Can I Write Myself a Fan Letter?
I've been cruising through your comments this morning, and notice a pattern to those who would silence me. You hate my confidence. You hate that I am sure of myself and happy with what I am doing and certain about my positions. You hate that I have remained this way consistently without wavering. You hate that I am sure I am right in my defense of victims and my loathing of sexism.
As I muse these bizarre lines of attack, I realize that I don't hate those things about me. I LOVE them.
Yep, I do. I am sitting here this morning in my sunny nook, surrounded by flowers that friends brought over last night to celebrate life and fellowship and miracles, and I am smiling, not only with satisfaction over being cherished by so many people I admire, but by knowing that I want what I have, and I do not want what those who attack me have.
I do not want to be motivated by hate. I do not want to be forced to resort to condescension and ad hominem in order to defend my positions. I do not want to see men and women as natural enemies or opposites. I do not want to belittle and silence my enemies. I do not want to have only specious arguments about the allegedly specious nature of my arguments to offer as argument. I do not want to let fear disguised as anger motivate me to react defensively.
And so I will not. So that I can keep what I have. You are welcome to have it too, if you are willing to change.
Either way,
Peace.


Comments
Your blog is fantastic and I'm lovin' it. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Liz | May 4, 2006 06:33 AM
It's for you, babe. For some reason people who aren't interested in our path are spending their precious power trying to shame us. I don't care. I write for men and women like us who want a new way, a new pair of glasses, yes? I thank the universe for you and your support. It reminds me why I do this.
Posted by: Diana | May 4, 2006 08:56 AM
You are a twit. Your blog is insipid.
Posted by: k. pablo | May 4, 2006 09:15 AM
See above for excellent example! Who would I rather be? Not a real hard choice, is it?
Posted by: Diana | May 4, 2006 09:32 AM
Gut Seite! Sehr gut! Danke schoen fuer Information!
Posted by: Erotik | May 4, 2006 01:11 PM
Dr. Di - It's not "who you would rather be" but what your opinions and positions on issues are. Why do you feel all males are complicit in a single act of rape? How can you be an advocate and an academic at the same time?
I'm not questioning you - I'm questioning your worldview. It's not personal - it's an honest academic inquiry. It is independent of how you perceive yourself or your self worth.
Posted by: Chairman of the Board | May 5, 2006 01:09 AM
Chairman, she can hear you, she's not listening to you.
It seems with Dr. Di, everything is personal. She is a university professor! How dare you question her advocacy and academia.
Posted by: scott | May 5, 2006 11:57 AM
Sadly Scott, I know you are right.
Posted by: Chairman of the Board | May 5, 2006 01:23 PM
As far as I can tell from her posts and letters, Dr. Blaine's job is essentially to generate hypotheses (without stating their philosophical or ethical premises) and then cherry pick observations from pop culture that support her arguments. It essentially takes the same mental rigor as a racist using examples of minorities committing crimes to justify his or her world view - it's easy to find observations that fit your story, but correlation does not equal causation, and the counter examples are significant, but always ignored. Apparently, for Dr. Blaine it is easier to make the world’s problems into a struggle of men vs. women, whites vs. minorities, rich vs. poor because it fits her simplistic polarized view of reality and it is easier to write a book, paper or lecture about. In this way, she's no different than Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly - making a living off of the polarization of the world. There are many victims and perpetrators of injustice in this world - on that I think we can all agree. But Dr. Blaine’s insistence on making everyone either a victim or a perpetrator and then assigning blame based on their chromosomes, skin color, country of birth, perceived privilege etc., rather than on their INDIVIDUAL beliefs and actions, takes us further from a world where everyone can be free to be their “radical wonderful selves”, not closer to it. It is for that reason that I spend the time to be critical of her words.
Posted by: Quill | May 5, 2006 03:51 PM
Thanks for inviting us to repost this--I've done just that.
Posted by: Holly | May 7, 2006 06:28 AM
ciao! buon lavoro, gradisco il vostro luogo:) grazie
Posted by: Porn | May 28, 2006 04:22 PM
non potrei trovare le informazioni I state necessarie. Ora le ho, ringraziamenti..)
Posted by: Pagine gialle | May 29, 2006 02:30 AM
Luogo che bene informato e piacevole avete!!))
Posted by: Pizza | May 29, 2006 04:04 AM
dear Quill,
You wrote:
''Apparently, for Dr. Blaine it is easier to make the world’s problems into a struggle of men vs. women, whites vs. minorities, rich vs. poor because it fits her simplistic polarized view of reality''
isnt she saying exact the opposite?? i quote:
I do not want to see men and women as natural enemies or opposites. I do not want to belittle and silence my enemies. I do not want to have only specious arguments about the allegedly specious nature of my arguments to offer as argument. I do not want to let fear disguised as anger motivate me to react defensively.
and where did you read she was writing about all the problems in the world?
Posted by: sanna | June 30, 2006 12:59 PM
I have learned that the wonderful thing about the US(and the internet for that matter) is that everyone is free to express their own opinions, and moreover everyone is entitled to dissagree. However I feel ashamed when I hear or read someone shooting down someones beliefes with a simple insult. I don't know how Dr. Blaine feels but I beleive critisism should be welcome but only if it is constructive. I personally don't agree with her on all issues but I respect her beleifs and opinions.
Posted by: OpenMinded | July 1, 2006 01:42 AM
Dr. Blaine,
After having spent the majority of a lazy day reading your articles and posts, I am struck by how spiritual the tone of your discourse is.
It is to the shame of established religions that conviction like yours only seems to sprout in avant-garde ideologies like feminism. Your attitude, beliefs, self-image, and sheer love of life and death would literally move the world if you were an old-timey evangelist.
That probably isn't the sort of compliment you are really looking for. I am a religious person, something of a non-PC thing these days. I am simultaneously impressed by your views and saddened by your stated aversion to religion. By that I do not mean that you need religion, . . . I think religion needs more people like you.
Luke
Posted by: Luke S | July 1, 2006 04:22 PM
Luogo molto buon:) Buona fortuna!
Posted by: Fotografia | July 2, 2006 05:34 AM
Luogo interessante, buon disegno, lo gradisco, signore! =)
Posted by: Pompini | July 3, 2006 03:03 AM
luogo piacevole! Significo quello!
Posted by: Bologna | July 7, 2006 12:02 AM
luogo interessante, soddisfare interessante, buon!
Posted by: Giorgia Palmas | July 9, 2006 02:10 PM
Molto molto impressionato sono! Lavoro grande, yeah! [URL]http://www.ligabue.jeunespourleoui.org[/URL]
Posted by: Ligabue | July 9, 2006 06:35 PM