Free Speech...it works both ways...

I'm writing this post because of the recent events that occurred at University California San Diego. Follow this link to read about the off-campus "Compton Cookout" a group of fraternity students planned. The idea of the cookout was to dress "ghetto."

Here is an appalling excerpt from the event description and the dress code:

For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks -- Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes -- they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red.

...The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these "respectable" qualities throughout the day.

Disgusting, I know. The reclaiming of degrading epithets may for some help take the power away from them, but throwing words around like ghetto, bitch, nigga, or countless others keeps these words in daily use and sends the message out that they are ok to say at all. And it gets even worse. Because this event was visible to the public via facebook, there was a large student reaction on campus. After this reaction, even more racially charged instances of hatred occurred:

Days after the cookout, the editor of the Koala, a campus publication known for mocking Muslims, Latinos and Asians, appeared on the university's student-run TV station to defend the event. While on the air, he referred to offended black classmates as "ungrateful niggers." The following day, a sign with the words "Compton Lynching" was found at the TV station. And on Thursday, a noose was hung in the Geisel Library.

Follow this link for the full article.

Hundred of students held a peace march across campus demanding the administration step in and take disciplinary action against the fraternity and the publication editor. The campus atmosphere has grown thick with tension as the issue of "free speech" comes to the forefront of the debate.

Now, I am no lawyer, so I really have no idea if the incidents have crossed the legal lines of free speech. I am a student on a college campus however. And sometimes I see these types of behaviors, slurs, and epithets practiced in my campus community. While the administration can reiterate the college's ideals and hold as many diversity workshops as they wish, cultural change must come from the students themselves. Yes there are hateful, ignorant people in all spaces, but there will always be those people.

OUR VOICES NEED TO BE LOUDER THAN THEIRS!!!

I am so proud of the students and faculty at UCSD for using their voice to send the right message:



The age of Obama is not some fantasy post-racial America. If anything, having a president of color has intensified race tensions as fears of reverse-racism arise. The racial elephants in the room reveal themselves as soon as racist individuals feel that the people around them will have similar views. This is not about black versus white, this is about people committed to human equality and the ending of all oppression versus people who would rather perpetuate hate and ignorance. Allies can and should be found across all lines of diversity.

And yes there are those in the middle, the ambivalent. In fact, the ambivalent are probably the majority of students on campus. They are those who may or may not have an opinion either way but don't feel motivated to do anything about it. Those are the students these protests need to be aimed towards! Hate can be a powerful force, but love and dedication will prevail every time. "Your silence will not protect you," so don't ever be afraid to use your voice!

Sarah Palin is NOT a feminist

Meet Bay Buchanan:



Bay seems to think that Sarah Palin is a feminist in "its truest form." Now, I could sit here and go over all the reasons why Sarah Palin is NOT a feminist, but instead I have a question:

What does feminism mean to you?

Part of feminism, to me at least, is about all people having the opportunity, knowledge, and the resources to make non-pressured choices. It's fine that Sarah chose to, and had the privilege to be able to, raise a family and maintain a political career. The fact that she uses that career to take away other women's ability to make their own reproductive choices is NOT feminist.

What do you think? Is Sarah Palin a feminist?

Westboro Baptists take on Gaga...

For those of you are not familiar with the Westboro Baptists, they are the "Christian"-hate group (kind of oxymoronic?) consisting mostly of one family, the Phelps. They are unpopular with most people regardless of any religious affiliation. This is probably due to the fact that they protest the funerals of soldiers who have died in Iraq because they are guilty of "defending a country that is accepting of fags." They are also the people behind the website godhatesfags.com. Find out more about these lunatics here.

Apparently, they also REALLLLLLY hate Lady Gaga.

So...not that anyone really takes the Westboro Baptists all that seriously, but this kind of crap really can't be helpful in the "take us seriously" department...




Awful...

TRANSPHOBIA ALERT!

I hate to admit that I check Perez Hilton, but occasionally it happens. Most of what he says is vile and unnecessary, but he does keep up with a lot of queer issues. He recently posted a blog about "Another Pregnant Man!" His post was pretty standard, but the comments were disturbing. Follow this link to read the full post and comment section, but here are a few gems:


Honestly, ignorance very rarely surprises me anymore, but every once in a while I get slapped in the face with just how awful and misinformed people can be. When it comes to racist commenting on sites like youtube, it is basically a given that people wouldn't repeat in real life what they say during anonymous posting. However, I hear transphobic comments made all of the time, including in supposed queer-affirmative spaces. The commenter who was for gay rights but not the rights of trans people especially angered me. I just don't understand why we don't get it yet. Oppressed peoples will continue to be as such until all minorities are free from oppression. Instead of focusing on the differences between us, we should be focusing on the universal experiences of being treated as anything less than what we all are...HUMAN.

Dear Best Friend (and other skeptics)

You are a feminist. As much as you try to hide it, deny it, or fight against it...you are definitely a feminist. You may be someone who thinks that all feminists are angry, man-hating, ball-breaking, bra-burning, flannel-wearing, granola-eating, idealist complaining lesbians. Well you're wrong. Sure there are some feminists that any number of things I listed, but not all, not that any of those things are all that bad.

You want to meet a different kind of feminist, look in the mirror.

Don't believe me, here's a checklist for you:

You think all people should be given equal rights
You think racism is wrong
You think women should have the right to make their own decisions
You love the gays (like lady gaga loves the gays)
You love lady gaga
You think all people have the right to vote
You think the government is in need of a serious overhaul so that it actually works
You think birth control is awesome
You think condoms are super useful
You believe women have the right to freedom of speech too
You don't want to be stuck doing all of the cleaning, cooking, and child rearing
You know that women have the right to say no to sex
You like wearing pants every once in a while
You are upset when women starve themselves to fit an unrealistic standard of thin
You get pissed when people assume you can't drive just because you have a vagina
You have a vagina!
You think women should be able to choose to wait or not wait for marriage to have sex
You enjoy sex (and you're not afraid to tell people that)
You think women can be great chefs, doctors, or fashion designers...especially considering traditionally in the home women did the cooking, the bandaging, and the sewing!
You think women should have the choice to wear pink or blue (or rainbow)
You think a woman should be president one day
You think people should never go through domestic violence
You don't enjoy being stereotyped because of your appearance, religion, class, race, ethnicity, age, ability...etc.
If you believe in equality of the sexes instead of one above the others
cough...(your name is Jenn)...cough
You are a feminist if you believe everyone has the right to make their own choices!

Wear flannel or an apron...Wear a pink dress or blue jeans...identify as a feminist or continue to claim you could never be one of "those bitches"...

But you can bet your bottom dollar you owe all of these choices, these choices that seem like no-brainers today, to the work of some feminist from the past. So at the very least, say thanks!

I Love my Job...

Gross...

"Your woman"...please...she is her own woman, with her own mind, and the capability to make her own decisions about her own health.

Good health is great...but come on...this is just freaking creepy

Hey, look what I found...

Some more racist/violent/highly offensive Obama protest signs. Are you surprised?...Sadly, I'm not surprised at all.

One sign that I didn't include on here read

"No matter what this sign reads, you're going to call it racist."

Can these possibly be interpreted any other way? Please enlighten me if you see them as anything but hateful filth.

"Fun times in Cleveland today....Still Cleveland"

(inside joke for my coworkers, please disregard)

Happy Holidays...

This post is really intended to just extend a happy holiday to everyone! Being a feminist, I thought I would take this opportunity to just deconstruct a classic Christmas song. I'm not sure if you have taken the time to actually listen to the lyrics of "Baby, it's Cold Outside," but you should...

Dear Dean Martin,

She said NO! Have you ever heard of a little thing called consent?

No? Well, getting a woman drunk and then bombarding her with tons of pressure to stay the night is NOT CONSENT. One of my favorite quotes is "The opposite of no is not yes, it's enthusiasm." People should not have to beg and plead with their partners until they finally just "give in." "Maybe" means no, silence means no, "yes" while intoxicated means no, and no doesn't mean "just ask me until I finally say yes."

In case you missed any of the lyrics...here are just a few of the realllly bad ones

Well, maybe just a half a drink more (Put some music on while I pour)

The neighbors might think (Baby, it’s bad out there)
Say, what’s in this drink (No cabs to be had out there)
I wish I knew how (Your eyes are like starlight now)
To break this spell (I’ll take your hat, your hair looks swell)

I oughtta say no, no, no sir (You mind if I move in closer)
At least I’m gonna say that I tried (And what’s the sense in hurting my pride)
I really can’t stay (Oh baby, don’t hold out)

I simply must go (It’s cold outside)
The answer is no (Baby, it’s cold outside)

My sister will be suspicious (Your lips look delicious)
My brother will be there at the door (I ain’t worried about you brother)
My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious (That ol’ biddy, she ain’t gonna bother me)
Well maybe just a cigarette more (You don’t need no cigarette, it’s smokin’ plenty up in here)

I’ve got to get home (Baby, you’ll freeze out there)
Say, lend me a comb (It’s up to your knees out there)
You’ve really been grand (I thrill when you touch my hand)
Oh, but don’t you see (How can you do this thing to me)

Happy holidays!

Dove....

While I appreciate the real beauty campaign of Dove, I think they need to be called out on their hypocrisy. The following video is an example of how great Dove can be:



However Axe and Dove are owned by the same company...



Or how about...



Dove easily filled the missing niche of a positive body image company, but that doesn't mean they stay true to their own message...Unilever is also the company that markets skin bleaching cream, "fair and lovely," to women of color. We are very easily impressed when a company speaks out against the practices of mainstream media, but if they're only doing it to garner more customers, they are no better than the messages they fight against.