Kaitlin Bennett | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

10 Of Kaitlin Bennett's Most Ridiculous Tweets And Why They Are Politically Problematic

This isn't about being a Democrat or Republican. It's about being a decent human being.

2196
10 Of Kaitlin Bennett's Most Ridiculous Tweets And Why They Are Politically Problematic

Kaitlin Bennett received a lot of media attention in May when she posted a graduation picture with a rifle. Since then, she has received a lot of backlash. While I am horrified at all the nasty threats she receives on the Internet, I do find many of her tweets to be very toxic to society. Let's break down 10 of her most problematic statements to date.

1. Christopher Columbus was NOT a hero. 

Columbus was a rapist and enslaved indigenous people when he arrived in the Americas. The use of the word "civilized" creates an outdated mindset that before Europe came to the Americas the indigenous people were savages. Columbus never even made it to North America, so why does he have a holiday that is still celebrated in the United States?

2. #BelieveWomen wasn't meant to overpower #MeToo.

First off, Kavanaugh uses the pronouns (he, him,) so he identifies as a male. Secondly, liberals are about believing survivors, not just women. The #BelieveWomen hashtag was only created in the context of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearing. Finally, if Kavanaugh needed to be believed so badly, he probably should have answered the questions instead of avoiding them.

3. Fake sexual assault allegations are fairly uncommon, so her "plan" is improbable. 

In this tweet, Kaitlin openly mocks survivors that come forward. By saying "35 years ago," she suggests that survivors just make up stories, since Kaitlin herself was not alive 35 years ago. The mindset that survivors make up their trauma for political gain or for fame is outdated. In fact, only about 2% of sexual assault reports are false.

4. Feminism is not what she thinks it is.  

In this video, Kaitlin shoots a pumpkin that is labeled "feminism" because she is trying to destroy feminism. However, feminism advocates for the equality of all sexes. People who believe that feminists are people who hate men or believe women are superior do not understand the meaning of feminism. Equally upsetting, Kaitlin shoots these pumpkins to celebrate Kavanaugh's "win." This shows that she saw the Kavanaugh hearing as a game, rather than Dr. Ford coming forward with her trauma.

5. Abortion saves women. 

People who want an abortion are going to get one whether it is legal or not. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, women will die from unsafe abortion attempts once again. Furthermore, what a women does to her body should be her choice. If you are against abortion, Kaitlin, do not have one yourself, but you do not own every other women's body in the United States and you can't make their decisions for them.

6. Parkland survivors deserve respect. 

It is one thing to advocate for concealed carry, but it is another thing to mock a community that has gone through a horrible tragedy and is still recovering from that trauma. You can craft a tweet that talks about how you disagree with the Parkland community without calling them "communists" and talking about them "walking on the graves of your dead classmates."

7. Feminism is not victimhood. 

If we want to generalize feminists into a group, I would say that most of them are against arming anyone with a gun, not just women. However, feminists are all about equality, so people can identify as a feminist and still believe in concealed carry. What really upsets me about this tweet, is that she focuses on how only women are "victims" of sexual assault. People who have experienced sexual violence are not exclusively female, and they do not make up their stories to gain sympathy. The fact is that a massive amount of sexual violence happens to people of all genders and that is not a narrative, that is a truth.

8. Body privilege is a thing. 

There are a lot of people who are considered to be "overweight," but they still live very healthy lives. Additionally, people's bodies are their bodies, and they should choose what they do with them. Fat shaming them for being "overweight" and comparing it to being shot against your will, is not a logical or healthy comparison.

9. Planned Parenthood is overly misunderstood.

Here, Kaitlin only focuses on one task Planned Parenthood performs: abortion. However, Planned Parenthood does so much more than perform abortions. They perform STD/STI testing and treatment, cancer screening and prevention, and provide other women's health services. Additionally, they've expanded access to birth control and are health educators throughout communities.

10. Rape culture won't be resolved with firearms. 

According to RAINN, 7 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone the survivor knows. This means that when a women or man is with their future rapist, they will feel comfortable with them. They won't be carrying a gun near them, waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes. Furthermore, the consequences of shooting the perpetrator may hurt the survivor more than help them. Finally, when a traumatic sexual act occurs, survivors will go into flight or freeze mode, so a gun would not stop the situation from occurring.

My problem with Kaitlin's tweets are not that they support conservative laws or ideals, my issue is that these tweets target specific groups of people and make uneducated statements. I just wish people of all political orientations would be decent human beings.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
people  in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

How The Holidays Have Changed

It all started when we learned the truth about Santa.

2815
best wishes for Christmas
Pinterest

It is no secret that many American traditions have changed over time. As we grow older we change in so many ways that it only makes sense that we also change the way we celebrate special occasions. Of course when it comes to the holidays there are some family traditions that many of us still excitedly look forward to, whether it is eating your favorite dish or seeing favorite cousin. However, we all know that the holidays have overall changed a little from what they used to be.

Keep Reading...Show less
theatre cast

Everyone who has done musicals knows that once you go there you can never go back. It's like a virus. It never leaves and you find yourself attracted to all types of theater things. You're drawn to it like a moth to a flame. There are certain things you know to be true, whether you did a musical once or have done them your entire life.

Keep Reading...Show less
couple winter
Pexels

When you come home over Christmas break, it's hard to find fun in your hometown. During the winter, it's hard to find the motivation to go out and find things to do. However, there are plenty of fun things to do in almost any town, and there are tons of fun date ideas that aren't taken advantage of. Here are nine fun winter dates to go on.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments