Capital P

[eumelia]

I wrote this on yellow pad paper in my cafe, I really need a lap top, since every time I'm inspired to write down my thoughts I'm desperately seeking a pen and paper.

I'm becoming increasingly frustrated living in America.
Not including the beautiful Yanks I've spoken to here and met IRL, most of the Americans (that I've come in contact with who are not my friends) are annoying.
Everything here is so extreme, there's no in between.
I also see why America rules the world.
America wants Power. Capital P.
And this Power can only be equated with Imperialism; A legacy the British left and that the Cold War perfected.
America is again an isolationist nation.
Only instead of the Capitalist Nukes vs the Communist Nukes it's the Capitalist Christian God vs the Anti-Capitalist Muslim Allah.
Is this a news flash? Of course not, anyone with a modicum of insight can see this.
There is nothing new under the Sun.
Ecclesiastics is as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago.
But all the rivers that run to the Sea are polluted and sick.
As are we all.
America is not out to Smite the Infidel! It's out to make a Profit (Another Capital P).
It's not about Good (us) vs Evil (them), it's about, that's right, Power.
The one with the most toys wins.
America is a child with a whole lot of toys.

Who am I to criticize? I figured since everybody else was doing it I'd join the bandwagon.
I believe I have a different perspective.
I am not an American.

I am a Consumer.
A big one.
I like consuming.
I enjoy clothes, food, television and Hollywood movies.
What I don't enjoy is having what I having what I enjoy bastardized and used in order to "Progress Under-Developed" countries.
I like Nike shoes.
I positively dislike sweatshops in Indonesia.
I like my Old Navy tank tops.
I abhor slave labor in China.
I like meat, I'm somewhat of a carnivore.
I do not appreciate the fact that my food is abused, stuffed with chemicals bad for it and me, having it chopped up and ground up with additives and them distributed a la drug cartel to mega supermarkets that treat their employees like shit and then told it's good for me!

Three Words.
What. The. Fuck.

Indeed, what the fuck?
What am I, a young Queer Israeli Jewish Woman, to do?
As a consumer I contribute to the problem, in Israel as well - Globalization in like a cancer -and in America especially, I'm still living here at the moment.
I'm good with some things; I am no longer a slave to the feminine hygiene industry - and just as an aside: why is there no masculine hygiene section? How is a dick cleaner than a cunt? There are no extra sensitive wipes for that "special place" for men against the sweaty smell, or anti sac wrinkle cream. Is that Too Much Information?! Well, it shouldn't be!
It pisses me off that I am put into a position that just because I have a vagina which happens to do more than a penis I am considered dirty!
I'm feeling another "what the fuck?!" coming on.
I have boycotted McDonald's.
I hate Starbucks.
I can no longer eat in Burger King.
Still I am a consumer.
It's a big deal.

I believe in the paradigm of "The Personal is Political" (indeedy, more Capital P's).
What we eat, what we wear, how we become updated on current events (whatever events they may be) what we say; it all reflects what we really think.
Words, deeds and thoughts are disconnected in our culture.
Because it is a culture of "Want, take, have" - Yes I'm channeling Faith her.
It is clear in the way those in Power treat the Public (and another P). It is clear in the Powerfull treat the Powerless.
In this culture - not just American, but Western and all the cultures the West has invaded and infected with its corruption - the Powerless are not helped.
They are used and abused.
They are Raped.
Violence is not the disease.
Is is a symptom of an insidious sickness.

How Political am I?
I don't know.
I'm working on it.

Comments

[orcabee.livejournal.com]

Wow. I have sooo much to say about this. In a good way. :D Here goes:

America is not out to Smite the Infidel! It's out to make a Profit
-Hence the Iraq war. The Bush family is in oil. Saddam was getting in the way of the oil. "Let's pretend he has "weapons of mass destruction" so we can go in there and get the oil".

-Gas has been prohibitively expensive for many Americans. Dick Cheney was CEO of Halliburton, a huge oil company/ He's sitting on his millions while doing nothing about the many Americans who can't afford to DRIVE TO WORK!!!

-Let's drill the actic reserves. "Who cares about, oh, the stupid animals and global warming already happening?" It's MONEY!



the Powerless are not helped.

-Hurricane Katrina. Had the residents of te areas affected been wealthy and white, they gov't would've absolutely made sure everyone was out of there and had proper shelter, etc

-if the US is so powerful, why are we sitting back picking our noses while genocide occurs in Darfur?

-why did the US wait till the last minute before liberating concentraion camps in WWII?

About consumerism- I think it's almost impossible to NOT be a consumer unless you go live like Henry David Thoreau. My grandfather owned a pharmacy for 30 years. It was bought out by CVS. Family owned businesses that don't support corporate "big brother" are extremely hard to come by. I think that awareness of this is more than half the battle. Most people are just blind consumers. Also, if you try to buy things that were not the result of slave labor or animal abuse, they're usually extremely expensive to most and the people who can actually afford them are ironically the worst consumers- the entitled rich ones who in fact contribute to these very problems. Every time I fill my gas tank, more money goes in the pockets of oil execs, yet I don't have the money to redo my car's gas system to accomodate vegetable oil. So I really think that in most cases, consumerism is not a choice.

And seriously, why is cunt smell taboo, yet sweaty ball smell is almost never spoken about?

Ok I have more to say, will continue later.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

So you enjoyed reading it, obviously since you're contributing! Oh such fun!

[orcabee.livejournal.com]

definetely!

[lifeofresearch.livejournal.com]

Melody, first you are an excellent writer and my thoughts here are to empower you to make a real change in the world. As a beginning, I would suggest you read these two books. "A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn. He writes from the perspective of the people not a perspective of leaders as other history books. The next book is "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by John Perkins. This book explains how the things you talk about in your post happen. My suggestion is to read Zinn's book first. Thanks for your well written and thought out post and I do hope you take my suggestion seriously.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you for these suggestions, I happen to have a gift card for Amazon, I'm sure it'll come to good use :)

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Yup, nothing good has ever come of western civilization.
2800 years of nothing but death, destruction and despair. ;)

America and the west have not a single redeeming quality.

I'd MUCH rather live in a world where I am uneducated, unable to express myself, have no hope of bettering myself or my loved ones.

(removing tongue from cheek)

However, I think that if more "Powerless" vote for American Idol than do for congress... then the "Powerful" have every right to ignore them.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I think the Powerfull have a responcibillity to educate and teach the Powerless that their influence actually means something.
In Israel it's easy since everyone has five opinions about one issue and our country is itsy bitcy and you really got to live under a rock in order not to be aware of the issues.

The way politics is constructed here makes the Powerfull aloof and not a part of the cultural identity the Powerless expirience.
If the Powerfull actually showed an active interest in the people they so call represent that just in their agendas and progressing their own careers in Washington DC then there would actually be a change here.
I have yet to see any kind of co-opiration between the State Governers and between the represntatives of the State in the House and the Senate.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Yup, nothing good has ever come of western civilization.
2800 years of nothing but death, destruction and despair

When looked at the perspective of the places that were invaded and colonized, then yeah kinda.
Yes indeed, the Winner and the Conquerer is the writer of History, making most of history Western and Male, but we are living in interesing times and one has to seek out alternative points of veiw.

Don't you agree.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

And yet... Somehow America is the most Powerful (and male, in your opinion) country in the world... please explain the paradox :)

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Are we living in interesting (political) times? Perhaps, but what does that have to do with seeking out alternative points of view.

First, a truism I believe in - one of the main(if not the only) purposes of society is to advance it self.

My point of view (i.e. technology/science IS the proper way to progress) suited me up to 11/09/01 and up to the time Bush was elected and both Gulf Wars were fought and etc... I don't see why it shouldn't continue to suit me.

Unless you're telling me that either:
1. Progress is Not A Good Thing (tm) - I disagree...
2. Progress would be done better by a non-western society. In this case, the burden of proof is on you, my dear, not me :)

Please note that where you write Western and Male, I consider the proper expression Western and Strong.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Because the Excecutive branch does what it wants, not what the people want.
If opinion polls are to believed at least.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Didn't I write that I like consuming and you know very well that a Luddite I am not.
I take great pleasure in everything progress has brought, I'm big on progress.
I can't prove that progress would have been conducted better by a non-western society, I don't know enough social history all I have is speculation and a dislike of America ;)

Are you saying that Might is Right? And that American corporations have the right to exploit Africa's natural rescources and use the people of south-east Asia as cheap workers?
That it's in America's best interest to make sure that the genocide in Darfur remains as destructive in order to get at central Africa's huge amount of recources and make sure the AIDS ridden people of South, East and West Africa don't get the medicine they need?
Is that what you're saying brother dear?

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhh....

So what you're saying is :
A. America is a representative of western civilization.
B. You don't like certain acts of America.
Therefore:
C. You don't like western civilization.

'Scuse me, but I don't see how you jumped to C from A and B.
A is (IMO) a truism.
B is a truism, for a given value of "certain acts"
C is throwing the baby out with the dirty water.

As for Might makes Right, you misunderstood me.
You said Western Civ. is the history of victorious men. I'm saying that it's the history of the victorious strong - women are welcome. IF they're strong enough to stand the heat...

//Wearing asbestos NOW. :)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Notice the icon.
You have made me angry.
If I had a Bruce Banner changing into the Hulk icon I'd use it right now.

I am critisizing Western Civilization not just it's recent atrocities but its history as well, I don't see why I shouldn't if I want to.
America currently, through acts of war, globalization and money-lending, rules the world.
Most of the poeple I know, which I'm sure you are one of, do not like "most acts" America has perpertarted on recent History.

As for Might makes Right, you misunderstood me.
You said Western Civ. is the history of victorious men. I'm saying that it's the history of the victorious strong - women are welcome. IF they're strong enough to stand the heat...

//Wearing asbestos NOW. :)
You better be.
Robbie, are you telling me it's women's fault that until the the first two decades of the 20th century women were not allowed to vote and were basically relegated to being owned by either their fathers or their husbands.
Are you telling me women are not victimized, pais less, thought of as "weak" and that they are considered raging balls of hormones and that any time a woman shows a modicum of assertiveness she is called a "bitch".
Because if so... I suggest you read a tiny bit more histort and actually pay attention to the women around you.

[hemlock-sholes.livejournal.com]

Whoa there :)

First point : You can criticize all you want, but if you jump to conclusions without setting out the groundwork - besides kneejerk responses, don't expect much sympathy from me.
Of course America is doing plenty of VBT (Very Bad Things), but:
1. Is Sweden? New Zealand? Canada? Corsica? Luxembourg? Chile? The population of Antarctica? as far as I know, they are also representatives of Western Civ...
2. Are Japan, China, Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Easter Island, Ethiopia, etc.. all paragons of virtue? Can you honestly say that if they hadn't been caught napping by the West that the world would be a Better Place(tm)?

All I'm saying is, Hate the Sin (Americas actions), don't hate the Sinner (Western civ.).
Don't forget all the Good Acts America (and americans) is doing too.

Second point : Who said ANYTHING about placing fault on anyones step?
What I'm saying is that women are not unique.
* handicapped, physically and mentally
* people of different colour/race/etc
* people of different religion
* poor people
All these people did not get their "piece of the pie" at various points in their nations history.
Yes, there are problems with women's place in society. NO, it is not unique. It might be the biggest discrimination problem (51% of the population) but I fail to see why it is unique.

By the way, I'm not sure that the women's place in 1920 was not better in the US than the untouchable caste/Dalit/Harijan's place was in India...

As for the way women are seen - Where I work women are NOT paid less, not thought of as weak, not considered a bitch when she show any assertiveness (unless the same amount would make a guy a bastard).
Victimized? What do you mean?
Am I living in a bubble? Cut off from the rest of the world? Imagining things? Perhaps, but I think you're enjoying having a Righteous Rage ;)
And really, kitty - I think I read enough history :)

Anyway, please calm down...
How am I going to enjoy my time with you in the US if you're hospitalized for high blood pressure? ;)

There, are there any buttons left unpressed? ;)
//extracting tongue from cheek...
Love you,
see you soon!

Is there a time limit on commenting? I'm slow

[roie-m.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I'm slow. But I do "got something to say", as you so eloquently put it.

Seriously, I agree with most of what you say - which is, admittedly, nothing new. But I was going to ask, how the fact that you are "a young Queer Israeli Jewish Woman" has anything to do with it? From what I know of you (not much), it seems that you insert those few bits of trivia about yourself in places where I don't see why it matters. I'd love to understand.

Secondly, I think the main reason why there are no extra-sensitive wipes is because "that place" on a male can just be wiped off with a towel. Now, I'm not a very sweaty person in general, so I may be off on this, but that's what I do. With women (and I must admit I know nothing about feminine hygine), I have been led to believe that you have to actually push something into your body - and that something had better be sterile if that is the case.

One more thing: You obviously consider your vagina to be very, very special (http://melody-kitty.livejournal.com/80186.html) (one of the first entries I read by you, linked from hagar_972). How can you justify complaining about the need to treat it specially at the same time?

Re: Is there a time limit on commenting? I'm slow

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I will answer your questions in the order you write them:

I like inserting bits of trivia about myself because basically this is my blog and I want to. Period. Nothing to do with anything. I just like letting people know who wrote this if they haven't read stuff I've writtem before.

The reason there are no sensitive wipes for males is because the hygine industry is targeted towards women who are considered, historically and culturally unclean. It is quite sufficiant to dry myself off with a towel and no you do not need to push anything inside in order to clean it. Barring any infections, you never need to clean inside there.
A penis is just as "dirty" as a vagina and they are pushed inside women all the time... very much not sterile.

I do consider my vagina special, most women either have no feelings towards it or think they're dirty.
Phallus worship is abundant.
Yonic worship no so much.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Since you recommended two books for me I thought I'd do the same for you, I know since you're working you probably don't have as much time to read, but these books are very readable.
They're both by and autheress named Inga Muscio and they're also social commentary.
Her first book is "Cunt: A Declaration of Independance", second edition since it's more updated and has more info in it.
And "Autobiography of a blue-eyed devil: My life and times in a racist, imperialist society"