Mickey Z.: Cool Observer: Comments on Betty Friedan asked: "Is this all?"

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Betty Friedan asked: "Is this all?"

Posted by Mickey Z on 02/07 at 05:54 AM

I vote Mowat

Posted by mew from capital of dead empire on 02/07 at 06:39 AM

Oops, premature ejaculation there...I vote Mowat, since I’ve already read The Rebel.

Posted by mew from capital of dead empire on 02/07 at 06:41 AM

I vote Camus. I´ve got nothing aganst the Mowat besides it´s not sitting on my shelf like the Camus one, and ordering books here can be a Kafkaesque experience.

Posted by Owen from Batcelona on 02/07 at 06:42 AM

i would have to go for Camus on account of his being fantastic (don’t know much about the other guy). he was also a goalkeeper in a pro soccer team, as was pope JP2, which is irrelevant.

story of the day- its only 2 paragraphs…

http://tinyurl.com/bk39s

Posted by michael from scotland on 02/07 at 06:42 AM

I´ll see your irrelevancy Michael, and raise you one: Pope JP2 used to work for IG Farben, the Nazi chemical giant who formed part of a chimera with Standard Oil. Popes don´t wear Maltese Crosses for nothing.

Posted by Owen from batcelona on 02/07 at 06:47 AM

good stuff

the current pope was in the hitler youth

Posted by michael from scotland on 02/07 at 06:48 AM

I probably shouldn’t vote since I don’t intend to participate (I would, but I’ve got a stack of books I’m already behind in, and I’d have to order it anyhow, and I by the time it got here, you’d all probably be finished). But if I were to vote, I’d say Mowat.

I mentioned before that I’d read “And No Birds Sang”. I actually read it twice, many years ago. It’s a WWII story, if I recall, based on Mowat’s real experience in the allied takeover of Sicily. It was a long time ago, but I remember it being a VERY good read.

Next on my own list is:

*The Federalist Papers
*The Anti-Federalist Papers
*Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and other writings of Thomas Paine
* The Rise of the Roman Empire, by Polybius
* His Excellency: George Washington, by Joseph J. Ellis (I’ve also read “Founding Brothers” and “American Sphynx” by the same author, whom I highly recommend)
* The Chomsky Reader (I highly recommend Fateful Triangle, Hegemony or Survival, and The New Military Humanism, the only other 3 books I’ve read of his)

Plus Scott Ritter’s book has been released, and I think there’s a few other books on Iraq I haven’t read yet I need to order.

I always buy ‘em faster than I can read ‘em!

Posted by Jeremy from Taiwan on 02/07 at 06:55 AM

I vote Camus. I read the book five years ago--the only Camus work I only read once.

The relevancy of the book at this moment cannot be overstated, particularly the sections on state terror, rebellion and art, and how one can deal with the world after surviving despairing of it.

Irrelevant: PJP2 was from Wadowice, a small town said to make the best kremówki (a kind of cream pie) in Poland. But everyone knows they’re no good.

Irrelevant: PJP2 statues are popping up all over Poland. They cost a fortune. Some cities and towns have both an expensive statue of the nice old man with an aversion to condoms and nearly 40 percent unemployment.

Posted by Keir from The Hague on 02/07 at 07:43 AM

I guess I’d go with Camus, just because it’s hard for me to get into non-fiction besides stuff like Zinn and Z, etc. and even they’re the exception.

By the way, quieter here yesterday than I’d have expected about Peltier, but I had to mention that it was probably the most comprehensive info collection about the guy I’ve ever seen-- will take me days to absorb. Even that ‘opposition’ site, well not to sound like a ‘devils’ advocate/troll here, but even that seemed well done, I mean it’d be really confusing if the other stuff wasn’t there too.... damn it my new job is interfering with my Cool Observer reading and commenting.

Posted by James from Hell's Kitchen on 02/07 at 08:26 AM

@ MZ: Put me down for Camus.

@ James: I think it’s important to understand the context of the Peltier case, AIM, and how things evolved from the late 60’s/early 70’s. If you have the time and/or interest, I recommend reading this [ http://tinyurl.com/a47lt ]—an invaluable book.

@ all: Got my old job back last week (it’s a long story, more later though)...

Gotta jet for now, and wrestle with the obscene traffic/drivers of this city (with their gas-guzzling Hummers, Suburbans, Land Rovers, etc). Take care.

Posted by RT from The Buyou City on 02/07 at 09:16 AM

Good morning, I’m voting for Mowat - because it’s already on my shelf, and because I suggested it! Camus is avail. at my library though (unlike fight club) so I would do my best to take part in the group read.
Still super busy and will be for a while though, also a reason why I’d like to re read rather than digest deep thought from scratch.

As for Betty Friedan, I always find I’m torn between feeling gracious about the efforts of those who have done so much to bring equality, and feeling entirely seperate from what is portrayed as ‘modern’ feminism. MZ your choice of opening para. on her does speak volumes about how far women have been able to come since then. I’m just not certain if becomming mainstream is always beneficial. Equality with bling, if you will.

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 10:07 AM

Good Morning, Expendables. I’m in for a quick visit and will return later. Thanks for all the Pope-ish info. Congrats on the gig, RT. James: the comments were few yesterday but traffic was high. Perhaps folks were busy reading the Peltier links?

As for the book choice, I count it 5-4 in favor of Camus above. I’m cool with either choice but I’m leaning toward Mowat. So, let’s see how it plays out throughout the day.

“Equality with Bling,” Empress? That’s a book title or sure.

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 10:16 AM

A book title, Mickey? Be my guest! If you write it, it’ll probably be the only book on Feminism that I ever read

Captcha says: “mans”

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 10:25 AM

Hi every Expendable!

I vote Camus.

Peace!

Posted by Luna_C from off to Dr toothy on 02/07 at 10:51 AM

The whale is clutched in my wretched hand.
Vote Whale.

Posted by Youngfox from Procrastination Vortex on 02/07 at 11:45 AM

yay - Youngfox will participate in the read then? It will be easier to share the book if we’re not both reading a first time read…

OT: Mickey, your sidebar contents are appearing at the bottom of all pages. Have been for at least 2 or 3 days now. Is this just my viewing problem? (my own blog is having similar issues that I’m getting very frustrated with… I blame blogger since it just ‘magically’ happened one day)

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 12:19 PM

Hmm, Empress...that usually happens if I post an image that’s too big the main post but my screen is fine. Could be your resolution or your browser? Anyone else?

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 12:24 PM

I saw a conference given by khemitologist Stephen Mehler last week, this guy sez there never was a male Pharoah, it was strictly matrilineal and any males were only consorts in their queen house. Plus the Sphinx is unmistakably an African woman.
I got thinking about this recently, perhaps we´ve never had inequality between the sexes apart from on the surface as a divide-and-rule tactic. The negative expression of male energy is an extrovert bullyboy we see in uniform everywhere (I´m talking about male energy here, not physical bodies - women can partake in that energy if they want too), and the negative expression of female energy is behind-the-scenes manipulation, which I feel has worked hand in hand with the overt male energy expression over millennia of treating people like cattle.

Posted by Owen from Batcelona on 02/07 at 12:28 PM

I’m having the same problem Mr Z, 1024x768, IE6.

Posted by mew from capital of dead empire on 02/07 at 12:28 PM

MZ - my specs are the same as Mew’s.

Owen that is some interesting information. (as is all the PJP info earlier - didn’t intend to ignore those tidbits)

I think you’re right on about the male/female energy; perhaps modern feminism has lost focus in some regards; modelling male energy rather than empowering the positive aspects of female engergy. Towit: Condolizard, or Ahrundhati…

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 12:43 PM

MZ: is the crispads new?? it’s the widest thing I can see in what should be the sidebar contents

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 12:45 PM

Owen: Meant to say that I don’t know what a khemitologist does when they’re at work, and neither does merriam-webster!

Please to be enlightening me, “yes”?

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 12:47 PM

Sorry about this. I’ve asked Nancy (who manages the site) to have a look.

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 01:25 PM

I vote Mowat simply because I’ve read The Rebel and I would rather delve into the unknown.

What’s up you all?

I hate popping in and disappearing like this, but I am sure I will be settled down soon.

Posted by JOS from a cyber cafe... on 02/07 at 01:50 PM

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think Big Country JOS’ vote might be worth two or three.

What’s up, JOS?

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 02:06 PM

JOS!

Good to hear from you...must be kismet...I was just going to comment here to say ‘hey’ and see where you and Joe and Mudge might be.

All the moving around and fixing and fussing everyone’s got to do is not fun. It’s the part that seems like it gets in the way of living; sometimes it’s the part that is learning.

Hope all’s well!

Captcha="quality”

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 02:21 PM

Speaking of quality, does the site appear normal with the Crisp Ads gone?

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 02:27 PM

Hello Mick...Hello Amelopsis!

You know I used to live in Canada, Amelopsis...Toronto, Canada...and I’ve canoed and portaged my way through northern Ontario and the James Bay. Most beautiful, untouched land I have ever been to.

By the way...I guess I will be more settled down as I have just found a free spot to set up shop with an outlet, wifi and the whole nine. So expect to have me back as a regular.

As for my vote, Mick...sometimes I worry about you. You know we are all equally expendable here. Glad to have your warm reception as always.

Posted by JOS from Chicago on 02/07 at 02:30 PM

Indeed it does MZ.

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 02:31 PM

JOS - simultyping. Canoeing and portaging is a most beautiful way to enjoy what wilderness we have left here.
French river ring any bells? I’m sure we’ve seen & been to some common places - although I’ve never made it as far as James Bay, you must’ve seen most of those places painted by Tom Thompson. I always marvel at how much his paintings look like home to me.

Good to hear that you’re “somewhat” settled.

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 02:34 PM

I was up there a long time ago...for three summers in a row starting when I was 15 years old. I am not sure about the French River...but maybe.

Yes, the James Bay visit was part of a three week adventure in the wilderness...the only time we saw people was when we visited a town there called Moosonee. That’s a story-telling Saturday tale.

Posted by JOS from Chicago on 02/07 at 02:44 PM

Thanks for this post, Mickey! Reading ‘The Feminine Mystique’ more than a few years ago was quite a revelation.

And ‘hi’ to all my fellow expendables - I hope your day is coming along well. Best of luck to Rosemarie.

I vote Camus btw - prefer Camus to Sartre anyway.
Bye!

Posted by Helga Fremlin from Daylesford, Australia on 02/07 at 03:00 PM

Amelopsis,
Egypts´ name is deerived from Greek words Hi-Ki-Ptos, from Het-Ka-Ptah, which means “place of the physical projection of spirit of the creator god” or “place where the projection of Ptah manifested.” The Greeks called the centre of dynastic society Memphis or Menefir (generation of harmony), and reference to Het-Ka-Ptah is found in an inscription on a stela near Memphis so Het-Ka-Ptah only referred to this one city, and ancients referred to the entire country as Khemit or Khem. Literally it meant “Black Land” for the rich, black alluvial soil deposited by the Nile River, and we get the word ´al-chemy´ from this. This Mehler fellow is breaking with the academic Greco-Roman school of Egyptology by researching instead the native oral histories so he´s renamed Egyptology Khemitology.

P.S. the Irish appropriated Ptah as St. Patrick, their nickname as recently as 15-16c. was “the Egyptians” as most Irish culture is just North African transplanted.

Posted by Owen from batcelona on 02/07 at 03:25 PM

Hi folks. Can’t weight in with much of a view on either book as I haven’t read them. I’m happy to go along with whichever is chosen.

Posted by Chris Wood from Manchester, England on 02/07 at 03:34 PM

Owen, re#33: Thanks for the explanation. Being relatively uniformed, it seems to me that Mehler is on sound footing when researching native oral histories. As we well know from our First Nations histories here in Canada, there’s a treasure trove of information and facts that have been ignored or misinterpreted by traditional western historians.//When you say that Irish culture is transplanted North African, do you mean more ancient Irish culture, or more so from the Spanish influence being N. African in origin? You’ve piqued my interest & curiosity with all this ancient history talk.

JOS re#31: Moosonee, eh? (how’s that for Canadian) Never been there either but it is famous, for...moose. I look forward to the story telling Saturday when you can share that story. (If it involves a run in with a moose, you’re fortunate to be among us.)
I thought that French River might be somewhere you’d been since it’s a tradtitional portage route not far from Algonquin Park & is still very popular for canoe trips...scenic and not too innaccessible (far) to city-folk in Southern Ontario and the greater Toronto area.

MZ: I’ve lost count on the Camus / Mowat selection debate! I think we might be at a draw.

Posted by Amelopsis from Canada on 02/07 at 04:37 PM

If I count myself in the Mowat camp, Camus is up 7-6 with Chris voting “whatever.” Where’s Mudge, Joe, Hawk, RMJ, etc.?

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 05:11 PM

Hi All........Mickey, I am here lurking. I didn’t think I had anything intelligent to say, so I was quiet. Did want to mention that I like the idea of a Scott Ritter book sometime in the future. Someone else mentioned that here today. Also, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins. I read that one in one sitting. I liked it.

Posted by RMJ from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts on 02/07 at 05:34 PM

RMJ, I just posted a diary about you at the Daily Kos: http://tinyurl.com/drqpc

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 06:41 PM

RMJ, you pose a delicious thought. If everyone who had nothing intelligent to say kept quiet, then imagine the huge swathes of utter silence coming from Fox Broadcasting ... “And here we go to Bill’s view ... um, no we don’t ... Sean? Ah hell, let’s pack up.”

Posted by Chris Wood from Manchester, England on 02/07 at 07:42 PM

Can I make a selfish suggestion for the next book (after Camus or Mowat) - Fortunate Son? I’m part way through this now, which is why my proposal is a little selfish, but the book was written pre 9/11 & it’s intriguing to see the character elements in the prez that Hatfield found, not to mention the dirty trick line.

Now that Bush has more of a strangle on the media, & opponents’ dirty tricks mean automatic slaughtering from the patriot lobby, it might be a good time to remind ourselves what this jackal is like when his meat is in the feeding bowl.

Plus, I think we owe something to Hatfield for writing it, as it cost him his life.

Posted by Chris Wood from Manchester, England on 02/07 at 07:55 PM

I have a question: what is the intended purpose of Expendables reading a book at the same time? I ask because I see enormous potential in the collection of people here---witness for example the way our awareness of the plight of one Expendable (RMJ) can spread ‘round the internet. I ask because we could, if we wanted to, <objection to reading about a whale (I’m one of few here who loved <i>Moby Dick</i>) but I wonder if we can dig deeper. I’m not being clear, hold on…

...there’s something that bugs me (this is nothing personal) about Chris’ comment (#40).

“Automatic slaughtering from the patriot lobby”...I think that’s kind of why we’re a step behind. Can we get over frat boy C-student failed businessman christain fundamentalist fascist Bush for a second? Everywhere I turn, everyone who is opposed to the policies of this man’s handlers is MARRIED to this guy. Day after day, year after year, we’re all deep-throating this guy’s every word, making sick love to it and I don’t get it. We churn the industry that loves to hate a person marginally responsible for the misery of the world.

What do WE want? What are OUR values? Haven’t we had enough of marinating ourselves in his? I want a DIVORCE!

I think Mickey’s latest book was a galvanizing force in the liveliness of this comments section over the past half year or so. And what is the book about? Reclaiming some kind of pride in the work of fellow “creative extremists”. We can’t be slaughtered by the patriot lobby if that’s who we see ourselves to be.

I might have recommended The Rebel originally, not because I like the book (I like lots of books) but because it deals historically, practically, and directly with issues we address everyday in this comments section. It might enlighten us, as a group (it might bore us, too). I don’t mind reading the whale book (or any other), but so far no one has provided a decent reason other than the fact that it’s handy.

Okay. Ending my spiel at 3:12 AM.

Posted by Keir from The Hague on 02/07 at 09:03 PM

Fair enough, Keir. I haven’t read either book so I’d love to be convinced either way.

Good night, Expendables.

Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria on 02/07 at 10:35 PM

“Which” book? One vote for Camus. Either way the books are new to me.

Posted by Cart from near Warshington DC on 02/07 at 10:54 PM

Put me down for Mowat, please. I’ll read The Rebel with pleasure, but I’ll cast a vote for Farley.

I’m newly re-hooked to the Internet at my new house. Since I’ve completed an astonishing amount of email responding (I was only gone Saturday afternoon to Tuesday evening!) I came home to offer a vote.

Keir #41: “What do WE want? What are OUR values? Haven’t we had enough of marinating ourselves in his? I want a DIVORCE!”

I love you.

xoxo
Mudge

Posted by Mudge from Austin on 02/07 at 11:25 PM

Next entry: Quote of the Day...for 38 years and counting

Previous entry: Leonard Peltier...three decades of freedom denied

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