|
Rhiannon. Revolts. It's that simple.
7/27/2004
Chapter the Twenty-Ninth: A Heart So Big, It Could Crush This Town In comments with the guys over at BP, I realized just how disgustingly liberal the Five Colleges really are, on matters that don't quite ring so true to my heart. Along with this comes the realization that they AREN'T liberal enough on issues that I do give a damn about. Per example: -Abortion. I'm not going to go into it here, unless people ask, but I have very few qualms about abortion, on a personal level. My only problems are affordability and availability, and that's something to fix. Yet, when someone posted recently on the Smith Jolt asking what issues were of most importance to young women in this political season, citing body issues and abortion rights as examples, some people chewed him/her/hir a new one. 'Women don't just care about their bodies!' Fine, maybe not. I care about other things--fair trade, the environment, the RIAA coming down on my ass. But frankly, I've gotta live in this body, so it's definitely a prime concern of mine. -Bisexuality. There's a rift between lesbians and bi women. At Smith, this rift isn't necessarily personal--hell, often it's not; but it can be. If anything, it's a definite political boundary, which sucks, seeing as a good part of the queer population IS bi identified. This isn't necessarily on an official or organizational level, but deep down, there's plenty of phobia on both accounts. If I hear the term BUG one more time, I will scream. I get enough of that at home, thank you. Case in point: A housemate of mine (A) was criticized by another housemate (B) behind her back. The latter housemate, who's the gayest gay elf to ever nance down the Science Quad (apologies to Cassie Claire), i.e. a BDOC, apparently said that Housemate A wasn't really bisexual because Housemate A is wicked femme. Frustration ensues on my part, because Housemate A doesn't know this was said, and this makes me upset with Housemate B, who apparently, I am queer enough for. As noted, this epitomizes the situation for me. -Trans/gender-variant issues. HA. The Valley's still not used to the trannies, and they generally refuse to be. Like a litmus test of the queer community, Smith freaks out about trans issues as a whole, and do it in the guise of wanting to protect the sanctity of this 'women's institution'. That, in my opinion, is one big cover for Not Wanting To Deal With Tough Subjects. The problem there is that these subjects are becoming an issue all over the world. Then, of course, we have the issues that many are disgustingly, self-righteously liberal about...namely who's a corporate whore and who's not. I admit it freely. I will get down on my knees and SUCK IT FOR THE MAN if it gets me a film contract. I want people worldwide to see my movies, and I'm willing to compromise on certain issues. I also freely admit that many corporations do Wrong Things. I do not support those Wrong Things. I just can't afford not to--you can buy me handmade fair trade tennis shoes, if you want. I don't have the cash. Why is compromise so wrong? Why is working from the inside, in a slow manner, so wrong? I don't know. But it's frustrating as hell to find one's liberalass self becoming a moderate in some forms and a pinko in others. And it's also frustrating as hell to find oneself giving up on a lot of issues because of the excessive focus on them that comes without results worth a shit. Anyhow, you may now ostracize me at will. Flames are not tolerated, as usual. I know where I'm morally bankrupt and where I'm not. Suffice it to say, I'm looking for issues that I can personally identify with to throw my back into. Otherwise, I'll have no time for myself, and I'll be spent. There is, after all, only so much one person can do. Entry title is referring to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' 'Walls (Circus)', incidentally. |
