KELLY

Years ago, I used to wonder why we had to have an International Women's Day. It's not as if the rest of the year belongs to men. And if it does, then it sure didn't feel like it.

As I've got older (not necessarily wiser, though) I realise that one lousy day is actually too little to recognise women for all they've done. Let's face it, none of us would be here without a woman giving birth to us. But instead of lauding the mothers (biological and otherwise) and highlighting the achievements of prominent women, it's the little things we don't do to the 'everyday' women that really disrespects them.

PUNISHMENT

It's full time the men who have the nerve to beat, torture and abuse our women be given the type of punishment reserved for serial killers and terrorists. The way I see it, when you kill the mothers and potential mothers of our society, that's a form of anarchy. If a man is getting that angry in a relationship, then I think it's time he and the lady part company.

Guys, it's time we stopped calling girls whores just because we called to them and they didn't respond. It's time to stop labelling women lesbians just because they didn't want to share their bodies with us. It's time to understand that just because a woman doesn't want to be your girlfriend, doesn't mean she can't be one of the best friends you'll ever have. This might sound weird coming from a man who in this very column has chastised gold-diggers. But gold-diggers are women who have ceased to try and lift their heads up and actually work for what they have. They do not represent the true character of the gender to which they belong. We defend the'real' women.

Mexican lawmakers recently passed a law trying to prevent wives from being victims of jealous crimes. Full time! I'm sure we all know at least one woman who had the crap beaten out of her because her man believed she was cheating on him. That has to stop! Men have got to cease going outside their matrimonial home and picking up prostitutes and then bringing home sexually transmitted diseases and accusing the wife of infidelity. Women are precious creatures. Even the most gay fellow can appreciate that, so why can't some of the heterosexual ones grasp the concept?

Do we need an International Women's Day? No. We need a change of mindset about how we treat/perceive/relate to our women. If we only do that consciously one day a year, then we're not going anywhere.

Send your comments to daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com