Published on Thursday, March 8, 2007 by CommonDreams.org <http://www.commondreams.org>
The V-Word by Brigitte Schöen CROSS RIVER, N.Y. -- A Westchester, N.Y., public high school has suspended three 16-year-old girls for saying the word "vagina" during a reading from "The Vagina Monologues." John Jay High School Principal Richard Leprine said the girls were punished because they disobeyed orders not to say the word "vagina". No, don't worry, I don't intend to become some kind of expert re the treatment of reproductive organs in American literature or in American schools. I have actually been contemplating an article about the beauties of being an ex-super power for a while. But a couple of weeks ago "scrotum", now "vagina". What's next? When a friend sent me this piece last night, I winced - as probably all of you do. Makes you wonder. Particularly on International Women's Day!! We learn that for Mr Leprine, uttering the word "vagina" in public has to be avoided at all costs and punished - although I'd be curious to learn what exactly the play "The Vagina Monologues" was called instead at the John Jay High School in Westchester if "vagina" was not to be mentioned. "Elastic Muscular Tube Monologues"? Mr Leprine's own explanation for his move can be found on John Jay High School's homepage <http://jjhs.klschools.org/home.aspx> . His letter on the homepage is full of my pet phrases - whenever any scandal relating to any part of the body which might be used during sexual intercourse occurs in America, everybody's favorites are expressions like "the sensitivities of the community", "young children may be in attendance", "younger siblings, often elementary age, attend these types of events", "not to present specified material" - I guess he means vagina - "because of the composition of the audience". Here we go again. Protecting the innocence of America's children. Read the Full Article Here: http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0308-35.htm "Untainted" News on "Real" World Issues On 90.7 FM KPFK Or 98.7 FM Santa Barbara <blocked::http://www.kpfk.org/> http://www.kpfk.org/ <blocked::http://www.commondreams.org/> http://www.commondreams.org/ Ara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Great things are happening at Yahoo! Groups. See the new email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/lOt0.A/hOaOAA/yQLSAA/7gSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
