Case in Point

I mistakenly read Virgil Vaupel’s “column” in last week’s paper. At first, I only read about a third of it. I stopped reading because, to put it mildly, it made me angry. I seldom read Virgil’s writings because: 1. He makes little sense to me; 2. I don’t like his bigoted statements; 3. He irritates me; and 4. I think he deliberately writes things to get a rise out of people. I admit, I eventually finished reading his column, and this time, he succeeded in getting a rise out of me. There are multiple things that struck a nerve.

Let’s just start with his condescending statements regarding Tess Fahlgren. First of all, Mr. Vaupel doesn’t need Tess to discredit him. He manages to do that himself often enough. Is Tess’s voice from the “feminist movement” because she’s educated and has an opinion? Does that make her a feminist, or does it make him sexist? If she views the country through rose-colored glasses, he certainly is doing his best to tarnish her optimism, isn’t he?

His statements, “A woman’s need to have an identity other that ‘just’ a housewife and mother” and “Women need their own walk-around money” are some of the most sexist, patronizing statements I’ve read in a long time.

I can’t speak for anybody else, but I am certain that I have worked as many or even more hours in my lifetime than Mr. Vaupel. The money I earn is not “walk-around money.” I use it to pay the rent and utilities, buy groceries, purchase clothing and other necessities for my kids, and maintain a vehicle for all of us to use. I am the head of household in my family unit. I provide stability, financial security, structure, nurturing, guidance, and more. All while being just a woman.

I also take exception with his claim that after WWII, Rosie the Riveter and the AAGBL were no longer needed. Actually, what happened was, Johnny came marching home again and those jobs disappeared. Women were expected to return to their duties at home. Most women acquiesced until Gloria Steinhem came along and gave them a voice and a little backbone. Irritating, isn’t it?

Mr. Vaupel thinks that equal opportunity has gotten out of hand and uses the Courier staff and contributors as his case-in-point. It’s true - women easily outnumber men at The Glasgow Courier. Does he think that’s because women are being hired above equally qualified men? Or that men want to contribute, but are denied just because they are men?

Yes, things are definitely out of hand. There is debate about specific figures, but the gender pay gap is real. Worldwide, women get paid less than men – including top chefs, boxers, and cage fighters – even Ronda Rousey. MY burning question is … “WHY?”

I don’t even know how to respond to his blanket statements regarding black athletes and single white females, among other things. He asks, “When was the last time white male America held a march to protest anything?” It happens all the time, except they are called rallies and they are sponsored by the KKK and white supremacist groups.

In one of his final paragraphs, he asks, “How do we heal the country?” Maybe the first thing we could all do is stop pointing at others and clean up our own backyards. But, what do I know? I haven’t seen the “other side” of America.