Feminist Monday

I thought that was an appropriate graphic today. I've had so many arguments on FB with men who automatically assume that because I'm voting for Hillary Clinton I a) hate men and b) am voting for her entirely because she's a woman. It's gotten old--particularly since this is 2016 and not 1968. Misogynists really should find new arguments and insults. That shit isn't even remotely creative, let alone smart. That said, I'm not watching the debate tonight. I would normally. Tonight, I just can't. I'm suffering from far too much anxiety as it is to sign on for some more. I'm not the only one. Mind you, I'd love to watch the Donald's lies revealed. I'd love to see Hillary rip his throat out like a T-Rex on speed  with a law degree and a lifetime of debate experience. But that's not going to happen. Corporate news will continue to pretend that Trump is a valid candidate. (He isn't.) They're going to sit there with their thumb on the scale in an attempt to be 'fair and honest.' [cough] Hell, I can't even type those words without irony any more. They'll throw the Orange Blob of Hate soft ball questions and talk over Hillary. And if you want to know why I hate Reality TV so much, I'll point directly to the T man's campaign. Reality TV prepared you to swallow that self-serving, self-involved bullshit as legitimate and normal. What kills me is, when Obama ran for president Americans seemed to wake up to the obvious racism in the opposition's response. I know I did. It even made me aware of my own internalized racism. I changed. Many of people I know were changed. And yet, I don't see the same going on when it comes to Hillary. It's like misogyny is the hold out--the line into progressiveness that America just can't cross. Mind you, American racism is far from over--far, far from it. Holy crap, so very, very far. Maybe it's early yet? Maybe I didn't see the change around me as fast as I thought I did? Probably. It wouldn't shock me.

We need this change. We need a woman president. I hope like hell that one day soon we'll have a woman of color run and win. A gay man or woman? BRING IT. Trans? Hells yes! We need to rip out this seemingly absolute need for a white, straight dude in office. Enough is enough already. Straight, white men have had their shot. Time to share the power. Time for some representation of other groups. I do seem to recall 'No taxation without representation.' was a thing in this country. Women are 51% of the population in the States, and yet, we've only 21% representation in our government. It's time to change that. Mind you, the misogyny, racism, and hate won't end with this election. It's only going to get worse because the racist assholes now feel legitimized. Dangerous days are ahead. 

But I won't be watching the debates tonight. I have enough anxiety about this election. At this point, I take it personally when anyone says awful things about Hillary. It's just as bad when people tell me they'd rather vote for a libertarian because Hillary is "a run of the mill politician and as bad as a Republican." It's like they are utterly unaware that Johnson was a Republican until 2011. And yet, voting for Johnson is a stab at the Republicans because Hillary is supposedly more Republican than Johnson? [shakes head]

​And now links...

Today's video:

Literary/Entertainment: Who gets to write what? Steve Rogers: PR disaster.  Disney pulled that offensive 'Moana' costume and here's why it matters. The politics of pockets.

On the presidential campaign front: Hillary Clinton, an experienced candidate and all around bad ass. Hillary vs the Hate Machine: how Hillary became a vessel for America's fury. Trump foundation looks like a slush fund. The most graceful and dignified indictment of the US media you'll see in 2016. The progressive case for Hillary Clinton is pretty overwhelming. Bombshell campaign finance leak. Which political party has created more jobs? Attacks on Hillary Clinton's health reveal double standard. How Breitbart conquered the media. Karl Rove's handbook.

General: Federal bill seeks first Native American land grab in 100 years. My childhood was appropriate for children. Blackness in the white imagination has little to do with black people. Rolling Stone will censor a woman's nipples, unless that woman is trans. (I also suspect it has a great deal to do with whether or not the straight male standard perceives the nipples in question to be 'sexual objects'--which is utter and total bullshit.) Texas now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. Chew on that a moment. Tell me again about how all those attempts at shutting down Planned Parenthood via ridiculous surgical building requirements were all about the health of the mothers. New bill fights sexual harassment by going after professors' grant money. United Nations study finds women in US lagging behind in human rights. Riots are destructive, dangerous, and scary--but can lead to serious social reforms. Seth Meyers proves he's the anti-Fallon. Thousands of girls are being locked up for talking back or staying out late. Did that make me think of the Magdalen Laundries? (And thanks, Gareth, for that little chat on the subject at Worldcon. :)) Oh, hells yes it did. Women atheists are generally considered monsters. Appeals Court: Employees don't have the right to wear dreadlocks. And that's some racist bullshit right there. New Yorkers received a terrible emergency alert. Atlanta teacher's photos go viral.