Wow... That Just Made Me Want HomeFries REALLY Bad...

Today I did something really, really indicative of myself.

I set up a new clothing rack to fit all of my wardrobe until the imminent move to the city and out of the parental housing unit.

Some people have external hard drives.... I have an external closet.

I also spent some time getting re acquainted with my shoe collection, half of which was left in North America while I gallivanted around Europe for 9 months*...
Specifically a Steve Madden wedge with black ankle ties which I have YET to wear EVER.... Here's hoping that they are still in season next summer...

I really do come off as a ditsy girl sometimes, don't I?

I wonder if it were a man who had varied interests, such as politics, economics, international relations and what not, were to talk at random about cars and the rebuilding of a 1967 mustang convertible.... would he then be taken for a muscle car dumb jock?

Bringing me to my next topic: Feminism.

Recently (read, yesterday), I was chatting with a friend about a possible job opening in her company.** She works for a not for profit community centered organization that holds the mandate of female, specifically young girl, empowerment and cultivation through leadership and role models.

In discussion, I dropped the word: feminism.

OH. MY. GOD. You would have think I said something praising about Hitler by her reaction. "We Are NOT feminists," she shouted.

"Do you not stand for the empowerment of young girls and women alike?"

"Yes. But NEVER use the word 'feminist' when describing us."

Let's take a second and talk about this, shall we? WHAT. The. Hell. I used to teach a first year University class, in which I would always ask one question to start things off: "Who here is a feminist?"

No one...maybe one...raised their hands.

"What if I told you that siplified, feminism is the idea that women have the right to vote, they are considered a person, and they have the rights over their own body as a person would? What then? Oh and boys? You can be feminists too.... you know, if you have a sister, female friend, mother, aunt, wife that you feel might be entitled to these rights"

Everyone, almost, would then raise their hand.

Now, I agree that in the present context of political ideology and speak, there is a disjunct between rhetoric of feminist equality ideals and the scary bull dyke blaming man for global warming while burning her bra with a butane torch.... but come ON.

How did this word get so scary to us? To WOMEN? So sacry that we aren't to repeat it to our daughters, our children, our employers or our female colleagues?

When did my desire to actually be paid the same amount in the work place as a male counterpart, which we are still NOT in Canada (a developed nation), become a "difference of opinion on the meaning of a word"?

When did my vehement and passionate response to prostitution being the only profession that a lower class woman can stumble into, in south east asian countries, and sometimes even my own, become a condemnation?

When did my absolute disgust that women are still overlooked in ALL United Nation Charters and the institution itself; And the fact that women have a higher rate of HIV and AIDs world wide, while being ignored, become a point that I should avoid or hush up about during an interview for an organization that is meant to be showing girls how to step up and speak out?

When? And where the hell was I when this happened?

And I would love to say that this is my opinion, and as such others are entitled to their own....but that's just ludicrous. I'm totally right here. And for my friend to say that we simply have a difference of opinion about it made me so mad that I don't even want to take that part time job.... and I wont. I can't work for an organization that endorses hypocritical and condescening, uneducated views like that.



For futher reading.........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism


KK.




* Heels and cobblestone are a messy messy combo
** All conversations that I have these days lead to the potentiality of employment....

Purple Jacket Magpie

Purple Jacket Magpie

I just finished booking my trips through Greece, Italy and Paris... I've some how managed to pull a few luxury hotels in to the mix and I'm still scratching my head as to how I pulled it off but I did and I'm really excited about it.

H. and I start our 3 week adventure in about 4 days, and we're both pretty excited about the prospects. Anyway, I will be updating at least once a week, so fret not.


I'm going to use today to address a comment, since I'm not doing anything adventurous but packing up my apartment, which you completely do not want to hear about. So boring, and the little dramas that occur in packing up your life are too aggravating to recount.


A few days ago, Geek In The Pink wrote:

First of all, I am not going to respond to the anonymous coward who thinks you should stick to "what you are good at", as it would be a waste of typing.

Second, I am very interested in your political stance. When i say interested I mean that in a positive way. So you answered my question very well. You are obviously a democrat when discussing the United States, but I am having trouble figuring out which Canadian political party you support. I've always been a supporter of the PC party, however lately I have found myself leaning more as a liberal (provincially). Don't get me wrong, I will not vote for Dion because of his obvious incompetence. I think Harper has done an excellent job in some of the areas of Canada, but do you not agree that Harper has taken a larger interest in the events occurring in the middle east? Whether you call them peacekeepers or soldiers of war, they are still there fighting. By glorifying a name only masks the situation, it does not improve it.

There is not much use of discussing NDP or Green Party because NDP has never worked in Canada (at least not lately) and Green Party is just a recycled conservative party.


1. Thanks. I find that person to be utterly obnoxious as well.

2. I'm a card carrying Liberal, but I vote on issues, not people or parties. The Liberal ideology tends to coincide with my stance on the issues. I do, however, find Dion to be a whiny prat some times. It's like loving a certain restaurant but all of a sudden the waitstaff are total incompetent jerks.... I'm so torn.
I also believe in a multi party system, and if the majority don't agree with me, that means that our system is doing it's job. So long as everyone understands that I am always right and somewhat of a supreme genius (That was a joke.... for those of you who are thinking to call me arrogant again**)

3. Let me preface this answer quickly: I believe in the military, and I support them. I am so happy to have brave men and women willing to die for my freedom, because let's face it... I'm obviously not going to die for it myself. In fact, I support them so much that I think it's ludicrous to see them lose their lives while fighting a war on the ground that does not match up with the war being fought in the international political arena.
Canada has always had a vested interest in Peace and Peace processes in Afghanistan. CIDA was on the ground for years before this mess, they were only pulled out when the USA decided to go in. And, they were doing a good job.
Harper is involved because he's a typical man and he likes to fix things. I don't know that he's spent too much time and effort over there. I think his thinking is in the right place ... we're never going to be able to pull our troops out ahead of the USA (despite the fact that we're now front line on someone else's war because they chose to fight another front....in another country).
Harper reminds me of my father.... sadly. If you have to do a job that you don't really want to do.... get it done quicker, and faster and better than everyone else. Be an asshole to deal with, but be the asshole that gets it all done.
I'd love to see more diplomacy, but to be honest, I know one of the CIDA members who had been on the ground in Afghanistan and diplomacy only works if two parties are willing to be diplomatic. Harper can't reach out the olive branch himself, he'd have to do it on behalf of the United States as a neutral third party negotiator. But he's not neutral...and we can't be because we rely on the United States. We're not powerful or rich enough to be neutral on anything. I'd love to see some more CIDA involvement and education programs in the rural parts of Afghanistan... because do you know what happens when hordes of young boys are forced into idle displacement camps (by Western troops) for their own safety? They get bored. Do you know what happens when a bored teen aged boy gets a gun and someone preaching ideology to him? Ya, here we call it gang warfare.... there we call it terrorist training.
Does Harper neglect domestic affairs in favor of international? Yes. Is it impossible to balance them equally? I'd say Yes again, but some Trudeau supporters may have a different mind frame.

4. I love that the NDP is our third party. They keep our domestic and social agendas in check. I feel that their minimal status is what keeps Canada great. Would I ever want to see them rule the roost? No. But they are a good way to swing your vote if you feel like either of the other fore runners are getting too many seats and aren't focusing on domestic problems.

5. You think the Green Party is useless? Look up our Humanist party. Sorry Jayz. But isn't it nice to know that someone cares if you have enough water to drink in 30 years? I know I like water....and being hydrated. Think of how life threatening keg parties would be if you didn't have enough water to replenish your H20 the next day during a wretched Hangover....



**Did you know that 50% of things said in jest are actually true?***

*** Did you know that 50% of statistics are made up?


Thanks for the comment, I hope I hit the points you were asking... I'm kind of a tangent seeker.

KK.

I went missing.... I'm sorry

Yes, I went missing while the Republican Convention was starting up. I'm sorry. And we will get to that. Perhaps I should subtitle this post.... Here goes:



Man Friend and Co.

Man Friend and I have managed to hang on to the last few weeks of things, via me being a giant bitch and demanding it. Here's the thing ladies... Men aren't mind readers, sometimes you have to tell them up front what you want and how you want them to deliver. Aka: "I'm here for one more week and I want you to be a part of it.... No No... That wasn't a question. Just a statement."

It worked. We're all hunkey dorey... at least until he realizes that it's soon a matter of days before I'm gone, rather than the matter of weeks...

A few nights ago, he cleared time in his busy schedule to come over and take care of me. I've been sick forever, it seems. He told me that I've been the only one for a while now, which might have been the nicest thing he's ever said to me. Man Friend isn't really into complimenting, and for some reason, I'm OK with that most days... until he gives me one, and then I'm like a chocoholic at Jenny Craig... I need more....

So there I am, fishing for more, when he says: "Don't worry, you'll find lots of idiots like me in your life..." He's right. I will. But for now, he's one of my favorite idiots.

In fact, I already have. Way back in February, I think about a week after I met Man Friend to begin with, I met this American Boy...we will call himmmm..... Tido.* So, I showed Tido around my city. He was three months into a year long tour around the world, and started with Europe. The first thing I did? I took him for a good old American Burger at an Irish pub. Totally the opposite of what my city is all about, but he loved it. We talked politics over beer**. There was definitely a connection of some kind, but he only had 7 hours in my city before his train left, so it was ill-fated and not even attempted. (At least by me... he tried to get off the train and stay for a few more days... which I had to nix).

Anyway, He emailed me in July and asked if I could meet him in Greece for a weekend at the end of his trip. I immediately called my friend, H. And told her that we were going to Greece while she was here. She didn't have that much of a problem with it.... strange... I just don't say no to first dates in Greece. It's a personal philosophy of mine.

So, Tido and I are meeting in Greece on the 16th for four days... to see "if there's anything there". Unless something unseemly happens.... see: An affair to remember. Sad movie.





POLITICS

I recently received a comment on a previous post, from Geek in Pink.*** Which I will address right now. Geek in Pink writes:

Interesting post. What is your position on Harper's relationship with Bush? Also, do you think that if Obama is elected that it will effect the outcome of Canada's election?

1. Thank you! Although "interesting" is one of those terms that you can use to describe something as ridiculous and useless without actually coming out and saying it.... buttering me up with compliments is always a good strategy, just for future reference.

2. My position on Harper's Relationship with Bush: My first inclination is to say: "What relationship?" Ever since Bush shafted Canada by breaking protocol and visiting Mexico first, we haven't really been all that into him. (That's not true... Canadians have ALWAYS thought he was a douche). Harper has definitely entertained Bush the way that is undoubtedly expected in terms of a Canadian Prime Minister entertaining the president of the United States, but I would not venture to say that he has a "special relationship" with Bush beyond that.

Harper is definitely not Tony Blair, who was in Bush's back pocket, and he's also not Gordon Brown who has made it his utmost goal to NOT be in Bush's pocket.

In my personal opinion, Harper probably views their relationship the same way most Canadians do: Like that annoying aunt or uncle that you are required to invite to Christmas dinner. Sure, they give you a few hundred cash as a Christmas present, which you enjoy, but sometimes you really wonder if it's worth the nuance of having to listen to constant criticisms about your center piece. In the end, you invite them again next year.

3. No. I don't think that if Obama is elected, it will change the outcome of the Canadian election. Mainly because the Canadian election will be held a month before the American election.

I also feel strongly that Harper called the election before the American election because if John McCain wins, Canada is screwed regarding Arctic Sovereignty, and he needs a majority government to be able to do anything. And, if the Liberals win (highly unlikely), then he can wash his hands of any responsibility. Such is the bane of a minority government, you take all the responsibility for everything that your opposition wont let you do.

What about you? What do you think?

KK.

* I don't know why we're calling him Tido.... it just came to me. So highly unrepresentative of the actual guy

** Another thing I learned this weekend is that I can NOT shut up when it comes to Politics. It's sad and disgusting and I need to learn to just shut up!


*** I LOVE comments. Leave more.