Posted on 01/24/2014 12:36:13 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
I have read her stuff for years on and off and I agree that the women’s movement was needed at one time. Personally I think it has outlived its usefulness and should end up in the ash bin of history, as another left wing idea that did more harm then good. I think that we will have equality of the sexes when a man can punch a woman in the mouth and not automatically be tossed into jail. Just kidding...sorta.
Liberals aren’t necessarily Leftists.
I have always liked her. She’s intellectually honest, a thinking feminist.
Have another drink. The night is young.
Fully agree, informacious. Paglia is also an exceptionally clear writer. I will read her anytime I run across her, knowing that — agree or disagree — I’ll understand more when I finsh the read than when I start it.
Whether I agree or disagree on any given point, I find her views valuable and instructive.
Camille Paglia is classical liberal. She is not a progressive. There’s a BIG difference. I like reading her articles, especially when I agree with what she writes.
Funny, just last week I sent her a copy of “Patriot’s History of the Modern World” last week.
I’ve read a some of Paglia’s books, and a few of ideas are nutty...especially the ones concerning sex. But overall she’s fun to read because she kicks sand in the faces of all the feminist heroines like Steinem and the others whom she exposes as anti-American, petty fascists.
That's another thing I like about Paglia. Despite decades of propaganda from the feminist politburo, she refuses to consider herself a victim simply because she's a female.
So I like her.
Bingo. One of the few left. The other I can think of offhand is Prof. Allen Dershowitz.
I love Paglia. I was lucky enough to invite her to my reading series in NYC in the late 90s when her star was at its highest. She spoke for two hours off the cuff and took questions for another hour. And she was my husband’s dinner companion that night and he loved her.
She’s right on so many issues and her books are works of art.
And now I’ll say one more thing: until she addresses her Arabist leanings and her love and admiration for Edward Said, she will never be right on all issues - particularly the issue of our time.
For example, when in a tight spot she will reference back to her Italian heritage for clues, further as a man that began my career mixing mortar and toting brick I appreciate that she appreciates what thats all about.
However, like Oriana Fallaci, the late GREAT Italian journalist, she's no one's dray horse; she'll be hitched to no wagon nor sledge.
She's more iconaclast than icon, even when she defends western canon against the imbeciles of academe. I think she does it because imbeciles in academe are a target rich environment. It's too easy and too much fun for her to pass up.
Ulimately, like Fallaci, she'll complain about muslims pissing on the sides of great cathedrals even as she pisses on the floor.
She's a "one-off" and as such she's tolerated in academe. I don't think she has any desire to be a part of a movement.
Again, she loves Arab culture and has written extensively about it. She has written very little about Muslim oppression - just a few tosses to honor killings in the mid-east. She was a student of Edward Said and has written forests of essays on him and his book “Orientalism.” In this way, she shares nothing with the late, great Oriana Fallaci. And I speak as a fan.
Another thing: when election time comes around, she will again support the Democratic candidate or the Green candidate as she’s done in the past. I’ve never seen her admit to voting for a Republican candidate.
I hate saying this because I’m such a huge admirer of hers but she has her flaws.
Oh, I beg to differ:
Like Fallaci, she is an Italian nationalist
Like Fallaci, she is an athiest
Like Fallaci, she is a fierce individualist
Like Fallaci, she has passion to burn
And like Fallaci she defends western culture even as she, unwittingly?, tears it apart.
And believe me, that's an Italian thing too.
I have always read whatever she wrote and for the most part agreed with her. I guess I must be a lesbian.
She is a classical liberal with a few odd opinions but she may be one of the more intellectually honest out there.
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