Hannah Miet is my new muse. I thought for a time why the poetry wasn't coming, why the words remained stagnant. Or worse, neatly tucked into approved-sentence structure with properly placed punctuation AND capitalized words. The horror. the horror. I decided that my creativity had been drained from this blog business or simply leaking out of my cublicle chair(along with my will to live). I needed some help.
First, I was assisted by the-guy-with-a-gift who gave me a magical assignment: write from a male point-of-a-view. Specifically, "no feminist sarcasm". I was worried, to be sure, that some might accidently spurt out(it wells about the throat, waiting). I can't help that vast majority of men and their behavior give me ageda on a regular basis. Maybe I should hop out of the frat scene for awhile and linger among the engineers. They at least inspire some faith.
When the assignment piqued immediate interest, I realized that my writer's block may have been simply been caused by having nothing to write about. To be fair, this is a positive in real-world terms, as almost all of it is angsty in some way. Or simply angry(comedy comes from anger, according to something I read somewhere...therefore it must be true.) Or sad(read: pathetic. No one gets to read those though. Sorry, schaudenfreude fans). So, sadly for my creativity, I haven't had to bitch anyone out via free-form in awhile. Poo.
Back to the assignment, I began with the internal monologue of a guy about to approach a girl in a bar. Then realizing how risky that would be(breaking the constraints of the assignment waaaay too easy), I decided to try a different tactic. Channeling my knowledge of all that is idealistic, rom-com, wishywashy, and generally unrealistic, I wrote the internal monologue of a type b guy comforting a friend, whom he secretly loves. Mhmhm mush. I think I successfully made males come off non-scummy, but that's probably because, as my friend aptly put, "I don't think it's male enough".
Can't win 'em all, I guess.
p.s. If you want to read the poem(or any of my other pieces), just give me a shout. I'm a bit overprotective.
Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label feminism. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Camels
Note: Found this among some abandoned short stories stashed away, figured I'd put it up.
violence has it's place in every life
every circumstance
whether it merely be the escalation of the wrong conversation
or a competition to determine a victor,
it exists, persists, pervades
I have to say, I have never had greater appreciation for the American legal system than when I was manhandled in Cairo.
It was Spring Break. One of the trip leaders had a local friend, who joined us on our many cultural visits. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and acted as our guide(since we had to fire the last guy who tried taking us to "The Pharonic Village", an amusement park for kindergarteners). He didn't really appreciate the crowd that many of us drew, but what was to be expected when you have a couple blonde girls and an asian chick running around?
Nevertheless, he was an asset to the group; suggesting wonderful places for us to eat, explore, and...eat. He had some contempt for me and another girl in particular, for we had difficulty saying no to the local boys who harassed us for pictures, and wouldn't pretend we had husbands every time someone tried chatting us up. I managed to develop a rapport with him despite this, and I eventually started playing by his rules. He called me "Britney Spears" and made light, flirty jokes at my expense.
This continued over the course of the trip, until our last night. Our trip leaders decided that we should hold up in a 24 hour mall, due to the fact that we had to stay up all night and fly out at 4am.
This, of course, was less than desirable to many of us, particularly those from the land of the malls(ie new jersey, ie me). We gathered a group of less-complacent and asked the local friend if he would take us to a place we hadn't explored yet. He acquiesced, and we then proceeded to badger our leaders into letting us escape the mall-prison.
With the go-ahead, a few brave souls followed the local to the parking lot to find his car. We crammed into the front/back seats and set off to an area he promised would entertain us. It was an area clearly meant to satisfy the tastes of the more affluent Egyptians, a sharp contrast to the ragged, dirty city life we had been exposed to. There were many lovely shops for us to explore - chocolates, ice cream, jewelry - a girl's paradise. I was still on hot pursuit for cheapish souvenirs, and he vowed to help me find a place.
While walking down towards another stretch of shops, we began with what I believed to be friendly conversation. After much teasing banter, I felt that he had given a green light for some mocking at his expense. So, I made a few jabs about his "guide" expertise.
He did not appreciate that.
He utilized the close proximity of our walking and grabbed the back of my neck in a tight grip. He did not relinquish his grasp, so I lightly batted him on the arm with my water bottle saying "hey! not cool", trying to play along with what I assumed was some sort of game.
He let go.
Me: "Bitch."
I had forgotten my place. He made sure to correct this immediately. He proceeded to grab my arm and bend it as far back as anatomically possible. I was still operating under the illusion that this was some sort of "playing around" that I was simply unfamiliar with(or perhaps a good game of "uncle" from back in the day). But then it started to ...hurt. Really hurt.
violence has it's place in every life
every circumstance
whether it merely be the escalation of the wrong conversation
or a competition to determine a victor,
it exists, persists, pervades
I have to say, I have never had greater appreciation for the American legal system than when I was manhandled in Cairo.
It was Spring Break. One of the trip leaders had a local friend, who joined us on our many cultural visits. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and acted as our guide(since we had to fire the last guy who tried taking us to "The Pharonic Village", an amusement park for kindergarteners). He didn't really appreciate the crowd that many of us drew, but what was to be expected when you have a couple blonde girls and an asian chick running around?
Nevertheless, he was an asset to the group; suggesting wonderful places for us to eat, explore, and...eat. He had some contempt for me and another girl in particular, for we had difficulty saying no to the local boys who harassed us for pictures, and wouldn't pretend we had husbands every time someone tried chatting us up. I managed to develop a rapport with him despite this, and I eventually started playing by his rules. He called me "Britney Spears" and made light, flirty jokes at my expense.
This continued over the course of the trip, until our last night. Our trip leaders decided that we should hold up in a 24 hour mall, due to the fact that we had to stay up all night and fly out at 4am.
This, of course, was less than desirable to many of us, particularly those from the land of the malls(ie new jersey, ie me). We gathered a group of less-complacent and asked the local friend if he would take us to a place we hadn't explored yet. He acquiesced, and we then proceeded to badger our leaders into letting us escape the mall-prison.
With the go-ahead, a few brave souls followed the local to the parking lot to find his car. We crammed into the front/back seats and set off to an area he promised would entertain us. It was an area clearly meant to satisfy the tastes of the more affluent Egyptians, a sharp contrast to the ragged, dirty city life we had been exposed to. There were many lovely shops for us to explore - chocolates, ice cream, jewelry - a girl's paradise. I was still on hot pursuit for cheapish souvenirs, and he vowed to help me find a place.
While walking down towards another stretch of shops, we began with what I believed to be friendly conversation. After much teasing banter, I felt that he had given a green light for some mocking at his expense. So, I made a few jabs about his "guide" expertise.
He did not appreciate that.
He utilized the close proximity of our walking and grabbed the back of my neck in a tight grip. He did not relinquish his grasp, so I lightly batted him on the arm with my water bottle saying "hey! not cool", trying to play along with what I assumed was some sort of game.
He let go.
Me: "Bitch."
I had forgotten my place. He made sure to correct this immediately. He proceeded to grab my arm and bend it as far back as anatomically possible. I was still operating under the illusion that this was some sort of "playing around" that I was simply unfamiliar with(or perhaps a good game of "uncle" from back in the day). But then it started to ...hurt. Really hurt.
"Hey! that hurts." (nervous laugh.)
"Does it? It should."
This made me slightly alarmed, though I was still tying to keep the mood less-than-serious(if it escalated I had no idea what he would be capable of).
"Hey, uh, can you stop?"
He waited a few more seconds, a menacing look in his eyes.
"Watch your tongue."
With that, he let go of my throbbing arm, and I hurried over to the other girls in the group, who were several feet away looking into a shop window.
The entire time all I wanted to do was either:
a. punch him in the face(I have a solid right hook)
b. shout obscenities(cursing his mother or future descendants maybe?)
c. report him to some authority
d. sue him for battery
e. some combination of which to make him cry
In America, I could have freely engaged in any of those actions(except for perhaps the first one...eh). However, I was in Egypt, a place where it is apparently "okay" to abuse a person, as long as they are 1. female 2. weaker 3. some combination of the two. In this land I do not have a protector. There was no husband, older brother, father, to run to; to avenge the disrespect I had just encountered. Further, none of the male members of the group had gone with us on the excursion - shopping around did not seem to pique their interest. On top of the fact that I was currently in the Arab world, a place less-than-hospitable to "feisty" or "spirited" women such as myself, I was in place where I did not know the language or the lay of the land. The local was also the only one who actually knew where we were, and provided the only means to get back to the main group: his car. So I knew damn well that I better put on a smile and take it, because, for the first time in my life, I was truly powerless.
So I just choked back the tears of a wounded pride and arm, and continued window-shopping.
What amazed me was how this individual carried on as if our little interaction was nothing out of the ordinary - as if he had just asked me about the weather or something. Unlike before, when we usually ended up walking next to eachother since I was deeply interested in hearing about the history of the neighborhood we were in, I avidly maintained a 10ft distance from him when possible. In one of the more cramped shops, he was only an arm's length apart; I became so uncomfortable I had to leave the store and wait outside. He behaved as though repentant; he bought almonds and offered me some, he took us by shops he thought I would like and bade me to go inside and "take a look". I was as dismissive as possible without appearing too upset or angry - I was desperate to not provoke him again. All I wanted was to get back to the group, hide amongst the crowd, and wait out the time till takeoff without having to look at the bastard again.
"Does it? It should."
This made me slightly alarmed, though I was still tying to keep the mood less-than-serious(if it escalated I had no idea what he would be capable of).
"Hey, uh, can you stop?"
He waited a few more seconds, a menacing look in his eyes.
"Watch your tongue."
With that, he let go of my throbbing arm, and I hurried over to the other girls in the group, who were several feet away looking into a shop window.
The entire time all I wanted to do was either:
a. punch him in the face(I have a solid right hook)
b. shout obscenities(cursing his mother or future descendants maybe?)
c. report him to some authority
d. sue him for battery
e. some combination of which to make him cry
In America, I could have freely engaged in any of those actions(except for perhaps the first one...eh). However, I was in Egypt, a place where it is apparently "okay" to abuse a person, as long as they are 1. female 2. weaker 3. some combination of the two. In this land I do not have a protector. There was no husband, older brother, father, to run to; to avenge the disrespect I had just encountered. Further, none of the male members of the group had gone with us on the excursion - shopping around did not seem to pique their interest. On top of the fact that I was currently in the Arab world, a place less-than-hospitable to "feisty" or "spirited" women such as myself, I was in place where I did not know the language or the lay of the land. The local was also the only one who actually knew where we were, and provided the only means to get back to the main group: his car. So I knew damn well that I better put on a smile and take it, because, for the first time in my life, I was truly powerless.
So I just choked back the tears of a wounded pride and arm, and continued window-shopping.
What amazed me was how this individual carried on as if our little interaction was nothing out of the ordinary - as if he had just asked me about the weather or something. Unlike before, when we usually ended up walking next to eachother since I was deeply interested in hearing about the history of the neighborhood we were in, I avidly maintained a 10ft distance from him when possible. In one of the more cramped shops, he was only an arm's length apart; I became so uncomfortable I had to leave the store and wait outside. He behaved as though repentant; he bought almonds and offered me some, he took us by shops he thought I would like and bade me to go inside and "take a look". I was as dismissive as possible without appearing too upset or angry - I was desperate to not provoke him again. All I wanted was to get back to the group, hide amongst the crowd, and wait out the time till takeoff without having to look at the bastard again.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Give me liberty, or give me thousands of unwanted pregnancies
To lawmakers in Washington: Let them have the Pill.
Why?
I'm a big believer in the concept of prevention, especially when it comes to healthcare. Like, take your vitamins and you're less likely to get a cold. Take care of your diet and you won't have to get your stomach stapled when you're 50. Things like that. Our country has an issue with economic liability(ie we have too much of it). I liken my solution to a dash of population control mixed with a scraping of feminism and perhaps a garnish of common sense.
The primary focus of this discussion is the poor, those dancing about the poverty line.
This class of citizen we speak of is dependent, and tends to perpetuate such dependence. We are worried about the cost of the this health care bill(and rightfully so, fellow social security losers), but have we considered its potential cost-saving capacity?
No, I do not have a model to support this. I have basic micro and macroeconomics in my back pocket, sure, but attempting to cipher through THAT much data seems a job much more suited for...anyone else. SO, I'm going to make my grandiose statements with touches of logic here and there, and you, dear readers, will attempt to digest them(and hopefully not spit them out...ew).
Particularly if we're talking about the typical individual(or family) who wouldn't able to afford contraception otherwise, this idea has a solid foundation. Why? Because their offspring are an automatic economic liability(if not a social one as well, but we'll delve into that later) to...us. Their children's food will be paid for by us. The subsidies for schools, clothing, supplies, what-have-you, will be paid for by us. I'm not suggesting cutting any of these programs(I do have a dash of bleeding heart liberal lying around), but I'm suggesting the country would be better off if we had less demand for these programs. Fewer dependents. Fewer mouths to feed. I am also NOT suggesting some mass-sterilization of the poor either, just the ability of choice.
As I said before, it's all about prevention.
Freakanomics made an interesting comment on abortion's effect on crime rates in Eastern Europe. Fewer unwanted children who would likely recieve less than stellar child-care = fewer future criminals. Employing a similar tactic(and taking away a need for a messy, expensive procedure), let's give them the Pill. Poor people with the Pill = fewer future criminals. Fewer future gang members, drug runners, or simply maladjusted adolescents raising a ruckus in already thinly-stretched inner-city schools.
My idea is this: contraception for prevention. Yes, I'm calling you out, zealous pro-lifers(including the ones I sat next to at mass, went to school with, did precious youth group activities with). You have noble ambitions, I do not doubt this. I just can't help but feel you're being slightly less than realistic here. Although it may be considered preferable for the unmarried to not have sex, they're doing it. It's not even that so much as those who cannot afford children are having sex. Even those who according to Church doctrine are "allowed" to have sex(married couples) may be unable to support 18 years of uh, potential result. Should they not be allowed, then?
Try having a vote on that one.
And then there's the "why-not-just-use-condoms" argument. Condoms are a negotiable element of the act. As much as one might wish they were compulsatory, their mainstream nature(including the vast variety of colors, flavors, textures, etc) have not made them everyone's choice. For one, one must pay for them. And have them at hand when the time is right. This alienates the cheap and absented-minded of us right away. Also, it is the man's choice. Yes, women may ask, demand, and throw a hissy fit, which implies some sort of control, but is it ultimately the man's decision(as it is his anatomy). Give them the Pill, and this becomes less of an issue.
I'm not suggesting that every woman unable to financially support a child has to go on the Pill, but if they wish to be more responsible and take control of their reproductive future, I think they should be allowed the option. Ultimately, it's about supporting the importance of choice. Creating choice and opportunity.
Feminist side note: Family planning was one of the hallmarks of progress in the women's rights movement. Let's continue it.
Why?
I'm a big believer in the concept of prevention, especially when it comes to healthcare. Like, take your vitamins and you're less likely to get a cold. Take care of your diet and you won't have to get your stomach stapled when you're 50. Things like that. Our country has an issue with economic liability(ie we have too much of it). I liken my solution to a dash of population control mixed with a scraping of feminism and perhaps a garnish of common sense.
The primary focus of this discussion is the poor, those dancing about the poverty line.
This class of citizen we speak of is dependent, and tends to perpetuate such dependence. We are worried about the cost of the this health care bill(and rightfully so, fellow social security losers), but have we considered its potential cost-saving capacity?
No, I do not have a model to support this. I have basic micro and macroeconomics in my back pocket, sure, but attempting to cipher through THAT much data seems a job much more suited for...anyone else. SO, I'm going to make my grandiose statements with touches of logic here and there, and you, dear readers, will attempt to digest them(and hopefully not spit them out...ew).
Particularly if we're talking about the typical individual(or family) who wouldn't able to afford contraception otherwise, this idea has a solid foundation. Why? Because their offspring are an automatic economic liability(if not a social one as well, but we'll delve into that later) to...us. Their children's food will be paid for by us. The subsidies for schools, clothing, supplies, what-have-you, will be paid for by us. I'm not suggesting cutting any of these programs(I do have a dash of bleeding heart liberal lying around), but I'm suggesting the country would be better off if we had less demand for these programs. Fewer dependents. Fewer mouths to feed. I am also NOT suggesting some mass-sterilization of the poor either, just the ability of choice.
As I said before, it's all about prevention.
Freakanomics made an interesting comment on abortion's effect on crime rates in Eastern Europe. Fewer unwanted children who would likely recieve less than stellar child-care = fewer future criminals. Employing a similar tactic(and taking away a need for a messy, expensive procedure), let's give them the Pill. Poor people with the Pill = fewer future criminals. Fewer future gang members, drug runners, or simply maladjusted adolescents raising a ruckus in already thinly-stretched inner-city schools.
My idea is this: contraception for prevention. Yes, I'm calling you out, zealous pro-lifers(including the ones I sat next to at mass, went to school with, did precious youth group activities with). You have noble ambitions, I do not doubt this. I just can't help but feel you're being slightly less than realistic here. Although it may be considered preferable for the unmarried to not have sex, they're doing it. It's not even that so much as those who cannot afford children are having sex. Even those who according to Church doctrine are "allowed" to have sex(married couples) may be unable to support 18 years of uh, potential result. Should they not be allowed, then?
Try having a vote on that one.
And then there's the "why-not-just-use-condoms" argument. Condoms are a negotiable element of the act. As much as one might wish they were compulsatory, their mainstream nature(including the vast variety of colors, flavors, textures, etc) have not made them everyone's choice. For one, one must pay for them. And have them at hand when the time is right. This alienates the cheap and absented-minded of us right away. Also, it is the man's choice. Yes, women may ask, demand, and throw a hissy fit, which implies some sort of control, but is it ultimately the man's decision(as it is his anatomy). Give them the Pill, and this becomes less of an issue.
I'm not suggesting that every woman unable to financially support a child has to go on the Pill, but if they wish to be more responsible and take control of their reproductive future, I think they should be allowed the option. Ultimately, it's about supporting the importance of choice. Creating choice and opportunity.
Feminist side note: Family planning was one of the hallmarks of progress in the women's rights movement. Let's continue it.
Political side note: This is not to suggest I'm for or against this bloated bill. I just figure hey, why not get something useful out of trillion dollar expenditure that will bury me and my descendants.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)