Heil Hitler?

It would stand to reason, based on your letter. It's just a matter of time before Anti-Racist Action puts a crowbar (or something similar) into your face. We don't believe in ignoring people like you or holding "diversity rallies" on the other side of town. No.

1) We go where they go: Whenever fascists are organizing or active in public, we're there. We don't believe in ignoring them or staying away from them. Never let the nazis have the street!

2) We don't rely on the cops or courts to do our work for us: This doesn't mean we never go to court. But we must rely on ourselves to protect ourselves and stop the fascists.

3) Non-Sectarian defense of other Anti-Fascists: In ARA, we have lots of different groups and individuals. We don't agree about everything and we have a right to differ openly. But in this movement an attack on one is an attack on us all. We stand behind each other.

4) We support abortion rights and reproductive freedom. ARA intends to do the hard work necessary to build a broad, strong movement against racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, discrimination against the disabled, the oldest, the youngest and the most oppressed people. We want a classless society. WE INTEND TO WIN!

(A)

Do you understand that all American women aren't the way you depict? They aren't all humanoid Bratz. Go to an indie-rock show, or an independent film, or the area around a high-quality university, et cetera.

Cool chicks reject all of the girly, trashy stuff we're talking about here. I would understand if you were writing from the "Third World" (an outdated term, and, interestingly, you don't specify where you're talking about) and thought that all Western women were Britney Spears. You aren't, you've clearly lived here for a long while, and yet this image persists. Lots of American women (not enough) are closer to Regina Spektor than Britney Spears. That's the way to combat this sort of thing: present a positive alternative, not a regressive, prudish reaction.

Smallfox, you're quite right. Does anybody have any idea on how to convince people that the world isn't more dangerous?

Maddog, earlier you mentioned the racial disparity in discipline cases. I've read mentions of that before, but I've never read an exlanation. I don't quite understand it. Could you elaborate?

Don't blame various "cultural elitist" targets for this kind of thing. You should know perfectly well that, say, Ani DiFranco and Britney Spears seldom had an overlapping audience. The people who give and take Women's Studies courses aren't big fans of Bratz trash.

For the millionth time: is it really that hard to see that a great many American women reject the Madonna/Whore dichotomy? Even if you never watch TV or get online, just walk around town/campus/wherever!

I'm an atheist, in Dallas, not Portland. I'm also an anarchist, specifically an anarcho-syndicalist. By the way, "libertarian socialism" is not an oxymoron. That describes anarchism, and indeed the entire spectrum of the anti-authoritarian Left (democratic socialism, council communism, anarchism, et cetera.)

Why should we respect superstition? Why should religion get a free pass? I agree with Sam Harris's "conversational intolerance." If something is scientifically/archeologically/historically/logically incorrect, we should say so, relentlessly, *especially* if it's regarded as some kind of religious/spiritual truism. The nonsense in any and all religions should be mocked and ridiculed (cleverly) at every opportunity, to demonstrate their inherent pointlessness.

You use the "argument from religious experience" as evidence for the existence of your God. That's subjective. It isn't evidence. This is also part of the "God of the gaps" fallacy. Because you don't have an explanation at hand for these phenomena, you're inventing one.

Regarding the original article: There's a simple answer to this: Anti-Prom!! Nobody spends much money. There are lots of leather, spikes, color, boots, et cetera. It's held at wherever the local bands play all-ages shows, or any place that will do in a pinch. Lots of ska-punk and other good music. People dance, people party, people have a good time, with no pressure. Come alone, you won't be lonely.

I'm so tired of this red herring: "You always cry 'multi-culturalism' when Muslims do it..."

It isn't true, holaamigo. The Broadsheet writers/editors/whatever post articles about various sexist Islamic deeds here all the time, and then some of us always make sure to chime in appropriately. Yes, indeed, you must have missed it.

These things are creepy. People are so weird about sex. It's not that big of a deal! Sexual frustration can cause serious problems. Look what it's done to the Middle East (and to me!)

I hate this kind of thing as much as anybody here, but I hate the backlash even more. I'm talking about people like the religious fundamentalists who walk around wearing the bedsheets, convinced everyone else is a whore.

There's also an analogy to keep in mind: People like to complain about the tacky, trashy way girls dress. That's true enough, but remember that those clothes are for trash anyway. The cool chicks dress better.

Let's fight the real enemy.

I was in New York last week. I met with several people I know who left my car-centric hometown. They're all happy with not driving. The same is true for a friend who works for Google in San Francisco. "Cars are evil," she says.

Also, TexasP, are you trying to deny US imperialism? Or did you just disagree with Brighstar's diction?

Somebody mentioned all the Clinton and Obama stickers on SUVs. I get so tired of people thinking Democrats are even remotely on the Left.