She Bets Her Life

I thought of you today when I heard this tragic story. I will done as you suggest and send this to fb and twitter. Purple ribbons are a great idea.

women are responding...I've sent this piece to my lists. m

I thought of you today when I heard this tragic story. Purple ribbons are a great idea.will repost to fb and twitter.

Thanks, Mary. You're always a breath of fresh air and I know you grieve as much for AZ as I do. Look out for the new, peaceful mama grizzlies!

I am currently a student at the University of Arizona and have voted twice for Congresswoman Giffords. This great American has truly provided a tremendous service for her country Giffords did not dabble about in silly, mindless bipartisan games and voted on legislation based on her principles, not whether something seemed "Republican" or "Democratic". However, I am pleased to see the outpouring of suppport for Mrs. Giffords from both Republicans and Democrats. I truly hope she recovers safely and quickly. May God bless her family in this difficult time and may God also give strength and courage to the families of the deceased and injured.

Sarah Palin posted a map of the US with locations of certain Congressional candidates including Gabrielle Giffords marked with gun-site cross-hairs. Her idiotic, uneducated, and hateful rhetoric only serves to give validation to people like the shooter. Palin, the Faux News talking heads, Limbaugh, and others like them cannot be called upon to support any kind of peace because they do so much to contribute to the vitriolic hatred so prevalent today.

Purple ribbons are part of a campaign to fight domestic violence and to support the victims. They are also the symbol of support to victims of the attacks on 11 Sept 2001. Purple ribbons are used in support of Pancreatic Cancer research. It's also been the symbol against the use of religion to oppress/suppress people.

Wearing ribbons is a nice gesture, but as with prayer, it doesn't do a damn thing except make you feel good about yourself.

Mary, thank you for this eloquent post. I've sent the link out on FB and elsewhere.

Love,
Barbara

This is a moving an important essay. Thank you for writing it. Cheers from Gina

Thank you for an insightful post that speaks to the need for real dialogue across political ideologies. Would that Sarah Palin had such a spirit of diplomacy.

Sarah Palin continues to quell any sense of her culpability for the changing discourse (or lack thereof) in American politics. The ramifications of these changes has been reckless. When women, such as Sarah Palin, adopt and spew violent rhetoric it somehow makes it more palpable to the American right-wingers and conservative base.

A woman's voice, such as Sarah Palin's, can contribute to the notion that violence is okay - think her glorified smile after shooting a moose in Alaska and her incessant use of a military, macho vernacular. If a man had said and done some of the things that she had, he would never make it to the national spotlight . . . oh wait, there was Rush Limbaugh before her. But a woman, and often one who meets accepted societal standards of "attractive" can provide a domestic stamp of approval on ideologies that seek to push-back a more humanitarian social framework that would be inclusive and not divisive, just as Anita Bryant did in the 70s.

Today, Sarah Palin is part of a backlash against multiculturalism and feminism, which has pitted whites against whites, leaving no air for African-Americans, Hispanics, or Native Americans to voice whatever particular grievances they might still have with an increasingly vocal racist and white nationalistic ideology. The uprise of these disgruntled patriots has sought to silence the voices that were redefining, yes, redefining America as we continued to strive for a more equal distribution of opportunity, acquisition of power, and of authority. We have been witnessing attempts to dismantle the progress of the civil rights movement, the women's liberation movement, and the quest for recognition, acceptance, and validation of our truly multicultural country. The political rhetoric of the right and of Sarah Palin and her ilk has tragically fed notions that this can literally be achieved by any means necessary in the minds of those who are clinically pathological.

My favorite part of your comment is this: "Today, Sarah Palin is part of a backlash against multiculturalism and feminism, which has pitted whites against whites, leaving no air for African-Americans, Hispanics, or Native Americans to voice whatever particular grievances they might still have with an increasingly vocal racist and white nationalistic ideology."
I have learned that the backlash is funded by big money - there's a surprise.

rich backers indeed - you have no idea how much. very few americans do.

the Koch family (2 billionaire far right wing brothers) see the link --

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/8/25/the_new_yorker___billionaire

Rupert Murdoch media billionare - look him up anywhere.

look anywhere real news is told to find many, many more rich right wing contributors to conservative christian politicians.

if i could retire today, i'd move out of this country - if only to get away from the proliferation of weapons.