The future of activism. by Feminist Avengers , Sep 10, 2008 at 08:21, in Labels: activism, liberals, sarcasm

Due to the recent vandalism of that church sign (for those who aren't up with the feminist blogging world, here's the original sign, and the vandalized sign) and the subsequent mixed feelings on feministing, I thought I'd do a little blog about my $0.02 concerning this action:

We can't do that. It's wrong.

IMHO, it is an outrage that someone would destroy another person's property. Not only does it make the homos look bad and make it seem like all homosexuals are destructive and disrespectful, it also hurts capitalism (:-O !!) because now these people have to spend time and/or money cleaning their sign. Tisk tisk angry radicals who did this.

Why can't we stop taking actions like this and admit that the future of activism is...

BLOGGING!! Seriously, think about it (let's make a list!!):

• No more meeting with those crazy anarchist activists who want to destroy capitalism, patriarchy, and religion (and have tattoos concerning all of these things!!)
• No more wasting time trying to get everyone to agree on what action to take. (a stupid thing they call concensus.)
  
• No more doing illegal, harmful, destructive things that don't have any point anyway.
• To blog, I don't even have to leave my house!!
• Plus I can watch "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" and get my TV news fix while reading all the blog news and posting on my own!!
  
• When I post online and tell all of the other feminists about my opinions, I'm creating REAL changes.
• We can all communicate with each other through this series of blogs that we all have, and no one else reads them, so it's like this cool underground secret things (like the underground railroad or something - lolz!!)
  
• If I (accidentally, of course, I don't see color or gender) say something kinda sexist, heteronormative, or racist... I can say someone hacked into my account! Problem solved! J/K. But for realz, you can all catch my mistake, we can talk about it, and I can better myself as a person without encountering a black/queer/female person and accidentally saying these offensive things to his/her gay/straight, black/white face. (Being pc all the time is hard! See how confusing that sentence looks now?! Another problem with radicals!)

What I think we all should have done concerning this ignorant pastor and his homo hating ways, is to write about it in our blogs. Maybe some people will read our blogs and be moved enough to send him an angry letter! That would surely do more to influence this man than when these extremists go and spray paint the sign. That's just going to make him feel justified in his speaking out against homosexuality.
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"In Extreme cases, when others refuse to acknowledge our needs or persist in doing unconscionable, harmful things, we intercede by whatever means are necessary-- not on behalf of Justice or revenge, but simply to represent our own interests." - fighting for our lives
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Ok, seriously now... I like blogging. Obviously, this is a blog. Blogging/Reading blogs is an improtant tool of communication, and it keeps me thinking about feminist issues in different ways.

But I do not think it is the "future of activism." It is worthy of it's critiques. Critiques suggesting it's an echo chamber, or a stand-in for activism, or preaching to the choir, etc.

I think a good point was made in the comments on the feministing post about the church vandalism (linked above).

A commenter says that we can't just blog about what conservatives are doing to make the news! We have to make the news!

I love activism because it (contrary to popular belief) produces real results!

As such, I'm going to give you a little direct activism tutorial so you can see what I mean. Instead of blogging today, take or plan an action!!

Do You Understand Women? QUIZ!!! by Feminist Avengers , Sep 5, 2008 at 10:19, in Labels: sarcasm, sexism

1. Why do women get all sensitive about rape?

a. it happens to them
b. they're bored
c. they hate men
d. no one will sleep with them
e. women are inherently irrational

2. Why do women dislike it when you speak over them in conversation?

a. it tells them that they are unimportant and invisible to you
b. they're bored
c. they hate men
d. no one will sleep with them
e. women are inherently irrational

3. Why don't women like it when you "compliment" their body on the street?

a. it is frightening to be dehumanized and reduced to body parts
b. they're bored
c. they hate men
d. no one will sleep with them
e. women are inherently irrational

4. What should you do if you and your dick buddies are dominating the conversation?

a. talk about something relevant to the lives of others in the group, stop talking over the women who are trying to share their opinion, and listen to a woman EVEN IF she is not very attractive to you
b. continue as before, obviously what you're saying is really meaningful and important
c. continue as before, women are naturally quieter and shy
d. continue as before, if women want to talk about their periods or whatever they can start a side conversation
e. women are inherently irrational

5. If you are telling a joke and all the women in the room are covering their ears and humming, it means...

a. you are probably telling an offensive joke that is triggering painful personal memories
b. they have no sense of humor
c. they just don't get the punch line, you should explain it to them again
d. who cares what the women are doing?
e. women are inherently irrational

6. Is it inappropriate to use the word "pussy"?

a. yes, it degrades women and opens the door for the sexual disrespect of everyone
b. yes, then women will know how you really feel about them
c. no, it's just a word, man
d. hahaha!! pussy!!!
e. women are inherently irrational

7. What is wrong with "needing to score"?

a. it turns sex into an event that debases a woman so you can feel like a man
b. the heartache of blue balls
c. nothing at all, men have needs
d. they won't sleep with you if you call it that
e. women are inherently irrational

8. What is the best thing to do if Take Back The Night is marching past your apartment and interrupting your beer bong?

a. applaud them or support them respectfully
b. yell "shut up!" at them, cause they totally will listen
c. find some girls to yell "shut up!" at them, to seem more legit
d. throw a beer can, because you're a classy dude
e. women are inherently irrational

9. You see a woman in nondescript loose-fitting jeans and t-shirt. She is...

a. a person
b. a lesbian
c. ugly
d. not important
e. women are inherently irrational

10. What is a woman's ideal valentine's day gift?

a. women are a heterogenous group of people who come from extremely diverse backrounds, beliefs, and tastes, with the biggest thing they have in common being their oppression, so it would be impossible to say what women's ideal anything are, AND/OR the idea that women are obsessed with valentine's day is an offensive example of the stereotype of female frivolity, AND/OR this question is so dumb you are speechless.
b. jewelry
c. flowers
d. giving me a blowjob
e. women are inherently irrational

SCORING

If you answered mostly A's..... You might believe women are people, too!
If you answered mostly B's..... You are an asshole.
If you answered mostly C's..... You are an asshole.
If you answered mostly D's..... You are an asshole.
If you answered mostly E's..... You are an asshole.

A "loving warning" from the Christians by Feminist Avengers , at 07:15, in Labels: christianity, homosexuality, sarcasm

I woke up this morning with a text message waiting for me on my phone. It said, "This is a real evangelical billboard-'i kissed a girl and i liked it and then i went to hell'"

My first thought was: I kissed a girl, her lips were sweet. She was just like kissing me - And, actually, that just echoed around in my head for a while. I was humming it as I was brushing my teeth...- I kissed a girl, won't change the world. But I'm so glad I kissed a girl.

Which naturally led to the thought that, all those men better revolutionize themselves or they'll see all their wives kissing Jill Sobule and me.

Anyway, once I was all dressed, breakfasted, and ready for the day, I googled... and pulled up the article from The Dispatch. Wherin Rev. Dave Allison says, "We meant that as a loving warning to teens.... The Scriptures tell us that you should not do what the song tells you to do. The Scriptures are not ambiguous on this issue." Yes, the Bible says something like, "Love your neighbor as yourself, all homos are going TO HELL!" I'm paraphrasing a little, but it's something close to that. I'm glad this reverend cares so much about the impressionable teens.

I know that if I were a teen who was being told homosexuality was wrong by churches and much of society, and was all confused because I kissed someone of the same sex... and like it. I would be so confused... until this sign!! That'd clear everything right up. It'd be such a weight off my chest! No more trying to figure out how I feel myself, the sign just answered all my homo questioning. I'd rush inside and be baptized in the name of their homo-hating god. Phew! The good Reverend would cure me of my homosexuality and I'd be another ex-gay success story. Another soul for Jesus! Hooray!!