From: iview-AT-technologist.com
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 1998 14:33:06 -0700
Subject: Nationalism...Re: Some thoughts On "the west" 


It is time that we women divest ourselves of "national" identity in
order to unite in a way never before possible...the internet empowers
women who can provide the same empowerment to women "have-nots" -- right
here, there are activists providing free computer training, in all
aspects of the computer...there are computer retailers providing
equipment to those have-nots, to schools etc.

We don't have to abide by existing national/economic borders that are in
our history.  The problem is compounded, though, by "patriarchal"
women...women for whom the patriarchy *works*, usually providing the
"protection" of class status.  It is these women who must also be
willing to divest themselves of patriarchal crutches...but the risk of
divesting is very great...not everyone can or is able to do it.  The
physical, geographical borders will remain as long as nations want those
borders.  Both men and women will protect those borders with their
lives...that's the loss.  Post-colonial economic expansion is behind
those borders.

We must begin to address those borders and brainstorm on how to erase
them.

-Manjusree

dharlem-AT-pipeline.com wrote:
> 
> Dear Rinita-
> I don't know what "essentializing" means.  But I am of the rightly
> disparaged  "west", simultaneous to my persecution by it (sigh).
> I'm therefore probably a little subjective about it.
> I am opposed to being represented by the typically male and too often
> religious-fundamentalist power queens, who are ruining AND running the
> world-- EVEN to conscious women the world over, EVEN here, on our
> third-world-women list.
> I am "the west", Manjusree is "the west", you are "the west", and we all
> agree about many many issues.  Still, we are being represented-- even to
> each other(!)-- by so-called "leaders" who don't give a damn about us,
> basically where EVER we live. So, while we are globally beset by utterly
> despot dickistry, while they FEED on us;  we might want to remove ourselves
> from THE MAN'S maps and corrals, so we can move forward; strategically, and
> coalesced.  And a little less harmed by his toxins.
> In this form (Email), where *the border* is the financial privilege of
> affording it; establishing a nomenclature not bent on exclusions and
> name-calling- particlularly of each other-- is muscular thinking.
> And that's not to say that name-calling is always inappropriate.  When we
> DO name-call, it should be precise and concise.  We must cast our
> aspersions with accuracy.  By splitting ourselves into hemispheres and
> hierarchies, I believe we lose; that there is a better way.
> I say, let's win.
> meg
> 
> At 06:17 AM 10/7/98 -0600, you wrote:
> >Meg,
> >Are you not essentializing ``the west''. As a part of the diaspora
> >I am opposed to the ``West'' also, yet I am considered ``Western''
> >by my relatives back home and here in the mainstream immigrant
> >community. interestingly, when I protested against Vietnam
> >in College I was the ``left anti-American''. Now I protested
> >against nuclear, I am pro-America!.
> >
> >
> >The ``other'' I guess is always the other!
> >
> >Rinita
> >
> >
> >