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The intrusion into the privacy of Christiana Bull and Jonathan Bockarie is distasteful by every respect hence deserving of condemnation. If it were a case of an elected representative or a person in a position of trust who is accounted to the people and whose conduct – even in private - could affect the running of the country then there is reason to expose it.  Christiana Bull This one is completely different. It is a sad story of two lovers enjoying sex and like many adventurous people do – Don't they? - consenting to make a tape in fifteen minutes of passion. Of course, this is perfectly normal. There is no disputing sex can be very boring and dull especially when it becomes monotonous. To spice up things people do a lot of things - watch porn, do different positions, take nude pictures, have sex in the open, make sex tapes and even experiment with fetish. As Bull succinctly puts it the sex tape is for private use. But for some reason a shadowy character decided to put it in the public domain without their consent. If such a request had been made it would have been rejected. A cowardly act because the person hasn't the gut to own up to it. In a UK-type tabloid journalism, the media has been cashing in on the tape. First it was the Independent Observer which outed the story. The other papers, radio stations and the much hyped SLBC TV followed suit. To boost ratings it had Bull – a vulnerable and confused young woman – paraded on our screens to the annoyance of a lot of people it must be said. Now the question people are asking is: 'When is Bockarie's turn?' Otherwise it will have to answer to a charge of sexism. Cashing in time? Yes! The cassette sellers are making brisk business. I learned it is going for around ten thousand Leones per CD. Cinemas are showing it to the public including children and are raking in a thousand Leones per head. People are carrying it in their mobiles and using it for a good laugh when bored. Stories of lust abound. In many homes, there have been tensions as men have been moaning about their partners not being good enough. A top civil servant was so full of lust he has declared Bull her only target. Another had a big row with his wife when he confronted her for not being as adventurous as Bull. As if this is not bad enough, Miss Bull's handling of this very unfortunate development has been shambolic and undignified to say the least. Even though the one who outed the tape bears the greatest responsibility, by watching or disseminating it many have wronged Bull and Bockarie. But what actually went into Bull's head to be parading around apologizing to every body – even her parents and son - is breath-taking. He has caused outrage by this singular act and as such no longer deserving of sympathy from the public. It's like an orphaned amputee apologizing to RUF for the crimes of the war. The facts are very stark: 'She has done NO wrong. She is a victim'. She has no business apologizing. All she has done is to bow to sexist bullies and turn herself to a villain which does not help her cause. What you expect from any strong woman under such circumstance is to wear her best dress, hold her head high, carry the biggest smile and go on with business as usual. While at the same time gathering intelligence to nabbed the buffoon who released the tape and hold the person to account for his/her action in the court and if found guilty demand a hefty compensation. But again Bull is not entirely to blame. Being talked about for the wrong reasons in every corner has made her very vulnerable to exploitation for selfish gains like the media is busy doing. The experience is also affecting her state of mind – mind you she is in her mid-twenties – for which she needs help from Dr Nahim and all those who have one to offer. Bull has become a victim of sexism which is ingrain in our cultures. Since the invasion of their privacy, the negative publicity has been targeted at Bull and little if any at Bockarie. While she has been reduced into laughing stock, Bockarie is seen as a hero. This stems partly from the fact that people are used to penile power – the man being the grand commander in the bed. Bull did the reverse. He demonstrated without question that women can equal and even out-perform men in bed. She succeeded in doing whatever she wanted to do to Bockarie by reducing him to a mere taker of instructions and treating him like a piece of meat. Bull has demonstrated the qualities of a strong liberated woman in bed she has a chance to exhibit them in the public sphere. She still has a chance to redeem herself and beat the sexist culture. |
