It has been said. And it cannot be said enough. The government has made a joke out of the issue of proportional representation. They do not greatly care about more women in Parliament. They have demonstrated it. And everyone should make it a point of opposing their proposed constitutional amendment, not because they are insulting women ? I do not believe they are ? but because they are insulting every citizen?s intelligence. But that?s another matter?

I do not think the issue is that they do not want women in Parliament. It is rather that they do not want new blood there. How could they? New people ? men and women ? would mean that some of them would have to vacate their well-guarded seats. And God forbid! For what? Younger people? Honest people? Intelligent people with convictions and principles? What a ridiculous thought! Never!

This is the issue, you see, not women. Now what is all this talk about more women in Parliament? I, for one, totally adhere to the belief that we need more worthy people in Parliament. I?m afraid I do not make the distinction between men and women. People mean people. Whatever their gender. And they are worthy whatever their gender. This is what is called non-discrimination.

I take it for granted that I have the same rights as a man. Tough luck for those who think the contrary. I have never been discriminated against because I?m a woman. I have, on the other hand, been discriminated against because of my beliefs, of my opinions and my convictions. And that?s fine as I can deal with this.

Imagine for one minute that we have a Parliament with a government headed by one male leader with the charisma of Paul Bérenger and the rest of the MPs ? including ministers ? are women. We have seen how docile and servile the MMM women in Parliament are, how they would never dare say no to their leader even when the latter?s stand is bordering on the ridiculous. Now what are we going to do with 30 or 40 like-minded women? Wouldn?t it be much better to have a man who takes no nonsense, who can think independently for himself and be intellectually honest? Or even 40 of them?

In this debate for equality of rights for women, one should not mix issues. Women?s greatest enemy is narrow-mindedness. More often than not, the woman who is discriminated against, whose greatest curse is her gender, comes from a poor social background where the mentality refuses to change. As it is also true that the poor man would have a harder life than his rich counterpart. In many ways, not just the obvious. The issue is a social one, not a gender one.

With this entire outcry, we are in danger of marginalizing women candidates further rather than do them a favour. We are preventing them from mixing in the crowd; we are making an issue of something that?s not one. And this is wrong.

With all due respect for Paula Atchia and FederAction, I will not automatically vote for a woman just because she is a woman. I will vote for a candidate I consider worthy. Unfortunately, unless I?m thoroughly mistaken, being a woman is not synonymous to being worthy.