Miriam,
With all due respect, for your concerns and feelings are well
justified by history, I think that you may be overconcerned about an
interesting project to gather information on peoples thoughts on an
issue. I think we were asked in a very polite way as to whether or not we
wished to be quoted. She specifically asked for anyones concerns
regarding being quoted. I wholeheartedly agree that in the past, silence
has meant consent, and has been a longstanding problem in the rights of
women, but I hardly feel any oppression on this issue! (Given:I am not a
woman:-) I guess all I really wish to say is that someone is attempting to
do something good, and I don't see why we can't all be a little more
helpful. I can't see us really being used or decieved here. :) :-) :) :-)
Respectfully,
Noah
On Thu, 23 Feb 1995, Miriam Solomon wrote:
>
> I am a little concerned here about the ethics of this approach. I, for one,
> would like to be specifically asked permission to be quoted, and not quoted,
> *UNLESS* I give that permission. The way this request has been framed, it
> seems to assume that silence means consent. Is this not an old problem that
> women have struggled against for centuries? Indeed does it not answer your
> second question, below, of the inextricable links, in all fora, even
> feminist ones, between the personal and the political?
>
>
> Miriam Solomon | "There is knowing with the teeth
> Science and Technology Studies | as well as knowing with the tongue
> University of Wollongong | and knowing with the fingertips
> Wollongong | as well as knowing with words and
> NSW 2522 | with all the fine flickering
> Australia | hungers of the brain."
> Marge Piercy
> Fax: +61-42-213452
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thu Feb 23 20:50:01 MST 1995
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 1995 08:47:25 +0800
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Kylie Matthews)
Subject: Re: More on Ecofeminism and Spirituality
>I am an athiest. I do not believe that spirituality plays a part in my strong
>desire for environmental protection or my feminism. Are people not caring
>because they do not have a strong spiritual side?
> I view that spiritualism can play a part in one's political life, but
>then, having little spirituality does not mean one is not political or an
>ecofeminist.
>
>Bertina Miller
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I agree with bertina that spirituality is neither a necessary nor
sufficient condition for one to be a feminist or an environmentalist.
Plenty of Catholic priests would claim spirituality and they can hardly be
called feminist. Lest we forget what they did in the name of
spirituality/religion to indigenous populations all over the world. Lest
we forget that clitoradectomies are carried out in the name of
religion/spirituality. Religion has been a major tool of womens oppression
and the oppression of the poor and other minority groups.
i think its great if you feel spiritual about the earth and feminism but it
is personal, and i think we need to be careful not to allow a religion to
develop and become the centre of our focus. Focus on the task at hand -
liberating the environment from the hands of capitalists who seek to
destroy it; liberating women from the male-capitalist system that seeks to
keep them oppressed and obedient.
i welcome all people to join our struggle - all women and men, all
religions including athiests and agnostics, pagans and fundamentalists, so
long as the bottom line remains freeing the earth and her people.
kylie.
