Thursday, September 11, 2008

More Links of Note

"Welcome back to school whatsername, now I kick your ass!"
- University

Sorry I haven't been around as much as you may have gotten used to beloved readers.

I haven't been reading as much as usual either, and I am a bit behind everyone else, but still, I do what I can. So without further ado, links of special note.

Why That Police Brutality Stuff Matters from bfp
But I wonder–how do you tell a woman to resist and reject the abuse of a man in plain clothes, while at the same time, tell her to accept and accommodate the abuse of a man wearing clothes of a state apparatus? How do you tell a man that abuse and violence is not ok while wearing plain clothes, but once he puts on an official uniform, it’s not only ok, but expected?

Are those schizophrenic messages we are sending?

For those in the Bay Area, I want to call attention once more to Proposition K in San Francisco
Proposition K Will Improve:

· Worker Safety by ensuring that crimes committed against sex workers can be reported without fear of prosecution and requiring that the Police Department and District Attorney’s Office vigorously enforces laws against extortion, battery, rape and other violent crimes; regardless of the victim’s status as a sex worker

· Public Safety by freeing up the critical resources used to enforce prostitution laws and focusing instead on higher priority crimes like human trafficking, child sexual assault and child labor.

· Public Health by lessening the social stigma that prevents many workers from seeking basic health care services

Renee at Womanist Musings sums up my thoughts on the pro-fashion/anti-fashion feminist debate perfectly:
Regardless of your position regarding performing femininity through make up and or clothing, what cannot be denied is that any purchase within our capitalist economy is predicated on the exploitation of women.
I too have felt that the fashion debate often rather misses the point. And even making your own clothes is fallible, because where does your yarn or cloth come from? Making a truly feminist choice regarding what to clothe yourself in living in the "First world" can be very difficult. Psst: I get around this by buying almost everything second hand. \o/

Jason at The Wild Hunt brings to light certain aspects of Sarah Palin that somehow manage to make her EVEN SCARIER.
"Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world."

These "Third Wave" Christians believe in supernatural powers, demon possession, curses, and ongoing spiritual warfare. Most of them are loosely grouped around C. Peter Wagner, founder of the World Prayer Center, and coiner of the term "Third Wave". Wagner believes that one of the greatest opponents to Third Wave Christian dominance is The Goddess.
[...]
While Palin has striven to present herself as a "post-denominational" Jesus follower, it should be noted that most Third Wave Christians also present themselves in this manner. Also, lest you think this article is some sort of liberal Pagan anti-Christian take-down, it should be noted that this Christian movement has been deemed heretical by several (conservative) Christian groups, including Fundamentalist Baptists.

What Pagans need to know, especially those who are considering voting Republican, is if Palin condemns or rejects the spiritual warfare teachings of the Third Wave movement. A movement that essentially espouses malicious Christian magic. Pagans have seen first hand that the religious opinions of Presidents have been used in the past by government agencies to deny us our legal rights. What would happen if our vice president thought we should be supernaturally eradicated?

2 comments:

  1. I agree about the "schizophrenic" messages concerning brutality. Then, the same certainly goes for many aspects of our "correctional" system, which systematically brutalizes and kills people, as well as a government which says it's okay to drop bombs on people and overthrow their government if you even suspect that they might get weapons with which they might decide to attack you.

    And, in regard to Palin's church, of course there's a similar double standard, as fanatical fundamentalist Christians demonize fanatical fundamentalist Muslims.

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  2. This stuff frightens me.

    Remember Bob Barr? I don't think he and Palin fall far from the same tree. He tried to say I wasn't allowed (not me personally, but Pagans) to serve in the military. I spent a wee bit of time afraid that I would be in some trouble. Then they decided that Navy Chaplains have to be able to provide the basics of a Pagan ritual if requested, same as any other faith.

    Then there was the fiasco of the symbols allowed on tomb markers at Arlington.

    The people who want us to believe that this is a free and great country of religious freedom mean for the Judeo-Christian believers.

    No one other than Sky Bully worshippers allowed.

    I want to start doing a blog for religious tolerance on Pagan holidays...or something to that effect. I am a little tired of being the "odd man out" so to speak when it comes to freedom of religion.

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