Andrea Dworkin

I am reading Andrea Dworkin's obituaries; ironically at the same time, I am listening to Ann Reed's Heroes (turn up the volume to hear the song; it's really moving). I have never read any of Andrea Dworkin's books and only some of her essays, long ago, but the trail of her thought--and the attacks of her critics--certainly permeates much modern discussion of feminism. I feel I want to say something to commemorate her passing, although I am hampered by my lack of specific familiarity with her arguments. I do know that if I read more of her work, I would have many issues with much of what she said. Still, I want to pay her homage for some of the things I have gleaned from accounts of her life story: she was a woman who had suffered greatly in many ways during the course of her life, but she used her experiences to add passion to what she felt was her life's work. She was attacked and vilified as much because of her appearance as because of what she said. She challenged us to examine our assumptions, and she was never satisfied with lies and evasions. As hard as her words were, she did force us to rethink both the status quo and our own assumptions. For that, at least, we must be grateful.

Rest in peace, Andrea. I did not see the world as you did, but perhaps that was inevitable. I didn't have the searing life experiences (thank god) which forced you to forge your opinions in the crucible of your own pain. You were a fierce warrior, and for that you deserve respect.

[And if you've never heard Heroes before and you listen to it now, what do you think of it? What hero(ine) names would you personally add? I guess I wouldn't add Andrea Dworkin to my list, but I would add Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Abigail Adams. Molly Ivins. Patricia Ireland. Faye Wattleton. And . . . um . . . let me get back to you on the rest.]

LiveJournal pictures

Here is a link to a compilation of pictures being uploaded at LiveJournal right now. It's mysterious, it's sexy, it's gross, it's funny, it's offensive. Some of it is certainly not worksafe (but you don't know moment-to-moment until you hit "refresh.") And it's never the same. [and be warned, if you have a dialup connection: it's also a bandwidth pig.]

Thanks to minnehaha for passing on the link.

Welcome to the mighty hunter

Our neighbor's cat, Greta, is sniffing around my office in a curious way. She is not panicked at her strange surroundings, being a basically friendly and level-headed cat who has known me on a casual basis for the past couple of years. She wanders away from the room for several minutes and then comes back and stares at me inquisitively, plainly thinking "No offense or anything, neighbor lady, but why am I here, anyway?" I am hoping that she will figure it out before long.

The mice are being very very very quiet.

I am not sneezing yet.

Fifty years ago today

The first polio vaccine was announced fifty years ago today. Thousands of Americans got polio, hundreds died, and thousands were condemned to lives of paralysis.

Last year there were only 1200 cases of polio world wide, and the hope is that it will eventually be totally eliminated.

THANK YOU, Jonas Salk.