Look At Me (Part Three)

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When we think about the meaning of events in the world around us, we interpret them through a fusion of past, present and future horizons. Philosopher Hans-Georg-Gadamer wrote about the fusion of past and present horizons in the interpretation of texts, but I say that the future we want to bring into existence is also part of the eternal now that forms the context of our thinking.
We live in a country where writer Gore Vidal called the USA the United States of Amnesia. It often seems as if we cannot remember from one day to the next, much less the last century. However, if we are to understand the current moment, it is important to understand the past. When I wrote about the Anita Hill portion of the Clarence Thomas Hearings, I put that moment in a historical context. Here is some more of what I wrote:
“Once upon a time in America a discussion about birth control was considered obscene, and to tell even married people about ways to control child birth became a free speech issue. In 1912, Margaret Sanger, a nurse and birth control activist, started speaking to left-wing audiences about health issues, including sex education and venereal disease. . . . Sanger published “Woman Rebel”, a paper aimed at working-class women, and one of her goals was to advocate for “birth control.” She argued that a woman’s body was hers alone and to force a woman into motherhood was to deny a woman her right to life and liberty. She did not print birth control information, but she printed letters from working-class people requesting the information. The post office refused to mail the publication and indicted Sanger. She used the arrest to call attention to her cause. . . . Sanger did not stand trial for the charge but left the country instead.
Before leaving, Sanger published a pamphlet that gave information on contraception: “Family Limitation: A Nurse’s Advice to Women” which was distributed by her friends with the Industrial Workers of the World, a socialist organization working to end capitalism. Her pamphlet was intended for poor people who could least afford a large family and who did not have access to information that middle-class women had. Some working poor women were eager for the information, but many were embarrassed to speak of such things openly and others did not have the capabilities or the energy to put birth control information into practice.
Sanger found it difficult to enlist both poor and middle-class women in her struggle until she opened a birth control clinic in the fall of 1916. Making sure that the district attorney was notified, she was arrested, tried, and convicted. The publicity surrounding her arrest and trial brought wide support from middle-class women. As a result of her work, the New York Court of Appeals broadened the law so that physicians could give advice to married people about how to prevent or cure disease. Birth control information was given by doctors under this provision.
Once upon a time in America, women were excluded from political convention platform committee meetings. In 1924, a list of women’s concerns had to be taken into the platform committee meeting by a man. Those concerns included conservation, an 8-hour work day, collective bargaining, a federal employment agency, equal pay for equal work, federal aid for maternal and child health and welfare, and education to prevent venereal disease. Many of these concerns became federal policy during the New Deal. During the depression and during World War II, women found themselves caught between the domestic ideal and the realities of national emergencies.
Abortion had been legal in the United States until around the end of the 1800s. In contrast to their daughters’ daughters’ and their daughters, women’s rights advocates of the nineteenth century did not favor either contraception or abortion. According to historian Nancy Woloch “. . . throughout the nineteenth century, contraception and abortion were condemned by a wide range of women, from feminists to free love advocates to pious churchgoers, since both encouraged the sexual exploitation of women.” But in the early twentieth century, women began to celebrate their own sexuality and to reject Victorian notions of female purity and restraint. At the same time, economic realities set in and both men and women wanted to find ways to control childbirth. Illegal abortions became common and many women sacrificed their health and in some cases their lives. So, in the 1970s with rise of a new wave of feminism, the repeal of anti-abortion statutes became an important component of the feminist agenda.”
Since Roe v Wade gave women across the country the right to an abortion, anti-abortion forces have been working to undo the decision. States have passed a number of restrictions that have nibbled away a woman’s right to choose. When Clarence Thomas was nominated to replace Justice Thurgood Marshall, his anti-abortion stance was an issue just as Brett Kavanaugh’s anti-abortion position is an issue today.
However, the issue before the nation in the case of Thomas 27 years ago and in the case of Brett Kavanaugh today has to do with their personal conduct and whether or not the alleged conduct is enough to keep them off the Court. I say again that I believed Anita Hill then, and I believe the women now.
However, there is a portion of women’s history that demands our attention now that was not an issue then. In the #MeToo moment when woman are coming forward with their stories not only of sexual harassment, but of sexual assault and of rape, the question becomes how will the United States Senate and the society as a whole respond to survivors of sexual assault.
The president of the United States has fallen into a familiar pattern. Deny. Deny. Deny. Then, attack the accuser. He did this at a campaign rally in Mississippi where he mocked Dr. Ford’s testimony before the Senate. Thus, making her a victim a second time. Then he relied on the tendency of women to side with their men rather than to stand in solidarity with other women. Think of your husbands and your sons, Trump told the women in the audience. This is a historical fact that Simone de Beauvoir identified in her seminal work – “The Second Sex”.
At the same time, this is another way to refuse to see the women. Look at the men. Do not see the trauma that the women who have accused Kavanaugh have lived with their entire adult lives. Look at the men. Do not see the millions of women who have experienced sexual assault and still carry the trauma of the assaults with them throughout their lives.
In a fusion of past present and future, people who refuse to see the women are making a future of continued sexual assault and physical and psychological violence toward women inevitable. They seem to want a future that looks like the past, not one that will hold powerful men accountable for their actions. On the other hand, this is a moment to say to women and to girls, to men and to boys: you cannot use people as instruments of your personal pleasure without consequences.
Look at me. This is an imperative from women resounding in the fusion of past, present, and future horizons. This is not the moment to refuse to look, to see, and to act accordingly.
 
 
See: Simone de Beauvoir, “The Second Sex” and Nancy Woloch, “Women and the American Experience” 2nd edition.
Valerie Elverton Dixon is founder of JustPeaceTheory.com and author of “Just Peace Theory Book One: Spiritual Morality, Radical Love, and the Public Conversation.”

2 thoughts on “Look At Me (Part Three)

  1. “1000’s of candles can be lit from a one candle, and the daily life of the candle will not be shortened. Contentment never decreases by becoming shared.” The BuddhaCandles are an age previous standard element of Buddhist rituals. In conjunction with incense and flowers, they are placed in front of Buddhist shrines or statues and photographs of the Buddha as a mark of regard. They are typically accompanied by choices of foodstuff and drink. The light of the burning candle flame represents the mild of the Buddha’s teachings. Candles and incense also evoke the point out of impermanence and adjust.Their light-weight can also be said to symbolize the enlightenment of the Buddha.Thailand Buddhist Candle Competition”Just as a candle can’t burn off with out hearth, males can not reside without a spiritual lifestyle.” The BuddhaBuddhist Lent Working day in Thailand, an overwhelmingly Buddhist region is in July every single 12 months and is largely practiced by set up monks. The day before the start off of Lent, the Candle Pageant is celebrated by Thai individuals. This Festival is celebrated proper across the country, but the most specifically celebrations take area in Ubon Rachathani north-japanese Thailand (Isaan).In accordance to custom, Buddhist Lent Working day started out as a consequence of villagers complaining to the Buddha. It is stated that a team of ordained monks were making merit (tamboon) and had walked through damp rice fields. At this time the rice fields ended up at the peak of their growth and by going for walks in them they experienced ruined the crop. As a consequence the legend has it that the Buddha told all monks to apply generating advantage while only being inside of the confines of their temples. Presently Buddhist Lent stipulates that all monks have to continue to be confined to their temples for a period of time of three months in the course of the wet year, beginning on the very first working day of the eighth waning moon.Thai individuals offer you a variety of basic goods to their monks and this supplying also involves candles and this of course involves the well-known Candle Competition. In prior times most temples experienced no electricity and so candles had an essential symbolic importance for ceremonies but also much more virtually for illumination in every day use. Moreover they are stated to represent knowledge as divine light-weight in the course of the Candle Pageant the Buddhist laity exercise their beliefs by supplying large and frequently extravagantly embellished candles to the monks.Candle Festival Celebrations: “There are two techniques of spreading light-weight: to be the candle or the mirror that displays it.” Edith WhartonOn the working day prior to Lent, huge groups of men and women collect with their superbly embellished candles and march with them on elaborate and gorgeous parades. The abundant, luxuriously sculpted decorations on these lovely works of art portray willpower, unity, and the beliefs of that neighborhood. The candle parade procession consists of the broadest cross area of the local community all in their best garments. In Ubon Ratchathani this also consists of a lot of groups of regional Isaan performers, musicians and dancers who accompany the candles as they make their way via the metropolis. There is also a popular attractiveness contest to choose Skip Candle (who is regarded as the most lovely woman of that group).All through the country, there are celebrations of the Candle Festival. What ever the weather conditions in Thailand the folks have enjoyable and expressing their religion on July eight, the starting of Buddhist lent.”How significantly that minor candle throws its beams! So shines a very good deed in a naughty planet.” William ShakespeareCandle MeditationSit a peaceful tranquil space and light-weight a candle. It could be of any colour but some desire a blue or a white one particular. Now stare deep into the burning flame of the candle and target on it. Will not permit your eyesight of the candle flame grow to be blurred. As you stare at the burning flame your head will become crammed with the sounds of every day pondering, problems and trivial considerations. These must just commence to drift away and soon after a limited although, you might commence to acquire photos and views that don’t appear to arrive from you. Get these as your spiritual guides and try out to interpret them.Hold staring at the burning flame do not be distracted and try out to interpret the visions you are receiving. A single frequent illustration is that of ‘seeing’ a peeled onion. At very first this could seem to be senseless but in this instance it could signify that as you travel more along on your life’s path, the layers are being peeled absent enabling you to see and encounter the final core of you existence.As you development additional with your candle meditation try out to understand to have confidence in your personal analysis and understanding of these thoughts that the candle delivers to your head. This form of meditation thus functions as a potent way of concentrating your concentration.Consider to develop up your knowledge of candle meditation from 5 minutes a working day to twenty minutes and do this more than a number of months. Your eyes will need to adapt to the dim light and over time, you will be ready distinguish between which feelings are your personal and which can act as your religious guides.”Much better to gentle a candle than curse the darkness” Chinese proverb”As a white candle in a holy location, So is the elegance of an aged face” Joseph CampbellWhere is the World’s Biggest Candle?”We say God and the creativity are one… How large that highest candle lights the dim.” Wallace StevensDigressing somewhat from the use of Candles in Buddhism in my analysis I diverted to see what human creativity could deliver to the globe of candles – this is what I identified.”A very good trainer is like a candle – it consumes itself to light-weight the way for other people.” AnonThere are numerous contenders and a extended heritage of the research for the world’s most significant candle. The 1st contender for the world’s largest candle is the United states – the Warm Glow Candle Outlet in Centreville, Indiana exactly where they assert to have the world’s largest candle. However At the Stockholm Exhibition of 1897 what has been explained as the world’s greatest candle on record went on display. This enormous candle is said to have been eighty toes large and measuring 8 and a fifty percent feet in diameter.The long set up organization of Ajello Candles is one more contender for the historic title of the world’s biggest candle. In 1921 it designed the Enrico Caruso Memorial Candle.This candle calculated five feet in circumference and tapered at the top to eighteen inches. This candle stood an amazing eighteen feet tall and when the candle was burning the organization claimed it could continue for 1800 a long time, burning 1 day each calendar year on the anniversary of Enrico Caruso’s death.In 2005 in Jerusalem they manufactured the world’s biggest Hannukha candle. This huge candle was above eight and a 50 percent metres in height and 85cm extensive. It was found in the Pisga shopping mall in the city. These are just some examples of what declare to be or ended up the world’s greatest candles.”Nirvana is not the blowing out of the candle. It is the extinguishing of the candle’s flame due to the fact working day is arrive.” Rabindranath Tago

  2. “Thousands of candles can be lit from a one candle, and the existence of the candle will not be shortened. Pleasure in no way decreases by becoming shared.” The BuddhaCandles are an age old standard component of Buddhist rituals. In conjunction with incense and flowers, they are positioned in front of Buddhist shrines or statues and images of the Buddha as a mark of respect. They are usually accompanied by choices of foods and consume. The light-weight of the burning candle flame signifies the light-weight of the Buddha’s teachings. Candles and incense also evoke the point out of impermanence and alter.Their mild can also be stated to symbolize the enlightenment of the Buddha.Thailand Buddhist Candle Festival”Just as a candle can’t burn up without having fireplace, males can’t live with out a religious existence.” The BuddhaBuddhist Lent Day in Thailand, an overwhelmingly Buddhist nation is in July each and every 12 months and is mainly practiced by established monks. The working day just before the begin of Lent, the Candle Competition is celebrated by Thai folks. This Festival is celebrated correct throughout the nation, but the most specifically celebrations get place in Ubon Rachathani north-japanese Thailand (Isaan).In accordance to tradition, Buddhist Lent Working day began as a end result of villagers complaining to the Buddha. It is mentioned that a team of ordained monks have been making advantage (tamboon) and had walked by way of wet rice fields. At this time the rice fields ended up at the peak of their growth and by strolling in them they experienced ruined the crop. As a consequence the legend has it that the Buddha told all monks to apply creating merit even though only remaining within the confines of their temples. These days Buddhist Lent stipulates that all monks must continue to be confined to their temples for a time period of three months in the course of the wet period, beginning on the 1st working day of the eighth waning moon.Thai people offer a selection of basic items to their monks and this providing also consists of candles and this of program contains the popular Candle Pageant. In preceding instances most temples experienced no electrical energy and so candles had an essential symbolic importance for ceremonies but also more nearly for illumination in daily use. Moreover they are explained to depict knowledge as divine mild during the Candle Festival the Buddhist laity practice their beliefs by giving massive and often extravagantly decorated candles to the monks.Candle Pageant Celebrations: “There are two approaches of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that demonstrates it.” Edith WhartonOn the day just before Lent, huge groups of people gather with their wonderfully embellished candles and march with them on elaborate and gorgeous parades. The abundant, luxuriously sculpted decorations on these lovely performs of artwork portray willpower, unity, and the beliefs of that group. The candle parade procession includes the broadest cross part of the local community all in their greatest garments. In Ubon Ratchathani this also involves a lot of teams of regional Isaan performers, musicians and dancers who accompany the candles as they make their way via the town. There is also a popular elegance contest to pick Overlook Candle (who is regarded as the most gorgeous girl of that group).Throughout the country, there are celebrations of the Candle Competition. Whatsoever the weather conditions in Thailand the people have fun and expressing their faith on July eight, the commencing of Buddhist lent.”How much that small candle throws its beams! So shines a excellent deed in a naughty entire world.” William ShakespeareCandle MeditationSit a quiet peaceful area and gentle a candle. It could be of any colour but some prefer a blue or a white 1. Now stare deep into the burning flame of the candle and focus on it. Do not enable your eyesight of the candle flame turn into blurred. As you stare at the burning flame your brain will turn into loaded with the noise of everyday pondering, concerns and trivial issues. These should just start to drift absent and following a short even though, you may commence to acquire images and thoughts that will not look to come from you. Take these as your non secular guides and consider to interpret them.Maintain staring at the burning flame do not be distracted and attempt to interpret the visions you are receiving. A single frequent case in point is that of ‘seeing’ a peeled onion. At 1st this might seem senseless but in this example it could signify that as you vacation further alongside on your life’s route, the levels are being peeled absent making it possible for you to see and knowledge the supreme core of you existence.As you development even more with your candle meditation try to learn to believe in your very own investigation and understanding of these feelings that the candle brings to your brain. This form of meditation therefore acts as a strong way of focusing your concentration.Attempt to build up your encounter of candle meditation from five minutes a day to 20 minutes and do this over a number of months. Your eyes will want to adapt to the dim mild and over time, you will be in a position distinguish in between which feelings are your very own and which can act as your spiritual guides.”Much better to light a candle than curse the darkness” Chinese proverb”As a white candle in a holy area, So is the attractiveness of an aged encounter” Joseph CampbellWhere is the World’s Largest Candle?”We say God and the creativity are a single… How high that optimum candle lights the dim.” Wallace StevensDigressing marginally from the use of Candles in Buddhism in my research I diverted to see what human creativeness could carry to the planet of candles – this is what I identified.”A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes alone to mild the way for others.” AnonThere are numerous contenders and a prolonged historical past of the research for the world’s largest candle. The very first contender for the world’s largest candle is the United states of america – the Warm Glow Candle Outlet in Centreville, Indiana exactly where they assert to have the world’s most significant candle. Nevertheless At the Stockholm Exhibition of 1897 what has been described as the world’s greatest candle on document went on screen. This enormous candle is explained to have been eighty feet higher and measuring eight and a 50 ft in diameter.The long proven firm of Ajello Candles is another contender for the historic title of the world’s most significant candle. In 1921 it produced the Enrico Caruso Memorial Candle.This candle calculated 5 ft in circumference and tapered at the leading to eighteen inches. This candle stood an impressive eighteen toes tall and as soon as the candle was burning the firm claimed it could keep on for 1800 many years, burning one day every single year on the anniversary of Enrico Caruso’s dying.In 2005 in Jerusalem they created the world’s largest Hannukha candle. This huge candle was in excess of 8 and a half metres in top and 85cm broad. It was situated in the Pisga mall in the city. These are just some examples of what assert to be or had been the world’s greatest candles.”Nirvana is not the blowing out of the candle. It is the extinguishing of the candle’s flame because working day is occur.” Rabindranath Tago

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