After an enlightening conversation with a close friend, I have realized I have more to say (shocking, I'm sure). Two things have become apparent to me, through this conversation:
1. I am not as good at articulating myself as I would like to think I am, especially on political matters when analyzing from a gendered perspective
2. I am not ready to give up trying to do that yet
So let me clarify a few things (or at least give that a stab). The answer to the title of my blog post is both yes and no. Yes, I always have to be a "feminist", in the sense that I view the world the way I do, and will never give up on the idea that women and men should be given equal opportunity to thrive in the world (nor do I think anyone was suggesting I should). I don't apologize for seeing the world the way I do and although it may be overwhelming to you that I always seem to be thinking about it, trust me-its more overwhelming to me.
But also, no. I don't always have to take the path of feminist analysis. Do I always have to watch a TV show or read a cartoon or see a movie and immediately think of the ways in which the authors gave an unjust gendered portrayal?! Of course not.
I could just as easily read a political article in a daily periodical and look at it from a realist perspective-and analyze the power dynamics of the article, leaving gender completely out of the equation.
However, my fascination with the world around me, specifically with the political world around us, lies at the juncture of gender and politics. I'm particularly interested in the ways in which gender, etc. manifests itself in political matters. I'm also interested in pointing out these perspectives in an article when its not obvious or prevalent in that article. Isn't that the point of a good analysis? Is to point out what the quick scan of the article may have missed? And this is why I choose to take the gendered perspective when looking at articles. Its why I have a blog with the word feminist in the title.
And I'm also interested in conveying these perspectives in a non-threatening way that doesn't make me sound like I'm constantly ranting. I don't want to be written off because my perspective is always the feminist perspective that seems out of touch or extremely biased. I will say that I think that in any article, in any interaction, in any political situation, there are intersecting identities at work and at play, and the situation can be viewed and analyzed from different angles. I think its a valid point to raise that of COURSE there are different perspective besides the one I choose. And my struggle-the struggle for anyone with a strong minority perspective-is to articulate a new perspective in a way that at least makes people see the topic in a new way. Even if they disagree and even if, ultimately, they decide that you're wrong. And the struggle is to find the balance between staying true to my perspective while acknowledging that the world, and the reality in which I live, are at odds from time to time.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Celebrating the Death of a Killer: Vindication or Irony?
So, Osama bin Laden is dead. He was killed in a US attack on his Pakistani compound late on Monday, and since I don't believe in conspiracy theories, I actually believe that he's dead, and the US has buried his body at sea.
After listening to commentary for 2 days, hearing about celebratory riots in the city and feeling altogether uncomfortable with the entire reactionary scene to Osama bin Laden's death, I feel compelled to write on it.
I read an article in the New York Times this morning about many people in the New York area who had family killed on 9/11, and how celebratory they were that the murderer who plotted against their civilian family members is now dead. They rejoiced and felt closure. In some ways, I can not imagine the pain that they have gone through, or the vindication they must feel, having myself never lost a friend of family member to the hand of another. And I do understand that Osama bin Laden has been Public Enemy #1 for years and years, and there was no other option (for our national security sake) than to kill him. And I agree with that. And I commend the entire Intelligence Establishment (CIA, FBI, Military Intelligence, Pentagon and other organizations) for finding bin Laden. I'm know that it was no easy feat (considering it took 10 years) to find him and kill him, and know that it must have taken efforts by Pakistani intelligence and forces as well as US forces.
I will also say that I wouldn't expect more of most people than to celebrate bin Laden's death. I don't think too highly of the "American public" (whoever is actually represented in that!), and think of the general citizen as pretty uninformed. People are not all that insightful, or reflective, and so therefore I understand how they might see this death as revenge. They are unable to see past the ends of their own noses (or outside of the borders of our own country), to understand a larger context of this event.
So let me give it to you, then. The larger context of this event, that is.
First of all, Osama bin Laden's death does not mean the end of al Qaeda, of terrorism in general, or anti-American sentiment throughout the world. Yes he was a figure in the extremist world and had influence, money and clout-but he is still only one man. In addition, many think that this death will cause reactionary attacks. I am skeptical of the logic that brings us to that conclusion, but that is another post entirely.
Second of all-and most importantly-I want people to understand that looking at the big picture, and I'm talking biiiiig picture, like as big as it gets. We all have to inhabit this Earth together, for an indefinite amount of time forward. Rejoicing in the death of another is not only counterproductive to our own survival. Weshould be must be concerned about what world conditions led us to the place where American is hated by approximately 1/3 of the world population (rough estimates here), and how we can go about changing that. Our foreign policy for the past 11 years has unilateral, preemptive and militarily driven. Its time to take a step (or two) back from that, as I think Obama has in some ways, and reevaluate the importance of cooperation, negotiation and concern for the global community, and not just our own.
In addition, are we so disconnected that we have forgotten our humanity? The grim fact is that yes, Osama bin Laden had to die as part of our "War Against Terror" (as utterly non-descript that "war" is). But we should not celebrate that fact. We should acknowledge that it is the reality that we live in that the world is not at peace-although we should try to get there, and STAT. This is not a crusade and we are not entering a Clash of Civilizations, even if Samuel P. Huntington says we are. We are all citizens of a global community and our goal here is to further the human race, not destroy it.
Professor Tristan Borer of Connecticut College, posted a poignant quote via facebook yesterday, that successfully articulates the irony I am struggling to articulate:
should be must be better than that.
"An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind"- Gandhi
After listening to commentary for 2 days, hearing about celebratory riots in the city and feeling altogether uncomfortable with the entire reactionary scene to Osama bin Laden's death, I feel compelled to write on it.
I read an article in the New York Times this morning about many people in the New York area who had family killed on 9/11, and how celebratory they were that the murderer who plotted against their civilian family members is now dead. They rejoiced and felt closure. In some ways, I can not imagine the pain that they have gone through, or the vindication they must feel, having myself never lost a friend of family member to the hand of another. And I do understand that Osama bin Laden has been Public Enemy #1 for years and years, and there was no other option (for our national security sake) than to kill him. And I agree with that. And I commend the entire Intelligence Establishment (CIA, FBI, Military Intelligence, Pentagon and other organizations) for finding bin Laden. I'm know that it was no easy feat (considering it took 10 years) to find him and kill him, and know that it must have taken efforts by Pakistani intelligence and forces as well as US forces.
I will also say that I wouldn't expect more of most people than to celebrate bin Laden's death. I don't think too highly of the "American public" (whoever is actually represented in that!), and think of the general citizen as pretty uninformed. People are not all that insightful, or reflective, and so therefore I understand how they might see this death as revenge. They are unable to see past the ends of their own noses (or outside of the borders of our own country), to understand a larger context of this event.
So let me give it to you, then. The larger context of this event, that is.
First of all, Osama bin Laden's death does not mean the end of al Qaeda, of terrorism in general, or anti-American sentiment throughout the world. Yes he was a figure in the extremist world and had influence, money and clout-but he is still only one man. In addition, many think that this death will cause reactionary attacks. I am skeptical of the logic that brings us to that conclusion, but that is another post entirely.
Second of all-and most importantly-I want people to understand that looking at the big picture, and I'm talking biiiiig picture, like as big as it gets. We all have to inhabit this Earth together, for an indefinite amount of time forward. Rejoicing in the death of another is not only counterproductive to our own survival. We
In addition, are we so disconnected that we have forgotten our humanity? The grim fact is that yes, Osama bin Laden had to die as part of our "War Against Terror" (as utterly non-descript that "war" is). But we should not celebrate that fact. We should acknowledge that it is the reality that we live in that the world is not at peace-although we should try to get there, and STAT. This is not a crusade and we are not entering a Clash of Civilizations, even if Samuel P. Huntington says we are. We are all citizens of a global community and our goal here is to further the human race, not destroy it.
Professor Tristan Borer of Connecticut College, posted a poignant quote via facebook yesterday, that successfully articulates the irony I am struggling to articulate:
I am distraught to think that this quote falls on deaf ears. The reason why American so desperately hated Osama bin Laden is because he was exactly what this quote details-a killer who joyfully celebrated killing. In order that we maintain our humanity and in order to continue striving towards a more peaceful world, we
"An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind"- Gandhi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)