director positions.
	Because women are just inferior, aren't they, Justin?
	They just don't make their own choices.
	They don't have confidence.
	They don't know how to get along in the world.
	They are, in fact, the retarded gender.
	This is your opinion of them.
	They are the special gender that goes to school on the short bus, while the rest of us have to get to school under our own power.
	So it's not just a politics where this is a challenge.
	Yes, we have established that you have absolutely no respect for the agency of women.
	Now, how should we treat them like the slow kid who always had to be encouraged by the teacher?
	What we did try is we launched a campaign called Invite Her to Run.
	Oh, yeah, that's brilliant.
	That's not patronizing at all.
	We reached out through social media and other channels to ask Canadians to invite women they knew, leaders in their community, women who are already making their mark as hard workers, as connected business leaders, as people who are having an impact in the world around them, to put their name forward and to run for office.
	Yeah, you know, the exact people who don't need to be invited to run for government, because they're the sorts of people who would have decided to do that if that's what they wanted to do.
	And to help interested women follow through, we had a process in place to help them figure out the next steps.
	Did it involve crayons and nap time?
	I'm going to take that as a yes.
	And that was a really important step in pulling together the pool of talent needed to be able to say so casually and blithely, well, because it's 2015.
	Honestly, I really cringe every time you fucking say that, Justin.
	Just stop it.
	Just stop.
	It's really cringy.
	As in so many situations, the work behind the scenes, the preparation, the dedication, the getting to a place where we were able to showcase that, was really the important part of the story.
	One perfect example for me, the one that encapsulates the struggles with getting women to run, was our fantastic Minister of International Trade, well known to many New Yorkers, Chrystia Freeland.
	She and I had many long conversations about the reality of working in politics and what the demands would be.
	I had to convince her to uproot her young family to move from New York to Toronto to run in the election.
	And if she was successful, then she would then have to move to Ottawa and further uproot her family.
	Well, there we go.
	I'm sure that that example you have just given is probably very much representative of the main reason most women don't go into politics, because it's obviously not conducive to a settled family life.
	But the call to service was strong.
	And after much soul-searching and, I know, difficult conversations with her husband and her kids, she made the decision, and not just me, but all of Canada is delighted that she decided to run because she's been an extraordinary asset to Canada and indeed to the world.
	That was just beautiful, Justin.
	But she's just one example of the extraordinary women we gathered, two of whom are here tonight, Patty Haju, our Minister for the Status of Women, and Jodie Wilson-Raybolt, who is Canada's first-ever Indigenous Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
	I love that everyone applauds this.
	I've cut out two periods of applause so far, and I left that in because that was the end of that little segment.
	And they're applauding because he has some women in his cabinet.
	Just so, I mean, just to keep that in mind, they aren't applauding any kind of success or achievement.
	Nothing that was done based on hard work, no matter how he would describe it for him, the hard work was getting women into these positions.
	It's not that...
	We don't know anything about the work that these women have done, and I'm sure they've done loads.
	But it's just not a fucking factor.
	So...
	So the Ask Her to Run program was just an example of one specific program that I know has made a real difference.
	But as I said earlier, we are all accountable to future generations for the decisions and for the steps and processes we put in place to create a better future today.
	In 2016.
	Now, many of you know, I am a feminist.
	What the fuck was that?
	I am a feminist.
	That was fucking creepy, Justin.
	I am a feminist.
	It feels like you're admitting to me that you're a fucking vampire.
	Why are you saying it like that?
	I'll tell you what, the creepy look in his face and the weird tone of his voice really is freaking me out.
	proud to call myself one then you are willingly taking on all of the connotations that come along with that word and And that includes the crazy man-haters and apparently in your case, misogyny.
	I know and believe that women can do and be anything they want.
	Fathers, Justin, that's what they can't do.
	But also, why can't you just let these women choose to do what they want?
	You may believe they can do anything, but you seem insistent on not letting them make that choice for themselves.
	But I also know that meaningful cultural change can't and won't happen when only half of the population works towards change.
	You fucking wish half the population were feminists.
	Men need to act to set examples and to be role models too.
	That's right, Justin.
	Because if women don't have men setting the example and men telling them what to do, they won't be able to figure it out on their own, will they?
	Fucking hell, Justin.
	Are you even listening to yourself?
	Women need men's help.
	I think they call that patriarchy just in.
	My wife, Sophie, recently reminded me of this very point.
	I've always tried to make sure that my daughter feels empowered, that she understands that her gender does not and should never determine the limits of what she can accomplish.
	She will never romance a heterosexual woman.
	But Sophie reminded me recently that I need to spend just as much time and effort engaging with my sons, talking to them about feminism and the importance of equality.
	Jesus Christ, Justin, if there was a way to make young boys hate feminism, I think sitting them down and teaching them about feminism is probably exactly the way to do it.
	Men have a critical role to play in demanding and supporting this societal shift.
	Because Justin Trudeau does not think women are capable of doing it on their own.
	We need to speak out in support of gender equality.
	And gentlemen, we need to get comfortable identifying ourselves as feminists.
	If you want that to happen, stop saying it in such a creepy way, you freak.
	Because at the end of the day, that's accountability.
	We are all accountable.
	Women and men.
	We are all responsible for making sure that the change we want to see around the boardroom table is a topic of discussion around the dinner table.
	Jesus fucking Christ, man, you're actually comfortable dictating to people what they should be talking about around the dinner table to push the social change you want.
	Yes, that's very liberal, Justin.
	Orwell would be proud.
	Why don't we just install a TV screen that monitors them at all times to make sure that they're doing just that?
	Our daughters and sons deserve nothing left.
	I've trotted out the C.S. Lewis quote before when people have said things like this, but I really think it bears repeating.
	Of all the tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.
	It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent, moral busybodies.
	A robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep.
	His cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end before they do so with the approval of their own conscience.
	They may be more likely to go to heaven, yet at the same time, likelier to make a hell of earth.
	This very kindness stings with intolerable insult.
	To be cured against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those that never will, to be classed with infants, imbeciles and domestic animals.
	And that's exactly what he is doing now.
	Our daughters and sons deserve nothing left.
	Honestly, I really think this is terrifying, just because I know that this is their equivalent.
	Being male or white is their equivalent of original sin.
	So after empowerment, accountability.
	Really?
	Forcing men to do things because women have made different decisions is making people accountable, is it?
	Because it sounds like you're making men accountable for women's decisions.
	The third value, courage, is ostensibly why I'm here this evening.
	I say ostensibly because while some might see establishing gender equality around the cabinet table as a courageous move, it's not actually a frame that I'm really comfortable with in talking about courage.
	Is it really courageous to want to have a government leadership that more accurately reflects the people they're elected to represent?
	No, I think they call you brave because it's pretty brave to abandon hundreds of years of Western social development and regress us back to when people actually cared about the gender of the person they were hiring.
	Seriously, it takes balls to get up on a stage and say, listen, I actually want to drag the development of society backwards.
	Is it courageous to want to diminish barriers by offering our daughters and sons effective and visible role models?
	Oh yeah, your role models will be brilliant, won't they?
	There'll be a retarded woman who needs a lackey to help her everywhere she goes.
	Your role models are an awful idea, Justin.
	Is it courageous to want to offer Canadian citizens the best possible results?
	Something we know happens when we have more inclusive representative approach to leadership.
	Given that this is the first time this has been done, Justin, how the fuck do you think you know that?
	See, to me, those aren't markers of courage.
	Rather.
	They're the core tenets of your faith, aren't they?
	They're just markers of the right and smart thing to do.
	Well, I almost wasn't convinced, but then you nodded along with what you were saying, and that convinced me.
	For true courage.
	Don't tell me, you have to be a woman.
	Look to when a woman decides to throw her hat in the political arena.
	These feminist lenses are definitely working.
	Even after witnessing that hostile environment that so often awaits her.
	Yes, it's incredible any women get out alive.
	True courage is fighting for that raise because you know you deserve pay equal or greater to that of your male colleagues.
	I just want to point out that that makes you sound like you think men are predators that prey on women.
	All men.
	You think a woman saying, hey, you know, I actually think I deserve equal pay, is going to make men attack her in some way.
	Because you're a fucking lunatic.
	True courage is standing up and demanding better representation, better treatment, and better opportunities.
	And those inspiring actions that so many women take upon every day are what is true courage to me.
	Okay, I can concede that there will indeed be some circumstances where some women will need to pluck up the courage to ask their boss, who may be a man, for a raise.
	And in this very specific circumstance, yes, some courage will be needed.
	However, let's retain a sense of perspective, Justin, and perhaps respect the boundaries of other people's relationships, because you currently have your tongue up every woman's ass.
	Now, the final value presented for us tonight is humility.
	Fucking hell.
	When Logic sent this to me, he described it as a feminist sermon, and I totally understand why.
	Trudeau, you sound like a fucking preacher.
	You could be standing in your pulpit telling everyone to worship the Lord.
	Instead, you're telling them to worship the vagina.
	Now, it's important to take stock of the things we've accomplished together.
	A gender-balanced cabinet, for example, is a significant accomplishment and one that I am especially proud of.
	I'm just going to go ahead and assume that feminists have redefined the word humility as well.
	But in highlighting our victories, we must also remain mindful of the important work that has yet to be done.
	See, Canada has a proud history of strong, ambitious women standing up and fighting for change.
	Apparently, this also requires the men to change, whereas I thought it was just women changing themselves.
	But you're gone, after that, what happened?
	Real, meaningful progress has always followed.
	Well, now that you've told Canadian men that they're going to have to be feminists and they're going to have to do as they're told, I'm sure that meaningful change will follow.
	I don't think it's going to be changed for the better, but things will certainly change.
	But there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done.
	We need to do more than address, we need to do more to address issues that negatively impact women each and every day.
	Oh, you are so right.
	Issues like pay equity.
	Women only earn 77 cents for every man's dollar, don't you know?
	Access to quality childcare.
	Oh, wow, an actual issue.
	Well, I don't know what childcare in Canada is like.
	No feminist has ever brought it up before, and I've never had to look.
	And achieving parity, not just in cabinet, but in parliament as a whole.
	Oh, yeah, preach that gospel, baby.
	We need 50% women.
	Because it's 2016.
	And further, the work we need to continue to do to stamp out violence against women right across our country and indeed around the world means we know we still have a massive mountain to climb but are absolutely determined to make a significant significant steps towards that.
	Levels of violence against men and children are currently acceptable.
	Because in our humility, we should always remember the extraordinary position of privilege each and every one of us, certainly in this room, are in, simply by being gathered in this beautiful room, in this great city.
	God, that's so terribly humble.
	Oh yes, well, we're so privileged.
	What we need to do is tell our inferiors, you know, those working classes, how they should be treating women.
	Because at the moment, they're very egalitarian.
	But what they don't seem to understand is that that means women choose to do what they want.
	And they fail to understand that women are in fact inferior.
	Women aren't coming into government at a rate of an equal to the men.
	Therefore, they are wrong.
	And it's not us and what we think.
	And we know we're right because we're so fucking humble.
	And if we have privilege, which we must recognize, we must use that privilege to be advocates for change, both within our own communities and on the international stage.
	Also, we get to boss everyone around and tell them what to do and then try and shame them if they say no.
	See, we need to remember always to challenge the status quo.
	You are the status quo, you cultist.
	Even though it may be what got us here tonight?
	You're right, it is a bad system.
	You managed to come out on top of it.
	Why don't you give us some of that cult-like mumbo-jumbo that you're so fond of?
	But it is our responsibility always to be more inclusive, to expand opportunity, and to always demand better of ourselves and of others.
	Praise the Lord.
	These four values, empowerment, accountability, courage, and humility.
	Are not ones that we should embrace because they win us awards or because they make us feel better about ourselves.
	Interesting you'd bring that up, Justin.
	These are values that we should all seek to embody every single day because in doing so, we help build a world that delivers on the promise of greater equality.
	And equality, whether extended to an employee, a customer, a colleague, or a citizen, is not a threat.
	It is an opportunity.
	Man, you sound like a fucking cultist.
	You are offering men the chance to become the social servants of women and to...
	It's like a new version of chivalry and you're really taking it far too seriously.
	So thank you for recognizing the work that my government has done and recognizing as well that as much as I was able to do and my government was able to do, we only did it because Canadians made a choice to choose.
	a more open, fair, positive way of doing politics.
	And that is certainly something that I hope resonates through political systems around the world.
	I don't know, man.
	I really like equality of opportunity over equality of outcome.
	I don't like the idea of a planned society.
	I think it's fucking terrible.
	I think it's suddenly, as soon as you adopt that mandate, it's the logic of it can just be expanded to cover anything.
	The highest principle is, well, we need equality for everything.
	It's like, okay, well, where doesn't need this equality then all of a sudden?
	So now you are completely in control of all society.
	And in fact, it comes down to even legislating human interactions in the most mundane and minute ways.
	Because everything falls under this umbrella.
	Honestly, I find the scope of what you're asking for fucking terrifying.
	No, I'm not thinking of any place in particular, don't.
	But as wonderful as this recognition is, it is not an honor.
	It's a challenge.
	It's a challenge to create more opportunities for Canadian women and girls, and indeed women and girls around the world, to realize their full potential.
	And I really guess that that's the difference between us.
	I don't want them to realize their full potential because I'm not a fucking corporate CEO.
	I want them to realize their dreams.
	So tonight, I'm also asking you to challenge those around you, your peers, your friends, and most importantly, I want all of you here in this room to think about how you can challenge those folks who aren't in this room.
	Yes, you need to go out there and spread the good word.
	Tell people about the good news of feminism.
	Spread the gospel to the Gentiles.
	Because we are all converts.
	How is this not a religion?
	And we all know people who wouldn't be here tonight, who wouldn't think of being here tonight, who might not want to be here tonight.
	And those are the people that we are going to have to challenge.
	I'm starting to understand why feminists love Islam so much.
	There's so much in it that must remind you of your own doctrines.
	Why don't you fucking leave people alone?
	They're not interested in your religion, and if they were, they would have joined.
	It's not like it's not everywhere.
	The Prime Minister of Canada is a feminist priest giving a sermon to a feminist audience.
	And if anyone you challenge to step up and do more on gender equality dares tell you, oh, we've come such a long way, I don't think there's that much left to do, just tell them to ask any woman they know.
	And there you go.
	Justin Trudeau, the Pope of feminism, doesn't think there are differences between women.
	He thinks all women think that they are being oppressed, even the ones who are clearly making the most out of the freedom that they have in their lives.
	It's just insane.
	He sounds like he's part of a cult.
	He sounds like he's a religious leader, which is precisely why Logic was so pissed off with this, I think.
	And I really don't blame him.
	I mean, this is just creepy.
	Really fucking unsettling, to be honest.

▲