>Will Bason wrote:
>
>> Governments can to be considered "us" not "them".
>
>I think this statement can more comfortably be made by a man than a
>woman. Considering that it is only this past century or so that women in
>the west have been allowed to vote, own property, survive without a male
>benefactor, participate in life outside the home, and considering also
>that women are a long way from being equally represented in government,
>in academia, in business, do not receive equal pay for equal work,
>considering that women in many eastern countries are still bound and
>chained to a life a drudgery and abuse at the hands of their husbands, I
>think it is very much "us" versus "them" - not that I want to fuel a war
>between the sexes, per se, but as one is in progress currently, I don't
>think it behoves women to continue in a passive role.
>
>Or to put it another way: I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it
>any more!!!
>
In general, i think men might be worse about "us-ing and them-ing", or that
women might be better at a more inclusive point of view......
>> This is a much more
>> powerful place to change from.
>
>Or perhaps would be if women were adequately represented, and thus were
>able to influence the hopelessly unbalanced male structures, in all
>social spheres.
>
Women have the vote now. Evidently women are voting for a lot of men.
Women are the majority of voters now. Does this mean that this mess is
YOUR fault. No. What i mean is that if we come from an inclusive place
then we create less unnecessary resistance. Do you want change, or do you
want revenge?
>> The wish for economic expansion is the
>> wishes of all of us multiplied.
>
>Not my wishes, buddy.
I'm glad you consider me your buddy, and that you are content with your
economic and material situation.
>
>> Who of us is content? I think the war
>> against the patriarchy is really being fought inside of us, inside our
>>
>> heads, as we take responsibility for our own lives, grow up, and stop
>> looking to big daddy to help us or blaming him when things go wrong.
>
>Which "big Daddy" would that be, Will? Do you mean the government? And
>if so, the mere fact that "he" can be referred to as "big Daddy" is the
>problem. In fact whatever you mean by "big Daddy" - that's the problem.
>I agree that many members of society need to "grow up", and I put it to
>you, that the majority of these would be male.
I'm refering to the idea of patriarchy as Big Daddy. I think our religions
and government structures are patriarchial. Everybody needs to grow up in
this regard.
>
>A friend of mine has a favourite theory that what is lacking for men in
>modern society is an initiation ceremony that helps them to grow from
>boyhood into manhood. Childbirth serves this purpose for women, but men
>do not routinely go through a similar experience, (unless there's a war
>to go to, which is more or less the opposite of childbirth) which places
>them at the mercy of life, commits them to intense physical and
>emotional involvement. I think my friend has a point.
>
>Lee.
>
>--
>
Life is wonderful and sacred and offers ad hoc initation experience to
those who are ready. Childbirth is an initiation, for sure. Lots of men
who have taken their parental responsibilities as fathers in a family to
raise children might feel that this is an initiation too. Lots of women who
have never had children are wonderful, deep and mature beings.
Lee, i don't want to be a them. I am an ally. Treat me as an ally and not
an enemy and we will all be stronger for it.
SinCerely,
wil
*********************
Will Bason
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.swva.net/taonow/
..
