Does it >make sense to say sex/gender is linked to physical violence but not to >physical bravery? Does even considering a linkage in the first case do >an injustice to the men who do not support such violence? How does one >target the patriarchal way of thinking, remain compassionate to men who >do embody it, and help them to get over it? > > >Ronnie I must respond to this. If I read you correctly you are saying that violence and bravery are both gender linked and to men. Whilst I agree that most physical violence is perpetuated by men, I cannot agree that men are braver than women. Women have had to be more brave in order to stand up to the oppression of men and this bravery is largely not acknowledged. Unlike acts of bravery performed by men which are celebrated. For example many women worked onthe front lines in the second world war (nursing) and many died. But up till recently they were not even acknowledged and in Australia service women or any women were not allowed to march in the Anzac march. Women have had to be brave in many aspects of their lives that men do not have to be. I do not mean to denigrate the brave acts of men in the green movement but women are also involved and have chained themselves to American Warships (Valentine in Perth - later to become the First Green Senator for Aust.) In response to the seal article and the points you raise about other issues. I think it is interesting that the seals are used for their penis and that this is for some impotency drink. The very need to kill the seals can be clearly linked to male domination here. Penis worshipping is something men do regardless that they may believe women do - not many do. Impotence is mainly caused by performance anxiety. If men did not believe themselves superior but had an equal partnership with their partner they may be more concerned with their partners pleasure than with their own performance. The anxiety about performance is rarely linked to a concern for the partners orgasm. When looking at a different culture we have to very careful not to justify gender and class and other structural issues out of respect for the culture. A culture is more than sexism and homophobia, after all these things could be said to be almost universal - they are where I come from. It would be racist to judge the entire pop of the sealers by the acts of those macho men, just as it would be unjust to judge me because the Australian federal govt is letting woodchippers devastate virgin forest at such an incredible rate that I can't even keep up to date. In order to tackle issues such as the seal killing problem we need to address the structures that support and encourage this activity. This appears to be a mammoth, even impossible task. But I continue wherever I can to attempt to educate people about the basic equality of all people and the need for social justice and a green agenda. I vote green and give my time to the green movement at election time. I explain to as many people as possible the way the preferential voting system works so they can have a real choice(as real as the candidates offer). Ronnie, I guess this may not be the sort of response you're asking for but it's a start! :) Respectfully Kylie [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Interesting: Your people glorified organised violence for 40 centuries, but you imprison those who employ it privately." Mr Spock. Star Trek 'Dagger of the Mind'
