I like some of the thought provoking blogs I find here on Broadsheet. I generally have this opinion when the blog roughly follows this format: 1) presentation of a gender/sexuality issue in modern society 2) blogger describes her (I think they're all women writing for this) thoughts, opinions, feelings about that issue 3) THEN blogger writes of some other ideas about the issue ... perhaps even the opposite point of view. I consider this type of opinion sharing ... or shaping ... to be intelligent, mature, respectful, and fun to read. I don't always agree with the ideas of (what seems like) "pure feminism" aspects of the readership here ... and I also don't agree with the (almost always anonymous) anti-Broadsheet contingent. I think of myself as a humanist more than a feminist ... but I am also not a woman ... so I read this to challenge my assumptions around certain things, and to get out of my own sense of "what is right" by attempting to listen to others thoughts. I also like to share my thoughts and opinions, and try to do so in a grounded and kind ... but direct ... way.

I think thee are likely many folks here who have the same intention that I have. And ... there also seems to be some who might be (perhaps) more rigid or angrier than I about certain things. It's my experience that anger, rigidity, not being open to others (perhaps opposing) opinions turn a healthy debate into a generally unproductive argument … or playground name-calling. When arguing occurs, people tend to stop listening to each other. But, that's just my opinion. I think it takes maturity, experience in the world, and the ability to self-soothe around one's reactivity. Most people know how to bark at each other ... but with work, it can be much more "helpful" to engage one's passions and opinions using a style that actually facilitates understanding, and sometimes common ground.

I've written posts that allude to my next point, but I want to make it more directly here. And this point is directly this: I believe Ms. Price does more to hinder (what I will assume are) her feminist agenda (and having an agenda is totally fine with me ... this is named "Broadsheet" after all) because of how she chooses to communicate this agenda. I don’t experience other writers of this blog to have this same issue. I bring this up, because this is abundantly more interesting to me than the actual content of this post. I could provide quotes, etc., etc. to make my point ... but I would rather just say that my impression of Ms. Price's writing is that it is often inflammatory in some way ... I feel, even if couched in humor like today, that she is often picking a fight ... in this case asking the "enthusiastic" commenters to comment in such a way that is unhelpful (in my opinion) due to it's reactivity. So, I continue to invite Ms. Price to examine her personal issues around these topics and to invite a helpful dialogue. Or perhaps she, or the editors, might consider her particular style being better suited elsewhere. Or, perhaps I have the wrong impression about the point of this blog.

I invite the thoughts of others.

I had a boss give me this amazing advice about 2 years ago. This was working at a children's mental health non-profit. This boss was the Clinical Director of the organization, and a licensed psychotherapist. He told me this because I told him, when I was asked directly for my opinion of how well a subordinate of his ... but a superior to me ... was doing in her job. I told him I thought she wasn't competent to do the job that she has, or the jobs that report to her. That line was his response. I quit the place, and felt good about it. I learned that months later "someone" (not me) had somehow gotten the salaries of the top administrators of the non-profit & passed them around like Jerry Maguire in everyone's mailbox. This boss was pulling in $150k ... which is a very high figure for a masters-level therapist with 10-15 years experience. I realized that this boss understood that he had a candy situation, and his primary purpose in that job was to make sure (1) he looked good and was never blamed for something bad, and (2) his bosses thought well of him & were happy. Lying, manipulating, deceiving ... all those little white untruths to spin a story to protect himself ... and big ones ... were easily rationalized away. His focus had about zero to do with helping a troubled child. I found him repugnant ... and this is the same scenario for these "reporters" who describe. It is very sad.

this is one of those "crank call" letter writers, methinks. smells like a dupe to me, cary.

Obama's press release:

I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country. I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division.

This is absurd. Obama is seeking to be elected as a collaborator and a person who can facilitate change by engaging with those who views he doesn't share.