*nod*. i didn't mean to imply that i thought this was comfortably a thing of the past -- obviously domestic violence is by no means past. just that ... hm. how to express this vague thought best ... that we're past the mass-consciousness raising stage of it, and that there are issues regarding domestic violence that are more important to work on now, and that people who walk around with signs protesting violence against women and children are preaching to the choir.

we do talk a fair bit of politics, my blue collar acquaintances and i, though it does come second to gardening (and woodworking :). political discussions aren't something to be avoided, because we often agree -- here a lot of the working class people vote NDP, which is to the left of the federal liberals. i think it's the farmers who are more likely to be socially conservative, and i have no connection there.