I was excited when Hillary Clinton was running for president. I had that same excitement when Ruth Bader Ginsberg was placed on the Supreme Court, and when Indra Nooyi became the CEO of PepsiCo. Women have arrived in a major way, and as a feminist since birth I'm incredibly pleased. However, tonight I find myself completely pissed off at John McCain's choice for Vice President.
Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska is probably being Googled by millions as I write this, because although the Republican mouthpieces are proclaiming her vast popularity status, nobody except Alaskans know who the hell she is. Those who are familiar and quickly becoming familiar are perplexed. Why would McCain, who if elected would be the oldest sitting president, select an unknown, relatively inexperienced woman as his Vice President? The answer is simple: he needs a vagina-owner.
When Hillary wasn't voted in as the Democratic nominee, there were a lot of hurt feelings on the part of her supporters. A few of the more wingnut supporters claimed they would rather vote for McCain. I guess McCain must have taken this idea and run with it by figuring that a woman was the only thing that could counter a black guy.
Not only is this extremely patronizing on McCain's part, but horribly sexist on the part of the Republican party. In politics, why is it that men still choose to use women as a way to smooth over publicity-related situations rather than draw from their natural talent and abilities. Bill Clinton was a pro at using women to rectify his publicity nightmares. Every time he got caught with his pants down (literally), you could count on the fact that a woman would be appointed to some sort of high profile office whether they were qualified or not (i.e. Janet Reno). Now John McCain has gotten in on the act with Sarah Palin, a person he's only met face-to-face once prior to this appointment. Most jobs I've ever interviewed for had at least three face-to-faces before the offers came.
There are so many other accomplished women in the Republican party, and given McCain's age and health status I would feel a hell of a lot more comfortable with a Vice President Christine Todd Whitman or Vice President Kay Bailey Hutchison, even Vice President Elizabeth Dole, rather than the former mayor of Wasilla.
The saddest part of this political game of patronization is that the person who deserves the most credit for placing women in top posts based solely on their accomplishments and talents is George W. Bush. Yes, that's right, I said it. George W. didn't appoint Condoleezza Rice, because she was a woman (and a black one at that) and would be good for his image, he appointed her, because he truly believed, as he still does today, that she is the best person for the job. He did the same with Harriet Miers. However misguided his appointments have been, he looked at Condi and Harriet as people, not as vagina-owners. Now if that numbnuts can see past vagina-ownership, how the hell come no one else in either party seems to be able to?
FYI Senator McCain - just because you put a vagina-owner right next to you as you "so-called" second in charge, doesn't mean those of us other vagina-owners aren't going to see past the ploy.
And to those Hillary supporters who claim they will be voting for McCain, fuck you. If you miserable, pathetic group of pussies are willing to put this great country through four more years of hell just because your candidate didn't win then you can all just go fuck yourselves.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Black (and Minority) Women in America Should Be Pissed!
The family went bowling last night at one of these new places that does "cosmic" bowling. They have funky lights on all the lanes, music and big, flat screen televisions. For the first 30 minutes of our bowling session they showed the Olympics, which for me was the best of both worlds: family time + Olympic viewing. Once the Olympics were over, they switched to music videos, and that's where the trouble started.
I'll admit, I haven't seen a music video in a long time. The moment MTV started banning hard rock after the Grunge era, I was out. In the time that I haven't been video watching something terrible has happened; black and minority women have been turned into video whores.
I know this has been an issue amongst black women in the U.S. for quite awhile. I recently saw a panel on BET hosted by MC Lyte where prominent black women were discussing the problems regarding negative stereotypes and exploitation of their sisters in popular culture, but I really hadn't realized the extent until this eye-opening bowling session.
When I was still watching videos, there were regular appearances by amazing lady MCs who could bust out some kickin' beats. You couldn't argue with the talent of women like Queen Latifah, Salt 'n' Pepa with Spinderella, YoYo, TLC, and Sista Soulja. Now I'm wondering where all of the lady MCs have gone, or for that matter, positive minority female role models.
I grew up watching "The Jeffersons", "Good Times", "227", and "The Cosby Show", and in my young adult years, I really liked "Living Single" and the short-lived "All American Girl". All featured black and minority women in more than just the "standard" roles. Unfortunately, aside from Sandra Oh on "Grey's Anatomy", S. Epatha Merkerson on "Law & Order", Oprah, and precious few others, most of the minority women featured in television, and especially music videos are disposable eye candy.
No wonder minority women have come out so strongly for Barack Obama! At this point, I think they want Michelle Obama in the White House as much as her husband, so women of color can actually have an accomplished, intelligent role model to show their daughters. There are so many great women of all ethnicities with interesting stories to tell that it's just a crying shame only one negative image of them is prominent in our culture.
At this point, I think that women, particularly in the black community, should give a collective smack upside the head to the black men making the degrading videos. It would be one thing if the vast majority of minority women on television were portrayed positively (as in the Caucasian community), with just a little bit of skank (i.e. Girls Gone Wild), but when the only images are negative, further exploiting that image is irresponsible.
I would encourage both women and men to help combat these images by limiting your child's exposure to negative stereotypes. Even if you're a white person with white kids, having them see minority women portrayed as whores will give them subconscious ideas of superiority that permiates the notion of a power structure based on skin color. Also, the next time you want to watch something interesting and entertaining, search the internet for a list of independent movies or books written by minority women. "Mi Vida Loca" was a very good movie about two young Mexican women growing up in Los Angeles, and "The Color Purple" is one of my favorite films of all times. Trust me, these flicks are better than the run-of-the-mill, blow 'em bullshit, no plot crap that Hollywood has been spewing out lately.
For those who want deeper involvement in changing the culture, organizations like The Women's Media Center [www.womensmediacenter.com], are working to make women of all backgrounds and ethnicities, and their stories heard.
Although I look forward to my family's next bowling adventure, I think I will opt for an ally that is a little more Rockabilly, because I'd rather have my daughter listen to a crooning and fabulous Pasty Cline than ask me why those half naked ladies are considered "bootylicious".
I'll admit, I haven't seen a music video in a long time. The moment MTV started banning hard rock after the Grunge era, I was out. In the time that I haven't been video watching something terrible has happened; black and minority women have been turned into video whores.
I know this has been an issue amongst black women in the U.S. for quite awhile. I recently saw a panel on BET hosted by MC Lyte where prominent black women were discussing the problems regarding negative stereotypes and exploitation of their sisters in popular culture, but I really hadn't realized the extent until this eye-opening bowling session.
When I was still watching videos, there were regular appearances by amazing lady MCs who could bust out some kickin' beats. You couldn't argue with the talent of women like Queen Latifah, Salt 'n' Pepa with Spinderella, YoYo, TLC, and Sista Soulja. Now I'm wondering where all of the lady MCs have gone, or for that matter, positive minority female role models.
I grew up watching "The Jeffersons", "Good Times", "227", and "The Cosby Show", and in my young adult years, I really liked "Living Single" and the short-lived "All American Girl". All featured black and minority women in more than just the "standard" roles. Unfortunately, aside from Sandra Oh on "Grey's Anatomy", S. Epatha Merkerson on "Law & Order", Oprah, and precious few others, most of the minority women featured in television, and especially music videos are disposable eye candy.
No wonder minority women have come out so strongly for Barack Obama! At this point, I think they want Michelle Obama in the White House as much as her husband, so women of color can actually have an accomplished, intelligent role model to show their daughters. There are so many great women of all ethnicities with interesting stories to tell that it's just a crying shame only one negative image of them is prominent in our culture.
At this point, I think that women, particularly in the black community, should give a collective smack upside the head to the black men making the degrading videos. It would be one thing if the vast majority of minority women on television were portrayed positively (as in the Caucasian community), with just a little bit of skank (i.e. Girls Gone Wild), but when the only images are negative, further exploiting that image is irresponsible.
I would encourage both women and men to help combat these images by limiting your child's exposure to negative stereotypes. Even if you're a white person with white kids, having them see minority women portrayed as whores will give them subconscious ideas of superiority that permiates the notion of a power structure based on skin color. Also, the next time you want to watch something interesting and entertaining, search the internet for a list of independent movies or books written by minority women. "Mi Vida Loca" was a very good movie about two young Mexican women growing up in Los Angeles, and "The Color Purple" is one of my favorite films of all times. Trust me, these flicks are better than the run-of-the-mill, blow 'em bullshit, no plot crap that Hollywood has been spewing out lately.
For those who want deeper involvement in changing the culture, organizations like The Women's Media Center [www.womensmediacenter.com], are working to make women of all backgrounds and ethnicities, and their stories heard.
Although I look forward to my family's next bowling adventure, I think I will opt for an ally that is a little more Rockabilly, because I'd rather have my daughter listen to a crooning and fabulous Pasty Cline than ask me why those half naked ladies are considered "bootylicious".
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Olympics Redux
I'm looking forward to many things; a change in perspective, the upcoming election, our first family vacation to Hawaii, and fitting into my smaller size jeans after nearly two months of this hellish diet (the wretched inability to have a drink after a long day either signals a pending drinking problem, or extreme willpower, I haven't figured out which one I have yet). However, the main thing I'm not looking forward to is the end of the Olympics.
I'm an Olympics junkie. Unlike a potential drinking problem, I'll admit my Olympics addiction. The games served as quite a lifesaver four years ago when I was a stay-at-home mom. I watched hours and hours of sports I never knew existed; hand ball - why not, badmidden - bring it on, table tennis - a bit of a stretch, but I'm game, speed walking - holy shit, that's an Olympic sport. It was all good.
I've had the same enthusiasm watching this year's Olympics. The opening ceremonies were unbelievable, and the story of that little boy who survived the earthquake and pulled two classmates to safety was so perfect I wondered if it was real (this is China after all, and they have some image issues). The games have been amazing, who wasn't ready to pee their pants when Phelps became the most medaled champion in Olympics history, or when Usain Bolt lived up to his name and won the title of the fastest man in the world!
The best and saddest part about the Olympics is that it is the one time we actually come together as a world, drop the politics, and create something unbelievable. I wish we did that more often. Alone, a group of people are strong, but when they work with another group of people towards a common goal, they are unstoppable (and I don't mean in a 'hey, let's gang up and invade that country' kind of way).
I'll watch the closing ceremonies from my vacation, which seems fitting as I watched the opening ceremony while on a business trip. Then I'll wait the agonizing four years until the next Olympics of 2012 in London. Who knows, maybe I'll get crazy, book a plane ticket, and take the trip over the pond to be there in person, at least it would be something to cross off the old bucket list.
I'm an Olympics junkie. Unlike a potential drinking problem, I'll admit my Olympics addiction. The games served as quite a lifesaver four years ago when I was a stay-at-home mom. I watched hours and hours of sports I never knew existed; hand ball - why not, badmidden - bring it on, table tennis - a bit of a stretch, but I'm game, speed walking - holy shit, that's an Olympic sport. It was all good.
I've had the same enthusiasm watching this year's Olympics. The opening ceremonies were unbelievable, and the story of that little boy who survived the earthquake and pulled two classmates to safety was so perfect I wondered if it was real (this is China after all, and they have some image issues). The games have been amazing, who wasn't ready to pee their pants when Phelps became the most medaled champion in Olympics history, or when Usain Bolt lived up to his name and won the title of the fastest man in the world!
The best and saddest part about the Olympics is that it is the one time we actually come together as a world, drop the politics, and create something unbelievable. I wish we did that more often. Alone, a group of people are strong, but when they work with another group of people towards a common goal, they are unstoppable (and I don't mean in a 'hey, let's gang up and invade that country' kind of way).
I'll watch the closing ceremonies from my vacation, which seems fitting as I watched the opening ceremony while on a business trip. Then I'll wait the agonizing four years until the next Olympics of 2012 in London. Who knows, maybe I'll get crazy, book a plane ticket, and take the trip over the pond to be there in person, at least it would be something to cross off the old bucket list.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Evangelicals: Still Fucking it up for the Rest of Us
I've got nothing against Jesus; he seems like a great guy, but as of late, I've had a huge issue with his followers. Today both presidential candidates went to a local Orange County mega-church to answer questions. I don't have a problem with that either. If 22,000 people want answers from two people who are vying to represent them, they should be able to hear where the candidates stand.
My issue has been with the constant blurring and subsequent erosion of the separation of church and state. Since 2000, Evangelical Christians have been on a quest to show their might via the vote. Their modern-day crusade has led to one hell of a strong-arming of government, and the introduction of a litmus test that should never be an issue in this country: the candidate's faith.
Our fore fathers were so worried about the legacy left by the Puritans that they made sure to include a separation of church and state in the Constitution. Remember the Puritans, you know, the assholes who burned hundreds of young women at the stake, because they misconstrued hormonal reactions for witchcraft. Yep, our fore fathers knew, and they had enough sense to head radicals off at the pass by including a separation of church and state in the document that our system of government was founded on.
Yet here we are in the new millennium with a group of people, who today, rallied in Washington D.C. to have abortion and same sex marriage pushed to the forefront of the national political agenda. Gas is $4 per gallon, unemployment is the highest its been in decades, millions of people are losing their homes, our government is pissing away billions of tax dollars in an unwinable war, but the Jesus folk think that two guys kissing is the greatest threat to our nation.
At this point, not only should the Evangelicals not have an audience with the candidates, they shouldn't be allowed to vote. They all came to the polls and voted for George W. (twice), because a vote for George was a vote for Jesus, and look at the sorry state our country is in today. You would think that after eight years of misery, they would have learned their lesson, but nope, they still don't want educated women making choices about their bodies.
I was brought up to be a tolerant person, to respect everyone's personal life choices, and to fight and defend a person's right to do their own thing. I've done that on the stipulation that anyone can be or do anything as long as they don't force it on others. Now, I don't think I can be so ready to go to bat, because I've personally suffered from the last eight years of Evangelical strong-arming, and I'm sick of it.
Judging by the panderfest that happened when McCain had his Q&A hour at the OC mega-church, the Evangelicals will likely stand behind the pro-war, anti-energy efficiency, anti-choice candidate, because that hour contained more ass-kissing than Happy Hour at Fire Island, which is a damn shame. Who would have thought that you had to sell your soul to the devil before speaking at a Christian church, but I guess some people who want to be elected bad enough will say anything to anyone.
Either way, I'm pissed off that a group of people who have a track record for making bad decisions have been given such power, and that they didn't wise up and learn their lesson the first time (or two). What would Jesus do? I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that he would see through the bullshit, and he sure as heck wouldn't be a member of a mega-church.
My issue has been with the constant blurring and subsequent erosion of the separation of church and state. Since 2000, Evangelical Christians have been on a quest to show their might via the vote. Their modern-day crusade has led to one hell of a strong-arming of government, and the introduction of a litmus test that should never be an issue in this country: the candidate's faith.
Our fore fathers were so worried about the legacy left by the Puritans that they made sure to include a separation of church and state in the Constitution. Remember the Puritans, you know, the assholes who burned hundreds of young women at the stake, because they misconstrued hormonal reactions for witchcraft. Yep, our fore fathers knew, and they had enough sense to head radicals off at the pass by including a separation of church and state in the document that our system of government was founded on.
Yet here we are in the new millennium with a group of people, who today, rallied in Washington D.C. to have abortion and same sex marriage pushed to the forefront of the national political agenda. Gas is $4 per gallon, unemployment is the highest its been in decades, millions of people are losing their homes, our government is pissing away billions of tax dollars in an unwinable war, but the Jesus folk think that two guys kissing is the greatest threat to our nation.
At this point, not only should the Evangelicals not have an audience with the candidates, they shouldn't be allowed to vote. They all came to the polls and voted for George W. (twice), because a vote for George was a vote for Jesus, and look at the sorry state our country is in today. You would think that after eight years of misery, they would have learned their lesson, but nope, they still don't want educated women making choices about their bodies.
I was brought up to be a tolerant person, to respect everyone's personal life choices, and to fight and defend a person's right to do their own thing. I've done that on the stipulation that anyone can be or do anything as long as they don't force it on others. Now, I don't think I can be so ready to go to bat, because I've personally suffered from the last eight years of Evangelical strong-arming, and I'm sick of it.
Judging by the panderfest that happened when McCain had his Q&A hour at the OC mega-church, the Evangelicals will likely stand behind the pro-war, anti-energy efficiency, anti-choice candidate, because that hour contained more ass-kissing than Happy Hour at Fire Island, which is a damn shame. Who would have thought that you had to sell your soul to the devil before speaking at a Christian church, but I guess some people who want to be elected bad enough will say anything to anyone.
Either way, I'm pissed off that a group of people who have a track record for making bad decisions have been given such power, and that they didn't wise up and learn their lesson the first time (or two). What would Jesus do? I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that he would see through the bullshit, and he sure as heck wouldn't be a member of a mega-church.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Celebrity Spawn
Viable energy policy be damned, have you seen how much People Magazine paid Brad and Angelina for pictures of their newborn twins! In America's race to be the most celeb-obsessed country, I think we've actually hit number one, which is good because we haven't been number one in the world for anything in a long time, except Greenhouse gas emissions.
People paid $14 million to the Jolie-Pitts for their kiddie pics, and I'm not going to lay one iota of blame on the uber-beautiful, megastar couple. Why not take the money. If People can sell a minimum of 3.5 million copies of that issue in order to recoup kiddie pic payoff money, why not let snoopy folks get their fill of baby pics. This is, after all, a couple who has their own charitable foundation, and used the money from pics of their last baby to fund it.
If someone (aside from sickos and child molesters) wanted to pay me a ridiculous sum of money for pics of my kid, my first instinct would be to look at my beloved little girl and say, "give Mommy a big smile, Sweetie, you're going to Harvard".
I've heard commentary claiming that the Jolie-Pitts are terrible, because they are selling pictures of their kids, but the truth is that stalker photographers would have hounded them mercilessly anyways, so why not cash in. As for the safety of the two newest and weirdly named Jolie-Pitt kids, they are newborns. Within two months they will look nothing like the overpriced photos People shelled out bank for.
The most pathetic aspect I can see from this whole situation is that Americans have become so obsessed with celebrity that $14 million isn't unreasonable for celebrity spawn photos. When it comes down to it, do you really care what someone's kid (aside from relatives and friends) looks like?
The only thing that would remotely motivate me to purchase the Jolie-Pitt spawn issue of People is if the twins were conjoined. Now that would be something to shell out $4 for.
People paid $14 million to the Jolie-Pitts for their kiddie pics, and I'm not going to lay one iota of blame on the uber-beautiful, megastar couple. Why not take the money. If People can sell a minimum of 3.5 million copies of that issue in order to recoup kiddie pic payoff money, why not let snoopy folks get their fill of baby pics. This is, after all, a couple who has their own charitable foundation, and used the money from pics of their last baby to fund it.
If someone (aside from sickos and child molesters) wanted to pay me a ridiculous sum of money for pics of my kid, my first instinct would be to look at my beloved little girl and say, "give Mommy a big smile, Sweetie, you're going to Harvard".
I've heard commentary claiming that the Jolie-Pitts are terrible, because they are selling pictures of their kids, but the truth is that stalker photographers would have hounded them mercilessly anyways, so why not cash in. As for the safety of the two newest and weirdly named Jolie-Pitt kids, they are newborns. Within two months they will look nothing like the overpriced photos People shelled out bank for.
The most pathetic aspect I can see from this whole situation is that Americans have become so obsessed with celebrity that $14 million isn't unreasonable for celebrity spawn photos. When it comes down to it, do you really care what someone's kid (aside from relatives and friends) looks like?
The only thing that would remotely motivate me to purchase the Jolie-Pitt spawn issue of People is if the twins were conjoined. Now that would be something to shell out $4 for.
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