My friend Ken sent me this link to an article about anti-feminism in the Bengali community.
The logic of multiculturalism has made it hard for these thugs to be challenged. Multiculturalism treats immigrant communities as homogenous blocks, represented by elderly, reactionary “community spokesmen”. It has created the bizarre situation where the often-great feminist Germaine Greer has ended up siding with the patriarchal protestors as the keepers of authentic Bengali culture against the carping feminists. Yet in reality, immigrant communities are diverse, clashing cacophonies like everyone else. As the great Amarya Sen has been arguing, we should ditch the outdated idea of multiculturalism and support the progressive wings of all and any communities.
Read the whole thing.
Those speaking out in beautiful voices about civil rights betterments and courage (as well as unnecessary cycles of violence/oppression in wars or in domestic violence) will not be silenced.
“The disease of religious fundamentalism is not restricted to Bangladesh alone and it must be fought at every turn… I am convinced that the only way the fundamentalist forces can be stopped is if all of us who are secular and humanistic join together and fight their malignant influence. I, for one, will not be silenced. “
Excerpt from the preface of Lajja (Shame) by Taslima Nasreen
http://waf.gn.apc.org/journal6p53.htm
The above link provides a most most moving and fascinating read. Strong writers like here are heard and supported.
It is no small coincidence that (while empire-lites roar and fundamentalists rage) police defend free speech selectively, cannot guarantee the activists’/artists’/feminists’ security or freedoms … and even encourage people to stifle themselves in the face of fundamentalist rage, as was the case during the uproar over the Mohammed Cartoons.
The “norms” battle, those of empire-lites and other fundamentalisms do, and both paint multiculturalism and civil rights activists in one huge smeary smudge of “them.” Vicious cycle. Polemics are … tricky things.
Bush/Blair emphasis frequently switches from terrorists to extremists — and extremism is conveniently loosely defined as any deviation from what they strive to portray as “the norm.” People work hard on norms. They make useful weapons. Remember that post of yours a while back in which that female politician revealed that she has been abused earlier in her life, and other politicians plotted to use that against her? She was one of those uppity bitches, yes? Speaking out and breaching their “comfort zones” (norms of abuse), she was.
One might say that the disease of strident norms entwines with the disease of religious fundamentalism and of empire-lites. Of course, it affects feminism!
We have lifted out of dark ages before though, haven’t we?
Women’s Right’s is bad for men.
What have us men gotten from women’s rights? Marital rape laws (an Irish man was just jailed for 6 years for raping his wife), domestic violence laws, easy divorce laws, child support laws, etc etc etc.
http://mikeeusa.blogspot.com/
https://cat2.dynserv.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=43
Death To women’s Rights.