Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 06:00:23 -0600 (MDT)
From: Rinita Mazumdar <rinita-AT-nmt.edu>
Subject: Re:  Nationalism...Re: Some thoughts On "the west"


Manjusree, I totally agree with you. But remember we are at the same
time oppressed AND oppressor, how to overcome this hegemony
WITHIN us. How many of us are willing to de-class ourselves?
Also, can we really make a cultural revolution and define our values
other than patriarchy? Can we say that cleanogn, cooking, housework
are `real' works, working in public is not?

if we can seriously (1) be de-classed (2) change our own value system,
I am sure we can really thrash patriarachy,

rinita







>From owner-third-world-women-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu  Wed Oct  7 12:33:19 1998
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 >
 >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
 >> >
 >> >
 >> >
 >