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

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

this is what happens when you let a bunch of puritans start a nation. [*nods*]

I've been so very carefully not saying that, but oh goodness it's true!

I remember back in 2000 when people are going on at great length about whether or not Dubya had ever used cocaine, and I was one of the many saying: 'Who cares? Surely the fact that he's an IDIOT should matter more!'

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

it's not like the kiwis or the brits or others aren't a little overly fascinated with what stars/politicians are doing, but it's this odd over reaction to sex in particular in the states. i was ranting about cnn/edwards and americans i respect were trying to convince me that where one puts one's (or allows someone else to put their) dick somehow relates to how well one can run a country. it gets all tied back to this honesty and ability to trust someone thing. i say, fine, don't marry the wo/man, but if s/he can make a sane deal with gordon brown, or helen clark or whoever, and cares about the environment and is halfway sane on other issues, elect them and stay out of their bedroom.

[*shrugs*] i mean the kiwis gave the conservative party leader a pretty bad time when he cheated on his wife, but it was mostly because he got caught out for being so hypocritical. and it certainly didn't ruin his career or carry on for long.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The Kiwis aren't so bad. The English press has declined markedly over my lifetime. Yes, it should be skills, not shagging, that determines leadership.

Is it wrong that I now rather want Helen Clark to take over the world?

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i'm rather fond of helen myself, but i fear her days are numbered. to tell the truth i am a bit afeared for the results of the upcoming election. i'm pretty sure it'll be our turn to have a ridiculously conservative and not so bright leader.

[brinian.livejournal.com]

It isn't the puritans so much as the born-again, evangelicals. The puritans are rolling in their graves at what the evangelicals believe these days :-)