Comments on: Can’t have it both ways. Sorry. http://www.mentalslavery.com/archives/cant-have-it-both-ways-sorry Thoughts from a closed mind... Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:18:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Braden http://www.mentalslavery.com/archives/cant-have-it-both-ways-sorry/comment-page-1#comment-1773 Braden Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:59:23 +0000 http://www.mentalslavery.com/?p=106#comment-1773 Right on Ward. The comparison to black athletes is particularly in bad taste for all the reasons you mentioned, but also because I love how he essentialized both African-Americans as athletes. That has to be one of the oldest stereotypes in the book regarding the raw manly power of African-Americans vs. the refined masculinity of whites. Gail Beadermann's book does a good job of fleshing this out. The masculinity of Canada is also a particularly annoying invocation. As a feminist I find it particularly offensive the way we jump to the defense of the masculinity of our baby-killing military. Perhaps, if our military, police and other violent arms of state power were less "masculine" Canada would be a much nicer place. Perhaps we'd have something more than glorified bullies with badges guarding our borders and neighbourhoods. A place where sorry would really mean sorry, as it does for some of us, still. Right on Ward. The comparison to black athletes is particularly in bad taste for all the reasons you mentioned, but also because I love how he essentialized both African-Americans as athletes. That has to be one of the oldest stereotypes in the book regarding the raw manly power of African-Americans vs. the refined masculinity of whites. Gail Beadermann’s book does a good job of fleshing this out.

The masculinity of Canada is also a particularly annoying invocation. As a feminist I find it particularly offensive the way we jump to the defense of the masculinity of our baby-killing military. Perhaps, if our military, police and other violent arms of state power were less “masculine” Canada would be a much nicer place. Perhaps we’d have something more than glorified bullies with badges guarding our borders and neighbourhoods. A place where sorry would really mean sorry, as it does for some of us, still.

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