In a message dated 2/22/1999 11:24:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I have been informed that I must apologize for defending myself when I,
words on a screen, was attacked as a racist by Nicole, other words on a
screen, on this list. Apparently a person of my complexion and gender is not
granted such a right, so I apologize, and will try not to wear that short
dress again. I have learned, however, that it is wiser, when confronted with
an atmosphere of sexist or racist intolerance, to attempt to "pass" as "one of
them" than to confess or admit my true sex and color. >>
I think that everyone can look back on our exchange and see that I posted
something with a query and you attacked me on it (re: Protocols).
Then you went on to say things such as eldridge cleaver, evil whitey, bigoted
southern whites, women cleaving to brutal men, talked about having a black
girlfriend, being 1/4 Indian, etc.
None of which I said. All of which you said to me.
But then you call me racist for telling you I don't think that way?
You attacked me for commenting before you even revealed your sex or color and
I responded to you before you did (remember your surprise?)
As with your vicious, repulsive and sick comments, I reserve the right to not
be intimdiated or even disturbed that you place those terms toward me. They
are your thinking and remain yours.
I can apologize to the list for bothering to respond to such a petty, arrogant
man who feels that I cannot express what I think and that I cannot tell him
when he is wrong in what I think without his temper tantrum and name calling.
Everyone can read back, even the list maintainer, and see all those terms such
as "evil whitey" that he brought into this conversation because of his own
issues. I do wonder about his motive for bringing up such terms? Was it to
divide the list on to his side, or simply to negate my ability to speak about
issues which are central to my life, in relation to the ecofeminist topic.
Of course we can all see that he does not want to lose is 'poet, pagan,
philosopher' image, but really he was not allowing anyone to express a
philsophy on an issue -from the very time I commented on the Protocols - to
even when he redefines that quote I made from a brasilian feminist to an
"eldridge cleaver" model and to the point where he decides that his
experiences as a black woman are equal to mine, and to hers.
Now he says that he should have pretended to be something other than the white
male he is, so as to be able to argue as he wants on such experiences.
Would it be correct for him to attack my views on black feminism by pretending
to be a black woman?
Or to pretend to be a native american when challenging native americans when
they express their feelings on topics of land and culture?
If he is willing to pretend in this way, why do we think he is not pretending
to be an Ecofeminist or a feminist at all, but just wanting to participate and
impose his ideas on others in that area?
Certainly when I attempted to speak on my view the first time, he began an
attack, and then he continued that way, repeatedly tossing up words, phrases,
people that were not in my words to attempt to categorize them - and doing
that as I spoke about an issue primary in my life as a black woman? And his
only apology is that he didn't pretend to be a black woman in saying those
things?
Were is the feminist in that? Am I the only one who doesn't see it?
Nicole
