If life is poor, nasty, brutish and short, it is only that for those who aren’t in their ivory towers. And they are the ones who make sure that they (and their ilk) stay there. At this critical juncture, guess who gets to suffer the lives of hell on earth….
If life is poor, nasty, brutish and short, it is only that for those who aren’t in their ivory towers. And they are the ones who make sure that they (and their ilk) stay there. At this critical juncture, guess who gets to suffer the lives of hell on earth….
Hobbes wanted to prove that a central, hierarchical authority was necessary, so he described life without such an authority as "poor, nasty, brutish, and short." My personal opinion is that what really saves men in general from living nasty, brutish, and short lives is *women*. In the U.S. the life expectancy of men started declining as women started focusing on their own well-being and that of their children if they had any -- but this couldn't happen until women had better access to credit, employment, etc. I do believe that this is part of what the backlash against abortion rights is about.
And I watched it happen, being older than dirt. Women having agency over their choices was the Everest of our existence. And I so appreciated it, after seeing how powerless my mother was all her life. School, work, and a wonderful husband gave me freedom to choose my path. The efforts to reverse our gains make my blood boil. I am especially livid with women who have gained power and seek to diminish the power of other women. And I absolutely treasure men who see women as equal partners and worthy humans.
Unfortunately, if you go back in women's history you'll see that those women who "seek to diminish the power of other women" have been around for a long time. They were leaders in the anti-suffrage movement -- Elaine Weiss's THE WOMAN'S HOUR, which focuses on the fight to ratify the 19th Amendment in Tennessee, the 36th and final state, is really good on this. Being not quite older than dirt (73 in June), I got to see Phyllis Schlafly in action. The anti-choice women had the nerve to name one of their organizations after Susan B. Anthony.
Not unlike them are the Black people (usually but not 100% men) like Clarence Thomas who throw their lot in with the oppressor because that's where the power, the money, and (they think) the prestige is. A Black person in the GOP can trade on his (usually his) token status the way Black people in the Democratic Party (many of whom are women) can't, because there are so many stupendously talented people of color in the Democratic ranks. Think of poor Tim Scott in the U.S. Senate. Or Nikki Haley, a woman of color, for that matter.
I remember Phyllis. Wrote many letters to editor of Houston Chronicle about her ridiculous idea of a vision of a woman’s life. I saw the life my Mom lived, a hard, powerless existence. But one she rarely complained about, but taught her four daughters to want more. We did. My bros learned to respect her and us, and hopefully their partners. She has no idea that she was such a powerful role model. You are so right about Clarence and his ilk. My Mom would count for a million of him.
What I dislike most about Schlafly and most of these other right-wing women is that they see themselves as exceptional. Do they follow their own advice about women's role? They do not. Schlafly had six kids. She was on the road much of the time they were growing up. Nuff said.
Ashley Montague, the anthropologist, insisted that "it's the function of women to teach men how to be human" so that human life is not nasty and brutish. (See, even there a man puts the onus on us.)
Aha, thanks! I'd forgotten that. Decades ago I read, and was infuriated by, Montague's NATURAL SUPERIORITY OF WOMEN. That's exactly what I took away from it. (IIRC it came out in the early '50s.)
I have a bro who is in a nursing home in Pasadena, CA. He went there for a conference ages ago, got sick and never was able to leave. He retired from Library of Congress and still has his “marbles,” but when he was sick, state took custody. Weird happening. Good news and bad. Thanks for reminding me that I need to chat with him. BTW spent a lot of time in Pasadena, TX. Now very red, sad to say
If life is poor, nasty, brutish and short, it is only that for those who aren’t in their ivory towers. And they are the ones who make sure that they (and their ilk) stay there. At this critical juncture, guess who gets to suffer the lives of hell on earth….
Hobbes wanted to prove that a central, hierarchical authority was necessary, so he described life without such an authority as "poor, nasty, brutish, and short." My personal opinion is that what really saves men in general from living nasty, brutish, and short lives is *women*. In the U.S. the life expectancy of men started declining as women started focusing on their own well-being and that of their children if they had any -- but this couldn't happen until women had better access to credit, employment, etc. I do believe that this is part of what the backlash against abortion rights is about.
And I watched it happen, being older than dirt. Women having agency over their choices was the Everest of our existence. And I so appreciated it, after seeing how powerless my mother was all her life. School, work, and a wonderful husband gave me freedom to choose my path. The efforts to reverse our gains make my blood boil. I am especially livid with women who have gained power and seek to diminish the power of other women. And I absolutely treasure men who see women as equal partners and worthy humans.
Unfortunately, if you go back in women's history you'll see that those women who "seek to diminish the power of other women" have been around for a long time. They were leaders in the anti-suffrage movement -- Elaine Weiss's THE WOMAN'S HOUR, which focuses on the fight to ratify the 19th Amendment in Tennessee, the 36th and final state, is really good on this. Being not quite older than dirt (73 in June), I got to see Phyllis Schlafly in action. The anti-choice women had the nerve to name one of their organizations after Susan B. Anthony.
Not unlike them are the Black people (usually but not 100% men) like Clarence Thomas who throw their lot in with the oppressor because that's where the power, the money, and (they think) the prestige is. A Black person in the GOP can trade on his (usually his) token status the way Black people in the Democratic Party (many of whom are women) can't, because there are so many stupendously talented people of color in the Democratic ranks. Think of poor Tim Scott in the U.S. Senate. Or Nikki Haley, a woman of color, for that matter.
I remember Phyllis. Wrote many letters to editor of Houston Chronicle about her ridiculous idea of a vision of a woman’s life. I saw the life my Mom lived, a hard, powerless existence. But one she rarely complained about, but taught her four daughters to want more. We did. My bros learned to respect her and us, and hopefully their partners. She has no idea that she was such a powerful role model. You are so right about Clarence and his ilk. My Mom would count for a million of him.
What I dislike most about Schlafly and most of these other right-wing women is that they see themselves as exceptional. Do they follow their own advice about women's role? They do not. Schlafly had six kids. She was on the road much of the time they were growing up. Nuff said.
Just another hypocrite.
A hypocrite who's decided what side her bread is buttered on.
Hope she choked on it before she went to her "reward."
Ashley Montague, the anthropologist, insisted that "it's the function of women to teach men how to be human" so that human life is not nasty and brutish. (See, even there a man puts the onus on us.)
Aha, thanks! I'd forgotten that. Decades ago I read, and was infuriated by, Montague's NATURAL SUPERIORITY OF WOMEN. That's exactly what I took away from it. (IIRC it came out in the early '50s.)
Jeri, I’ve come to appreciate you more and more over the years from your comments. Keep ‘em coming!
Thank you, MaryB of Pasadena. So appreciate your kind words. Are you Mary B of CA or TX, or .??
California. I've lived here all my long life.
I have a bro who is in a nursing home in Pasadena, CA. He went there for a conference ages ago, got sick and never was able to leave. He retired from Library of Congress and still has his “marbles,” but when he was sick, state took custody. Weird happening. Good news and bad. Thanks for reminding me that I need to chat with him. BTW spent a lot of time in Pasadena, TX. Now very red, sad to say