*MD/GR

calbert at pop.tiac.net calbert at pop.tiac.net
Sat Sep 13 14:56:04 CDT 1997


Dear Dana,

> Die Charles Albert, die.

Oh, how I love the spirit of objective discourse.

> The implicit question in my other post was:
> Why is the female anatomy always--literally and metaphorically--
> up for grabs?  I'm serious.

a) As it represents a pretty powerful symbol, it will always 
stimulate artistic expression. Are we to eliminate all such 
references and add phallic ones to the list?

b)I had not seen it "up for grabs" on this list. I think most people 
read the analogy and considered its merit without finding the author 
insensitive. My admittedly limited experience with his work has not 
suggested that he is a misogynist, and I think motivation is 
important here.

> It isn't right; isn't _V._, in part, about the dangers of such metaphors?
> How do you separate them from the manifestation of, say, Sarah brutally
> handcuffed to the bed?

Without any difficulty whatsoever. I can enjoy classical works of art 
depicting such distasteful themes as rape and brutality without going 
outside and committing such acts myself, or, as difficult as it may 
seem to believe, even wanting to. Its a little thing I like to call 
context. But I do understand that there is a school of thought that 
suggests that men are incapable of such distinctions, I just find 
myself unconvinced by the likes of Dworkin and McKinnon(sp?).

> Or, maybe these questions don't matter to you....hmmm?

My unwillingness to view the world through a gender prism does not 
necessarily make me blind to inequity. I have been consistent in my 
argument that policing thought, whether it is gender insensitive or 
questions the Holocaust, is not defensible. To argue so is not to 
argue in favor of the suppression of women or the persecution of Jews.

> Anyway, I'm going now to polish my "language and metaphor" police-badge
> and my trophy for champion of the "sake of the offended."

Ration your indignation, life is long.

> Meanwhile, you and can go off and continue to reap the
> awards of the language that serves you.

And, from now on, you will be operating exclusively in ....? Please 
send glossary.
love,
cfa



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