Words are not fists: some thoughts on how men work to defuse feminist anger.

What was very interesting for me was that I came to this blog from a post entitled
My thoughts on Feminism (as I now head for cover)
I laughed so hard I thought I'd split.

I chopped this to shit to try to get the main premise in under 1000. There's tons more food for thought at the site.

clipped from www.amptoons.com In this post, he writes about how the men speak in his women’s studies class: …two of the guys did something that I see over and over again from men in women’s studies classes. They prefaced their remarks by joking “I know I’m going to get killed for saying this, but…” One of them, even pretended to rise from his desk to position himself by the door, saying that “Once I say this, I know I’m going to have to make a run for it.” Most of the women laughed indulgently, and I even found myself grinning along. his behavior reflects two things: men’s genuine fear of being challenged and confronted, and the persistence of the stereotype of feminists as being aggressive “man-bashers.” no man is in any real physical danger from feminists Women are regularly beaten and raped but I know of no instance where a man found himself a victim of violence for making a sexist remark in a college feminist setting! Male-bashing” doesn’t literally happen doesn’t stop men from using fear of violence point about feminists

Humpday "Get Over It" (and 13 Thursday #1)

Thirteen Things about Thorne's World Well, I never got around to blogging yesterday. Instead, I spend a lovely day with a good sister/heart/friend with whom I haven't spent time in years. It was wonderful. The time slipped away as comfortably and enjoyably as ever. We got all worked up together over poetry and music and our personal emotional and spiritual growth and spent not a breath on politics. It was quite refreshing. We finished up the day designing and beginning a tattooed banner for her arm that reads: "I'll be inside the one who holds you and then I won't be", a quote from a book by Francesca Lia Block. So today, I've decided to combine my "Humpday-Get Over It" theme with the "Thursday 13" list via Balls and Walnuts and One Woman Army. So Here goes. 13 Things I wish folks would just fucking "Get Over"!! 1) Religionists/Theists: Quit bashing secularists and trying to use the bible as historical precedent. It's a collection of stories! You are free to decide what relevance the stories hold for you, but quit trying to decide that it is relevant to governing the rest of us. Separation of church and state means just that; Separation. It in no way restricts your freedom to practice whatsoever religion you choose in whatever manner you choose. It gives the same freedoms to the rest of us. Get Over It!!! 2) Athiests/Secularists: Quit already, with the militant dogma. Some of you are starting to sound as bad as the fundies. You are as free to believe in no gods, as I am to believe in many and christians, jews, muslims ect. are to believe in one of their own definition. Your attacks on the intelligence (or lack thereof) upon people who choose to believe in that which is beyond rational grasp is an ad hominem argument which serves noone. There is no TRUTH when it comes to matters of the heart/spirit. There is only personal knowledge and understanding. You are losing supporters when you attack moderate religionists who are working in their own ways to change the powers of the religious right. Get Over It!!! 3) Friends who get their feelings hurt when I forget their birthdays. I'm 46 years old. I have NEVER remembered your birthday. I probably never will. It has nothing to do with how much I love or like or admire or respect you. I remember the important things about you. You heart, your spirit, the twinkle in your eyes when you smile, your outrage, your compassion. I love you. Get Over It!!! 4) White males bitching about it being their turn "in the barrel". Get Over It!!! 5) Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for America's ills. How about doing away with partisan platforms?? Get Over It!!! 6) Men who are "Anti- Abortion". When you motherfuckers have the personal power to create and nurture a potential life within your bodies, you may have an opinion on this matter. Until then... Get Over It!!! 7) LG's who despite their own "differences" from straights continue to judge and create separation within the community based on gender stereotypes, specifically for transfolk , bisexuals, and queers who are "butch/femme". People are all different. You have no more right to pass judgment on anyone than "straights" have the right to pass judgment on you. Get Over It!!! 8) People who still think that politics, religion and sex are not topics for polite conversation. We need to make these topics part of our whole life picture. We need to educate our children, exchange ideas with our friends, learn to communicate openly and honestly in order to affect change. Get Over It!!! 9) Physicians who somehow feel that their degree entitles them to a deeper understanding of my body than I have after having lived in it for so long. Listen to your patients, doctors!!! You might learn something. If you choose to call me by my first name, I shall use yours. We are both people. I am not a "patient", a number or a crash test dummy. Get off your fucking high horse and start listening!! Get Over It!!! 10) Feminists who judge the standards by which one may identify as a feminist. I am not a sheep. I am not a lemming. I am a self empowered woman who has come to this point in her life through many personal experiences which you may or may not be able to identify with. I am the unique product of my interpretation of my own experience into my personal truth. I am a lesbian who adores men. I am a woman who believes in a woman's informed choice over her body on every level, from reproductive rights to skin trade to sexual fetishism. You may not define Feminism for me!!! Get Over It!!! 11) Men who think that all strong women are "ball busting dykes" or "man haters". You are idiots. I'm sorry that you find yourself threatened by a strong woman. I am widowed of a husband who for 10 years claimed there was no one he'd rather have back him up in a barfight. He was a real man and a feminist. The rest of you insecure haters can just... Get Over It!!! 12) "Flat - Earthers". People who for whatever reason, religious or otherwise, refuse to accept scientific fact of anything that contradicts their world view. Wake up people!! You've got a brain; use it!! Be free to change your opinion in the wake of new information. Take off your holy blinders!! Get Over It!!! 13) People reading this blog who may disagree with or be offended by any position stated above. Feel free to comment and open dialogue, otherwise... Get Over It!!! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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