Saturday, January 17, 2009

Our New Superhero!

Love it.

Thanks go to Ms. Magazine for offering a free Inauguration poster with a year's subscription. Too tempting for this feminist to pass up!

And yet, a friend of mine on Facebook just joined the group "My Father's last day," which is meant to celebrate George W. Bush's final day in office. The group description reads, "Say goodbye to 8 years of my father doing everything he could to try and make America a better place every day."

Instead of attending another celebration of yet another patriarch who's done very little for women, I'm going to join Ms. Magazine in welcoming the antithesis of a patriarch, and dare I say, a FEMINIST.

So polish your gender lenses, ladies and gentlemen. This superhero is sure to bring new sight for sore eyes.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Love your idea. Our subscription has lapsed, so I'm thinking of following your lead.

Regarding the FB group for Bush, I was listening to a show on NPR (I forget which one) the other day, and they were talking about Bush's last press conference and how he is still holding on to the memory of 9-11. I forget exactly how the host phrased it, but it was something along the lines of his administration still being very much in the same mindset that it was right after 9-11 happened. And, of course, in that speech he did say that he thinks the country still needs to be protected from outside threats.

I think the whole "daddy" group makes sense. Bush did what lots of fathers do. He made decisions "in the best interest" of his family -- you know, the woman and children who can't defend themselves -- and he followed that plan despite any protestations from those that he was protecting. He had to, right? After all, what do we know? We're just women and children.

I think that if nothing else Bush has left a bunch of fascinating conference papers for rhetoricians, and I'm not talking about his linguistic foibles. Those are fun, but I mean serious study of the way he framed discussions. He really shaped the way lots of people viewed the world. I have found it fascinating as someone interested in language and horrifying as someone interested in social justice and human rights.

As for Obama, I really hope he lives up to the Ms. cover. It's about dang time we had a president that did.

Rebecca Lauren said...

Thanks Hedge. Well said. I think you've clearly defined the nature of "patriarchy" in the way you describe the use of the term "daddy" in this case. It's just amazing to me that the sentiment of a man protecting the rest of us is still so freaking prevalent in this country.

Rebecca said...

Isn't one of Bush's daughters also named Barbara? Jenna and Barbara?

Rebecca Lauren said...

Wow, you are completely right! I don't know why my mind was only going to the elder Barbara. Sheesh.

Rebecca Lauren said...

I altered the above post to reflect R's comments. This paragraph that used to be there is now gone:

"This, in itself, is confusing. The host of the event is Barbara Bush. Wouldn't that make it "My Son's last day?" Not to mention the numerous questions I have about "doing everything he could to try and make American a better place..."

But I digress..."

Thanks R!