Sometimes I think the world has gone PC mad, you know.
One minute it’s ok to say this or do this and the next the powers-that-be are on their soap-boxes preaching about how such behaviour is no longer acceptable in a civilised society.
It’s getting to the point where people are going to be too afraid to voice their opinion – something which I do not agree with.
I think everyone is entitled to have their own voice and to use that voice for what they believe in – be it right or wrong in the eyes of others.
Just last week, a female judge in England came under fire for comments she made in relation to a rape case.
Having jailed a man for six years for raping an 18-year-old woman in Manchester, Judge Lindsey Kushner QC, who is 64, made a courtroom plea.
A senior circuit judge since 2002, she warned women about the dangers of drinking and how it can put them at greater risk of sexual attack.
Judge Kushner said while women are entitled to "drink themselves into the ground" their "disinhibited behaviour" could put them in danger.
She added: "There is absolutely no excuse and a woman can do with her body what she wants and a man will have to adjust his behaviour accordingly”.
But she added "as a woman judge" it would "be remiss" if she did not plead with women to protect themselves from predatory men who ''gravitate'' towards drunken females.
As a result of her comments, Judge Kushner came under fire from some who branded her remarks "100 per cent victim-blaming".
It was even said that her comments would put some victims of rape off coming forward.
I have to say, I think this is a bit harsh.
First of all, before I get a wave of criticism, let me say this.
There is absolutely no justification for rape.
It doesn’t matter what a woman is wearing, how she is behaving or how much she has been drinking.
The only person responsible for rape is the rapist.
In this instance, I do not agree that Judge Kushner’s comments are "victim-blaming".
Given the case she had just heard, I think the comments she made were sensible.
I’m a firm believer in women in power trying to empower others.
Certainly, if I could speak to my younger self now, I would definitely be offering some warnings and I’m sure many of us would.
Of course, we know that any woman can at some point find themselves in difficult positions.
I myself thanked my lucky stars some years ago when, as a student, I had a rather nasty experience with a taxi driver who had picked me up from a city centre bar where I had just finished a waitressing shift.
Instead of driving me home, he decided to drive me down a dark alley at the back of a bar on Shaftesbury Square where two other men were waiting.
I asked him to take me home but he told me he was collecting a pizza.
He got out of the car to talk to the men for a few minutes and he did actually return with a pizza however I had spent my entire time in the car nervously deciding if I should wait or get out and leg it.
Leaving the scene, he asked me to come home with him to share the pizza. I told him no and asked him to take me home.
Instead, however he drove to his house in Andersonstown and parked up. He told me to either come in or walk home.
I chose the latter and walked home.
Although nothing had actually happened, I was very shaken. When I got home and shut the door of my parents' house, I just felt relieved.
From that moment on, I made a decision that I would never again put myself in a vulnerable position and I haven’t.
If I’m honest, I’m glad I hadn’t been drinking that night.
Personally, I feel if I had been, the night may have ended differently. I can only thank God it didn’t.
If anything, I hope this experience serves as a warning to others.
I would appeal to all women to always make their own safety a priority, no matter what they’re doing or where they are.
Always stay with friends and never, ever take a risk.
I know I’ve learned my lesson. I hope others can now also learn from it now.
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Easter is just around the corner, so how do you fancy some choccie treats to get you in the mood for the Easter Bunny?
Lidl has teamed up with the Irish News to offer three lucky readers the chance to win two of its Deluxe Easter Eggs plus a £20 gift voucher each.
If you’re still not organised for Easter, why not pop along of any of Lidl’s 38 stores around Northern Ireland to check out the egg-tastic range of Easter gifts and treats on offer.
Chocolate lovers can indulge in Lidl’s simply divine Deluxe Easter Egg range, which come in two delicious flavours - Fudge Feast and Eton Mess.
The Deluxe Easter Eggs are available in store now for just £2.99 while stocks last.
Lidl has also extended its Favorina range of chocolate treats. This year the collection includes Hen in a nest (99p), White Chocolate Easter Lamb (99p) and Chocolate Rabbit wrapped in gold foil (99p).
If you fancy winning two of Lidl’s Deluxe Easter Eggs and a £20 voucher, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with the answer to the question below – to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday, March 28 2016.
(Q) Lidl’s Deluxe Easter Egg range comes in two flavours. What are they?
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
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What's Hot?
Good Viewing - The fab Big Bang Theory has been renewed for two more seasons. This is great news. I just love these guys, especially Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon Cooper.
Remake - If you were a fan in the eighties, then get to the cinema this weekend to see the remake of CHIPS, starring Dax Shepard and Michael Peña. Out now.
So Not!
Missing Out - Bake-Off Queen, Mary Berry has revealed she has never once ordered a takeaway pizza. Come on Mary, you can not be serious. Get ordering so you can taste what you are missing out on. #shocked
Reboot - The original match-making show, Blind Date is to make a return to television, this time on Channel 5, with Paul O'Grady as the host. I loved Blind Date when Cilla hosted it but I think a reboot is a bad idea. Not for me.
Split - Former Spice Girl, Mel B has filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, Stephen Belafonte. The 41-year-old America's Got Talent judge cited irreconcilable differences in legal papers filed at Los Angeles Superior Court.
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Competition
The winners of the Mike Denver competition are Christine Skelton, from Bangor and Helen Holmes, from Carrickfergus
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Easy Peasy Recipe
This week’s Easy Peasy Recipe is Mum’s Mazarin cake, courtesy of Siúcra
You will need:
200g butter
2 eggs
190g Siúcra caster Sugar
60g Siúcra icing sugar
240g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp almond extract
150ml milk
50g almond paste
To Make:
Preheat the oven to 175C and line a tin with baking parchment.
Melt the butter.
In a separate bowl, mix the eggs and sugar.
In another bowl, mix the flour and baking powder
Add the milk and the almond extract to the melted butter.
Add the almond paste and the milk mixture into the egg mixture, followed by the butter mixture.
Pour the mixture into a greased tin and bake for 20 minutes.
Allow to cool and dust with icing sugar to serve.
The cake can also be topped with icing or melted chocolate.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Marie Louise McConville,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
m.mcconville@irishnews.com
