I know this may seem paranoid, but I'm afraid of what it will mean for young women who have no choice but to menstruate in a beauty culture that already rejects natural breasts and encourages the removal of all pubic hair. I know too many men who are disgusted to their core by menstruation--just imagine what life will be like when a generation is raised believing that only "gross" girls bleed. Its scary to think how pathologized the female body already is; how terrible to imagine that something so essential may signify poor hygiene.

When I arrived at the Gulfport Mississipi airport this past March, I commented to the person who greeted me that Katrina had really done a number on it. She smiled and said, "It was pretty much like this before the hurricane." The terminal lacked dry wall, plastic sheeting served as construction dividers, seats were situated willy-nilly, and hallways were reduced to single person traffic. To make matters worst, security was absurd: I had to present my ticket and ID to three officers along a 20 foot path, including the guy on this side of the metal detector and his colleague standing on the other side (close enough to shake hands). Its pathetic how serious, puffed up, and drunk these guys were on their limited power. On a positive note, I got to see Wayne Newton trapse through in all of his Vegas glory.

This article puts to mind the story of the Hottentot Venus:

"Saarjite Baartman, a young Khosian woman from Southern Africa whose body was the main attraction at public spectacles in both England and France for over five years, is perhaps the most infamous case of a Khosian body on display. Baartman, who became known as the Hottentot Venus, was brought to Europe from Cape Town in 1810 by an English ship's surgeon who wished to publicly exhibit the woman's steatopygia, her enlarged buttocks. Her physique, particularly her steatopygic appendage, became the object of popular fascination when Baartman was exhibited naked in a cage at Piccadilly, England. When abolitionists mobilized to put an end Baartman's public display, she informed them that she participated in the spectacles of her own volition. She even shared in profits with her exhibitor."

Rather than comment on all the ways that the author fails to situate the big booty phenomenon in any sort of historical, medical, anthropological or even extra-cultural context, I'll just refer you to the rest of this article:

http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Exhibition.html)

Whatever Faludi wrote, whatever Bruce sang, Traister's review is a fine read. Why bitch about what I haven't read? I'll recommend the review to anyone.

Why is the call for a frank and open conversation about race in America automatically translated into an invitation to use the word "nigger"? How honest are we really being about the issue if all we ask for is the right to employ hateful pejoratives freely? To what purpose would any white person use the word (in the manner begged by Instapunk) if not to express more racism?

Obama has asked the country to talk about why it harbors feelings of anger, resentment and unfamiliarity between the races. As far as I can tell he did not call on us to return to the days when a white person can be openly racist without consequence.

germinal.

I (sorta) had with my 12th grade AP English Teacher:

Teacher: "Who doubts that (Joyce's) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is the finest best piece of literature, ever."

Me: "I do."

Teacher: "What!?! Are you crazy?"

Me: "No, I simply cannot relate to it."

Teacher: "What's not to relate to? This is a novel for the 'every man' It spoke to me on a very personal level!"

Me: "So you had a problem with premature ejaculation when you were a teen, too?"

(of course, I am paraphrasing liberally here)

Dear Joan,

Had this been the first "defense of Clinton" post on your blog I would be totally on board, but in all honesty, I've heard enough of your in-defense-of-hilary commentary for too long now. I get why people support Hilary and I completely appreciate why people support Obama. What I don't get is why you of all people can't take a more objective position in your editorials.

Enough already.

makes all the sense in the world when interpreted through this montage. Too bad neither political party can claim a monopoly on humanism.

As for Tucker Carlson and that guy that made the comment on the threat of PMS in the Oval Office...ugh. Evolve already!

Maybe its because I'm living in Mississippi. Maybe its because the progressives around here have only one goal in November: to destroy the many-headed hydra that is the neo-con presidency. But I really don't understand the dilemma here. This either/or perspective among SOME Clinton and Obama supporters is fundamentally incomprehensible.

Take a step back. Look at the big picture. Anyone who will vote McCain in November because Clinton was not named the Democratic nominee will be guilty of sacrificing future generations and our country to spite. And as a feminist--a living, breathing, thinking woman--I have a hard time working out how that is justifiable.

Obama does not have to woe me to get my vote in November.