hate those who told us we could only be beautiful

Women hate other women because it keeps us busy from confronting the real structures that ensure we remain passive, subservient consumers. This is not accidental. Yet it is, in my opinion, one of the greatest changes that needs to be made in order to create a new dynamic between genders. So please, stop hating each other. Stop calling each other fat. Stop calling each other sluts. Stop treating each other's bodies as public domain, open to scrutiny. Stop tearing each other apart over boys.
Start fighting for women. Start wincing when women's bodies are slashed apart on the silver screen instead of dismissing it as movie magic. Start complimenting the women around you, but try to go beyond words like "pretty"...how about a "creative" or "witty"? Start speaking up when those around you find other's private lives appropriate to speculate on. Start smiling at each other. Start being on each other's sides.

Please. Women already have it pretty hard. Let's do our part to make this journey easier for each other.

Vintage poster via SocImages.

christian fear and socialism

Okay, so this is the Conservative's answer to Shepard Fairey. Sure. Putting aside any confusing racial message, I must ask: Did this designer even see The Dark Knight? Anarchism and Socialism aren't related in anyway possible. As The Dark Knight's #1 fan, I am both confused, offended and nevertheless amused.
When Betty and I drove by a gas station and saw this posted, I demanded she pull over so I could rip it down. I mean. Do NOT use MY favorite movie of all time to push your wacky agenda. On that note, this immense amount of anger coming from the Right astounds me. I mean what would their #1 say? Let's take a look:

The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions. Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. "Teacher," they said, "We know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God's will for man, without worrying about what people think, because you pay no attention to a man's status. Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?"

Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, "You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin for paying the tax!"

They brought him the coin, and he asked them, "Whose face and name are these?"
"The Emperor's," they answered.

So Jesus said to them, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God."

When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
-Matthew 22:15-22

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.
Have any of these frantic, so-called "Christian" conservatives that are tearing apart town meanings in fits of anger actually read the Gospels?
I have. And I consider myself agnostic, eternally curious, but agnostic. Nevertheless, I maintain that reading the Bible is one of the most socially responsible (and downright fascinating) acts of learning that one can participate in.
I think it's imperative to share these things written in the Bible, because they are illuminating and they present a liability to the side which claims to wield the Holy Truth.
While it's rather pointless to assume these radicals could even define "socialism", I must exclaim:

THE MOST BASIC TENANT OF CHRISTIANITY IS SOCIALISM. COMMUNISM. LOVE.
Label it what you will, the sharing of resources in order to assist the most needy is what. Jesus. fucking. said.

Being selfless and helping the needy comes at a fucking price. In this case: taxes. I wish every "Christian" in this country would take some time to reflect on the LOVE THY NEIGHBOR message and truly ask themselves the question they don't hesitate to plaster their car bumpers with: WWJD?
It definitely would NOT be allowing THIS to continue.

"Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, "You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have all the riches in heaven; then come and follow me." When the man heard this, gloom spread over his face, and he went away sad, because he was very rich.
Jesus looked around his disciples and said to them, How hard it will be for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God!"

The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus went on to say, "My children, how hard is is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle."
-Mark 10:17-23

It's easy to call yourself a Christian.It is much harder to actually live what you preach, and share what you take for granted.
READ THE FUCKING BIBLE. If not because you're responsible, do it at least to call people on their bullshit.

or: the weather, men and capitalism

Beauty is social control. Hair, being one of the most malleable features at a women’s disposal, is symbolic of this effect. Hair is personal. Hair is public. Hair is political. Most of all, hair – or more specifically, the way in which American women choose to style their hair – is a display of meaning. It is one of the more visible and changeable declarations of gender. It assists the public from differentiating between genders and it offers a sliding scale of both femininity and masculinity. This defining scale is often used to allocate respect, gain social status and inevitably, detract worth. Yet, this display of meaning is constantly evolving along with the political movements, social movements and eras in which they occupy.
Hair, similar to the rest of the choices we make in our appearances, does not exist in a social vacuum. The way in which we style our hair denotes social status and meaning. It is a reflection of not only who we are in society, but of what society demands us to be.

Plus, it's really hot outside.

the white man's struggle

I've been following Sotomayor's hearings and the outright display of white anxiety over "reverse racism" is astounding. The idea that people (especially women) of color are the oppressors is so absurd it infuriates me. When was the last time a white male suffered from any form of institutionalized prejudice? Now, as women and people of color begin to fill coveted positions of power (Executive and Judicial branches, anyone?), white men like Pat Buchanan are shitting themselves all over the news. I imagine these historical power shifts are as terrifying to some as they are exciting for others. At least their desire to maintain hegemony is on display, so hopefully it will be taken note of and challenged.

To be fair, it is frustrating that all the Supreme Court positions keep going to Latinas. Wait....



Last time I checked, loyalty to the law and fairness were not mutually exclusive from being tough. But ohh she's a woman! That means she must be a bitch!
It's probable that Sotomayor has grappled with this condescension before and clearly, she knows how to address it with extreme calm. It would be so difficult not to point out his bullshit. I find her patience very admirable.
Did anyone really expect this to proceed in any other fashion? I suppose we ought to annotate this as concisely as possible, talk openly about the powers at play and not be scared of hurting the white man's ego.

In the meantime, LOL.


cartoon via Feministing.