Where are the Femenists?

[Melanie_]

Its important to know where the BIGGEST injustices occur so that we can focus our attention to these FIRST...

Usually that's how problem solving goes...

I mean if child slavery goes on in togo and benin (as human rights watch reports it does) do we simply ignore it as "Injustice anywhere is still injustice, regardless of who perpetuates it" and "we all have blood on our hands"...

I think that adopting a relativistic attitude is pretty hypocritical in this instance.

Ah, I see. You are interested in becoming a global feminist activist, and want to know where the world's biggest injustices are, so you can get involved and work towards freedom for oppressed women and children. I salute you, and wait with baited breath to see the results of your crusade. Meanwhile, I'll just toddle along in my relativism and hypocrisy.

[Oleg Bach]

The feminists grew old and successful and have abandoned their sisters in need...they literally became what they hated - The are now men without a penis..and growing a lot of unwanted hair on their upper lips. You see it in the courts - Where aging feminist lawyers just use young girls to continue to make a lucrative trade in lies...People eventually don't give a shit - it does not matter if they are male or female - all have sold out to the devil so to speak..

[bloodyminded]

Feminists do speak out against such practices, but since they often convey a message that Muslim-haters don't wish to hear, they are ignored.

Malalai Joya, a young woman elected to the Afghan Parliament, speaks clearly and consistently against abuses towards women (and children; and the poor; and ethnic minorities). She is a strong believer in equal rights, and in democratic principles.

But she is almost entirely ignored here, because she opposes the war in Afghanistan. She is harsh critic of the allies' actions...very harsh.

So, here's a case with a Muslim feminist woman, and elected official, who shares Western liberal democratic values--but since she doesn't support the war, we'll ignore her.

We prefer the misogynistic and brutal theocratic warlords over the secular democrat. In fact, we much prefer them.

The point isn't about principles or values: it's about allies in our foreign policy. So, we like the bad, and listen to them; and we ignore those who agree with us on principles of democracy and women's rights and so on.

So the question isn't "where are the feminists." The question is "where are OUR principles and values"?

It's far wiser, if more difficult, to stare coldly at our own nationalist impulses than to criticize "feminists" for not speaking out against our official enemies to the degree that would make us feel happy and satisfied.

Edited December 22, 2009 by bloodyminded