Dear Ms Mathews,
First of all, thank you for posting the affecting transcript from the
DV conference. Whatever the debates that may go on on this list
(continued here), I'm sure we can all agree that the speaker had been
treated in an unspeakably unjust and cruel fashion. I hope those
readers in the US in a position to respond will do so.
Two minor points on naming names: like her, I feel the term
'paedophile', with regard to its Latin derivation, is grossly
inappropriate, as is 'pederast' with its Greek derivation which gives
it the same root meaning. 'Baby fucker' is better but still
inaccurate in many cases. This might need more thought. Unlike her, I
would stand up for pre-conviction anonymity of baby-fuckers (I assume
that, like the UK, names are revealed after the case is concluded ?).
Presumption of innocence is vital for everyone, both her and her
disgusting monster of an ex-husband, and protection of identity is
vital for unconvicted people who might otherwise be wrongfully (or
even rightfully but wrongfully, if you get my drift) lynched. So
naming names would actually be an injustice. These are pretty minor
quibbles. Thanks for that.
On other subjects: re: anti-Christian rant. I agree with most of what
you say, being a radical atheist myself. Have you read Neitzsche's
'Anti-Christ' ? Yes, he's a wicked mysogynist, but his diatribes on
religion are first-rate. As for those who have defended Christianity,
all have done so by appealing to the undoubted existence of good
Christians. There were undoubtedly pleasant slave-owners and cheerful
fascists, but this changes nothing in the realm of ideas. Excuse 2000
years of oppression, a book full of mysogyny, racialism and
homophobia, the KKK, pro-lifers, the Vatican, etc etc, and what have
you left ? Some nice sentiments about lilies and the meek which you
would be better off reading in the Communist Manifesto. Oh, and
belief in a God who apparently couldn't be bothered to make a world
without plagues in it.
re: hunting, etc. I'm surprised that you disagree with the claim that
men are biologically-inclined (note: not -determined-) to be
aggressive. You're an anthropologist; are there -any-societies where
-when there's violence to be done - it is not overwhelmingly the task
of the males ? Note I'm not asking whether there are non-violent
societies. It seems to me that , in challenging previous
'culturalist' models of feminism, ecofeminism must accept the role of
differential sexual development in shaping gender behaviour ?
re: Darwin and creationism. The point was not that 'creationism'
should not be taught (eg in Religious Education, tho' I'd love to
scrap such nonsense too ... ), but that it should be put in biology
lessons. One outraged response from a biologist gives us some idea
what most of them think. Teaching goddess worship in biology lessons
would not be an obvious improvement ... though perhaps teaching
respect for, as well as understanding of, nature would be a good idea
(viz Brit National Curriculum biology, which has such a
stipulation).
So far no Americans have stepped forward to defend or even discuss
the fact that most of their compatriots believe in Adam and Eve.
Indeed, we saw from the DV posting that lots of people tried to tell
the poor woman that her victimisation by husband and state alike was
'God's Will' ! I can state categorically that most British Christians
(let alone others) would regard that as an insane claim, besides its
obvious and offensive immorality ! So come on, Yanks, let's hear from
you !! Please ...
Yours,
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thu Oct 10 17:47:02 1996
From: "G.GARRARD" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Organization: University of Wales Swansea
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 01:00:56 GMT0BST
Subject: Garden biodiversity
Dear ecofem,
As well as being a 'mouthy git', I'm an enthusiastic organic/wildlife
gardener. Our generalissimo, Ms Rixecker (of the Useful Postings),
forwarded an interesting item about Euro eco-groups. How about this
then: the EU in its wisdom (and miserable toadying to seed companies)
has made it an offence to supply un-registered, untested seeds, thus
scuppering the trade in rare and traditional varieties of fruit and
veg, an essential part of our national heritage/genepool, and not
less important for being domestic. There is now a system set up by
the Henry Doubleday Foundation toget round it. If there are any
ecofem gardeners (too bourgeois, peut-etre ?) out there, perhaps even
in the UK-like parts of the US, who would be interested in saving Old
Bastard potatoes, Cornish Aromatic apples or whatever, write to me
for details ...
Yours.
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thu Oct 10 18:09:54 1996
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 20:09:53 -0400
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: help
i would like to sign off this list....can i please receive those instructions
again...thanks...oh, i've really enjoyed the discussions...there's just too
much of it for me at this time...
katie m. ladd
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thu Oct 10 18:26:12 1996
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 19:20:19 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Grace J. Duerksen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: women and hunting
In-Reply-To: <v01510105ae811a164e0e@[203.59.25.210]>
this is called the EFE' PHILOSOPHY (the efe' tribe is a group of pygmies
in central africa) ....wow...
"if you give a piece of your heart to things that you own, you cannot love
people with all of your heart. you become the slaves of the things that
you own. we love and take care of people, not things. the negroes and
the white men think we are poor. let them think what they please! our
ancestors the men and women of the first ages, were rich and powerful.
they lived in great villages. they used wonderful tools. they worked
miracles. these things did not make them happy. happiness is the smile on
the face of your wife when you bring home the antelope. happiness is the
laughter of your children. happiness is the music of the harp and flute.
happiness is freedom. these are not things that you own -- they are
things you enjoy."
the efe' people were once "civilized." they went back to what was better.
will we ever be able to also?
