Did I hallucinate the 70s?

[blamebrampton]

Warning: Humourless grumping follows.

Goodbye, feminism, we hardly knew you.

It's my own fault for reading about American politics while I'm still sick, but I am now sick and cranky and too weak to throw things in the directions they should be thrown.

A woman's right to own her own body and make choices about it is for all women. Not all women except the daughters of conservative politicians. All of them.

If you, as I do, disagree with Sarah Palin's position on abortion, then you can write to her, vote against anti-abortion politicians in your area, or donate money to women's health clinics. Don't weigh in on her daughter. It's obnoxious, whether it comes from the right or from the left. 

Women have enough difficulties asserting ownership over their own bodies as it is.

It's not as though there aren't genuine political issues that are worth being involved with and angry about in America at the moment. The delightful kestrelsparhawk  has been chronicling police reaction to protests against the Republican National Convention. Observers, journalists and lawyers sent into represent others have been detained, handcuffed and arrested in a manner that makes mock of the Land of the Free. Flick over and read, the entries aren't locked.

This is not the Republican Party of Lincoln, this is not the America of its Constitution. To be fair, I doubt it is the Republican Party of John McCain. But I sadly suspect that he is not the party. I would be far more cheerful about the state of international affairs if he was. While he may have issues with keeping his pants up, he seems underneath to be a committed political figure. I may prefer Obama, but all I ask from political leaders is diligence and good legislation. They can do what they like with their pants, and their daughters can, too.

Comments

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I think there is a simple and powerful point to be made that by asking for privacy in that matter she is asking for something that she wants to deny other women - the right to self determination.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I see your point, but I think that her public positions give more than enough room to argue that her policies are bad for women without having to drag her daughter into things.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

I don't think you should vilify the poor girl. She has enough on her plate with marriage, child, and that name, but still...how can you have a discussion about sex education being based round abstinence without thinking about her daughter it's almost audible.

I see it as the elephant in the room. Even if you don't come out and say it, it's there, the silent sentence at the end of every response un/like your daughter

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am now planning to name my firstborn Newfoundland, or possibly Seattle.

But I'd rather she remain the elephant in the room than find herself plastered across the media. The whole Bristol=slag subtext that's been trotted out in a lot of publications is deeply unfair. And it's not as though anyone save her mother and a few other political morons really believes there's any point to abstinence only 'education'.