Why I'm glad to be Canadian #832019

It's hard to believe stuff like this still happens in the world.

The federal government, along with other foreign affairs departments, is expressing concern over proposed laws in Afghanistan. One law would make it illegal for Shi’ite women to deny their husbands sex. Women would also need permission to leave the house. Children would be in the custody of fathers and grandfathers only. Critics are now questioning Canada’s commitment to its military program in that country. CBC Radio Clg. CTV Clg.

Read more at CTV online.

Good job, celebrities.

There have been a lot of celebrity public service announcements lately. They've ranged from support for democracy and voting, gay rights, and now, ending violence against women.

I personally find it encouraging when celebrities use their place in society to do something worthwhile. To use their fame to promote an important cause or message that they believe in. Something that many of us would love to do, but that has a much bigger reach when they do it. Bravo.

It's the Economy, Girlfriend!

I'm not a radical feminist. I believe in a woman's choice, in pretty much all sense of the word. I used to get into heated arguments where I'd subconsciously grab the hair and smack the bitches who suggested that any woman who didn't work for a living was going against everything feminists fought for. Um, I'm sorry, I thought they fought for equity and the right to be treated the same as everyone else, my bad. If a woman truly wants to stay home and raise her family, I say it's an important job like any other, and a decision that should be supported.

The thing that makes me angry is when any woman (or man for that matter, really) gets the whole entitlement attitude about them. This is precisely why this article made my blood boil. Sure enough, I probably should have let it go and not clicked on the blog. But I did. For the same reason that I continued going to my Feminist Philosphy classes. For some reason, I really like to be pissed off. I was hoping that there'd be some kind element to the girls that I could relate to, or even understand, but nope.

I can't stand the one who married a finance guy saying, "his friend told me that I need to support him and let him know I love him so he's not dead by 35... this is not what I signed up for". I can't stand the one from the conversation below, whining that her boyfriend won't take her on expensive trips because his wife is checking the finances.

Suddenly, I found myself being taken out less and less frequently. A recent argument went along these lines:
Me *pouting*: You haven’t taken me on a trip since we went to Bermuda in September. What’s going on?
Charles: Honey, finances are tight right now so my wife has taken it upon herself to check up on all of our accounts. She will notice any big expenditures.
Me *cute voice*: Wellllllllllllll, what are you going to do to make it up to me?
Charles: Can we talk later sweetheart? I’m really busy right now.
Me: No. Give me an answer NOW. Don’t you realize what you have? I’m way too hot to be treated like this.
Charles *yelling for the first time in our almost two-year relationship*: I’VE GOT TO FIRE TWENTY PEOPLE BY THE END OF THE WEEK. Z has four kids, X just had a baby girl, Y just sent his son to college and I’ve got to get rid of two of those guys… and you’re complaining about vacations and dinner? God, you are so 24! GROW UP!
Me *stunned*: Okie dokie, let’s talk later lover.

Girls who have this kind of "I'm so pretty, I deserve to be spoiled!" mentality make steam come out my ears. Really, that's the only reason why you're in this relationship or this marriage? And actually, in the marriage vows there's usually some kind of "for better or worse, for richer or poorer" line. Did you not mean them? It shows such a lack of compassion and lack of understanding on the part of these girls, who care more about bottle service and Bergdorfs than about the men who they're in the relationships with. Both the Boy and I have had our respective organizations talk about cutting jobs, and really, I'll be there for him no matter what happens, as I know he'd be there for me. I'm with him because of who he is, not because of his paycheque. I'm with him because of the qualities he has, the ones that wouldn't let him allow a situation like that to ruin him. The whole point of relationships is for them to be supportive, to love someone through good times and tough times.

These DABA girls, and the women who wrote in to them in support of their lifestyles and incessant whining, make all women look bad.

The one in which I am an angry bitch

Dear Spike TV/Nick Coles;

Seriously? You allowed this knob of a writer to completely bash incredible women on your site, while slowly backing away with the "this article does not represent Spike TV or its affiliates" mumbo-jumbo. The fact that you knew enough to include that little gem, shows how much you knew the article was wrong, degrating, and inappropriate.

Sara Ramirez, Drew Barrymore, Salma Hayak, America Ferrera, Mandy Moore, Liv Tyler, and Tyra Banks are not "the Top 7 Butterbodies" Nick Coles asserts them to be. He says these women have an obligation to be stick thin, no matter how unhealthy that actually can be, and that by parading any of them as "curvy" we're giving women an "excuse to be fat". Fuck you. Excuse my language, but I would like to smack Mr. Coles upside the head.

These women are under enough pressure from the media and society as a whole, being the celebrities that they are, they don't need to hear it from you. I wouldn't even consider any of them "fat", but I guess that's just me. These women may have the means for personal trainers, but it doesn't mean they have the time. Filming TV shows, movies, making appearances, going on press tours, it's not easy work. It means long days. You know how some days you are exhausted and want to head home and spend some time either relaxing or with your family? Yeah, they probably do the same.

The fact that you even equate celebrity with the need to be stick thin disgusts me. When celebrities do give in to the Hollywood need-to-be-thin thing, the media turns on them and suggests eating disorders, calls them skeletons and demeans them yet again. It's jerks like Mr. Coles who spawn these issues with body image and eating disorders -- Nicole Richie, Kate Bosworth and Calista Flockhart are all good examples. Not to mention the fact that holding celebrities to these impossible standards has an effect on young girls' body image as well.

But do women lash out about the men in Hollywood and the male celebrities who clearly let their bodies go? How much backlash did Joaquin Phoenix, Jack Nicholson, Jack Boy George, or even Jared Leto receive when they were not "celebrity thin". If you truly believe that "celebrities are not like normal people" and "its their job to look fit and hot", what excuse do you give for the men? Why don't you feature them in your article? Have you seen Phoenix lately?

Quite frankly, I feel sorry for any women in your life who suffer the ridiculous standards you hold them to.

Love, Me
xoxo