A brief history, in case you haven’t heard about the slut walks appearing all over the country:

Last January, at University of Toronto, Police Constable Michael Sanguinetti was giving a lecture to ten students on how to maintain personal safety. At one point he said the following:

“You know, I think we’re beating around the bush here. I’ve been told I’m not supposed to say this – however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.”

This off the cuff remark led to an explosion of protests throughout the western world known as ‘Slut Walks’ where women and their beta male supporters show up, dress like tramps, and protest… actually, I’m not too clear on what they’re hoping to accomplish; reports I’m hearing from the front lines suggest that most of the protestors aren’t too clear on it either.

There have been a lot of great criticisms of the Slut Walks, such as this one by Manuel Dexter. I don’t have much to add here – at least, not until Slut Walk comes to Calgary. Ole’ Aurini’s got some yellow journalism planned there…

But in the meantime there’s an issue that’s largely being overlooked, disappearing in the shadow of Slutwave Feminism, and debates on whether or not what he said was true – it’s the issue of Sanguinetti’s Freedom of Speech.

This might sound silly at first; part of being a public servant is giving up some of your freedom of speech. When I was a soldier, I was expected to keep my mouth shut on foreign policy; as a police officer, similar discretions are likewise to be expected.

The advice he gave those students – regardless of whether or not it’s correct – is not one of those things that should be silenced.

Constable Sanguinetti – in good faith – was trying to convey the best ways for students to protect themselves and stay safe. He wasn’t ‘blaming the victim’ (a particularly stupid phrase, in my opinion) nor was he questioning whether rape ought to be a crime (generally speaking it’s probably a good idea to stop police from publically opining on laws) – he was just trying to describe his experience in the field.

And you know what? I kinda like that a police officer was giving the public accurate information.

If there’s a problem with immigrant gangs importing their home country’s violence to our shores, then you know what? I want the cops to bloody well tell us about it, I don’t want them fearing accusations of racism. And if, in Constable Sanguinetti’s experience, the majority of women who experienced the trauma of rape were out getting drunk with strangers while dressed in revealing outfits, then I bloody well want him to tell that like it is.

Because I don’t want my sisters to come to harm.

Because Truth isn’t something invented by a comittee.

Because I don’t want the rest of the cops in this country covering up reality to serve an ideological minority.

That’s why I support Constable Sanguinetti – whether or not his statement was correct. It’s not just for his Freedom of Speech. It’s for all of us.

In fact, I think I’ll drop a line to the person investigating him. You should too: wendy.drummond@torontopolice.on.ca

(A heartfelt thanks to the people at A Voice For Men Radio who located this email address. Keep fighting the good fight.)