Damned if you do, Damned if you Don't!

Published on January 15, 2006 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

We don't get a whole lot of commentary on here from the left, but when we do, it is often self parodying. Take, for instance, my recent arguments on feminism vs. female supremacy. I was called to task for allegedly only supporting "feminism" when it conforms to MY standards of female behaviour (which showed, sadly, that the individual in question didn't read the article through in context).

The reason I find that interesting is putting things in proper perspective. My wife, for instance, does not drive. Believe me, I wish she WOULD drive. It would make certain things EXPONENTIALLY easier for me. And I look forward eagerly to the time when my oldest drives because of the benefits that come about from having a second driver in the house.

The "female supremacist" perspective; however, does not allow for that. Because my wife does not drive by her own CHOICE, she is less than a full woman, she is dirt in their eyes. And I am a chauvinist pig for supporting her choice.

I have TRIED to help my wife drive. I purchased a car for her at one point, so that she have a vehicle a little less intimidating. Two trips to the park to attempt to drive were pretty much the end of the attempt to drive, and the car was eventually sold because it wasn't being used and was an unnecessary insurance expense. I eventually realized that a marriage built around changing someone is a marriage that's DESTINED to fail.

And so, because I accept my wife's values, I'm branded a bigot by the "enlightened" left. And yet, what would they think of me if I attempted to force my wife to drive, and DEMANDED that she get a job? Believe me, their judgements would be much harsher.

I find it compelling that when I don't embrace a positively open attitude towards lifestyle choices that conflict with my religious principles, I'm accused of not respecting diversity. Yet when I choose to live my life in a way that's away from the norm, when I choose and marry a woman with similar values, somehow the same group of individuals is quick to cast aspersions on our point of view as not being "good enough", and to accuse me of bigotry.

In short, someone's being intolerant here. And I really DON'T believe it's me.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Jan 16, 2006

In my case, my wife is such a bad back seat driver, she always drives when we go anywhere together!

But anecdotes aside, that does seem to be the rule of the left. They practice tolerance only to the life styles they themselves support. Not to anyone's life styles. One has only to look at their vilification of the conservative religious in our nation to understand that.

shadesofgrey

on Jan 16, 2006

We don't get a whole lot of commentary on here from the left, but when we do, it is often self parodying.

You probably find it "self parodying" because JU is so extremely conservatives that those on the left just don't feel like getting into it day after day. It does, sincerely, get old after a while. The people who do comment then are often on the extremes, or so annoyed by the politics of this place that they don't care who they offend or what they say. This site does not lend itself to a lot of conversation from the left. I read your "feminism vs. femninazi" article and decided it wasn't in my interest to respond--it's simply not a debate that I think is worth having.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 16, 2006

I read your "feminism vs. femninazi" article

Just a quick note: I didn't use the term "feminazi". It's a term that I, personally find offensive and misleading.

You probably find it "self parodying" because JU is so extremely conservatives that those on the left just don't feel like getting into it day after day.

That's actually a good point, shades. But I find it refreshing when we get someone who's up to the debate.

shadesofgrey

on Jan 16, 2006

Just a quick note: I didn't use the term "feminazi". It's a term that I, personally find offensive and misleading

Sorry, I realized that when I went and re-read, especially your last comment to Jill.

But I find it refreshing when we get someone who's up to the debate.

Every once in a while, I'm up for it, but mostly, it reminds me of repeatedly banging my head against the wall.

Myrrander

on Jan 17, 2006

Why is it, when somebody disagrees with you (me, in this case), it's being a "self parody" and "taking things out of context." I thought you were "encouraging debate" and all that. I maintain my point -- your definitions of "feminism" and "female superiorism" are based solely on how you think women should act. The same would be true if I wrote an article trying to define terms such as those (although the definitions would be different).

I don't speak for "the left" (whoever the hell they are), I speak for me. That wasn't a Howard Dean approved message, it was me, proving once again to myself how pointless it is to post a dissenting comment on one of your blogs. But that's cool, I'll post this, then Dr. Guy can disparage it, then you can write another article about it, and then the cycle will be complete *smile*

dynamaso

on Jan 17, 2006

They practice tolerance only to the life styles they themselves support. Not to anyone's life styles

Erm, Doc, I consider myself a bit of a lefty but you and I have never had problems. I try to be as tolerant and open-minded as possible. My reason for being part of the JU community is to meet and learn from people from all walks of life.

However, I can't see any point in 'discussions' that end up being nothing more than name-calling. I find it juvenile and unproductive. I would rather see an honest exchange of ideas or an agreement to disagree. I think too often people get caught up so much in what they think they believe they forget other people have the ability to form their own opinions themselves.

Incidentally, every time I've stated a personal opinion, particularly if it is not according to right-thinkers, I've been called stupid or an idiot or worse. Not very productive, would you agree?

Dr Guy

on Jan 17, 2006

You are. And I should have put in the obligatory disclaimer, however I did provide an example of the left's leaderships current whipping boy. But again, like many of the left, you practice what you preach.

So when I discuss the left in generic terms, I am referring to the fringe elements, and those that control the left in this country. But it does get tiresome to continually qualify my statements. Which is my fault for being lazy.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 17, 2006

Why is it, when somebody disagrees with you (me, in this case), it's being a "self parody" and "taking things out of context."

Myrrander,

Because, frankly, your comment on that particular article was a direct slam at my wife in her CHOICE (That's a key buzzword of the left; why is it not honored when women make choices that YOU don't respect?!?!) to be a stay at home mother. NOTHING in the article denigrated career women, women who choose to have abortions, women who choose not to have families or put their career first.

To be honest, myrrander, and you can take this any way you choose to, I hold you to a higher standard because I know you're fully capable of it. You could have responded intelligently without a full frontal attack on women who make "traditional" life choices; in fact, your comment only REINFORCED the thesis I presented in the article by doing so.

What I intended to make clear in the article (and did, to some individuals at least), is that there IS such a thing as a responsible, respectable feminist. But they are being overshadowed by femals supremacists, and it is grossly unfair to lump them all together under the same category. There needs to be a differentiation between the two.

dynamaso

on Jan 20, 2006

Point taken. I was being a little bit sensitive and jumped at the chance to be seen to be 'defending' the whole rather than taking each statement as an individual's opinion (in this case: yours). Intelligent people should see past blanket rhetoric and understand it is an individual stating his or her opinion, which is not necessarily a representative opinion of the whole (wow, am I making any sense?)

Truth be known, I look at myself as more of a 'centralist' (as opposed to a fence sitter). As I said before, sometimes the 'line' can be so blurry, it is hard to know where to stand.

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