Date: Sat, 03 Oct 1998 17:25:26 -0400
From: Lizzy Poole <lizzy-AT-cybertours.com>
Subject: Re: Taslima Nasreen and her head




Enrica Garzilli wrote:
I have interviewd her and had the opportunity to talk to her for quite some time
informally.I asked her about her relationship with feminist groups in Bangladesh
and India. She told me that many of them wanted to use her name to have publicity,
to become famous. That's very possible.

> However, I also had the impression of a certain ambiguity from her and a
> certain will to be "the first", to be the heroine of the situation (I
> have written all that in the report of the JSAWS, and her lecture, and
> reported the recorded  reaction of people present.)
> Like a hero, she wants to be isolated and alone. She wants to fight by
> herself. For sure she is very childish... (besides the opportunity to be
> alone in terms of results)
> However, she is a symbol. That is important, not HER private figure and
> personality. Sho cares of her in person?
> The importance is in people who fights not in her name but taking her
> name as a symbol of funfamentalists' oppression and prevarication.
> WHat do you think about it?
>
> Enrica
> --
> Dr. Enrica Garzilli                 University of Perugia (ITALY)
> Istituto di Linguistica                      Piazza Morlacchi, 11
> 06123 Perugia                  Tel./Fax: +39-75-585 3755 (office)
> Editor-in-Chief,
> Intl. Journ. of Tantric Studies, Journal of S. Asia Women Studies
> htpp://www.asiatica.org/
> *****************************************************************

  Enrica - I agree with you - I think women tend to jump on the ones who dare to
emerge as symbols or to stand alone, picking at things which could be put aside
until later in order to use the actions of the woman for the benefit of all women
and just being supportive instead.
I think of Assata Shakur, Aug Sang Soo Ki (or however her name is spelled), Lani
Gunier for that matter, and all the women who've been on the hotplate in danger of
losing their heads, either symbolically or in fact, and as a woman, I stand behind
them 100% whether they're trying to save all our lives or just their own.
For a group of men, no matter what religion or political persuasion, to issue an
order of death because a woman voices her opinion, is the sickest thing I ever
heard of!
But it's no worse than taking political prisoners - of people who disagree with
the party in power.
When a woman is in trouble, we should all rally - or some day, the bell will toll
for thee and me.
I hope people quit the snivelling pettiness and rage instead against the true
perpetrators of outrageous behavior. Doesn't anyone recognize the war against
women?
Lizzy