tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.comments2013-09-04T18:49:49.490-07:00Elle FuryElle Furyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-28973916456387978812013-09-04T18:49:49.490-07:002013-09-04T18:49:49.490-07:00Newsflash: Masochists don't perceive what happ...Newsflash: Masochists don't perceive what happens to them as harm... thus your entire argument is flawed and meaningless. When taking the high road and adopting a holier than thou stance, it helps to actually know what you're talking about. The Midnight Mothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13645518070412970955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-91569693817547775102013-07-27T21:58:29.259-07:002013-07-27T21:58:29.259-07:00Okay, just realized I overlooked the entire part o...Okay, just realized I overlooked the entire part of the post that says it is indeed satire. d'oh! Well played.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-53411742023170416072013-07-27T21:20:40.898-07:002013-07-27T21:20:40.898-07:00I'm finding it hard to believe that Kinka'...I'm finding it hard to believe that Kinka's letter is not satire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-57993857638094419122013-06-01T06:51:33.136-07:002013-06-01T06:51:33.136-07:00Also, read this article: http://toomuchtosayformys...Also, read this article: http://toomuchtosayformyself.com/2009/02/05/me-me-me/Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-15958638188394792902013-05-30T17:22:58.562-07:002013-05-30T17:22:58.562-07:00Dude, did you read my post at all?
The fact that...Dude, did you read my post at all? <br /><br />The fact that some people CHOOSE to engage in sexual activities that physically and emotionally HARM themselves and others is all the more reason that this CHOICE should be analyzed and critiqued. Have you ever stopped to wonder WHERE the desire to physically and emotionally harm others and be harmed by others COMES FROM? Sure, people have the right to engage in BDSM, but I also have THE RIGHT to analyze and critique this behaviour as I see it as being both harmful to the well-being of individual women and women as a class! Sorry, but the "everything is a-okay because I choose my choice" arguments do not fly here. Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-17164748531174231022013-05-19T20:41:46.782-07:002013-05-19T20:41:46.782-07:00It is all about what that person likes. If that pe...It is all about what that person likes. If that person likes to be tied up for sexual excitement then that is their right. If it is an act between to consenting adults then what they do in their own bedroom is their businessAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08212630124767121953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-78660044824738184072013-04-15T14:32:02.017-07:002013-04-15T14:32:02.017-07:00Do you have a tumblr/mind if i post some pictures ...Do you have a tumblr/mind if i post some pictures while crediting you, of course?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-50281689142037053732013-02-28T10:40:22.128-08:002013-02-28T10:40:22.128-08:00Yeah, I know. The arguments used to defend BDSM a...Yeah, I know. The arguments used to defend BDSM are stupid and so this stupidity needs to be exposed.Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-1143125510165201252013-02-24T19:17:59.784-08:002013-02-24T19:17:59.784-08:00SO much stupid in one letter.... I can't....&q...SO much stupid in one letter.... I can't...."Racism affects MEN too, Its in BDSMers genes, affecting the way their brains are shaped"...Mahogany_kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03330341495050540150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-91136493732974638752013-01-21T15:02:11.066-08:002013-01-21T15:02:11.066-08:00Hi David,
Thanks for your comment.
It is hard to...Hi David,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment.<br /><br />It is hard to know what exactly we should do, but I have a few ideas.<br /><br />First of all, I think we (teachers and our unions) need to re-frame the issue, which really is not about teachers and the education system. We are the latest victims of the government's attack on the working and middle classes and we need this to be the central focus of all our discussions with the public. Let's get off the defensive and on the offensive. We should not be letting the government shape the discourse. <br />Ultimately, unions need to start seeing themselves not just as representatives of their members, but of all working and middle class people. To be honest, I think their long-term survival depends on it. The following article explains why in more detail: http://www.rabble.ca/news/2012/06/defeat-wisconsin-lessons-us-labour-movement<br /><br />I think we can also get a lot of inspiration from the Idle No More movement that is happening in Canada right now. All unions should be supporting it and can learn from the strategies being utilized there. Some of their activists are organizing workshops and teach-ins in order to explain to the public why they are unhappy. We could be doing the same! Since we are no longer running extracurricular activities, we can use this time to team up with other unions and organize events outside of school in which we invite students and parents to come and learn more about the history of and current issues in the labour movement. We could even come up and showcase an alternative budget in which we demonstrate that the cuts to education and other social programs are completely unnecessary. <br /><br />Lastly, if we want to see REAL change, we cannot be afraid to get more radical. Pretty much all progressive social movements that happened in history and were SUCCESSFUL included acts of civil disobedience. When Broten announced she was going to use Bill 115 to impose a contract on us, I think we should have gone on strike anyway and then refused to pay the fine. What is the government going to do? Throw us all in jail? If they did, then we would expose them for the fascists that they really are! <br /><br />We also need to organize more serious protests and demonstrations. I'm sorry but going out for an hour outside an MPP's office who isn't even there is completely useless. Can the symbolism and let's see some real action. It's time to start occupying government buildings, MPP's offices until they give us back what many early labour rights activists died for in previous centuries: our right to unionize and collectively bargain! <br /><br />I will end with one of my favourite quotes from Tony Benn http://www.tonybenn.com/ :<br /><br />"There is never a final victory for democracy. It’s always a struggle – in every generation. And you have to take up the cause time and time and time again."<br /><br />In solidarity,<br /><br />Elle<br />Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-31412871420035207362013-01-16T19:03:37.228-08:002013-01-16T19:03:37.228-08:00Nice one Elle. I will post a link on my teacher pr...Nice one Elle. I will post a link on my teacher protest blog. My only question to your critique of the political-economic system is: what do we do then? Are we beat no matter what?<br /><br />David at http://www.tsu3rdvp.blogspot.com<br /><br />Solidarity!Kulture Kult Inkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06068417179350455073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-17768009980949938152013-01-05T10:51:18.015-08:002013-01-05T10:51:18.015-08:00Elle says:
I am critiquing religion as a form o...Elle says: <br /><br />I am critiquing religion as a form of SYSTEMATIC oppression of women and pointing out that the fundamental principles of feminism (the liberation of women from all forms of male domination) is directly opposed to the fundamental beliefs of Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc. All of them are ENTIRELY CENTRED around male gods and prophets. You cannot reinterpret this, so how can these religions ever be feminist? It’s like being an environmental capitalist. Doesn’t work because one of the fundamental principles of capitalism is the belief in infinite growth and this is not possible on a planet with finite resources. So I would say religious feminists are like individuals who think they are being environmentally friendly because they buy “green” products. They may have good intentions, but the reality is, the only way to truly improve the environment is to change the current economic SYSTEM. In a truly environmentally sustainable world, capitalism would not exist. In a truly feminist world, all major world religions would not exist.<br />Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-29515431695962006692013-01-05T10:50:11.458-08:002013-01-05T10:50:11.458-08:00Interesting post. I would think twice before label...Interesting post. I would think twice before labeling feminists who see religion as liberating as irrational or anti-feminist. In my experience (although I am not an Islamic feminist) it seems that many women have been able to re-interpret religious texts from a feminist perspective. Is this bullshit? Not so sure. Also not so sure I want to be the one passing that judgement.<br /><br />“Any system of belief that legitimizes the inferiority of women, discourages critical thinking, and promotes absolute submission to authority does harm and is anti-feminist.”<br /><br />This blatant generalization is problematic. So if a feminist says that she does not practice religion in the way you describe, then how would you approach her? She’ the abused housewife who can’t see past her abuse?<br />Reply Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-339141299982937322013-01-05T10:49:44.785-08:002013-01-05T10:49:44.785-08:00I agree that there are many women in the west who ...I agree that there are many women in the west who will critique aspects of patriarchy in other cultures yet fail to see its manifestations in their own. However, patriarchy exists everywhere and it comes in many different forms. I personally do not see how it is possible to reconcile the principles of feminism with any of the major world religions as they are products of and continue to promote the ideas, values and norms of patriarchy. http://ellefury.blogspot.nl/2012/09/god-why-women-should-leave-him.htmlElle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-200839307371202092013-01-05T10:49:18.470-08:002013-01-05T10:49:18.470-08:00Hi Elle,
Thanks for your comment!
As you’ve poin...Hi Elle,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment!<br /><br />As you’ve pointed out, there are a lot of issues with the ‘choice’ approach to feminism. I am speaking from my positionality as a woman of colour, in which my choices are always seen as ‘double consciousness’ while the choices white women make are seen as ‘real choices.’ For this reason, I tend to over-emphasize the question of choice, because I have too often experienced being told that brown women don’t make choices and white women do. So I don’t EVER want to be in the position of telling women that their choice is wrong and mine is right.<br />That said, I realize that there are things, like domestic violence, that are blatantly anti-feminist. There are other things that are not so clearly “right” or “wrong” and I am still struggling with how to approach that, and with who gets to decide what is feminist and what isn’t. We really don’t want to fall back into the trap of white/western women making those decisions for everyone else.<br /><br />I completely agree that there is social pressure to veil in Muslim countries, just as there is social pressure to look a certain way in non-Muslim countries. My point is that Muslim women are ALWAYS seen as being forced (whether by men or through society) whereas werstern women are rarely seen that way.<br /><br />Re. the last point – I wasn’t trying to equate the two and say they are equal. I was trying to point out that feminists need to be careful when we start imposing boundaries and excluding women, because we already made those mistakes. For example, can a woman be a feminist and be religious? I’ve seen many liberal and radical fems say NO. So they end up excluding any woman who identifies with a religion. I personally see that as problematic.<br />Reply Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-45690302228607837912013-01-05T10:48:17.123-08:002013-01-05T10:48:17.123-08:00I am copying and pasting below an exchange I had w...I am copying and pasting below an exchange I had with another blogger on her site about this post as I think it further adds to the discussion. Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.com