conversations with Tom

Earlier today I had a conversation over the internet with my late cat Tom. Lies. I had a conversation with my cousin Tom who happens to have the same name. He lives in Durham, United Kingdom and is about 20 years old. Check out his blog.

I am posting this conversation because I think it was an begins to tease out both our of our world views and may perhaps lead to further insights, questions, and comments. Obviously we are not infallible and please take into consideration intended meaning as I know we both did.

ps. Tom if you have any objections to how you were portrayed please make them clear so I can make the appropriate changes.

Me: Why aren't you a feminist?

Tom: To be honest, I wont be able to argue this well, not having debated this before, but I'll try...

Tom: It's a biological fact that men and women are different, not only in body, but in mind too....while I wholly disagree with the notion that women are worse off because of this (quite the contrary)...in a capitalist society, where aggression and corporate ruthlessness benefit the economy and are encouraged...

Me: I don't think feminism says that woman are worse off because of this, they are worse off due to patriarchy, basically you just argued the feminist argument

Tom: oh lol, but I think men are better at being ruthless and aggressive...and therefore better suited for high management jobs.

Me: that since society makes the world aggressive and more difficult for woman it is the business of people to fight against those powers

Tom: oh I see

Me: Basically to make space for the disenfranchised

Tom: ok, I see the argument, I'd have to think about whether I'd agree with changing the structure of businesses to correct this would be beneficial for the economy,...

Me: economy?!? why does money matter more than people and fairness and no one is arguing necessarily for a drastic change immediately, it is up to you how that change should happen, but just to work to make room where you see a group being excluded.

Tom: it doesn't matter more. But if you wanted to extrapolate that argument to the extreme, communism would be the way forward, and since that has failed in every implementation, capitalism is the only way forward, where jobs are given based on ability and nothing else...and the way to control such a system is with money...

Me: I think that is a slippery slope. There are other options. Maybe you and I aren't able to come up with them, but a system that clearly benefits specific groups without question is never something one should work to keep, a system that is modeled on aggression

Tom: true. i will agree that there are potentially better systems. But until somebody comes up with one, we should stick to capitalism...

Me: why does someone have to come up with it? Why can't we just move in that direction by everyone working to make this one better. As legislation changes and proves to be more effective we will be making that system

Tom: well that is what's happening now. And either society will develop into a fairer one, or business will be too restricted by rules and bureaucracy and the economy will suffer...

Me: Its not what is happening now

Tom: But as I said, this is the first argument I've had about this, I haven't really read or thought a great deal about it...

Me: it is what some hope to have done, feminist and others. This is why i believe everyone should work in some way to make things fairer instead of accepting them as they are.

Tom: well it's hard to make people fight to make things fairer, if their quality of life would suffer...

Me: I'm not asking for a fight, and that is up to the interpretation of each feminist. I am asking for baby steps, just an ongoing effort

Tom: I suppose that is the most successful strategy...baby steps.

Me: This is why I am a feminist, and why I ask people why they are not,
because I want to know why other people don't want the world to be better, or themselves and for others, and why they don't put small amounts of effort into finding space for them to make change, only where they feel comfortable.

Tom: The problem is, I can't imagine a world without inequality and suffering....as a scientist I can't fathom a societal structure that would allow for this...

Me: it won't be the fastest change, or maybe the most effective, but it is better than accepting the world as it is existing within in and dieing. I can't imagine it either, but why should that stop me from working toward it? I don't see why the limitations of my brain to imagine should make me or anyone else give up. but now we are arguing for the part of feminism that means action, I assume you believe that all humans are equal.

Tom: I believe all humans should be given equal rights...but i don't believe all humans are equal. The nature of good and bad alleles in genetics proves we are not all equal, but it should be the job of the more fortunate to help those less fortunate

Me: that is very middle class and patronizing.

Tom: haha...oh

Me: sorry i should have said... "I believe...." I was super patronizing there.

Tom: ha, don't worry, we are having a discussion, in my mind I add " I believe" onto each sentence anyway

Me: good, I often need that, I can be a dick, one of the criticisms of second wave feminism is it holds the belief, second wave activism too, alliances quickly show that all groups have something to offer, power does not equal knowledge,

Tom: no, it does not, in all my arguments, i try to go back to a fundamental knowledge of science and logic and work up from there, I'd fight for a society ruled solely by science...

Me: science is flawed, it is based on domination, not understanding, now here is where i get radical, hahaha

Tom: I would argue that science is not flawed. That science, where it can be proven correct by the laws of mathematics, is the only thing we can truly rely on.
Tom: fundamental philosophies where something cannot be proven by mathematics are examples of where it can't be used... but I would like to hear why science is based on domination...

Me: It was created by men to dominate nature, to change it from what it is, not to learn and communicate with it. They believe that humans are superior and can not benefit from learning the perspective of what it studies but only how what it studies can work for it.

Tom: but science is by definition the study of the word around us! it was created to try and explain the world around us, not to control it.

Me: science does not exist in a vacuum

Tom: well actually it does

Me: it is determined by funding, motivations.

Tom: nooooo, untrue. Science is available to anyone. Gregor Mendel, the founder of genetics, had no funding, just a desire to understand... if one was able to zoom in close enough on space in a vacuum, even more detail would come to light. A quantum soup of spontaneous creations and destruction, particles appearing out of nowhere, only to disappear again...

Me: I am not equipped to argue this further but you have not convinced me. I love science, but I am annoyed that people worship it as blindly as they did Jesus 100 years ago.

Tom: I agree. and a lot of pseudo science is preached as actual science today, hence why I limited my statement to "science that can be proved my mathematics"

Me: well I disagree with that because math is just another tool and it discounts social science and anthropology

Tom: well, those still have to prove their ideas with statistics, a branch of mathematics, I agree that for example, neurology is extremely difficult to prove mathematically, that is where the scientific method helps, by testing, evidence can be amassed that can be used in statistics to help prove something, but in those cases the true proof is limited to the experiment...

Me: I guess we are on the same page mostly, yet I am very suspicious of method and motive, and you are suspicious of change in the system.

Tom: haha, typical human I guess. scared of change

Me: ahha, I'm super glad we had this conversation, I often just get frustrated and never complete this conversation. I either believe the other person is too stubborn, too stupid, or too ill informed to actually discuss these fundamental questions. The reality is probably I do not have all the tools to argue my case.

Tom: likewise for me, we have different knowledge bases, so naturally will have different opinions, I do genuinely try to understand your argument before making a judgment...

Tom: If i ever come to Canada, I shall bring plenty of English tea, my thinking head and we shall have long discussions face to face....

Me: I hope so! I love tea, I am making some right now!

O Canada

So, the guvnamint wants to change the lyrics of O Canada to be more gender neutral.

No more true patriot love in all thy sons command. I say GO FOR IT. The CBC radio man who told me about this mentioned substituting it with the original lyrics: "in all thou dost command."

Sweet. We'll all sound like Shakespeare.

Proroguies

Wow I can't believe the direct contradiction to the Obama Administration and their desire to listen and help the American People versus the Canadian Federal Government.

If you are American or have an American address tell Obama what you think about this current agendas.

After learning about Tony Clement's Comments about those who oppose the proroguing of government Cailin and I co-wrote this letter and sent it to him. We all should since Clement claims Canadian's don't care and he hasn't only received a few dozen messages. Well not after today. Look here at what other people have said, then contact him yourself.

Dear Mr. Clement,

I am writing in response to your comments that those opposed to the proroguing of parliament are "elite." You stated that you are "not here to govern on behalf of the chattering classes." I didn't realize it was appropriate for our elected officials to discriminate on the basis of class. I also didn't realize that engaging in public debate makes ordinary citizens apt targets for our elected officials' scorn and disrespect.

I was under the impression the government represented everyone. Including those who are informed on politics and are not afraid to speak their mind on issues.

This latest move is a betrayal of our democracy, and your comments are a disgrace to the office you hold and the public you are supposed to serve.

Rachel and Cailin

As we wrote our message we eat proroguies, I mean perogies.

Sick of reruns.

Found this amusing photo while browsing the Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament facebook group (which is at 29, 250 members so far.)

How can I express my disgust at Stephen Harper's latest betrayal of our democracy? Should I just copy and paste my rant from the last time Harper decided that Canadians don't need to be represented in Parliament when he doesn't feel like it?

In December 2008, when I stood outside in the freezing cold at a sad little protest rally and endured watching hippies INTERPRETIVE DANCE to show my support for democracy, I seriously thought it was a crazy, one-time event in Canadian history. I cannot believe this shit is happening again.

So, it looks like Harper is ruining my birthday, yet again (he was voted in on January 23rd 2006). I'll be spending at least part of Saturday January 23rd 2010 attending another ice cold rally. Rallies are being planned across the country.
If there is more awful, embarrassing dancing, I may cry. Canada, if you would just pay attention and stand up for your right to be represented, the hippies wouldn't feel the need to dance! You can stop the madness!

This damn Prime Minister... Doesn't even have the consideration to outrage me during a temperate month.

"There's a strong fiscally conservative argument for supporting the arts"

So many times have I listened to strong arguments explaining that supporting the arts should be part of even a conservative economic plan. But I have never heard a conservative say it. Something changed today!

June is now National Aboriginal History Month

New Democrat Crowder’s motion passes unanimously after two year struggle. Two provinces, Saskatchewan and Alberta, already celebrate June as Aboriginal History Month. I am rather disappointed in the other Provinces and Territories. if Alberta is considered the Texas of Canada, what is it doing being more progressive than everyone else?

Queerly Canadain

This is an article from This Magazine, on how Canadian's (and others) have blinders on when it comes to Transgendered people. Not my favorite article ever, but gets one thinking about how we can readdress the issue of transgendered people in pop culture.
Transgendered people seem to be in the public eye a lot as of late. Another example i came across is Chastity Bono, the offspring of Duo Sonny and Cher, who has announced that formally she, now he, will be transitioning from a woman to a man.

International Beauty Contest

I was brushing up on my world leader knowledge when I decided the endeavor was far too serious for my shallow brain. Instead of learning about important leaders and their issues and histories, why not just pick out the best looking ones and put them in a list! Yeah!

Here are the most attractive Presidents, Prime Ministers, Governors and Kings, as determined by me. This is based entirely on appearance, and has nothing to do with what kind of leader they may be.

MOZAMBIQUE
Prime Minister
Luisa Dias Diogo


NORWAY
Prime Minister
Jens Stoltenberg





ARGENTINA
President
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner





SWAZILAND
King
Mswati III





MACEDONIA
Prime Minister
Nikola Gruevski





MONACO
Prince
Albert II





BURUNDI
President
Pierre Nkurunziza




ECUADOR
President
Rafael Correa Delgado




United States of America
President
Barack Obama





KIRIBATI
President
Anote Tong



CANADA
Governor General
Michaëlle Jean





BUTAN
Dragon King
Jigme Khesar
Namgyel Wangchuck




PHILLIPINES
President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo



UKRAINE
Prime Minister
Yuliya Tymoshenko




There you go. That was stupid. And FUN!

I just started reading The Audacity of Hope. I'm enjoying it so far. At one point Obama describes a trip he took with an aide to southern Illinois:

On the drive down, we stopped at a TGI Friday's and I ordered a cheeseburger. When the waitress brought the food I asked her if she had any Dijon mustard. Dan shook his head.

"He doesn't want Dijon," he insisted, waving the waitress off. "Here"—he shoved a yellow bottle of French's mustard in my direction—"here's some mustard right here."

The waitress looked confused. "We got Dijon if you want it," she said to me.

I smiled. "That would be great, thanks." As the waitress walked away, I leaned over to Dan and whispered that I didn't think there were any photographers around.

MY GOD! This man is completely obsessed with his spicy mustard! It's a running theme through his political/gastronomical career.

At least he's consistent with his condiment loyalties. That's how you know you can trust him.

Citizenship Rant

Conservatives order rewrite of 'insipid' citizenship guidebook

Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney, sounds like a bit of an ass in this article.

The current guidebook for Canadian newcomers includes two pages on environmental stewardship and barely a mention of the Canadian military - and that has Jason Kenney hopping mad [...] As Kenney acerbically characterizes it, the booklet includes two pages "on recycling" - but "not one single sentence on Canadian military history."

I've been a Canadian citizen since 1993, and while I agree that the citizenship stuff I read at the time and in the years since could be described as somewhat "insipid," I take offense at the idea that focusing on things like the environment is "ridiculous," while lecturing about past wars is supposed to be a better way to introduce people to their new country.

It isn't that 1990's Liberal Canadian values are more "insipid" than 2000's Conservative Canadian values. It just that Canadian attempts to describe Canada are pretty much always gag-worthy in some way. The government, no matter who is in control, is always the most clichéd in this endeavour (except perhaps the CBC).* Insulting environmental stewardship in order to celebrate soldiers isn't going to change that. It's just exchanging one ideological emphasis for another, and if you ask me, the one that boasts of environmental responsibility and peacefulness is more valuable than the one that salutes military achievement.

I'm not saying that knowledge of military history isn't important, it's just not as important for the future of Canada as the topic the Minister singles out for derision. I believe that Canadians should know about Canadian history, including the good and the bad. I doubt, however, that along with the story of Vimy Ridge immigrants will learn about Japanese internment camps. I doubt that in addition to the importance of the poppy as a symbol, the new booklet will mention much about the residential school system. Unless I'm proven wrong and they somehow don't pick and choose the version of Canada they want to convey, I say give me a break, Minister! The changes you are planning are almost certainly going to be "a small-c conservative, partisan [and] ideological project." Don't pretend otherwise. Your version of Canada will be just as "insipid" as the old one, just in a conservative way.

And I don't see how this will "foster greater integration of immigrants" and improve "social cohesion."

In fact, I can feel my immigrant self dis-integrating as I write this! Thanks a bunch, Conservatives! You are ruining my cohesion, socially speaking.

*Don't get me wrong, I really like the CBC. I just can't stand to hear them talk about 'what it means to be Canadian' and stuff like that. It is just too self-congratulatory for me to stomach.

Rights

I am so angry with the new laws in Afghanistan. Women are not allowed to refuse their husband sex. Women have been protesting the new laws, but were met with violence.

Good

The Deadly Nightshades had his on their blog, I wanted to share.

attack adds

Elizabeth May explained today that attack adds work, because they reduce voter turnout. don't let them get you, stay informed even outside of election times and remember to always take advantage of your place in democracy.

SAVE THE CBC

For those of you who don't know... I AM A CBC FIEND. This means that I have been on the verge of tears over the CBC layoffs.
Well I was informed that there is a way for concerned Canadians to make a small difference. Let us SAVE THE CBC, and sign this petition!

Today at 10am, did anyone listen to CBC radio 1, Q with Jian? Well if you did you would have heard a show in front of an audience. Guess who was in that audience?!? ME! and some awesome friends. We are all recent Toronto to Vancouver transplants, and felt a huge tension with all the Toronto vs Vancouver discussions. But two of us live in the West end, with Torquil Campbell (congratulations) and that MLA Spencer Herbert (what a cutie). After the show two of my friends went up and talked to Jian, I was not interested in lining up to talk to the man I hope to marry.
New Goal: run into Jian some time during JUNO weekend.

Pearson

I'm reading a Lester B. Pearson bio right now, and am soon going to be spouting off random Pearson facts for the pleasure and edification of everyone I know.

Since this blog is listed on a couple of Guelph feeds, I'll treat you to a tidbit of local history. After returning from WWI and finishing his B.A at U of T, Pearson joined the Guelph Maple Leafs baseball team as an infielder.
I guess that team morphed into the Guelph Royals at some point. Their wikipedia page is difficult to understand. But I did find this amusing fact there: "In the summer of 1873, the Boston Red Stockings, the defending National Association champs, paid a visit to Guelph and whipped the Maple Leafs 27-8."

The Guelph Maple Leafs v. The Boston Red Stockings!

War Crimes

On learning that George W. Bush had visited the Texas of Canada, Alberta, I was disgusted, but something super fundamental did not occur to me. Was Bush ever fearful of being arrested for war crimes? Andrew Morrison poetically espresses Canada's failure to make history. Despite the Canadian police not arresting Bush, I also am curious if it would have been possible for someone to have made a citizen's arrest. Could we have all missed the boat?

PANIC! PANIC! PANIC! But whatever you do, don't lose your cool.

Introducing GM’s latest, greatest product!

The all new 2009 Cognitive Dissonance is jam packed with distressing features and conflicting emotions!

Let the auto industry take you on an exciting, terrifying journey!

Now you can go from pitying laid off workers, to raging against the incompetency of CEOs, to fearing for your own job if the economy collapses, and finally to the bitter indignation caused by the fact that our society depends on alienating and polluting vehicles in the first place!

Your head will spin, your heart will wrench and your nerves will be shot... all in less time than it takes to listen to the evening news!

And don't forget, any negativity and money hoarding will only make things worse, you fools!

FUCK YOU!

Truthfully one of the main reasons i am linking this video is the song at the end. Thank You Feministing!

Eight Maps!

EightMaps.com
Now we can go to the houses of people in California and slap the people do donated to support Proposition 8. I suggest we slap them once for ever dollar they donated.
Lynette Atkisson, Homemaker, gets 5000 slaps for the $5 000 she donated!

Okay maybe i shouldn't be encouraging this violence. But i like the idea that these people can not be anonymous and people can change their behavior to show there dissatisfaction. Perhaps we should no longer support Full-screenVisionary Electronics, Inc. and Blackford Construction. If you are friends with Adam Haleck, Real Estate Developer, tell him how you feel, and maybe don't have him represent you when you are selling your California house. This is how politics inform your daily life. It is not okay if someone doesn't believe homosexual people are equal, and i am not going to let people think that it won't affect how i associate with people with busnesses and people based on what they suport.

Mrs. O

I heard about this website on CBC radio (west coast edition). They were talking about it as if perhaps it has gone too far. Well I totally love it. I love when the fashion of older people especially older women is promoted. By older I mean older than say 30.
Honestly Michelle Obama is amazing. I am not ashamed of loving her clothing. She promotes affordable clothing and local up and coming designers, as well as high fashion. Check what she wore last at Mrs-O.org.