Fan Mail

So, the other day I got this hate mail in my facebook inbox.

"Are you aware of the 10 commandments? God doesn't make exceptions they are as stated. How can you conscientiously volunteer for a company that promotes abortions? What part of murder do you not understand!"

Okay, here's my beef. While I am extremely grateful for the hate mail (after all it means I'm doing something right), I am disapointed with the lack of originality. I don't mean to complain but this is super predictable. By the way, what ARE the Ten Commandements? Is it more than just a movie? Weird.

Also, where was this person when Dr. Tiller was murdered? I didn't hear her complaining when HE was MURDERED! Does she NOT UNDERSTAND?????

I thought a lot about whether or not to post this but I decided to because 1)this is insanely dumb and 2) come on people. This is why I do what I do. This fuels me to be a voice that says this is NOT Christian and so far the only hate mail I've gotten is from people claiming to be Christians. Just saying.

The "Christian Hipster"

Ladies and gentlemen, there is a new epidemic sweeping the nation known as...the Christian Hipster. For those of you not aware, a Hipster is a twenty something skinny jean wearing, coffee drinking, and knit cap wearing man or woman. Please do not confuse them with Emos. They recycle and enjoy listening to The Decemberists and sometimes Vampire Weekend.

The Christian Hipster is different because he wears skinny jeans for the Lord and comes off as this really attractive sweet young guy who happens to play guitar on top of his aspirations to be a youth pastor.

Christian Hipsters appeal to teen girls because they are the men teen girls want to date/end up with and they teach teen guys how to behave. Christian Hipsters come from all denominations but always fall into my favorite category of...WASP.

Please BEWARE of their false charm seeing as how they have a lot to say with very little follow through. That is all.

Ode to Sully

I literally think that I would follow Sully (from the acclaimed 90s drama Dr. Quinn) anywhere. I realize that might not sound super feminist but it’s honest and Fridays should be all about honesty. Sully is some kind of beautiful and knows his way around the woods, mountains, etc. He builds a house and is a feminist partner for a feminist gal. Plus, he meditates and is a peace maker. I love me some Sully. There was one episode specifically where Dr. Quinn was pretty upset (she took an axe to her barn and screamed uncontrollably for days) after an entire Native American tribe was executed by soldiers.
Did Sully try to “rescue” her and make everything better? No. He knew she had to do this on her own and he made this crazy awesome speech about how Dr. Quinn is independent and blah blah blah. It was beautiful…like the man giving it. When the apocalypse comes, I'll strap myself to Sully and feed off the land! So in honor of this long holiday, please watch some Dr. Quinn and the oh so feminist Sully.

Television

One thing I often struggle with is the television I watch. I really enjoy television and it has been with me my whole life. However, with this magical gift, comes a debate that I often have with my fellow activists and other well intended folks; can you watch shows that undermine your beliefs? I have met some feminists who can’t turn off their radar and others who can (and happily do). I’ve also met tons of Christians who really control what they watch (not in my household).
So what can you do? I do think some things are just not worth watching. However, other satires such as Family Guy or Always Sunny in Philadelphia can seem to actively work against my ideals when they’re actually supporting them. And when Family Guy decides that rape is funny and should get a ten minute segment, I turn it off (I don’t know if you heard but there’s really nothing funny about rape…okay, besides Bed Intruder).
I have a friend who really enjoys watching Twilight and at the same time understands how bullshit it is. I once had an instructor say that she loves to hate Rescue Me and let’s not even get started on the Buffy debate. I do think that we’re living in a world where we’re taught not to question what we’re watching and just chalk it up to mindless entertainment. Perhaps the way to combat this is not censorship but instead mindful watching. When we watch these things, we can have a dialogue about them with friends, classmates, children, etc.
Or, we can take a break and watch Law & Order SVU knowing it’s problematic and not caring for an hour out of our lives.

Deadlines!

Okay boys and girls, today my blogging is limited due to a deadline for a Twilight piece that I have to write! Woohoo! But I am nowhere near done so let’s all think extra good thoughts for Nomes and her writing ability today 