I had originally intended to write about this commercial, which reminded me a lot of the issues I raised in the fantasy football thread a couple of weeks ago. But then I read Pamela Constable’s article on The Washington Post‘s web site about the disenfranchisement of women in the latest Afghan elections, and it left me with some very conflicted emotions: (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘Washington Post’
Blogger’s Remorse?
Posted in advertising, cultural commentary, news/politics, tagged advertising, afghanistan, cultural studies, election, pamela constable, spade club, taliban, voting, Washington Post, women on September 1, 2009| 2 Comments »
People in Zoos
Posted in cultural commentary, tagged Amit Paley, Padaung, racism, sexism, tourism, Washington Post on August 26, 2009| 4 Comments »
Ever since she was a child looking at her grandfather’s National Geographic, Amit Paley was fascinated by the women of the Padaung, who wear brass rings around their necks, so that their necks appear elongated; she wanted “to see these curious women, who suffer painful disfigurement to emerge as graceful beauties.” Growing up, college, and working as a reporter for The Washington Post couldn’t cure her of her desire, and apparently anorexic fashion models walking the runway in 5 inch stilettos was either not enough painful disfigurement or not graceful and beautiful enough. Not even finding out that most travel agencies won’t book tourists to the Padaung village because the women are virtual prisoners, forced to wear the neck rings to bring in tourist dollars, was enough to stop Paley. Instead, she used the moral dodge of being a reporter: “I ultimately concluded that if the villages really were so deplorable, my ability to write about them might ultimately help the Padaung more than harm them.”
The Two Body Solution 
Think of the Children!
Posted in cultural commentary, tagged children, cohabitation, gender, marriage, michael gerson, nuclear family, Washington Post on September 24, 2009| 3 Comments »
A college friend of mine (and a friend of this blog) sent us a link to Michael Gerson’s Washington Post op ed about the dangers of cohabitation. Mr. Gerson’s logic is so tortured in so many places that I hardly know where to begin. Since I am also under the influence of some very strong cough syrup, I will attempt to address several points here in no particular order (rather than weave my usual, byzantine tapestry of impeccable logic and flawless rhetoric). (more…)
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