Getting A Clue About What Rape Really Represents

When it comes to the subject of rape, women have good reason to think that many men just don’t get it.

Consider the recent flap involving Alistair Cooke, the former host of Public Television’s “Masterpiece Theatre” and a long-time commentator on American culture for the British Broadcasting Corp.

In the Nov. 24 edition of his “Letter From America” broadcast, Cooke noted that a study involving women in the U.S. military indicated that some 4 percent of servicewomen claimed to be the victims of rape or attempted rape.

Cooke wondered why the figure was so low. He went on to remark that men in uniform apparently “showed remarkable restraint.”

One woman critic slammed Cooke, 88, by saying that, “He is a man of a certain generation and maybe that sort of remark was acceptable when he was young. Today it is not and the BBC should check what he writes.”

The BBC’s response was that Cooke “has a right to express his personal view, within the bounds of legality, on an issue currently creating a stir in America.”

And at least on that point, you’ll find no argument there. One of the great things about America is that everybody has a right to express his or her opinion, no matter how stupid it is. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that Cooke’s remarks were stupid to the extreme.

At the very least, they were incredibly insensitive.

They smack, in fact, of the old “joke” that has gotten more than one closet sexist in trouble. The one that goes, “In case of rape, just lay back and enjoy it.”

Humor is humor, and no attitude is so sacred that it can’t be lampooned. But excusing as reasonable commentary such remarks as those uttered by Cooke is not only irresponsible, it’s bad journalism.

Speaking of humor In the humor collection “Pick-up Lines” (Andrews and McMeel, 132 pages, $7.95 paperback), both men and women are the object of their own lack of imagination.

Here are some of the funnier introduction lines: “Hi, my name is Anita… Anita Man.”

“I’m an Army recruiter. Why don’t you come over to my place and ‘Be all you can be.”’

“I’m really into dangerous guys. So, out on bail?”

“My birth control prescription runs out tomorrow. Should I refill?”

“Hi, my name is Chance. Do I have one?”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

MEMO: Common Ground is written on alternating weeks by Rebecca Nappi and Dan Webster. Write to them in care of The Spokesman-Review, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615. Or fax, (509) 459-5098.