Just reading a post on Shakesville (http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/07/feminism-101-your-underdog-lovelorn.html) about the way potential rapists can hijack our romantic cultural assumptions for their own devices. Rather chilling was a romantic movie trailer displayed with an ominous soundtrack. Very interesting. Makes us question. Keeps our eyes open. But, it's sad, really, that even sweet romance might be leading us astray.
Always makes me hanker to go back to when life was simpler. When life was simple, we trusted our politicians, our institutions, our police. Ah, yes. I look back with wistful tears to when life was simple: Spring, 2010. Before the G20 meeting in Toronto. Before we understood that about 1,000 folks could be incarcerated illegally simply for being on the street. Before we knew that folks could be shot, beaten, verbally abused, thrown in cages, denied basic rights and respect. Oh, those were the days, eh? All the way back in May.
I wonder what I might have done had I understood beforehand that I could not trust the politicians, the institutions, or the police. Folks, until about sixty days ago, I wouldn't have believed that a story like this one (http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/alex/2010/07/woman-shot-g20-police-speaks-out) was possible. Not in the fair City of Toronto. Not in Canada. No.
So, I am resolved to have no romantic cultural assumptions of any kind. I will not aid and abet a potential rapist, just because he has a great story of romantic love and is carrying a bouquet of flowers. And my respect for politicians, institutions, and the police remain but it is no greater than I would respect, say, the McDonalds Corporation or Walmart. Eyes open.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Nice Review for Who's Under Where
"...the perfect way to send audiences off this summer." Read the whole review at http://www.wordsnimages.com.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Knowing how to cap a well.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontog20summit/article/835075--conservatives-say-no-to-summit-security-probe
So, the Conservatives have said 'no' to an inquiry into what happened at the G20 in Toronto. No surprise, but definitely a clue to what lies deep in the Tory backrooms. Sad that it's so dark. It's like they've left their well uncapped and a black slick, as toxic and life threatening as the oil slick in the Gulf, is starting to ooze over over Canada.
The only thing that will cap this well is knowledge. The public needs to know who was behind all these questionable decisions, where the mistakes were made, what was done and not done. It is our right as a people to define what we deem acceptable in our country and not the right of a chosen few, operating behind closed doors, 'blackwashing' laws, rights, and personal dignities.
Like BP and the Gulf, we, the people, are ultimately responsible for what happened on our soil. It is up to us to make our leaders accountable. And just like BP, knowledge is the key to fixing the problem. To formulate a strategy for capping any out of control well, you need to know where the problem started in the first place.
So, the Conservatives have said 'no' to an inquiry into what happened at the G20 in Toronto. No surprise, but definitely a clue to what lies deep in the Tory backrooms. Sad that it's so dark. It's like they've left their well uncapped and a black slick, as toxic and life threatening as the oil slick in the Gulf, is starting to ooze over over Canada.
The only thing that will cap this well is knowledge. The public needs to know who was behind all these questionable decisions, where the mistakes were made, what was done and not done. It is our right as a people to define what we deem acceptable in our country and not the right of a chosen few, operating behind closed doors, 'blackwashing' laws, rights, and personal dignities.
Like BP and the Gulf, we, the people, are ultimately responsible for what happened on our soil. It is up to us to make our leaders accountable. And just like BP, knowledge is the key to fixing the problem. To formulate a strategy for capping any out of control well, you need to know where the problem started in the first place.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Polanski, a chalet, and a get out of jail free card...
I wonder if the Swiss were ever really going to take the US extradition request for Polanski seriously. The movie director wasn't held in prison, you see, but had been released to house arrest in his chalet in Switzerland. Life must be like a game to Polanski. Has he ever paid for this crime?
Clearly, the world is telling us that this lamb sacrificed on the alter of pop creativity is justified. So, of course, let him be released to his chalet. We wouldn't want him to feel discomfort or hang around real criminals. And anything he wants...including more thirteen year old girls, I suppose...can be brought straight to his door. An important man like him should be comfortable.
And he doesn't have to worry about losing this game. His target (the thirteen year old he raped so many years ago) appears not to be important enough for society to bother. Besides, it's her fault for being so gorgeous, anyway. So. She's his 'get out of jail free' card.
Must be nice. I'd say I'd love a 'get out of jail free' card (something that exonerates me from any one specific crime I choose to commit on children) but the thought of it makes me sick.
Clearly, the world is telling us that this lamb sacrificed on the alter of pop creativity is justified. So, of course, let him be released to his chalet. We wouldn't want him to feel discomfort or hang around real criminals. And anything he wants...including more thirteen year old girls, I suppose...can be brought straight to his door. An important man like him should be comfortable.
And he doesn't have to worry about losing this game. His target (the thirteen year old he raped so many years ago) appears not to be important enough for society to bother. Besides, it's her fault for being so gorgeous, anyway. So. She's his 'get out of jail free' card.
Must be nice. I'd say I'd love a 'get out of jail free' card (something that exonerates me from any one specific crime I choose to commit on children) but the thought of it makes me sick.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
New Website
Finally dawned on me that my life has changed considerably in the last ten years. So, I have redone my website to reflect that change. This site will be updated as I start new projects or as I finish them. Go ahead and have a look. http://www.wordsnimages.com.
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