Happy day-after-International Women's Day. It seems that many men spent this day celebrating impressive gains in taking away women's control over their own bodies.
Recently Virginia governor Bob McDonnell signed a bill into law that will mandate the violation of women who might want an abortion, as I mentioned in an earlier post. I suppose the pro life movement believes it's beneficial to enforce the violation and pseudo-rape of women, since they apparently can't make good decisions for themselves; as Governor McDonnell says, the law "can help the mother make a fully informed decision." Violation for information - is this really the best plan pro-lifers have to educate the population about abortion? No, this effort is meant to cure a symptom, not a cause. The law will not prevent conditions that make the abortion choice occur, only making the choice more difficult to make.
There has to be an agenda other than preventing abortions. Perhaps pro life legislators are frustrated that they can't outlaw abortions outright, or perhaps they really do think these outrageous mandates will save a life or two.
In Arizona the pro life movement went farther and the goal should be clear as day. The state senate has passed a bill allowing doctors to withhold prenatal issues from patients, also sparing them from potential lawsuits when such issues arise. Senator Nancy Barto, the sponsor of the bill, claims that the "wrongful birth" bill is meant to prevent doctors from being held liable for birth defects that they have no control over. But the main issue, we see again, is abortion prevention. The lawsuits the bill aims to prevent are those that "can arise if physicians don’t inform pregnant women of prenatal problems that could lead to the decision to have an abortion." This time, it seems a lack of information is the pro life movement's answer.
Even more disturbing, this bill allows doctors to withhold information regarding potential "life threatening issues such as an ectopic pregnancy which often requires an abortion to save the life of the mother." Therefore women may be left in the dark about "a life threatening condition until they die
on the emergency room table" completely legally, denied care that could have saved her life. In other words, women (and fetuses too) will die if this bill passes, all in the name of saving the unborn.
How has the pro life movement come to the point where it ranks one life (that of the fetus) above another (that of the mother)? Who are they to decide that a woman's life isn't as important as her baby-to-be's?
Again, I don't think the main aim here is to prevent abortions. The main aim is to prevent women from having any control over her own sexuality, reproductive process, and body. This Arizona bill is blatantly sexist, marginalizing the life of women and mothers to the point of declaring them expendable. It argues that our society would be better if women died from a lack of information than if they were able to make informed choices. On the Virginia side, society would improve if we violate, bully, and humiliate women towards making the choice legislators want them to make - Governor McDonnell didn't sign any legislation increasing funding for women's health education in his desire to help women "make a fully informed decision." It's as if he believes information is useful for women if it's used to intimidate them, but not if it's empowering. All in all, it seems that the pro life movement is partly after saving the lives of fetuses and partly after helping men to take ownership of every aspect of womanhood until women have nothing left for themselves.
Right now I am deeply ashamed to be a man.
Now I must mention the possibility that the Arizona bill is the product of ignorance - perhaps the far right doesn't know how dangerous it really is. I say this because I doubt Senator Nancy Barto, the female sponsor of the bill, is trying to pass legislation that is sexist towards women. However, the Arizona Senate is comprised of 12 women compared to 20 men (this link has all their email addresses if you want to write and complain!), so it's certainly possible (I think probable) that at least a few of its supporters voted for it because of its sexist agenda. Perhaps it's not so overt, but it's there.
Normally the Republican party has been much better about keeping its sexist (classist and racist, too) in code. That's part of the reason that Rush Limbaugh's latest rant has received so much attention compared with the many other inflammatory remarks he's made - the debate about birth control coverage in health care plans has revolved around its relationship to religious freedom rather than government-subsidized sex life. It's too easy to draw sexist implications from the latter argument because of how male size enhancers are also covered but not controversial. Either way, the decision to take birth control is seen as too important for a woman to make by herself, or, conversely, if birth control is made available then of course women might take it and possibly explore their sexuality. Ever since birth control first hit the market it was seen as a way for women to gain an excess of sexual freedom, while men felt uncomfortable that they no longer controlled women's sexuality. Obviously this sentiment is still playing out today. Did Limbaugh's epithets show the right's true colors? Maybe. Regardless, the right seems to effectively be using code language, such as pro life (better: pro some life) and religious freedom (better: freedom to discriminate), in order to marginalize women.
So I hope you all enjoyed International Women's Day yesterday. Hopefully next year it won't be at such a bleak moment for women's rights.
P.S. In lighthearted news: my camera lens is fixed! I'll be able to take zoomed out pictures again! Oh, the joy!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Facebook Photo Page
For those of you with Facebook accounts, I have an announcement: I just opened an artist page where I will post new photos and make announcements about my projects and events. It should be a fun experiment. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/photographys.p.arrow
http://www.facebook.com/photographys.p.arrow
Monday, March 5, 2012
Above Multnomah Falls
A few days ago I took advantage of the recent snow and climbed up into the mountains of the Columbia River Gorge in search of snow-covered winter wonderland. There I came face to face with the fact that I am really not used to the existence of snow, being a California boy, and I'm confused by its properties. For example, it is white. Therefore photographing rivers in a snowy forest requires completely different camera settings than I expected. Plus it didn't help that my favorite lens is in the shop and I only have my zoom lens to rely on. But I still came away with some gems. Let's see how they turned out!
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| Multnomah Falls comes from the sky. Courtney and I came with an out of town friend a couple foggy days before my hike to the top. I tried using her Canon camera. It was a very unpleasant experience. |
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| A small cascade tumbles along Multnomah Creek |
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| A tree watches over the creek. |
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| The river tumbles over some fallen trees as it makes its way down the mountain |
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| Weisendanger Falls, about 50ft tall, is watched by both the living and the dead foliage. The flow of water over the edge resembles that of furrowed brows, a strange and elegant rock formation. |
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| Ferns stand guard at a side creek along Historic Highway 30 |
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| Looking out at the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, you can see the effects of a recent snowfall and the heavy cloud cover of winter. |
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| A panther lurks in the river just above Multnomah Falls. |
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| Take the plunge! |
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| Courtney points something out to her friends on Benson Bridge overlooking Mulnomah Falls. |
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| A shapely seasonal cascade along Historic Highway 30 |
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| Multnomah Creek |
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| Upper Multnomah Falls, plus winter. |
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| The panther returns! This time with 3-seconds exposure. |
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| The forest above the falls |
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| Drawing snowy lines in the water |
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| Weisendanger Falls, with a graceful 1/8 second exposure, my favorite shutter speed yet for this beauty. |
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Belated List
Seeing that it's March, I feel like it's time I put out my list of top 10 CDs for 2011. Because I was in Turkey for almost half of 2011 I believe that I have earned the right to be 2 months late with this. Seeing as today is March 4th, it's time to move ahead with whatever is making me feel stuck. happy March Forth, everyone!
Speaking of which, I have a new publication to announce: my short story Cliché Central has been accepted for publication in The Torn Page, a fiction anthology affiliated with the literature magazine Empirical. It should come out later this month, and when it is I'll drop off a link on the blog with more information about it. Keep your ears peeled!
And now, for top music:
1) Tune-Yards: "Who Kill" - It's hard to choose a number one for this year. There were a lot of good CDs but none that really jump out as really amazing. But I felt that this strange indie rock record had some special innovations, a good arc throughout all the songs, and a couple of single-power songs.
2) Bill Callahan: "Apocalypse" - This neo-folk CD is filled with poetry sung by a deep and earthy voice. The songs are all very intricate, combining aspects of folk music with more modern techniques to create a challenging hybrid.
3) TV on the Radio: "Nine Types of Light" - If there were only a single song that stood out this CD would be number 1. My favorite active band combined the new clean sound they've adopted with popularity with their gritty vocal harmonies that made their best records great.
4) SBTRKT: "SBTRKT" - Half of this record is the best music that came out all year. "Never Never" is a song that challenges the way one hears rhythms. With a masterful command of double time, this DJ combined with an adequate lineup of singers to create some valuable dub pop compositions.
5) Foster The People: "Torches" - Most everyone has heard "Pumped Up Kicks," so you know how the rest of the record sounds: just imagine re-writes of that viral song with varying degrees of catchiness.
6) The Roots: "Undun" - Rap with classic verse-chorus form and well-written hooks with an interesting storyline told backwards.
7) Donny McCaslin: "Perpetual Motion" - Holy smokes, a jazz CD! There's a lot of energy on this tenor player's compositions that leave proper room for improvisation, form, and funk.
8) Paul Simon: "So Beautiful or So What" - Paul Simon's lyrics are always great, and here he produces musical compositions to with them that I think I should describe as "nifty." He takes a risk or two as well, starting with a fun Christmas song and ending with the most powerful and positive message. The record wouldn't work any other way.
9) Tom Harrel: "The Time of the Sun" - It was a hard choice between this and "Ninety Miles" featuring my former teacher Stefon Harris. But this recording is more cohesive, features more interesting compositions, and displays a more connected band dynamic from one of the warmest trumpet players out there.
10) Tinariwen: "Tassili" - Even though I much prefer this African group's CD "Aman Iman: Water is Life," "Tassili" offers some interesting surprises, including guest appearances by a brass quartet and the two singers from TV on the Radio. Also, it was recorded in the African desert, an interesting touch that doesn't come through the speakers very well.
And now: here's a sneak peek at what snowy beauties you can expect from posts to come:
Speaking of which, I have a new publication to announce: my short story Cliché Central has been accepted for publication in The Torn Page, a fiction anthology affiliated with the literature magazine Empirical. It should come out later this month, and when it is I'll drop off a link on the blog with more information about it. Keep your ears peeled!
And now, for top music:
1) Tune-Yards: "Who Kill" - It's hard to choose a number one for this year. There were a lot of good CDs but none that really jump out as really amazing. But I felt that this strange indie rock record had some special innovations, a good arc throughout all the songs, and a couple of single-power songs.
2) Bill Callahan: "Apocalypse" - This neo-folk CD is filled with poetry sung by a deep and earthy voice. The songs are all very intricate, combining aspects of folk music with more modern techniques to create a challenging hybrid.
3) TV on the Radio: "Nine Types of Light" - If there were only a single song that stood out this CD would be number 1. My favorite active band combined the new clean sound they've adopted with popularity with their gritty vocal harmonies that made their best records great.
4) SBTRKT: "SBTRKT" - Half of this record is the best music that came out all year. "Never Never" is a song that challenges the way one hears rhythms. With a masterful command of double time, this DJ combined with an adequate lineup of singers to create some valuable dub pop compositions.
5) Foster The People: "Torches" - Most everyone has heard "Pumped Up Kicks," so you know how the rest of the record sounds: just imagine re-writes of that viral song with varying degrees of catchiness.
6) The Roots: "Undun" - Rap with classic verse-chorus form and well-written hooks with an interesting storyline told backwards.
7) Donny McCaslin: "Perpetual Motion" - Holy smokes, a jazz CD! There's a lot of energy on this tenor player's compositions that leave proper room for improvisation, form, and funk.
8) Paul Simon: "So Beautiful or So What" - Paul Simon's lyrics are always great, and here he produces musical compositions to with them that I think I should describe as "nifty." He takes a risk or two as well, starting with a fun Christmas song and ending with the most powerful and positive message. The record wouldn't work any other way.
9) Tom Harrel: "The Time of the Sun" - It was a hard choice between this and "Ninety Miles" featuring my former teacher Stefon Harris. But this recording is more cohesive, features more interesting compositions, and displays a more connected band dynamic from one of the warmest trumpet players out there.
10) Tinariwen: "Tassili" - Even though I much prefer this African group's CD "Aman Iman: Water is Life," "Tassili" offers some interesting surprises, including guest appearances by a brass quartet and the two singers from TV on the Radio. Also, it was recorded in the African desert, an interesting touch that doesn't come through the speakers very well.
And now: here's a sneak peek at what snowy beauties you can expect from posts to come:
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Freedom To Discriminate
Remember when Herman Cain published an article claiming that Jesus was the original capitalist and concluding that government should abandon the poor?
Remember how Rick Perry claimed that homosexuals should not be allowed to openly serve in the military because it infringes on religious freedoms?
Remember the Michigan anti-bullying law that religious conservatives amended, allowing bullying to continue if the bullies have religious reasons? Remember how they achieved religious exception for bullying gays?
Remember when Rick Santorum told a gay man that his relationship has no intrinsic value to society? Remember how he said women in combat could compromise missions? Remember when he said that millions of Americans, including President Obama, aren't really Christians because there's no such thing as a liberal Christian?
Remember how the Virginia state legislature passed legislation requiring women who want an abortion to look at an ultrasound of the fetus first, an ultrasound only obtainable in most cases by probing women's vaginas, in order to preserve the "sanctity of life"? In other words, legalized violation similar to rape?
Remember how some pharmacists refuse to sell the morning after pill to rape victims because they're so pro-life? And others who won't sell birth control at all?
Remember when legislature was proposed in Georgia that would make it illegal to have a miscarriage?
Remember when Prop 8 passed in California in 2008, still in the courts today and still denying rights to same sex couples?
Attention social conservatives:
The religious right is not fighting for the right to free religious practice. It is fighting for the right to discriminate against other in the name of religious practice. The right to establish and practice religion as specified in the first amendment does not give the right to persecute others with religious freedom as the excuse. It does not give you the right to do whatever you want simply because you are religious.
Remember how Rick Perry claimed that homosexuals should not be allowed to openly serve in the military because it infringes on religious freedoms?
Remember the Michigan anti-bullying law that religious conservatives amended, allowing bullying to continue if the bullies have religious reasons? Remember how they achieved religious exception for bullying gays?
Remember when Rick Santorum told a gay man that his relationship has no intrinsic value to society? Remember how he said women in combat could compromise missions? Remember when he said that millions of Americans, including President Obama, aren't really Christians because there's no such thing as a liberal Christian?
Remember how the Virginia state legislature passed legislation requiring women who want an abortion to look at an ultrasound of the fetus first, an ultrasound only obtainable in most cases by probing women's vaginas, in order to preserve the "sanctity of life"? In other words, legalized violation similar to rape?
Remember how some pharmacists refuse to sell the morning after pill to rape victims because they're so pro-life? And others who won't sell birth control at all?
Remember when legislature was proposed in Georgia that would make it illegal to have a miscarriage?
Remember when Prop 8 passed in California in 2008, still in the courts today and still denying rights to same sex couples?
Attention social conservatives:
The religious right is not fighting for the right to free religious practice. It is fighting for the right to discriminate against other in the name of religious practice. The right to establish and practice religion as specified in the first amendment does not give the right to persecute others with religious freedom as the excuse. It does not give you the right to do whatever you want simply because you are religious.
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