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REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS
After Saying ‘Vagina,’ a Woman Legislator is Banned From Speaking on House Floor
Sunday, June 17, 2012 5:25 AM
NIKI2
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote:After offending Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas by using the offensively medically accurate word "vagina" in an impassioned floor speech opposing Michigan's draconian new abortion law, State Representative Lisa Brown was banned indefinitely from speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives. Her colleague Barb Byrum, another passionate pro-choice elected official, was also served with an indefinite Shut The Fuck Up order from the the male-lead body. Apparently, during Michigan's War on Women, ladies aren't even allowed to serve in combat. Byrum and Brown joined several of their female colleagues in voicing their vehement opposition to Michigan's anti-abortion bill, a steaming pile of misogyny that would criminalize all abortions after 20 weeks' gestation in all cases (so, if you had some terribly severe birth defects, too bad, sister — you carry that dead baby until that dead baby decides to be born) and contains no exceptions for the woman's health. It also straps abortion providing facilities with new burdens designed solely to make it a pain in the ass for them to operate. As you might expect, debate's been heated. Hundreds of women have flooded the capitol to protest the bill's careless fast tracking, ham-fisted paternalism, and disingenuous concern mongering. Yesterday, before the bill was passed by the House, several female state representatives stood up to voice their opposition to the proposal. And two of them got a little too uppity for the male Speaker's taste. Want to get mad? Of course you do. Anger is the only way you know how to feel feelings anymore. Read on; it gets worse. Rather than be a manly man and tell the women to their face that they had upset the Speaker, Bolger acted like a mincing, spineless ninny and relayed the women's speaking ban through their party's House leader. He gave no explanation as to why the women were banned, so both are left guessing (and fuming) today. Byrum's silencing is a little more cut and dry than Brown's; she spoke out of turn (after trying, unsuccessfully, to be recognized to speak), which is technically a violation of House rules, which means that the Speaker was within his rights to reprimand her. But legislators speak out of turn fairly regularly, and only rarely are they told to sit down and shut up, officially. I spoke with Rep. Lisa Brown, who was on the floor of the Michigan State House when we talked (because it's not like she was allowed to participate in any debates today, right!? Cry.). She's confused about what she did to offend the Man-Gods who want to run Michigan's uteruses, but she's got a couple of theories. During yesterday's speech, she mentioned her Jewish faith, which she thought might have irked Republicans. But more plausible is the explanation that it was her use of the medically accurate, anatomically correct word "vagina" during the debate ("I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.") grossed her male colleagues out. "What word should I have said?" she asked. Apparently, "vagina" is another v-word that Must Not Be Named. Like Voldemort. Brown's looking into her post-ban legal options, as her inability to speak on the floor of the House means that her constituents are effectively unable to have their Representative weigh in. Both women have been told (through their party leader because Michigan Republicans are trying to break the douchebaggery land speed record) that the ban is indefinite. Women have been absent from the debate around a bill that seeks to govern their bodies from Day 1. During committee, no pro-choice women were allowed to speak. Planned Parenthood was barred from testifying. And now this — two pro-choice female legislators all-out banned from voicing an opinion on the state's role in their anatomy. This is un-fucking-believable, and inexcusable. To borrow a phrase from my grandmother, Michigan Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. Let this be a lesson to you, women: shut up and let men do all the deciding about your bodies. http://jezebel.com/5918493/female-legislator-who-dared-say-vagina-during-abortion-debate-banned-from-speaking-on-house-floor other words "we're not gonna tell you when you can talk again"! If you don't like "war on women", how about "oppression of women"? Wanna bet this wouldn't have happened if they were MALE? I would. What's happening these days really gets my goat. I thought we had achieved at least SOME equality, but it seems in our government, not even slightly. The "good old boy" network is still going strong! And how the GOP Reps. explained it:Quote:Nonsensical GOP Spokesperson Says Female Legislator Was Banned for Supposed Rape Metaphors, Not ‘Vagina’ In short: Brown bravely used the word "vagina" while discussing vaginas. Here's the now infamous line that got her indefinitely barred from speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives: "I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no." After Brown's puritanical punishment made national headlines, scored her a spot on The Rachel Maddow Show and got #vagina trending on Twitter, some Republicans are claiming that it wasn't actually the word "vagina" that did Brown in. "My concern was the decorum of the House, not of anything she said," Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas, R-Midland, who ultimately decided to ban Brown, told The Detroit News. "I ask all members to maintain a decorum of the House, and I felt it went too far yesterday," he said. "It has nothing to do with the word vagina," House GOP spokesman Ari Adler elaborated. Phew, what a relief! But what, pray tell, did it have to do with then? Adler said the House took offense when Brown said "no means no" because it implied she was comparing abortion legislation to rape. And if there's one thing Republicans hate more than the right to choose, it's metaphor. Other Republican representatives were so horrified by the v-word that they didn't even care about pretending otherwise to make themselves look slightly less dickish. "What she said was offensive," said state Rep. Mike Callton, [i[R-Nashville, hands at the ready to cover his ears lest a nearby woman utter the correct term for a part of her anatomy. "It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company," he said. What's more offensive to women: using the word "vagina" while talking about medical procedures that involve vaginas, or allowing a group of pearl-clutchy men who are so disgusted by ladyparts that they can't even talk about them in public to dictate what women should do with their own bodies? Fuck it, let's just call the vagina what it really is: a baby receptacle. Brown told The Detroit News that the incident has helped her raise campaign donations, so at least there's some hope left in this world. http://jezebel.com/5918685/nonsensical-gop-spokesperson-says-female-legislator-was-banned-for-supposed-rape-metaphors-not-vagina only REPUBLICAN lawmakers are such babies that the word makes them cringe; tho' they apparently have no problem whatsoever trying to CONTROL our viganas! Dunno if this for real or is satire, but it's almost amusing. Almost.Quote:25 Republican-Approved Ways to Say ‘Vagina’ Without Offending Political Pussies Here are 50 ways that Michigan women can use to refer to their "special husband zone" around men who find medically accurate words for women's anatomy offensive, and suggested ways to use them in a sentence. 1. Love cave Honey, can you go buy me some tampons at the store? My love cave is bleeding. 2. Baby chute When I get home from work, I want you to put your mouth on my baby chute. 3. Forbidden area It may seem unfair that Adam makes more money than Molly simply because Molly has a forbidden area, but that's the way of the world. 4. Basement The President inserted a cigar into Ms Lewinsky's basement, then put the cigar in his mouth and said: "It tastes good" 5. Kid factory Did you hear that Virginia passed a law requiring trans-kid factory ultrasounds for women seeking abortion? 6. Sin gash My roommate's not going out tonight because she has a yeast infection in her sin gash. 7. [uncomfortable silence] Mr. Speaker, I'm uncomfortable with the government's sudden interest in my [uncomfortable silence]. 8. Man trap Car insurance costs less because having a man trap makes you less reckless. 9. Hermetically sealed shame basket Luckily, her gynecologist made sure to be gentle when prodding her hermetically sealed shame basket. 10. Spousehole If I wanted the government in my spousehole, I'd fuck a Senator. 11. Schmegina I can't help it if I have a heavy flow and a wide-set schmegina. 12. Mystery machine Don't use flavored lube to make your mystery machine taste better. 13. Rape invitation After sleeping with a man who claimed to be Joe Francis, Laura began experiencing discomfort in her rape invitation. 14. Wide receiver Inez isn't a slut; but her wide receiver is rarely unoccupied. 15. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Why is it that men think that women really love it when they jackhammer the shit out of their Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? 16. Untapped resource If you want to be tough, grow an untapped resource. Those things can take a pounding. 17. Inferiority complex After a particularly difficult delivery, a woman's inferiority complex may need a few stitches. 18. Spaghetti junction After a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast, Helen's spaghetti junction needed a break. 19. Despair The cool thing about this new vibrator is that it stimulates all of the most sensitive parts of your despair. 20. God's stab wound He told me I had the prettiest God's stab wound he'd ever seen. 21. Penis house I want to try using a Diva Cup, but I fear that my penis house is oddly shaped. 22. The not-so-fresh place Moving from phonetics to etymology, ‘the not-so-fresh place' originates from a word meaning sheath for a sword. 23. Pelvic interior As compensation for their labors, men are given periodic use of a woman's pelvic interior. 24. Kant So few men understand how to navigate Kant. 25. Vulva So there you have it! Nice, sanitized words for ladyparts that won't scare Republicans. But a word of advice, for future reference: if you can't bring yourself to say the name of the thing you're trying to legislate, you should probably just let that shit go. It was never yours to begin with. http://jezebel.com/5918587/25-republican+approved-ways-to-say-vagina-without-offending-political-pussiesAmen. Once again, things are happening in our government which I never imagined would happen where women are concerned. Should we go back to the chadri and stop driving? Bet they'd LOVE that...it seems to be where they're headed...
Quote:Nonsensical GOP Spokesperson Says Female Legislator Was Banned for Supposed Rape Metaphors, Not ‘Vagina’ In short: Brown bravely used the word "vagina" while discussing vaginas. Here's the now infamous line that got her indefinitely barred from speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives: "I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no." After Brown's puritanical punishment made national headlines, scored her a spot on The Rachel Maddow Show and got #vagina trending on Twitter, some Republicans are claiming that it wasn't actually the word "vagina" that did Brown in. "My concern was the decorum of the House, not of anything she said," Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas, R-Midland
Quote:25 Republican-Approved Ways to Say ‘Vagina’ Without Offending Political Pussies Here are 50 ways that Michigan women can use to refer to their "special husband zone" around men who find medically accurate words for women's anatomy offensive, and suggested ways to use them in a sentence. 1. Love cave Honey, can you go buy me some tampons at the store? My love cave is bleeding. 2. Baby chute When I get home from work, I want you to put your mouth on my baby chute. 3. Forbidden area It may seem unfair that Adam makes more money than Molly simply because Molly has a forbidden area, but that's the way of the world. 4. Basement The President inserted a cigar into Ms Lewinsky's basement, then put the cigar in his mouth and said: "It tastes good" 5. Kid factory Did you hear that Virginia passed a law requiring trans-kid factory ultrasounds for women seeking abortion? 6. Sin gash My roommate's not going out tonight because she has a yeast infection in her sin gash. 7. [uncomfortable silence] Mr. Speaker, I'm uncomfortable with the government's sudden interest in my [uncomfortable silence]. 8. Man trap Car insurance costs less because having a man trap makes you less reckless. 9. Hermetically sealed shame basket Luckily, her gynecologist made sure to be gentle when prodding her hermetically sealed shame basket. 10. Spousehole If I wanted the government in my spousehole, I'd fuck a Senator. 11. Schmegina I can't help it if I have a heavy flow and a wide-set schmegina. 12. Mystery machine Don't use flavored lube to make your mystery machine taste better. 13. Rape invitation After sleeping with a man who claimed to be Joe Francis, Laura began experiencing discomfort in her rape invitation. 14. Wide receiver Inez isn't a slut; but her wide receiver is rarely unoccupied. 15. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil Why is it that men think that women really love it when they jackhammer the shit out of their Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? 16. Untapped resource If you want to be tough, grow an untapped resource. Those things can take a pounding. 17. Inferiority complex After a particularly difficult delivery, a woman's inferiority complex may need a few stitches. 18. Spaghetti junction After a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast, Helen's spaghetti junction needed a break. 19. Despair The cool thing about this new vibrator is that it stimulates all of the most sensitive parts of your despair. 20. God's stab wound He told me I had the prettiest God's stab wound he'd ever seen. 21. Penis house I want to try using a Diva Cup, but I fear that my penis house is oddly shaped. 22. The not-so-fresh place Moving from phonetics to etymology, ‘the not-so-fresh place' originates from a word meaning sheath for a sword. 23. Pelvic interior As compensation for their labors, men are given periodic use of a woman's pelvic interior. 24. Kant So few men understand how to navigate Kant. 25. Vulva So there you have it! Nice, sanitized words for ladyparts that won't scare Republicans. But a word of advice, for future reference: if you can't bring yourself to say the name of the thing you're trying to legislate, you should probably just let that shit go. It was never yours to begin with. http://jezebel.com/5918587/25-republican+approved-ways-to-say-vagina-without-offending-political-pussies
Sunday, June 17, 2012 6:51 AM
ANTHONYT
Freedom is Important because People are Important
Sunday, June 17, 2012 7:15 AM
STORYMARK
Sunday, June 17, 2012 8:26 AM
NEWOLDBROWNCOAT
Sunday, June 17, 2012 8:42 AM
KWICKO
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)
Quote:Originally posted by ANTHONYT: Hello, Sometimes it is a person's duty to speak up, even when those who make the rules would prefer that they didn't. I would love to see an army of women assembled to protest this action by shouting 'vagina' at the banners until this legislator is reinstated as a speaker on the floor. She represents the people, and silencing her is like silencing the people. --Anthony
Sunday, June 17, 2012 8:44 AM
Quote:Originally posted by Storymark: The GOP continues to strive for new lows.
Sunday, June 17, 2012 10:08 AM
AURAPTOR
America loves a winner!
Sunday, June 17, 2012 10:29 AM
KPO
Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.
Sunday, June 17, 2012 10:43 AM
BYTEMITE
Sunday, June 17, 2012 4:02 PM
Sunday, June 17, 2012 4:21 PM
6IXSTRINGJACK
Sunday, June 17, 2012 4:34 PM
Quote:Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK: So I guess now she'll be relegated to only speaking her Vagina Monologue to a party of 1? ] Hello, --Anthony Note to Self: Raptor - women who want to control their reproductive processes are sluts. Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die. Never forget what these men are. “The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -Thomas Szasz
Sunday, June 17, 2012 4:41 PM
Quote:Originally posted by AnthonyT: Quote:Originally posted by 6IXSTRINGJACK: So I guess now she'll be relegated to only speaking her Vagina Monologue to a party of 1? ] Hello, --Anthony Note to Self: Raptor - women who want to control their reproductive processes are sluts. Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die. Never forget what these men are. “The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -Thomas Szasz
Sunday, June 17, 2012 5:48 PM
Monday, June 18, 2012 2:13 AM
AGENTROUKA
Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: I'm sorry, but how is this misogynistic again? The Congress somehow manages to survive some 225 years w/ out the word 'vagina' uttered on the floor, or in the records, and NOW it's a terrible affront to women to ask for some measure of decency and decorum?
Monday, June 18, 2012 3:38 AM
Monday, June 18, 2012 3:56 AM
Quote:Originally posted by AgentRouka: Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: I'm sorry, but how is this misogynistic again? The Congress somehow manages to survive some 225 years w/ out the word 'vagina' uttered on the floor, or in the records, and NOW it's a terrible affront to women to ask for some measure of decency and decorum? If I read correctly, this woman was talking about an abortion law. How is using the word vagina in that context not appropriate, how is it even avoidable, and how is it lacking in decency and decorum to use it? This is not a slur, it is a medical term describing female anatomy as neutrally as possible. Treating it like an offensive word is.. yeah, pretty much mysogynistic, because it implies that the entire concept of a vagina is offensive and inappropriate. In a speech regarding abortion. You can see that there's some contradictory tension in this situation, right?
Monday, June 18, 2012 4:15 AM
Quote:Do the authors even want male allies, or do they just want to alienate every guy around them in a 100 yard radius? I mean, I get wanting to do things for yourself, and having the chip on your shoulder about it, mine's about the size of a mortar launcher. But turning away allies on the basis of gender is just inefficient and unwise, and hell, I'll even say bigoted. The lady who wrote that article, and the ones who wrote the list, they're bigoted. And while I sympathize with them, fighting bigotry with more bigotry is just ugly business.
Monday, June 18, 2012 4:25 AM
Quote:Actually, the way she used the term actually WAS kind of inappropriate - she basically said "why are you all so interested in my vagina," which would be comparable to one of her male colleagues saying "why are you all so interested in my testicles?" Considering how ban-happy the house majority leader in question appears to be over this issue, could be he would have silenced her for using the term IN a way appropriate to the conversation, so that's probably moot. But it's also important to recognize that in a different context, a loaded question like that could be construed as sexual harrassment, and I don't necessarily think it's okay even in THIS context. She could have phrased it in a way so she's talking about vaginal ultrasounds in general, fine, but she made it personal, she made it about her own anatomy. No one, in any official or workplace setting, really wants to hear someone talk about their own anatomy.
Monday, June 18, 2012 5:52 AM
Quote:it is appropriate for a representative of the people to ask the poignant and collective query, "Why are you so interested in my vagina?"
Monday, June 18, 2012 5:54 AM
Quote: So "freedom of speech" doesn't even apply to elected female legislators
Quote: How is using the word vagina in that context not appropriate, how is it even avoidable, and how is it lacking in decency and decorum to use it? This is not a slur, it is a medical term describing female anatomy as neutrally as possible. Treating it like an offensive word is.. yeah, pretty much mysogynistic, because it implies that the entire concept of a vagina is offensive and inappropriate. In a speech regarding abortion.
Monday, June 18, 2012 6:09 AM
Quote:Good lord, Byte, if you are offended by the language of said bloggers, you obviously haven't been reading any of the material put up by bloggers on the other side! Limbaugh is just a small sample of the kind of mysoginy and downright disgusting language (and judgment!) on the other side of the issue!
Quote:And yes, I chose to post things by people as angry as myself about this; I have no doubt there are more equanimcal articles out there, tho' it's hard to imagine any report that doesn't contain derision. It deserves to be derided; such abuse of power in a governing body over a minor infraction (IS it even an infraction?) is inexcusable--"indefinitely"?? How can that possibly be defended?
Quote: As for "manliness", I think censoring a legitimate representative of the people over the use of a word which apparently makes them squirm is pretty unmanly. Or one could phrase it "adolescent" or "childish", because it is all three.
Monday, June 18, 2012 6:28 AM
Quote:Good lord, Byte, if you are offended by the language of said bloggers, you obviously haven't been reading any of the material put up by bloggers on the other side!
Quote:it IS inappropriate to make it a personal issue and to make personal comments about your own anatomy.
Quote:That's the problem with this whole debate, is that everyone takes it so personal.
Monday, June 18, 2012 6:37 AM
Quote:I do not agree with this. It's easy to be dismissive when discussing a class of people. Much less so when it is made personal. This representative is very much part of the class, so it is personal and it is appropriate for her to express it personally.
Monday, June 18, 2012 6:50 AM
Quote:Originally posted by BYTEMITE: Quote:I do not agree with this. It's easy to be dismissive when discussing a class of people. Much less so when it is made personal. This representative is very much part of the class, so it is personal and it is appropriate for her to express it personally. I'm female, I'm pro-choice, and yet somehow I don't take this issue personally. I don't talk about my vagina and how it's being violated by the laws they're passing. I also suspect that people would get a lot farther in their dialogue if they tried to approach the issue in the same way. I am wrong to suggest this as a valid tactic?
Monday, June 18, 2012 6:56 AM
Quote:However, since the laws in question do indeed create a personal violation for women, I will not defame this representative's 'tactic' in taking those laws as an intimate and personal affront.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:01 AM
Quote:There is no substance to her argument if she is not someone who is in immediate danger.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:04 AM
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:07 AM
Quote:Originally posted by BYTEMITE: Quote:However, since the laws in question do indeed create a personal violation for women, I will not defame this representative's 'tactic' in taking those laws as an intimate and personal affront. But it's not a personal violation for all women. I've never been to an abortion clinic, I've never had to carry a baby to term or endure a vaginal ultrasound. I am very willing to support women who have had to go through this horror in their fight against these practices, but I have no grounds to act as if I have experienced what they have.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:12 AM
Quote:I don't think most of the violations we perform on people in this world would be possible if people were able to take those violations personally and feel personal empathy for those being violated.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:17 AM
Quote:I must disagree. If there is a law about which brands of bubblegum you can chew, then that law violates you even if you do not choose to chew bubblegum. If there is a law about which books you can read, then that law violates you even if you do not choose to read those books. If there is a law about which words you can say, then that law violates you even if you have never found occasion to use those words. The idea of the government intruding into these areas of personal liberty creates a violation in and of itself. Even if you never would have chosen of your own free will to do these things, the removal of your option to choose is the violation. A personal one.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:19 AM
Quote:There is a huge difference between this, and feeling that what they went through has actually happened to you when it hasn't.
Quote:And clearly, not being objective about the situation is ineffective. I really think the two senators brought the wrong weapons to this fight.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:27 AM
Quote:Since the woman legislator in question will be subject to these laws, it IS happening to her. Her freedoms are abridged whether or not she is actually having an abortion. As are yours.
Quote:I place dividing lines on the appropriateness of things in different places than you do.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:28 AM
Quote:I HATE the patriot act, but I don't go around saying that I'm imprisoned in Guantanamo and that they've been torturing me.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:37 AM
Quote:Well, I do go around saying that they can do these things to me, and that it would be terrible and unjust of them.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:46 AM
Quote:Originally posted by BYTEMITE: Quote:Well, I do go around saying that they can do these things to me, and that it would be terrible and unjust of them. Sure, but it doesn't mean you've actually BEEN waterboarded. So if someone is concerned about vaginal ultrasounds but she's never had one, it seems like a bizarre failure of logic to me for her to ask why people are so interested in her anatomy.
Monday, June 18, 2012 7:52 AM
Monday, June 18, 2012 8:15 AM
Quote:Originally posted by BYTEMITE: I no longer understand this conversation. I will bow out.
Monday, June 18, 2012 8:39 AM
Monday, June 18, 2012 8:44 AM
RIONAEIRE
Beir bua agus beannacht
Monday, June 18, 2012 8:45 AM
Quote:Originally posted by BYTEMITE: Sorry Anthony. :( And it occurs to me that I may also have unwittingly caused offense to others in my lack of understanding, and I am sorry for that as well. As well as for the menstrual thing, which was intended to repel and disgust.
Monday, June 18, 2012 9:02 AM
Quote:Originally posted by AgentRouka: Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: I'm sorry, but how is this misogynistic again? it's a terrible affront to women to ask for some measure of decency and decorum? If I read correctly, this woman was talking about an abortion law. How is using the word vagina in that context not appropriate, how is it even avoidable, and how is it lacking in decency and decorum to use it? This is not a slur, it is a medical term describing female anatomy as neutrally as possible. Treating it like an offensive word is.. yeah, pretty much mysogynistic, because it implies that the entire concept of a vagina is offensive and inappropriate. In a speech regarding abortion. You can see that there's some contradictory tension in this situation, right?
Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: I'm sorry, but how is this misogynistic again? it's a terrible affront to women to ask for some measure of decency and decorum?
Monday, June 18, 2012 9:05 AM
Quote:Sure, but it doesn't mean you've actually BEEN waterboarded.
Monday, June 18, 2012 9:09 AM
Quote:The Patriot act, in fact, violates us all in a personal way. Even if its hammer has not yet fallen upon each of us as individuals, we all lie under its shadow. Freedoms and Rights are gone. I have never been abused this way, but it is now legal to abuse me in this way. And so 'why do you want to violate me' is a very valid question for me to ask.
Monday, June 18, 2012 9:28 AM
Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: Quote:Originally posted by AgentRouka: Quote:Originally posted by AURaptor: I'm sorry, but how is this misogynistic again? The Congress somehow manages to survive some 225 years w/ out the word 'vagina' uttered on the floor, or in the records, and NOW it's a terrible affront to women to ask for some measure of decency and decorum? If I read correctly, this woman was talking about an abortion law. How is using the word vagina in that context not appropriate, how is it even avoidable, and how is it lacking in decency and decorum to use it? This is not a slur, it is a medical term describing female anatomy as neutrally as possible. Treating it like an offensive word is.. yeah, pretty much mysogynistic, because it implies that the entire concept of a vagina is offensive and inappropriate. In a speech regarding abortion. You can see that there's some contradictory tension in this situation, right? It's unnecessary, and , as I stated before, incredibly the word has been left off the floor of the Congress for 225 years, even through the Roe v Wade era. Why now ? Why be so explicit and graphic ? There are lots of things folks do and parts of folks bodies which , even if technical and clinically accurate, don't need to be brought up in the formal conversation taking place while Congress is in session. This is the sort of mindless, trivial BS the Left wastes time with arguing over, when there are actual, real issues which need being addressed, long before we start talking about vaginas and the like. "why are you all so interested in my vagina," ... YOURS ? Trust me, ma'am.. I'm not. And I wish you'd never have brought that into the discussion, at all. " We're all just folk. " - Mal " AU, that was great, LOL!! " - Chrisisall
Monday, June 18, 2012 9:44 AM
Quote:How about someone who lives in the North, who has never been a slave, will never be a slave, doesn't have to drink from a different fountain, etc., etc. Should he have no interest in civil rights because it doesn't apply to him?
Quote:The situation has gotten so far beyond ANYTHING rational, and nothing rational has made a dent in it, what options are left open?
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:02 AM
MAL4PREZ
Quote:Originally posted by BYTEMITE: Quote:How about someone who lives in the North, who has never been a slave, will never be a slave, doesn't have to drink from a different fountain, etc., etc. Should he have no interest in civil rights because it doesn't apply to him? Whoa now. Again, I never said that it wasn't important and wouldn't support these women and their efforts against these practices. I said that I don't have a personal stake in the issue. That's a big difference.
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:13 AM
Quote:beaver (taboo slang) box (taboo slang) crack (taboo slang) cunt (taboo) fanny (Brit. taboo slang) hole (taboo slang) minge (Brit. taboo) muff (taboo slang) pussy (taboo slang) quim (Brit. taboo) snatch (taboo slang) twat (taboo slang) vulva, yoni
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:21 AM
Quote:Especially these legislators! It is their job to represent, to speak for, the people who elected them. Even if they don't have a 5:30 appt for an abortion today, so their personal vaginas are not involved at the moment, damned sure the vaginas of at least some of their constituents are. They have not only a right, but a responsibility to speak up the woman whose rights are being attacked.
Quote:As for "hate speech" that is "improper" - I disagree. Others may may react to the word "vagina" with feelings of disgust or discomfort,
Monday, June 18, 2012 10:25 AM
Quote:Hateful rhetoric was more directed at the language in the posted article and list. There's some stuff in there that's seriously over-generalized and potentially offensive to all guys. However, I do still think using vagina in that context was undignified and illogical, and also represents a disconnect nowadays where people seem to lack a TMI sense. Lastly, I still think it's a counter-productive tactic, though if the politician makes it clear she's speaking on behalf of her constituents I might judge this less harshly.
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