Questions for Ellen John Sirleaf

sent:

NYTimes Magazine: Madame President

What does that say about the inherent character of men? [referring to the young Liberian boys who raped an 8-year old Liberian refugee in Phoenix, AZ]: I just think that unless you have that cohesiveness in the family unit, the male character tends to become very dominant, repressive and insensitive. So much of this comes also from a lack of education. As more men become more educated and women get educated, teh value system has to be more enhanced and the respect for human dignity and human life is made better.

If women ran the world, would wars still exist? No. I think it would be a better, safer and more productive world. A woman would bring extra dimension to that task – and that’s a sensitivity to humankind. It comes from being a mother.

But if women had the power, they would be more likely to acquire the negative traits that breed power, like selfishness and territorialism.  It would take a very long term of women absolutely in power to get to the place where they became men.

reasoning:

the stripped down, basic feminist slant is too obvious here: the physical differences mean an inherent psychological, mental difference, the venus vs. mars argument. its a bit troublesome that the NYTimes, already well-accused and known for its liberal, ‘radical’ bias, ends this article with “INTERVIEW HAS BEEN CONDENSED AND EDITED”, but its still telling that the leader of Liberia believes in the inherent differences between men and women, and that they affect government and societal operation.

much of Sirleaf’s words about the nature of female leadership reminds me of Justice Sotomayor’s infamous “Wise Latina” comment. it’s not just being a parent that brings out a certain humanity and “sensitivity to humankind’,-> it’s being a mother. she continues by saying the differences are so stark, even if women ruled the world, it’d take us a ‘very long term’ [which i'm thinking means thousands of years], to get to the level of deep problems and ’inherently’ dangerous cycles of injustice, and conflict we have today in a world that has been ruled and dominated by men. Sirleaf’s comments are indeed inflammatory and easily offensive that she treats the inherent different nature of men and women so superficially. But she does bring in the importance of the family unit, and literacy. she is railing against men as the source for why the world and  society/culture are the way they are today. but moreover, i think she’s calling for a better and stronger education across the board.

Senate Approves Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, 68 to 31

sent:

Washington Post: Senate Votes 68 to 31 to Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court

reasoning:

really cool graphic sent over the Emily’s List listserv. its a striking visual that goes beyond the superficial arguments of Affirmative Action in terms of gender, or race and the uproar of Sotomayor’s “Wise Latina” comment. Just looking at what the implications of this image mean, and how this may be the start of a change in the make-up of the Supreme Court, once some Justices start dying or resigning, is incredibly exciting.

yes means yes: visions of female sexual power & a world without rape

recipient:

National Geographic Society/ PO Box 64112/ Tampa, FL 3366-4112

sent:

Google Books preview of Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power & A World Without Rape

reasoning:

tonight in the crowded backroom of busboys & poets on 14th & U, the editors and several contributors for the new book yes means yes: visions of female sexual power & a world without rape read excerpts of their new work. Miriam Zoila Perez of Radical Doula read from her “When Sexual Autonomy Isn’t Enough:SexualViolence Against Immigrant Women in the United States”.  Latoya Peterson of Racialicious read “The Not-Rape Epidemic”. and among others, Jaclyn Friedman “In Defense of Going Wild or: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Pleasure (and How You Can, Too). it was inspiring to hear from writers so coherently and intelligently talk about this powerful conception of rape culture. there’s so many intersecting points of gender, race, sexuality, media, and class that have created this complex culture.  particularly thought-provoking was Miriam Perez’s piece that for immigrant women crossing the border, rape is almost an accepted part of their reality (their price of admission to pay the smugglers). after listening to their readings, i was convinced that a rape culture does exist. it’s a serious crime, and treated as so, but then on the other side, it’s also blamed on the victim, there’s the conception that it only happens to women, and that it’s something that will always exist. these women all talked about getting rid of the culture of rape – not just the action of it but the connotations and dangers surrounding it. this has moved up to the top of my ‘must-buy’ book list once i have the funds to do so.

activism isn’t just for white young anarchists

recipient:

Glamour/ PO Box 37690/ Boone, IA 50037-2690

sent:

Philadelphia Inquirer article written by Jeff Shields – A true melting pot helped spared libraries

reasoning:

ah, an inspiring story for the new year. b/c that’s what new year’s is all about right – starting over, people getting together, hope that this year will be better. this is about a story where mayor nutter, fairly beloved in the city of philadelphia, announced plans to close 11 branch libraries, and how a very diverse group of people came together in a matter of months to organize and demonstrate against such a move. and they were able to win a court-stall of the mayor’s plans. groups of African American block captains, along with white anarchists from West Philly – two groups that normally wouldn’t be seen working together, now mobilizing their communities, getting lawyers and citygroups and everyday people involved to save these libraries. (pictures from a rally to save the libraries held on december 6, and youtube video that the Eagles football team paying their debt back to the city would be enough to save the libraries)

this article talks about how the usual ‘professional’ protesters, those who are anti-establishment, and anti-everything were involved, almost in a ‘of course’ manner. but the strength of this coalition was that other people who may not have been associated with the young anarchists got just as deeply involved. a previously unpolitical 3rd and 4th grade teacher, whose school does not have a library, became a volunteer in the Obama campaign doing all the grassroots heavyduty work of knocking doors and making phone calls. that she felt inspired she was a part of the change got her to become involved in this coalition – a political activist is born.

HPV vaccine required for new immigrants

recipient:

Metropolitan Home/ StyleGuide/ PO Box 413050/ Naples, FL 34101-6818

sent:

Dallas Morning News Human papillomavirus vaccine requirement for immigrants raises concerns

reasoning:

it’s now even more expensive to apply for american residency and citizenship. i’ve touched upon this in previous posts (like here) but the HPV vaccine is getting even more convoluted and controversial almost everyday. not only has it been reported that it’s one of the most painful shots one can get and some girls are even fainting from it, but its very campaign geared towards young women of a “sexually active” age brings into question race, gender class, abstinence-only sex education, and preventative medicine.

it’s amazing and almost astounding that we now have vaccines that can prevent cancer, its like the medicine of the future. this HPV vaccine needs to be made accessible, and its great health insurance companies are now covering the costs, but requiring it brings about a whole new level of control over girls and women’s bodies.  even though guys are just carriers, why aren’t they required to get vaccinated? and have we got into the habit of using pharmaceuticals to cure ailments that might have been caused b/c we’ve been taking other pharmaceuticals?  it’s definitely a stretch to say that HPV and cervical cancer are caused by drugs, but conspiracy theory time: what if the government’s new requirement of the HPV vaccine is because they are in bed with the pharmaceutical companies, and the vaccine itself has a fairly strong and positive message, which makes it easier to market? it’s more obvious to see why doctors are pushing this so hard, but the prospect of the government & the pharmaceutical industry in bed together is not an earth-shattering notion.  i definitely believe that gardasil is an amazing piece of medicine & scientific research, but who it’s made compulsory for – young girls many of whom cannot cannot afford it because they do not have health insurance, and now many of the young girls trying to immigrate into the country are being forced to pay even more and jump through additional hoops – is what worries me.

the new white minority

recipient:

Discover Card/ PO Box 15162/ Wilmington, DE 19885-9508

sent:

Tony Auth political cartoon along with Washington Times “Immigration: ‘Demographic divide’ on the rise”

reasoning:

i don’t think the concept that america is becoming more racially diverse and ‘multicultural’ is a surprise to anyone living here. i think the big news here is how fast it’s happening, much quicker than originally predicted. and we’re already starting to see the effects. the focus on ‘illegal’ immigration, along with the bad economy and outsourcing has given rise to tremendous racial hostility, there’s going to be more xenophobia and strife before this gets better.  in a way, i don’t blame a lot of the working class americans who live in small towns that are having difficulty adjusting. it’s become more difficult to just work hard and make an honest living, and the most obvious reason may actually be the undocumented workers in the town willing to receive much less for just as much labor. there needs to be more proper and respectful efforts of integration, it’s frustrating when legislators and politicians are scapegoating latinos and instituting expensive band-aid solutions like building a giant wall. i like this cartoon’s point of showing how mccain’s campaign of showing how ‘american’ he is, actually demonstrates how far detached he and his image are from what is really going on in the country.

Gardasil: One Less

recipient:

Real Simple/ PO Box 64523/ Tampa, FL 33664-4523

sent:

BBC “Gay Men Seek ‘Female Cancer’ Jab” article

reasoning:

i just got my 3rd and last shot of Gardasil. i am now protected against certain types of HPV, particularly the strains that have been shown to cause cervical cancer. woo. i didn’t actively seek out the vaccine, it was one i had definitely heard of, these “one less” commercials are on constant play if you turn on the TV, but it was something i didn’t think i needed. and while vaccines have done a lot of good, i’m wary that soonwe’ll be vaccinating ourselves against everything in the world, and simply start a new series of bacteria, germs and illnesses. i went in to get a physical in january, and my doctor immediately advised that i should start on the gardasil track. i knew that SL had done it and she said it was painful and expensive. but dr. madden assured me that it was now covered by insurance – it was a huge fight that doctors took on against the insurance companies, “how can you deny people something that could potentially save their lives?” i was still a bit hesitant, but the doctor was insistent. i was also somewhat convinced when she said, “how amazing is it that we’ve developed a vaccine against a cancer? think about the implications that soon we’ll have something for every cancer, and no one will have to suffer.” unfortunately, the first shot hurt like hell, and committed me for 6 months to this new health and scientific experiment that i wasn’t necessarily ready for or on board with.

the science of racism

recipient:

University of Massachusetts Lowell/ Office of University Advancement/ Southwick Hall 250/ One University Avenue/ Lowell, Massachusetts 01854-2882

sent:

The Science of Racism Root article: interview with Dr. James Watson, the father of DNA, by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. editor.

reasoning:

Dr. Watson, half of the team that helped to uncover the DNA helix model, has been regarded as the father of modern genetics, so his recent remarks there’s such a thing as Jewish intelligence, or that a reason why there is a disproportionate amount of black basketball players may be gene related. this interview with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. a Harvard professor who studies race discourse in the West, is interesting because it doesn’t just dismiss Dr. Watson as an old-fashioned, codgy elite White racist. as he’s the “father of genetics”, he’s been called upon to make comments about our most complex, and puzzling social issues: homosexuality, obesity, race, and race in relation to sexuality.

what was most interesting to me was Louis Gates, Jr does not consider Dr. Watson a “racist”, but more of a “racialist”. he does believe there is some key to genetics’ ties of race and human characteristics like intelligence, athletic ability, or demeanor. the distinction may come from a “racist” simply buying into long-time stereotypes from media and history of racial inferiority and superiority. certainly the argument can be made that there may be a truth, or a genetic basis for why those stereotypes exist, so how is Dr. Watson not just an academically, and scientifically intelligent racist?

maybe even cute and cuddly can’t save us…

recipient:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services/PO Box 396/Harleysville, PA 19438-9902

sent:

Slate First Housing Bust, Now Baby Bust article, penned by Daniel Gross

reasoning:

Something that separates the North/South, rich/poor dichotomy in terms of population rates is that in industrial societies, most people have the option to choose how many children to have and when, whereas in developing areas, children are just as much created out of love, and to build families, but can also be another source of income for the parents. in the US, having more children is seen as being more expensive than for family sustainability. there’s probably some relevance to our child-labor laws, and mandatory schooling till 8th or 12th grade for each child. like the trends in Italy and Russia (recently Putin offered a significant chunk of money to couples to have a baby in the coming year), despite the 2006 Washington Post reports, the American birth rate appears to be slowing down and decreasing.

“I hope for the best”

this, even more so than the Matt from Matt & Kim video {see true success is health insurance} exemplifies to me one of the main cruxes and reality of the healthcare problem in the united states today.  somehow the stereotype still exists that only poor people, or people on welfare can’t afford to have it, but it’s so many more people, different types of people who are working and who are successful by any American standards.  a lot of the attempts towards universal healthcare have the companies providing healthcare options for their employees, but what about the single, independent business owners for whom providing healthcare for themselves, and their 2-3 employees may be too expensive and costly?

when maxwell, awesome independent clothing designer, says he has to avoid getting hurt or sick b/c he doesn’t have health insurance and hospital visits are too expensive, that’s telling of how precarious a situation so many people and their families face.  it must be stressful for parents to watch their kids, and make sure they don’t hurt themselves too much b/c they can’t afford to go to the hospital. 

bruises, broken arms, colds, and ear infections are a natural part, a seeming rite-of-passage, of childhood, have to be avoided, and kids must stay inside in front of the TV in hermetically sealed bubbles is sad. maybe it’s not that extreme, but being afraid to let kids be kids, or to live life because an injury or sickness might realistically set you back, and put you in financial debt, is sad.

if somehow we could figure out a way similar to how the europeans do it, where everyone is covered, you can go to any hospital, and any doctor, perhaps also take some dependence off prescription drugs, get rid of medical malpractice, then america could really live up to being one of the most wealthy countries in the world that actually takes care of its citizens. that argument always comes up, if we have the most money, but yet something like people’s health isn’t covered, where’s all the money going? right now – probably the war effort, but even there, veterans need healthcare, the cases at walter reed, and the number of soldiers coming back with PTSD are huge, and despicable. the iraq war veterans, the children, the single independent business owners, SiCKO – it should not have come to this point.