Today, a bunch of men in another part of the world were so threatened by the very idea that a woman might learn something that they shot a 14 year old girl as she rode home from school in a bus. What a bunch of big, manly men that they had to go shoot a teenager for daring to engage in radical activities like reading a freaking book. They tried to assassinate her for “want[ing] an access to the world of knowledge.” Oh no, she was a liberal and an infidel. The shooters wanted to make sure they had the right girl. After all, it served their purposes to leave the rest of them scared to go back to school; let them grow up to be ignorant and easily subjugated wives.
Damn right there’s “outcry” and “revulsion.”
Don’t pretend that this is about religion. This is about a bunch of scared little baby-men who fear that if women know about the world, they will demand the rights accorded to human beings and will stop allowing themselves to be treated like property.
Feminism at its most basic — at the level that anyone who isn’t a caveman, a member of Taliban, or perhaps a modern Republican should agree with — says that women have the same unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that men do. On this basis and this basis alone, I am a feminist. However, modern feminism has too much baggage. My partner will read this and argue that I’m not a feminist at all, but rather I believe in equal rights. I don’t think I’m any better than men. I don’t hate men. I don’t hate other women that disagree with me. I believe that a lot of my life is none of your business. I believe that the “patriarchy” is actually an over-hyped and under-effective tool of the oligarchy.
These ass-hats who think guns can enforce their opinion on morality should take their old time religion with them straight to whatever passes for hell.
In Closing: fragile infrastructure has real costs; cool boat; hedge fund pirates; fine print; yoga; Natalie reminds us that “not tested on animals” is a fraud; heh; explanation of the Washington bubble; on unemployment and payrolls; and I see his point.
“We are women … hear us roar … in numbers too big to ignore … because know too much to go back to pretending.” I am a woman, and proud to be, If I could magically become a man, would I? Hell no! My daughter was raised to become a strong woman, and she HAS. As a side thought, I wonder how many men would prefer to be a woman compared with women wishing they were men??? hmmmm.
Regarding the assisnation attempt on the little peace activist:
“…major religious parties and mosque leaders were largely silent. …”
surprised? It is, after all, the religion of peace.
Interesting point. Just did a web search for “church condemns Malala murder attempt.” Interesting what that turned up. Obama and other American officials condemn it. France condemns it. Pakistan and at least one of their Generals personally condemn it. I don’t see a single church willing to hang it out there and say “HEY, trying to kill a girl you disagree with is BAD.” Not the Lutherans, Methodists, Mormons, Episcopals, Catholics, Baptists, none of the major Christian sects. Admittedly my search was unlikely to turn up Jews, Buddhists, or Hindus — the last of which are unlikely to say anything about what goes on in Pakistan to avoid being inflammatory.
Oh, and then there’s this http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/gary-bauer-attacks-sandra-fluke-over-shooting-pakistani-education-activist.
Fear and ignorance.
A whole country full of potential Republican voters.
Paging Karl Rove to the white courtesy phone…..
*White* courtesy phone??? I see whatcha did there. 😉