millionreasons | Down with People (Reply)

Intelligent article by Naomi Klein here. I do like Ms Klein, partly because no-one has been able to dig any dirt on her. When Michael Moore started to think he could single-handedly bring down George Bush, all kinds of accusations were thrown at him. I thought "Bowling for Columbine" was an interesting documentary and made some salient points; that doesn't mean that everything the man does is gold. It seems a little unfair on left wing people that everything they do is taken into account whereas apologists for e.g. a right wing artist will say: Oh forget that PC stuff, just look at the beautiful painting. Just because Michael Moore is a bit of a plank doesn't mean he doesn't give good docu action. There's this weird concept that says if you like one thing a person does, you must worship their existence. Are people really not intelligent enough to choose? Can we not read one article by Chomsky and think: Well, yes, that makes sense and then another which doesn't really cut one's own personal mustard? Are people not allowed to write something and then think: Well, maybe I was wrong about that. I've changed my mind? People don't really hold the same opinions on everything for 30 or 40 years. Ditto the pro-war liberal types who consider that because Saddam Hussein was a Bad Thing, it must mean everyone who was against the war is a pro-Saddam George Galloway loving Trot. Political opinions don't always need to have an either/or.

Anyway, what with drunken non-consent equalling consent, I assume that every bottle of Bacardi Breezer is going to have additional warnings on the labels: "Women! Drinking too much will increase your vulnerability to sexual assault. Best to stay indoors with a nice cup of tea, eh love". Ditto short skirts in clothing stores. I mean, really, does anyone go into Top Shop or H&M and think: "I like that skirt for that price and in that colour, but hang on, if I buy it, will I be raped?" Will the articles in womens' magazines and that paragon of hypocrisy, the Daily Mail, which tell women how to be sexy carry a health warning about the possibility of rape?