Comments on: Like a pig to the slaughter http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/ History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present Fri, 24 May 2013 12:20:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: David http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8411 David Thu, 01 May 2008 18:31:59 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8411 Thanks, Rad readr, although I think it's unfortunate. The media-driven discussion of the discourse is facile, and more than a little racist. We could use more English department discourses in mainstream life, however utopian that wish might be. I know Obama has to live in the reality of politics, but I still don't like it, which is why I write up these posts on an insignificant blog. Thanks, Rad readr, although I think it’s unfortunate. The media-driven discussion of the discourse is facile, and more than a little racist. We could use more English department discourses in mainstream life, however utopian that wish might be.

I know Obama has to live in the reality of politics, but I still don’t like it, which is why I write up these posts on an insignificant blog.

]]> By: Rad readr http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8281 Rad readr Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:06:12 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8281 Thanks, David, for the post on Wright. It is very smart, and as an academic in an English department, I appreciate the underlying notion that discourse creates a certain reality and speaks to a different type of truth than verifiable facts, figures, and events. The righ twing has been extremely adept at using this to create its own reality and disinform people. (e.g. Iraq's weapons of mass destrution). Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) the public, media-induced discussion of this discourse is not an English department. And most people (myself included) still prefer to be grounded in more mundane empiricisms. And while that might not be any more real in terms of evidence available, it does speak to a need for different rhetorial approaches in pubilc. I think that's historiann's point about why Obama had to denounce Wright. Thanks, David, for the post on Wright. It is very smart, and as an academic in an English department, I appreciate the underlying notion that discourse creates a certain reality and speaks to a different type of truth than verifiable facts, figures, and events. The righ twing has been extremely adept at using this to create its own reality and disinform people. (e.g. Iraq’s weapons of mass destrution). Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) the public, media-induced discussion of this discourse is not an English department. And most people (myself included) still prefer to be grounded in more mundane empiricisms. And while that might not be any more real in terms of evidence available, it does speak to a need for different rhetorial approaches in pubilc. I think that’s historiann’s point about why Obama had to denounce Wright.

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8271 Historiann Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:57:00 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8271 Rad--you're entirely right. The pathetic job that disciplines like History, English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy are doing are still much, much better than disciplines that are either failing to recruit or driving out women and nonwhite doctoral candidates and post-docs. Universities relies on the humanities to hire a few XX chromosome-types and a few brown faces that they can use in promotional materials. (See GayProf's post a few months ago on the "Lite-Brite" approach to faculty diversity hires, and my response on this blog.) As for Rev. Wright: it's not a "new strategy" on Clinton's part or my part not to comment on Rev. Wright. I just feel very badly for Obama that he had to come out and denounce someone who clearly has been an important person in his life. I think the media attention on this has been really unfair to Obama and Wright, when the really crazy-assed crazies in right wing religion get a total pass (Franklin Graham, John Hagee, Rod Parsley). I understand that Wright wanted to clear his name and speak for himself, but the speaking tour this week seemed like he was enjoying the spotlight more than a little. I also think it's really, really unfortunate that Wright spoke about HIV/AIDS in such a way as to give life and breath to conspiracy theories, but at that point he gave Obama no way to maneuver without denouncing him. That's about all I have to say. The whole scene is just regrettable and gives the media an excuse to talk horserace rather than focus on policy. Rad–you’re entirely right. The pathetic job that disciplines like History, English, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy are doing are still much, much better than disciplines that are either failing to recruit or driving out women and nonwhite doctoral candidates and post-docs. Universities relies on the humanities to hire a few XX chromosome-types and a few brown faces that they can use in promotional materials. (See GayProf’s post a few months ago on the “Lite-Brite” approach to faculty diversity hires, and my response on this blog.)

As for Rev. Wright: it’s not a “new strategy” on Clinton’s part or my part not to comment on Rev. Wright. I just feel very badly for Obama that he had to come out and denounce someone who clearly has been an important person in his life. I think the media attention on this has been really unfair to Obama and Wright, when the really crazy-assed crazies in right wing religion get a total pass (Franklin Graham, John Hagee, Rod Parsley). I understand that Wright wanted to clear his name and speak for himself, but the speaking tour this week seemed like he was enjoying the spotlight more than a little. I also think it’s really, really unfortunate that Wright spoke about HIV/AIDS in such a way as to give life and breath to conspiracy theories, but at that point he gave Obama no way to maneuver without denouncing him. That’s about all I have to say. The whole scene is just regrettable and gives the media an excuse to talk horserace rather than focus on policy.

]]> By: David http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8253 David Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:25:24 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8253 Not to derail this thread, but with regard to Rev. Wright: http://strategicfailure.blogspot.com/2008/04/pastor-and-politician.html Not to derail this thread, but with regard to Rev. Wright:

http://strategicfailure.blogspot.com/2008/04/pastor-and-politician.html

]]> By: Rad readr http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8252 Rad readr Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:31:03 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8252 Hmmm, Historiann, you are curiously silent on Rev. Wright (he of my favorite new T-Shirt, "Rev. Wright for Secretary of State"). The lack of comment, I suspect, may speak to a new strategy on the part of the Clinton campaign and its supporters: let Obama and Rev. Wright do themselves in. Now that Wright has stepped up to claim his 15 mins -- or fifteen days, at the rate it's going -- there may actually be hope for Senatorella. As far as the situation among physicists -- maybe we could have a Sexism Olympics. Physicists vs. engineers vs. other disreputable sciences. And while we're at it, I want universities to start publishing faculty demographics by disciplines and schools/colleges. The Humanities and Social Sciences and Education are carrying so-called diversity for many universities. Hmmm, Historiann, you are curiously silent on Rev. Wright (he of my favorite new T-Shirt, “Rev. Wright for Secretary of State”). The lack of comment, I suspect, may speak to a new strategy on the part of the Clinton campaign and its supporters: let Obama and Rev. Wright do themselves in. Now that Wright has stepped up to claim his 15 mins — or fifteen days, at the rate it’s going — there may actually be hope for Senatorella.

As far as the situation among physicists — maybe we could have a Sexism Olympics. Physicists vs. engineers vs. other disreputable sciences. And while we’re at it, I want universities to start publishing faculty demographics by disciplines and schools/colleges. The Humanities and Social Sciences and Education are carrying so-called diversity for many universities.

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8227 Historiann Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:54:29 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8227 Yes--for some reason it wasn't working. I wonder if citing the source was a mistake? In any case, I took it down because it wasn't actually there any longer. Sorry! Yes–for some reason it wasn’t working. I wonder if citing the source was a mistake? In any case, I took it down because it wasn’t actually there any longer. Sorry!

]]> By: BEW http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8226 BEW Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:47:19 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8226 Maybe it's been one of those days, but wasn't there a picture of a very peculiar looking pig earlier in the day? Maybe it’s been one of those days, but wasn’t there a picture of a very peculiar looking pig earlier in the day?

]]> By: Feminist Law Professors » Blog Archive » “Data show extent of sexism in physics” http://www.historiann.com/2008/04/29/like-a-pig-to-the-slaughter/comment-page-1/#comment-8173 Feminist Law Professors » Blog Archive » “Data show extent of sexism in physics” Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:05:58 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=285#comment-8173 [...] Update: Link to full study here thanks to Historiann. [...] [...] Update: Link to full study here thanks to Historiann. [...]

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