Why won’t you look at me, John?

Click here for a series of photos of Senator McCain not looking at Senator Obama during the debate last night:

I think Angry Black Woman nails it:

Not so long ago in this country — within McCain’s adult lifetime, though not Obama’s — white men did not look at black men, except to order them around or warn them off white women. They did not address black men directly if they could help it — and if they had to, it was never done in a way that might suggest respect. Black men did not look at white men either, because that was the shortest path to death; a black man who dared to look a white man in the eye was “uppity”. Didn’t know his place. Needed to have a lesson taught him, usually with a bullet or a length of rope. Even today there’s a certain kind of white man — usually older ones from the South or from wealthy backgrounds — who still won’t accord a man of color the simple courtesy of looking him in the eye. They’ll look everywhere else, address “the air” rather than the person, and get progressively more irritated if that person doesn’t back off and go away.

The whole post is excellent; read it all.

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An Intersectional, Reproductive Justice Feminist Response to LaBruzzo’s Sterilization Plan

bfp has posted a talking points response to John LaBruzzo’s racist, misogynist suggestion to end poverty by sterilizing poor women.  The response is from the Women’s Health & Justice Initiative and the New Orleans Women’s Health Clinic.  

I’ll post a couple of paragraphs but you should really go read the entire document.

The sterilization policy currently being advocated by Representative LaBruzzo is a blatant form of reproductive violence and population control policies of blame and disenfranchisement, rooted in this country’s long and continual history of eugenics. The legislation and criminalization of black and poor women’s bodies, sexuality, fertility, and motherhood are being used as regulatory tools for economic and ideological justification for eugenics. If Mr. LaBruzzo is really concerned about ending poverty and reducing social burdens on the state, he would not be advocating punitive social polices that restrict women’s reproductive autonomy, but instead would be focusing his attention on ending corporate welfare and holding the corporate giants of Wall Street accountable for the disastrous state of the country’s economy.

***

According to LaBruzzo, the solution to ending poverty in our society is to control and regulate the fertility and sexuality of black women – not the creation of comprehensive programs to improve health care access, our education system, housing affordability, and employment opportunities in the state. His plan pathologizes the reproductive capabilities of Black and poor women by proposing legislation to exploit the economic vulnerability of those who are socially stereotyped as burdens on the state.

***

The low-income women of color LaBruzzo feels so comfortable scapegoating for Louisiana’s economic conditions are those who support Louisiana’s economy by doing its low-wage work. When LaBruzzo goes to his office, these women clean it; when he goes to a restaurant, they wash the dishes; and when he stays at a hotel, they turn down his sheets. Rather than this mean-spirited attack, he should call for an increase in the minimum wage that would make it feasible for poor women to survive economically.

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RBOC* about being on the road

* random bullets of crap

You know how, back in the winter months, your calendar for 3 seasons ahead looks all empty and pristine and everything seems possible?  Even though school will be starting and you know what that is like – what with the getting the syllabi together and meeting new students and getting classes going and re-reading or at least skimming the texts and getting new readings and finding out what’s wrong with your classroom and – oh – teaching a new class with new texts and….   So you know that is going on.  But you look at the calendar with all those lovely blank spaces (because you don’t write down all that school stuff – okay maybe you do but I don’t…) and you say – hey – I can go to that 4 day meeting and I can facilitate this event over here and I can present at this thing and oh, sure, I can do that.  And then, in the middle of August, you look at your calendar and scream.

 

But today I am home and thus ends the madness that was August 28 – September 27. 

 

Herewith – RBOC about being on the road.

 

• I have written it on the syllabus, and announced to students every week in every class that I would be gone from this date to this date, so if you need to meet with me do it before this date.   Because I will be gone.  As in not on campus.  As in not able to meet with you.  So why the string of emails last week from people needing to meet with me – during the week I was not on campus?   (Although I had a lot of travel over those 4 weeks, I missed only 2 days of classes – lesson plans were still in place and assignments still due while I was gone.)

 

• All that writing I was going to do while on the road?  Not so much.

 

• All that grading I was going to do?  See above.

 

• The staff at the Enterprise car rental place in Philadelphia is tops.  They were friendly, efficient and knowledgeable.  They made me happy. 

 

• The Cleveland airport is sorely lacking in electrical outlets, at least in the D concourse. 

 

• Everybody everywhere needs to give me free wifi. 

 

• I don’t mind if people walk slowly or stop and gab with their friends in the airport.  But, uh, could you folks move to the side so those of us that have a flight to catch can get by?  Just saying. 

 

• People, the earbuds mean don’t talk to me.  Seriously.  And when I answer your question by saying simply “yes” or “no,”  or acknowledge your comment with a quick smile and then look back down at my book, with my earbuds in, by the way… this is a social cue that means “not interested in talking now.”  No, for real.  That’s what it means.  (okay, I really think I’m a nice person… I just don’t talk to people so much in airports.  Okay, other places too.  But really!  I’m a nice person!)

 

• The cats welcome me home:

 

Little nervous cat:  Mama!  Mama, you’re home! Let me wind myself around you one hundred – no!  two hundred times.   Let me lick your arm.  Again.  And again.  I love you, Mama.  Why did you go?  Oh!  You know that game we play where I race to the middle of the room and flop on my back and look so cute and precious that you have to scratch my belly?  Let’s do that!  Again!  And again!  Oh, Mama, don’t ever leave me again.  No one scratched my belly while you were gone, Mama.  Well, it’s true I spent most of the week hiding under the bed… but if they really wanted to scratch my belly, they knew where it was.  Ok, Mama, please scratch.  Now. 

 

Big laid back cat: Heeyy!  What’s happening?  Dude, you were gone?  For a week?  Daaannng.  Well, welcome home, dude – how’s about some kibble while you’re up?

 

And now later tomorrow – grading.  

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Because it’s Saturday and my brain hurts but this makes my brain feel better….

It’s like that. (yes… on the surface everything I hate…. but it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.)

Video not playing? Click here.

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Ohio Campus Vote Corps Needs Help

Opportunity for young folks who are between jobs, flexible and wanting to be involved in the political process in Ohio.  They are looking to hire 50 people.

 

 

Work for Obama and the Ohio Democratic Party!

Apply NOW for the Ohio Campus Vote Corps

The Ohio Democratic Party is launching an exciting new program: Ohio Campus Vote Corps.
We are hiring an incredible team of organizers to register and turn out the vote on Ohio campuses and youth-heavy areas.

Send a resume, 3 references, and how you heard about this IMMEDIATELY to ohobamajobs@gmail.com.

Start date: Monday, September 29 in Columbus, Ohio. We will hire until full.

Early voting in Ohio starts September 30 –YOU can make the difference!

Ohio Campus Vote Corps will support campus organizers to:

• Talent scout, recruit and help coordinate campus organizers
• Talk to and register unlikely voters and get Early Vote commits
• Build crowds for campaign events
• Push Early Vote to achieve our Get Out The Vote goal

Requirements

• Enthusiasm, energy, organized, strong work ethic
• Bridge-builder who works well with all types of people on campus
• Begin on or before September 29 in Columbus, Ohio
• Ability to talk to all types of young people for 10+ hrs a day
• Willingness to work 14 hrs/day- 7 days a week
• Able to work anywhere in the state, as assigned
• Committed to electing Barack Obama
• Handle your own transportation to and from Ohio

Compensation

• Paid positions
• Supporter housing provided
• Small gas stipend (if necessary)
• Cell phone provided (if necessary)

If we are not able to hire you for a full time position with the campaign, we still want and need you! We need thousands of volunteers and will provide supporter housing. Please visit http://oh.barackobama.com/cometoohio to volunteer.

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