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Originally Posted by dreadgeek
I would have preferred that you did PM me as this was just a slip of names due to knowing you as a couple and nothing more. A human error. Your comments about taking femmes and feminist ideology to me seems a bit off as I am a rock solid feminist and one of my Master's Degrees is in Women's Studies as well as my doctorial dissertation was on sex-roles and women's oppression (back in the day). As a woman and a feminist, and past professor of feminist and women’s studies, I certainly do take us seriously.
This was a simple error without any ill intent whatsoever and I did not think you wrote the post. I just mixed-up names, that's it. [/COLOR][/FONT]
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I did not mean to imply that you were not a feminist and I didn't necessarily think it intentional. I appreciate your owning it and certainly would defer to you on questions of feminist theory.
Belly pointed the post out to me and I had seen it earlier in the day but every time I went to respond, the phone rang. Because I've seen femme's dismissed in ways both blatant and subtle, this seemed as good a time as any to point out one manifestation of this. It was not meant as a personal attack and my statement of feminism was not meant to convey any impression that I didn't think you were a feminist.
All theory aside--and theory is important--I think that my feminism most comes alive in how I treat other women. It is the most concrete expression of it. I hope that in how I engage with people here I treat the femme's in our midst as I treat my fellow butches. I hope that the femme's feel that I take them and their thoughts seriously because to me those are the beginning and end of feminism--as a personal ethic--for me. Everything else is commentary.
Again, no offense was meant.
Cheers
Aj[/QUOTE]
[COLOR="Black"]Oh, I see your point and feel terrible for the blunder. I certainly also have seen countless dismissals of femmes on these sites. Although, I honestly do feel the Planet is much more feminist-friendly, really. And mods pick up on sexism far better than the old site. Does feel different to me. So much so, I left the other site completely. Not that I do not appreciate the fact that it did connect me to some fantastic people.
Absolutely how women treat other women is crucial!
Now, I have been thinking about the topic at hand in terms of how many other states and municipalities have been developing more such pieces of legislation based upon... the Federal government isn't doing its job.
It appears that the GOP is doing the usual legislative blocking of all things Democratic with actually getting somewhere with immigration reform. I'm glad Obama pointed this out recently and that a bill co-authored by McCain was kicked to the curb a couple of years ago.
I know so much about all of this go no where until after the mid-terms and if the GOP does pick up seats and the House reverts to a GOP majority, this will be even more of a mess. And the fact is that we do need sane, compassionate immigration reform. The Dems must hammer out the fact that the population of un-documented immigrants already in the US are staying! And a means for them to become legal (and citizens if that is what they desire) is critical in demonstrating that the US does indeed have a stake in having these people become part of the country in every way.
My only hope is that the Latino population is the fastest growing group of voters coming up. There needs to be a big voter registration drive going on and not just in border states. Latino candidates need to be supported (guess I do want that to be Democratic candidates!). This really needs to be a mass social movement. This can’t just keep going on.[ I feel that the amnesty variable is a major sticking point among the GOP and wing-nuts like the tea-baggers. It has to be taken on!
The fact is, there are many, many, many people that believe that the US should round up every illegal person in the US and ship back to their country of origin. They have no problem with spending the billions that would involve. They won't even talk about any other portion of immigration reform without this contingency! Crazy as it is! I'm not even talking about the crazzies here- there are countless middle of the road people that sit on the side of those people are here illegally, period./COLOR]
My own take on dealing with this in order to see immigration reform is for studies of just how the Latino populations that received amnesty during Reagan's administration have contributed to the the US. They began a life with not fearing authorities, thus stopped hiding and put $ in banks, got leases for homes, or even bought a home as their jobs were secure. They started businesses that contribute to the tax base, etc. They pay taxes, go to PTA meetings and take care of their family. Their children became educated and have been able to enter the professions. Now their children are doing the sam. Many did not have the need to engage in any illegal activity to survive. Crime decreased within this population. We have the single most forceful data in front of us to shut down those that want illegals deported right in front of us and we are not using it. And this goes to a major sticking point blocking reform.