blamebrampton: 15th century woodcut of a hound (Default)
blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2008-09-02 11:59 pm

Did I hallucinate the 70s?

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 [livejournal.com profile] 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.

drgaellon: Stephen Walker art (Washington Monument)

[personal profile] drgaellon 2008-09-03 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
this is what happens when you let a bunch of puritans start a nation.

People forget that the Puritans did not come here to found a nation of "religious freedom." They came here to escape religious persecution, which is not the same thing. They had every intention of creating a place which was just as intolerant as Mother England - just within their own values. It was only the influence of non-religious Deists like Adams, Jefferson and Franklin that enshrined religious freedom in our laws... but it never REALLY took hold in the public consciousness, and still hasn't to this day.

[identity profile] snottygrrl.livejournal.com 2008-09-03 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
honestly, i think people forget there were puritans involved at all, let alone understand that their (the puritans) views hold sway today in the states. if it wasn't so annoyingly narrow i would be fascinating.