Letters to the Editor
btrader
Published Letters: 149 Editor's Choice: 4
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@Tina
[Read the article: Strangers on a train ... under arrest?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"it's not your call to say what it takes for a woman to feel safe or be safe."
Thank you for pointing out that I have no business doing what I haven't done.
For whatever it's worth, and I'm assuming it's very little at this point, I consider myself a feminist. My frustrations with the movement, particularly with the broadsheet variety, is the absence of coherent vision, backed with logical and intellectually sound and consistent arguments. Unfortunately, the standards by which we gauge the "issues" as posted on this blog are ever changing and subject to the whim of few.
Even infinitesimal diversions from the "party line" are branded as complete disagreement and affronts, which is rarely the case. Selective accountability and standards only serves to ostracize those who would otherwise enlist in a heartbeat. Furthermore, the "discussions" frequently devolve into farce, which is sometimes amusing, but usually just frustrating as there are real consequences to turning off more and more people to the cause. While hypocritical and hyperbolic statements, contradictory arguments, and falsehoods are rightly lambasted when they come from "the misogynists," very similar tactics are greeted with a chorus of "you go girl" when they come from the broadsheeters.
This is why I'm now convinced, as I posted on another thread, that brightstar has to be on the broadsheet payroll, as his more "out there" comments are frequently used to retroactively justify an argument that was dubious from the get go.
I don't know where you live, but if the weather's anything like it is here, we may both be best served taking a deep breath and taking a two minute walk outside. Not that I'm telling you how to live your life or anything.....hope that was clear.
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Haven't read the letters, and someone may have articulated this but....
[Read the article: Feminism is the new funny]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"[working girl] Produced at a time when Hollywood was wallowing in feminist backlash, it makes sure that Sigourney Weaver's wealthy, ambitious, chilly villain of a boss, Katherine Parker, is punished for her emasculating power when Harrison Ford leaves her for the softer, more feminine Melanie Griffith. "Working Girl's" message was clear: Truly dedicated career women could have power, but they could not have happy lives."
This is a distorted view of the movie I saw. Ultiamtely, Harrison Ford leaves Sigourney Weaver when Melanie Griffith asserts herself and demonstrates that Weaver stole and plagiarized her ideas and words. At which point the burgeoning career woman played by Griffith not only achieves greater power, but happiness as well. At least that's how I saw it. Guess I've just been brainwashed by the patriarchy....
Can't comment on "Baby Mama" as I've yet to see it.....but I think Tina Fey is brilliant.
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No Pain No Gain, My Take
[Read the article: Sweatin' to the arcade oldies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You don't need a DDR to get a dance workout....all you need is a surface to stand on. I was going to add music, but even that is optional (but many of us find it helpful).
As for the whole we're not lazy, exercise just isn't fun argument...it's a little incomplete in my opinion. If one is genuinely interested in improving his fitness level, I'd like to assume that person would pro actively seek out and investigate new forms of exercise. I hear there's this thing called the internet, and it's chock full of information, some of it's garbage, no doubt, but some of it is legit.
If you're prepared to devote 30 minutes to playing DDR, why not find a friend, and take a thirty minute walk while having a conversation? You could even walk for a longer period of time. Also, when starting a new fitness regimen, it's often a good idea to enlist a partner in crime, so to speak, so that you can both motivate each other.
For very sedentary people, no matter how "relaxed" their initial foray into fitness is, there's going to be some "pain" at the beginning....this passes with time. Incidentally, if and when you find fitness activities you consider fun, you may actually be shocked to learn that you start to push yourself harder and harder, actually seeking out more of the aforementioned "pain." [for the record, I'm not advocating blowing out knees, breaking bones, or incurring serious or minor injury, the "pain" I'm talking about is fatigue and muscle soreness]
Mental pain and emotional task-based misery is an entirely different issue. And, yeah, it's kinda up to everyone on an individual level to stop being lazy, and find an activity they enjoy.
No Pain, No Gain, as far as I'm concerned means, you should be generating a sweat and elevating your heart rate. Fun, sweat, and an elevated heart rate are not mutually exclusive.....exhibit A: Consensual sex.
Also, I really liked a few of the posts I read before composing this letter. Hopefully we've encourage/helped someone to be more active...this is a good thing. [Also, wrt fitness, it's not a numbers thing....please don't obsess over your weight on any given day, as there are countless variables that impact this. When starting out, try to concentrate on how you feel and your energy level....you may, *gasp* gain weight initially as you put on more muscle, which is denser than fat, this is a good thing and will boost your metabolic rate in the long run. Also, ladies, do not be averse to putting on muscle, you're not going to start looking like Lou Ferrigno or Arnold Schwarzenegger, unless you have very similar genes, take steroids and/or have an affinity for green body paint]