Even If You Don’t Like Pink…
9 May 2008 by Eve
I heard Medea Benjamin from CODEPINK on the radio on my way in to work today, and I liked what she had to say.
Not only does her organization raise awareness on a myriad of gender problems (mostly but not exclusively in regards to the Iraq War), but it offers many ways for us to help. I often feel powerless in the face of what’s happening in Iraq among other issues, and clear directives and actions go a long way toward giving me something to do on, if you’ll permit my co-opting of an originally theistic phrase, the side of the angels.
One of the most wrenching subjects Benjamin brought up in her interview (on the Phil Hartman show that I was listening to) is the plight of poverty-stricken female Iraqi refugees. Unable to afford an escape to a more enlightened haven, they run anywhere that’s away from their violence-ridden homeland, ending up in Syria, Jordan, and other nearby countries. With no resources to rebuild their lives, they take what employment they can get, and most of it is in brothels. Benjamin reports observing girls as young as 10 years old dancing on “stages” before being selected for the night by clients.
Much of the problem is that these refugees are technically illegal aliens, and thus not allowed to work in these nations, so they gravitate to or in the case of the children and many adult women, are forced into illegal activities like prostitution. Europe and Scandinavia have been taking in refugees, but according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), have begun to limit their generosity. “Most European countries feel the U.S. is responsible and should take the lead, but the U.S. has a goal this year of only 12,000—a drop in the bucket—and I doubt they’ll even take that many [my emphasis],” Anna-Maria Deutschlander, a “Senior Protection Officer” said to Benjamin.
Refugees International reports that Syria ended its open-door policy and now imposes visa requirements on the refugees, whereas Egypt has closed its borders to them. Many of the refugees don’t want to remain in the Middle East at all (no, really?) and aim to immigrate to Europe and the US - but even though the US promised to take in 7,000 (what a joke; compare this to the 130,000 Egypt took in before refusing to accept any more!) in 2007, we only let in a total of 1,608. That’s less than a quarter of what we gave our word for.
And the US’s pledge for 2008 isn’t looking any better; the total promised is 12,000, and as of March, only 2,527 have been allowed in. So not only is this nation responsible for destabilizing Iraq to the point of chaos and displacement of its population, but is refusing to take care of the people it has victimized and what little care it’s giving, it’s giving reluctantly. I daresay this doesn’t surprise you all; if this administration doesn’t bother to look after its own military and veterans, why should it give a fuck about foreign civilians?
Nevertheless, there are groups out there saying what needs to be said and doing what needs to be done. Pessimists will say they’re doomed to failure, but I say we can make a difference. I know many of us are already involved in various types of activism, but there’s no rule saying separate efforts can’t overlap! Heck, just sending letters to government officials is a big help.
Again, CODEPINK…
And there are a lot of veterans’ groups out there, both government-sponsored and private; Google (TM) “veterans” just for starters.
Happy Mothers’ Day, GifS moms!
9 May 2008, on 9:31 pm
From CodePink website: What is Speaker Nancy Pelosi doing to end the war in Iraq and hold Bush accountable?
Good question.
9 May 2008, on 9:50 pm
It may sound a bit extreme, but I believe speakers Pelosi will be remembered as the Speaker that failed to owe up to her promises to the citizens of the US, and ultimately failed America in it’s time of need.
I am exasperated with our political system–it’s like a snot-nosed brat that wont listen, only this obstinate snot-nosed brat has been given charge of the finances and a little too much power.
9 May 2008, on 9:53 pm
Fritzy, I have never in my life been so disappointed with the Democratic party and government in general.
9 May 2008, on 10:29 pm
I’m sensing an Aristophanes vibe here. Lysistrata, anyone? And what of us GifS motherfuckers?
9 May 2008, on 11:30 pm
I think Code Pink is doing more to hurt the peace effort than to help it. I mean, honestly, trying to get a Marine recruiters office removed from a city? That’s like suing McDonald’s because you’re a fatass, or suing Colt over a school shooting. They’re wasting time and effort by focusing on the tools (the Marines) instead of the entity wielding them (the government). I’m not sure if they’re genuinely trying to end the war, or are just totally insane.
10 May 2008, on 12:04 am
Um, that woman has a spiral vagina. Or is that just a fancy riff on a Brazilian?
10 May 2008, on 12:19 am
Yes, Eve…so many frustrating and outrageous aspects of the interminable Iraq conflict; and so many top dog assholes in the human race who don’t REALLY give a fuck about the suffering of so many others…as long as it’s not their fucking asses getting kicked around and bloodied. Like, those hypocritical “Compassionate Conservative” assholes…frn’stance? What fucking shameful bullshitters! What is it with this so-called cockamamie “Human Race”, anyway?
RDZ references the word “motherfuckers”…which, technically speaking, we’re all the bi-product of…to stretch the semantics a bit.
Yeah…like every “Dad” IS a motherfucker?
What! Happy Mother’s Day, all you “Mother Fuckees”? Or if you prefer…”Fuckettes”
[Hmmm...ala Radio City Music Hall's Rockettes?...What!..."You do the math?"]
I suppose we might ask Raindogzillia to explain his Greek play references…well…the GifS motherfuckers might be closer to home for some of us…never having been a dad; I’ll weasle out of that designation.
OK, OK…I HAVE been a NON-motherfucker…Sheesh?
Anyway…AARGHing right along…
I did a little Greek related Wiki browsing and found this dramatic shtick:
“Lysistrata (Attic Greek: Λυσιστράτη Lysistrat, Doric Greek: Λυσιστράτα Lysistrata), loosely translated to “she who disbands armies”, is a Greek comedy, written in 411 BC by Aristophanes.”
Like…check it out?:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata
I may be considered by many, to be depressingly off-base; but I’ve many times in my life wished I hadn’t been born into this rather bizarre-like, little Blue dot, planetary insane asylum!
Yeah…
shades of Nietzsche’s “Existence is absurd!”?
10 May 2008, on 1:01 am
RDZ said : Um, that woman has a spiral vagina.
Hey, that looks like Michelle Duggar’s uterus with all them little people lined up in there.
10 May 2008, on 2:10 am
Or, it may be like a snake- coiled up ready to strike at an approaching peepee. The Vagina Dentata of Antioch!! Run away! Run away!
Lysistrata- little foggy here- is about all the women in Athens, tired of their men out fighting wars, had a little sex strike. Cutting off the men until they stopped their squabbling. In the original performances of the comedy, the men ran around with staffs under their robes to indicate sexual frustration.
10 May 2008, on 3:31 pm
Hack Causality, I agree with you on the ill-advised attempt to remove a recruiting office; however, if I understand their aim correctly, CODEPINK is trying to interfere with recruitment as long as the Iraq War continues because anyone signing up now is probably going into that quagmire. Lower recruitment = less resources = more pressure to exit; whether this thinking is on the money or not, I don’t really know. Personally, I wouldn’t choose this particular drive to do something about the war.
On the other hand, the organization does also tackle the government directly, not just its tools. They suggest a wide range of tactics, none violent, from legally risky (I wouldn’t recommend anyone not paying their taxes, although if the entire nation didn’t, what a statement that would make! Practically impossible, though) to time-honored (petitions, letters to representatives, etc.).
In the end, of course, you’re entitled to your opinion about them - as I’m entitled to mine.
Raindog, you’re on the money with Lysistrata, except it was the women of Sparta who were fed up with their men’s war against Athens.
Seen on a sign at a CODEPINK march: “No Peace, No Pussy!”
10 May 2008, on 4:43 pm
Eve wrote: Lower recruitment = less resources = more pressure to exit
As much as I would like to agree, I can’t. 20th century history seems to suggest that lower recruitment = less resources = more pressure from the warhawks to reinstate the draft.
10 May 2008, on 9:45 pm
^ I don’t believe the government wants to go back to the draft–that would make a very unpopular war entirely unacceptable to the American public, even to a majority that still support this lost cause–and our leaders are aware of this. They don’t want a repeat of Vietnam–what with the fragging and all–and they also don’t want to be thrown out on their collective asses come the following election.
While I feel this effort by Code Pink is a drop in the bucket, at least it is a drop in the correct bucket.
BTW Eve and anyone else who is interested, go to Pacifica radio (KPFA.org) and search their archives. This station has had Benjamin on multiple times. While you’re at it, if you like what you hear on this station (that also streams live on the “internets”) you can make a contribution, as they are entirely listener supported. Just a month ago, they had none other than Richard Dawkins on “The Morning Show.” Other than a few blogs and Free Inquiry, KPFA is my sole source of news.
10 May 2008, on 10:29 pm
Except their protests haven’t lowered recruitment. According to released figures, recruitment at that particular office has skyrocketed due to the media coverage.
11 May 2008, on 11:42 am
Thanks for the ‘heads-up’ Fritzy, RE KPFA.org…
Related to that…
I suggest going here for lots of links regarding Veteran issues:
http://warcomeshome.org/wintersoldier2008audioarchive
And, considering the upcoming election; I found this video PARTICULARLY interesting…
[on "The War Comes Home Page"]:
“John McCain: No Friend of Veterans”:
http://warcomeshome.org/content/john-mccain%3A-no-friend-veterans
[The same video at YouTube]:
“Why Won’t McCain Sign the GI Bill?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK_9sI7hzAc
AND…
Happy Mothers Day to all you GifSter Mothers…
Oh, OK…and to all you “NON-Muthas” too…?
Of course…
“Motherfuckers Day” (Fathers Day!) is what…June 15th? (in the U.S.A.)
What’s that?…
“Whoop-de-friggin’-Do?”
11 May 2008, on 3:19 pm
ChuckA;
Thanks for the links to the Winter Soldier hearings–absolutely NO mainstream coverage of quite likely one of the most important grass-roots congregations this year (and perhaps this decade.)
People talk about “Supporting the Troops,” but largely all they do is talk–unless self-righteous magnets somehow magically heal amputees (gawd, as we know, certainly doesn’t). One of the best forms of support would be to listen to vets when they come back from a tour of duty. I have yet to talk to anyone (outside of ChuckA) who has even HEARD about these hearings. Our media is guilty of a terrible dereliction of duty, as is our citizenry.
And yes, KPFA aired these hearing on multiple days. These should also be in their archives, and I would imagine may be offered as an option of “Thank you” gifts for financial contributors.
Happy godless Mothers Day to Gifsters and lurkers alike!