CODEPINK

[Cliff Timmons]

Originally Posted by Locavore

I know some of the Code Pink women (their head quarters are near my house), and admire them very much.

Why do I have a feeling that they would beat me to death?

[Locavore]

Originally Posted by Cliff Timmons

Why do I have a feeling that they would beat me to death?

No, they detest violence. But they would insist on a heated debate, which might feel like being beaten to death!

Seriously though, is being anti-war anti-woman?

[bunkie]

yay for debates!:O)

anti-war=anti-woman...imo, no way!

[Locavore]

Originally Posted by bunkie

yay for debates!:O)

anti-war=anti-woman...imo, no way!

Exactly; there have often (if not always) been women behind the scenes of anti-war movements, but their voices have not always been heard directly. This is the case with many movements, from Black Power to Gay Pride (in the case of the former, imo it failed largely because the voices of Black women and mothers were not heard, leaving the impression that angry Black men were all there was to it, and in the case of the latter, lesbiens had to break out their own movement because their issues were not being reflected). The result, again imo, is that important perspectives have been lost or ignored.

Good for Code Pink for working to change this dynamic.

--M

[Cliff Timmons]

So, being anti-war means pro-woman?

[Locavore]

Originally Posted by Cliff Timmons

So, being anti-war means pro-woman?

Well, I could probably find a way to argue that point, but that's not exactly what I meant. The comment was in response to LaRae's suggestion that the Code Pink folks are behaving like men, and therefore look bad (I'm paraphrasing). My point was to question why vocal protests are interpreted as inherrently "behaving like men," and why it makes women look bad to engage in them.

--M

[uprooted_kentuckian]

M, I've been trying to stay out of this, but I just can't stand it. I don't doubt that you like the idea behind codepink, but you have a lot of respect for them? Why? I had great respect for Dr. King, he was a man of great character and he earned the respect of countless people. codepink, on the other hand, isn't gaining the respect of many people at all. Their idea of protest is to make as big a scene as possible. They show no respect for anyone elses opinion, because, in their eyes, only their way is correct.

I respected Dr. King and his cause.
I feel nothing but disdain for codepink.

They apparently subscribe to the same Constitutional ideals as Eric. You can say anything and do anything you want, to anyone, at any time, so long as you don't physically touch them.

IMO, they have marginalized themselves to the point of being caricatures.

I'm hiding under my desk now.

[Cliff Timmons]

<grin>

[LaRae]

Originally Posted by Locavore

Do you mean being brazen about their anti-war position? Bringing their protests to the highest levels (ie. in Condi's face)? Insisting that their opinions be taken into account by the higher-ups?

I would disagree that all of this makes them look like men, or that it makes them look bad per se. Do you feel that women should not raise their voice about the things they are passionate about in general, or only when it's political?

Anyone willing to exhibit passionate opposition to a politically charged subject, man or woman, risks "looking bad" to some members of the public regardless of their gender. When it's women doing it, I suppose it's easier to point to gender rolls as proof that one is out of bounds, as a method of shuting down the protest. However, I don't know of any all-male groups willing to do what Code Pink does, risking what they risk to get their message heard, so in my mind, their protests feel uniquely female in a way. I know you and I disagree on what counts as "uniquely female," so no need to argue about that. I know some of the Code Pink women (their head quarters are near my house), and admire them very much.

Well it should be obvious I think women should be able to have and voice opinions...hello I'm doing just that on a message board that is a public format.

It's generally how they go about doing things, not the things they say (well unless you talk about the radical ones). Discussion is one thing, 'passionate opposition' is another. That unfortunately turns into some women acting like raving idiots.

Historically there have been alot of men who protested various issues...perhaps these women need to take a page from the book of protestors like Ghandi and Dr Martin Luther King.

Exactly how does one protest in a 'uniquely female way'?


LaRae

[LaRae]

Originally Posted by Cliff Timmons

DANG!!
No one should have a memory like that.
It ain't right.

My husband agrees with you


LaRae