Genderless Baby?

My Aunt recently posted a link to this article on Facebook, commenting "Whether you agree or disagree, it certainly gives one pause to think."

I agree with her. I really can see both sides, but I'm not sure whether or not I can choose one yet.

For the longest time I also said that I would like to raise my someday child in a genderless way. It would certainly piss my Mom and Dad off, but it would be a neat social experiment too. I like the idea of letting my child choose their gender identity. I also believe that announcing a child's physical sex to the world and then showing them that they can choose their gender identity sets a child up to feel odd in the world if they choose to go against what everyone else is reinforcing.

However, I can also see the logic in the assertion that not making a choice is also a choice. The kid would also get flack for not announcing its identity...

This one is so complicated. I'm really looking forward to hearing other view points.

Social Justice: 7 Days a Week

So my blogging worlds occasionally collide, creating a kind of supernova of bad-ass, go-get'em, power-to-the people, feelings inside of me. I also, inevitably, have to share my supernova moments. Therefore, dear AOC bloggers, here's a gem of a blog (I wish I had written) I stumbled across today entitled "My privilege and me":

http://dcnstrct.wordpress.com/

Glamour's "Tell Somebody" Campaign

This is an interesting article I read in the May issue of Glamour magazine. I think it does a decent job of coaching young women on how to support their friends who may be experiencing dating violence. I'll be curious to hear your thoughts too.

One thing I really struggle with is how effective a message like this can be in a magazine so focused on a very narrow image of women...It's something to ponder, for sure.

http://www.glamour.com/tell-somebody/2011/05/relationship-violence-the-secret-that-kills-4-women-a-day

~Abby~

What does being an activist for peace really mean?

I was checking my facebook last night and noticed that comments about Osama bin Laden's murder filled the page.  I would say 90 % of the comments were somewhat celebratory, along the lines of "he got what he deserved" or "finally Osama is dead."

I must admit that I felt quite uncomfortable with those remarks and the general happiness and excitement that people were expressing about this man's death.

Yes, I know, he did many many terrible things against humanity.  Terrible, awful things that caused pain and loss for many people.  There is no excuse or "right" reason for any of those things.

I wondered why I feel so uncomfortable with celebrating his murder. 

I would like to consider myself to be an activist for peace.  That means I believe in the world without oppression and violence.  I believe that for everyone, not just for innocent or "good" people. 

This exact issue was brought up to me at one of the presentations I was at a few years ago.  The presentation was about death penalty and how it relates to doing a DV work.  We were asked one important question there: "Can we support death penalty when we're working against violence?"  How is it that we OK (or even encourage) use of violence to "punish" those who have committed an act of violence?  Are we saying no to violence against certain groups of folks, but not others (their abusive partners in this case)?  What does it really mean to work for non-violence?  Do we hold different values personally and professionally?

Post 9/11, the overall message was not to grieve the loss or reflect on the relations we have within ourselves or with others.  I heard a lot of "good vs. evil" talk, increased suspicion towards people who are or seem to be Muslim, and the world won't be a safe place until these evil-doers are dead.  It is a real-life version of the movie "America: the World Police"

I don't know anyone who was directly affected by the terrorist attack on 9/11.  I can't say how I would feel about it if I had lost someone then.  However, I wanted to take a moment to think about it and hope it would give you a food for thought.

I found a column that addresses this phenomena pretty accurately in my opinion.  Check it out!!  http://www.salon.com/news/osama_bin_laden/index.html?story=%2Fpolitics%2Fwar_room%2F2011%2F05%2F02%2Fosama_and_chants_of_usa