Witchcrockery
I’m a total feminist. It was Women’s Studies (known as Waitressing 101 to one of my fine customers in the restaurant business) before it was Graphic Design. But that feminism comes from my bones. I knew there was something wrong when I returned from Germany the first time. It was clear the moment I flipped on the telly and saw Ron Popeil or similar hocking his wares.
I guess Capitalism is inherently sexist. It needs tempering from the more feminine Socialism. But the prospect of that ever happening has been next to zero until just a couple of years ago. Barack has some sense that this union can come about right now. I hope he’s right. For the moment, and since his Inauguration, I know he is. In any event, he appears to be the most capable of handling the heat that’s emanating from the transition.
But if there’s any lesson I’ve learned from the aftermath of the Capitalist Apocalypse, in place beginning with Nixon’s reign and interrupted briefly by the more peaceful Carter, it is that this country swallows up meekness. It is not an American ‘value’.
And neither is Feminism. In my early, churchgoing days I asked too many questions. Mainly I wondered why the plight of women seemed utterly devoid from scripture. ‘What about women?’ from a little Tracey seemed adorable to the adults in my ward. It always provided some great comedy relief to people, that concern for the inequality I now saw everywhere.
So when I got back from Germany the first time, I suppose I was asking the same question. What had happened to cause the imbalance? I’m not sure, but as we speak there are thousands of girls around the world being submitted to FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), where the clitoris, and often other parts of the girls’ genitals are cut off, often under extreme duress in ‘surprise attacks’ by their own families (often other women who have undergone the ‘procedure’ and so believe they are carrying on some tradition). It was clear the imbalance was global, and most certainly NOT confined to the United States.
In the Congo, little children can be accused of Witchcraft and in turn submit to the village as a scapegoat. These witchcraft accusations of innocent children are devastating, as I can attest. I’ve observed it in Mormon SLC. And it’s a product of extreme sexism. I suppose, in a way, so is Ron Popeil. Orangefaces. Ugh.
