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For the Ladies of OlyBlog

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 4:12pm.

Welcome to OlyBlog.

Please make yourself at home.

If we can get you anything please don't hesitate to ask.

If you run into any trouble we've got you covered.

Merwyn Haskett's blog
Login or register to post comments

Awwwwww

Submitted by free_will on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 4:27pm.

Merwyn, Very cute! Thanks for taking the time to care! Our story never grows old with new listeners.

I was expecting the

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 5:34pm.

Merwyn of Olympia 2008 calendar.

Nicely done

Submitted by Sarah on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 8:00pm.

Thanks Merwyn.

Good one...

Submitted by The Original Yoda on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 11:30pm.

...I wish I'd thought of that.

Thank You :)

Submitted by Chia on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 2:39am.

---------
Nonviolence Includes Animals:
audio
"PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's address to the International Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem"

well done!

Submitted by Mike on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 9:02am.

Anything? ANYTHING?

Submitted by jlw on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 12:25pm.

Well, I won't hesitate to ask then! How about a low-cal, carb-free microbrew which nevertheless tastes delicious and has a mildly intoxicating effect? I'll take a couple of those, every evening, until I can button up my jeans again. Thanks, Merwyn!! You're the greatest!

This world's crazy, give me the gun. -- P.J. Harvey

Does that exist? Is it at

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 3:27pm.

Does that exist? Is it at the Broho? If not I can go pick up a hundred pounds of yeast, some copper line, and see what I can do.

This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election, and yet if I were to have them killed, I would be the one to go to jail. That's democracy for you.
C. Montgomery Burns

Alas, no!

Submitted by jlw on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 3:31pm.

If it did exist, I'd be at the Broho at 4 when the doors open. As it is, I'm at home drinking yerba mate (said to suppress the appetite. As far as I'm concerned, January is the cruelest month.

Let me know how your experiments turn out!

This world's crazy, give me the gun. -- P.J. Harvey

I appreciate the gesture. I

Submitted by Carmella on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 12:39pm.

I appreciate the gesture. I really do. However, the thought of myself as a lady comforted by roses and terriers makes me a little squeamish. know what I'm saying?

Oh, he's not gesturing.

Submitted by Phil Owen on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 1:15pm.

He's got one of those little four legged furry things himself, and you should hear how he talks about it.

Merwyn's actions here are the ultimate in sharing.

The Canaanite's Call

If you'd prefer a beer, or

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 3:32pm.

If you'd prefer a beer, or to have a discussion while doing an oil change or chopping wood, you're welcome to it. I think everyone would agree that there should be no boundaries in what anyone's allowed to like, appreciate, or be in to.

Me, I like football and death metal and car-chase movies well enough, but I also like cooking, gardens, scented candles, yorkies, ballet, classical music...my folks wondered about me, especially when I went through the scarves, leather and glitter makeup phase my Senior Year.

Got pics?

Submitted by Sarah on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 7:38am.

Merwyn we need pics of that scarves, leather, and glitter makeup phase.

Hi Sarah -

Submitted by Chia on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 9:46am.

Just to let you know that photos of leather would be an example of the normalization of violence against animals that I mentioned in the post regarding why women participate and why we leave. Leather is evidence of the violence that an animal experienced in the process of becoming an object. I really like to keep my environment as nonviolent and animal-friendly as possible and references to dead animal parts as if they are benign objects causes me a lot of distress and makes me want to leave to find safer environments.

Thanks for listening :)

---------
Nonviolence Includes Animals:
audio
"PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's address to the International Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem"

One thing we have to balance on Olyblog

Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 11:16am.

Is that this is a community space and people are diverse. Not everybody feels the way you do about wearing animal products on their bodies. Their feelings don't make your feelings on the subject any less valid, just as your's don't make their's less valid. If we were to come out and say "No photos of leather.", somebody would surely feel that it was unfair. I know this isn't the answer you wanted, but I think, and I am willing to listen to ideas, that it's important everyone is allowed to represented here.

Perhaps front page threads

Submitted by Chia on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 11:27am.

Perhaps front page threads could be cruelty free.

And although I know that it is your opinion that this is a diversity issue, there is unmistakably unnecessary suffering imposed on voiceless sentient beings when their skins are used as clothing and this constitutes a normalization of that suffering, or a violence issue. I don't want to participate in the normalization of other's suffering, especially those without the capacity to voice their dissent of the oppressions they experience.

---------
Nonviolence Includes Animals:
audio
"PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's address to the International Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem"

There are,

Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 11:50am.

in a vast number of cases, beings suffering in one way or another. We make our houses out of wood despite our dying forests, we power our homes with hydroelectric power despite the fish whose natural life cycles are destroyed by dams, we make clothes out animals, we spend money and waste resources while people are freezing to death and starving on our very own streets.

We need to come up with solutions to these problems, but I don't agree that suppressing someone's freedom of speech is a way to do it. If anything, a post that you take issue with is another chance for you to spread your message, and while it may be disturbing for you, say, to see photos of leather clad people, it's the status quo that you're fighting. Realistically, you are going to continue seeing this for a long time, OlyBlog likely won't be the worst you see. If you begin to feel personally attacked or that photos are directly harassing you, then we'll deal with that.

Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying to mean that we should defer to the status quo, I'm all about fighting that. I'm saying that we, as agents of change, need to be realistic about where our views are in relation to the status quo, otherwise we'll start to get frustrated and burn out very quickly.

Thank you for your compassion, and sharing it with us here.

Thanks Rob

Submitted by Norm on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 12:18pm.

I was hoping someone would address that, because I didn't know how to approach it.

Rob, If material that is

Submitted by Chia on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 9:58pm.

Rob,

If material that is sexist, racist, homophobic or otherwise oppressive isn't considered appropriate for the front page, then it follows that speciesist material also does not belong there. To call it censorship in one case and not in the others shows that institutionalized speciesism exists on Olyblog. Hopefully, that will change just as it has changed for the groups that enjoy protections on the front page here.

Also, the topic was specifically speciesism and I think that to mention the other types of suffering that you listed created a smoke and mirrors type of effect rather than really addressing the issue of how to handle institutionalized speciesism on Olyblog. And you've forgotten to mention that each of us is individually empowered to do our part in lessening each of the sufferings that you mentioned. Going vegetarian and increasing sensitivity to animal suffering and institutionalized speciesism is something that any or all on Olyblog can do and can start to do at this moment, without waiting. We can change the world to a more compassionate place with each decision on every day.

---------
Nonviolence Includes Animals:
audio
"PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's address to the International Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem"

ok

Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 11:00pm.

Being that OlyBlog is a community, we make community decisions. I encourage you to start a blog with a proposal for the community, and, as in Zapatista-like decision-making, if enough people agree with you then the community adopts your ideas. If the community doesn't adopt your ideas now it doesn't mean that they never will. It means that you have work to do. Thanks again for your passion on this subject, you've inspired me to read up on speciesism in order to be a better human.

Hi Rob, Thank you for your

Submitted by Chia on Mon, 01/07/2008 - 2:55pm.

Hi Rob,

Thank you for your openness to learning more about speciesism. Many of the links I've included with this thread, the "where the boys are" thread, and the thread with the vegan post on my blog are very informative and I'll plan to create a post including those and others that you might find helpful. It may take me several days to get to it but I'll do it as soon as I can.

Also, I'd like for you to know that I try to do my part to alleviate the sufferings you listed by not living in a single family dwelling so as to reduce the amount of timber used, by heating only my bathroom when showering and my bedroom rather than my whole apartment (I heat my bedroom to accommodate my aging guinea pig.) to reduce my use of energy, and I've been told that I've the record for largest number of blankets donated to EGYHOP by an individual so that I've helped to offer a small bit of warmth and comfort for many on the street. I've also written letters to the city council supporting Camp Q.

Currently, I'm focused on helping a disabled woman (myself) create the social supports necessary to get out of poverty and I'm enjoying this form of activism very much, I might add! :)

About the proposal. Due to disability, this kind of thing is difficult and often overwhelming for me but I'll certainly think about it. I do think, however, that it's the community who must do the work to grow and expand consciousness when a new truth is presented. To lay the responsibility of the community for educating themselves on an individual would certainly create burnout in a short period of time...specially someone with my limitations! I think that's too much to ask. It's certainly not too much to ask to be provided with information and to have a source to ask respectful questions, such as Norm did on the post in my blog. I don't mind that at all.

I've got a unique and distinctive voice and I'll try to stick with Olyblog and share my perspective as much as I can but, as I said, I avoid environments that normalize violence if I can so if things take a turn in that direction, I may go elsewhere to blog. I enjoy Animal Rights (AR) activism very much but need to do so in ways that don't compromise my health. Peace and good luck with the Camp Q Anniversary celebration!

---------
Nonviolence Includes Animals:
audio
"PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's address to the International Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem"

wow,

Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 01/07/2008 - 3:18pm.

Thanks for sharing, and for the encouragement.

Thanks for trying to raise the consciousness of oppression.

Submitted by Mike on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 12:21pm.

The language we use and so many choices we make construct our world.

I think we are a little off-topic, but I am assuming Chia is of the female gender and the larger context is why are there more men than women posting here, so I guess in that sense, engaging and seriously considering Chia's suggestion to consider (reject?) the normalization of animal oppression that comes with pictures of leather clothing is still a matter of welcoming more feminine/goddess voices here.

Chia, I hope you will continue to speak up when you see something here that normalizes violence and oppression of the other sentient beings on the planet. I am supportive of the idea that the front page not include graphics that assume and normalize violence and oppression of the other beings.

My partner has a more indigenous approach to the killing of animals, she goes with the thank the being for their sacrifice, so although I don't think we have much leather around the house, the use of leather secondary to some sort of reverent "use" of another being makes sense in this ethic.

This indigenous approach is working less and less for me as I can see other options. Just avoiding the harm to the other becomes sacred path.

Thank You :)

Submitted by Chia on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 1:25pm.

You said that so well, Mike. Thank you for your supportive comment. Male support of female voices (I am a differently abled woman living below poverty level.), especially when the female voice is one of dissent for oppression, is important for change to occur in a world tilted toward acceptance of patriarchal standards of being. Thank you for recognizing that and for your wonderfully compassionate perspective. You give me hope :)

---------
Nonviolence Includes Animals:
audio
"PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's address to the International Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem"

A few comments . . .

Submitted by rebecca on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 8:02pm.

First, pictures of leather does not necessarily equal support of killing animals any more than posting pictures of clashes between police/protestors at the port equals support for one or the other party. If Olyblog is about news, then we should report what happens, whether we like what happens or not. This point (my first) is not about whether we should establish new guidelines, but how inclusive those guidelines would be (if we did establish them).

Secondly, however, I personally don’t feel uncomfortable with wearing leather or eating meat.

Thirdly, that sexism or racism is wrong does not logically necessitate that killing animals and using their body parts (leather clothes, BBQ’ed ribs, etc.) is wrong. For that matter, that sexism is wrong does not necessitate that racism must be wrong and that racism is wrong does not necessitate that sexism is wrong. Some of the same arguments may apply to sexism/racism/etc. For example, if women and men should be treated equally because all people should be treated equally; then it would follow that black people and white people should be treated equally. But it would follow from the premise that “all people should be treated equally”, not the statement that “men and women should be treated equally”.

Sarah - There are pics,

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Mon, 01/07/2008 - 11:32am.

Sarah - There are pics, alright. But I don't have any of them. You'll just have to track down who my friends back then were.

For the talent assembly my Senior Year I was the sole male in a Mas Uda bellydance exhibition.

Jeez Merwyn

Submitted by Norm on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 12:51pm.

Cootie-lover

Flowers

Submitted by rainy gray on Sun, 01/06/2008 - 5:18pm.

I gave a guy flowers this fall (I am a woman), and he was utterly, utterly thrilled. I couldn't have hoped for a better reaction. He was so psyched to get those flowers. He put them in a vase with a scientifically formulated solution of acid, sucrose, and trace minerals to keep them fresh as long as possible. Over the next ten days, he carefully clipped off the dying petals and leaves, until finally there were only two flowers left. Those he photographed, and proudly showed me the photographs later. He really loved being given flowers much more than I do, although I do enjoy it. The gesture that I really love is when he brings me coffee in bed in the morning... Maybe what I'm trying to say is that although certain gracious actions have been gender-typed to a certain extent, they can still be nice gestures.

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