Jessica Lynch or Elizabeth Smart, women as victims. Where does that

[efhmc]

leave us feminists? We can be the victims of a repressive religious society or a gung-ho macho society. What to choose, where to go?

[economic justice]

1. Elizabeth

If not a victim, what is Elizabeth Smart? If you're a kid and get kidnapped, are you not a victim?

[Fenris]

2. I think everyone is either a victim or an oppressor

Most decent people are victims. Most corrupt people are oppressors. ES is a victim and so is JL. There's no crime in being a victim.

If JL had been kidnapped because her equiptment was too heavy or she broke a heel or she saw a dead soldier and started hysterically sobbing, I'd say someone was trying to portray her as a victim. But as it stands she's the victim of poor navigation and Pentagon propaganda.

[efhmc]

4. Sorry, male think. You can not begin to understand or know what this is

about. Why is her story important? If she were male would you or the rest of the american masses care one iota??? I sincerely do not think so. The reason is that we see her as a female which translates out of male speak into "poor, little, blonde, innocent victim."

[Fenris]

5. Actually, I don't care about her story

I commented because her story has been overhyped and used as a piece of Pentagon propaganda. I don't find anything remarkable or heroic about the story. She was a soldier, she got caught, she was rescued. It happens. That is, if I am to believe that the common sequence of events is accurate.

And frankly, I don't think of myself as part of the American masses. I did not bother watching the movie of the week, I did not care to watch her "homecoming", and I turned the channel when the news kept repeating the same story about her over and over again. My point was that you could view anyone from the position of victim or oppressor, if you so chose. Call it "male-think" if you wish.

[efhmc]

3. She is a victim of right wing mormon parents who taught their daughter

to give herself to a religious man in power. That is what that religion is all about. I can tell you that the minute my abducted feminist daughters had a chance that they would have run for the nearest person/phone to get away from that nutty captor, but she (Elizabeth) was programmed to acquiese to male rule, and she is still doing the same thing today.

[economic justice]

6. The anti-male stuff is silly

Sounds like you're raising some great kids and that's great! I think that trying to say what this kid wouldacouldashoulda is silly, as is blaming her situation on her dad. I can't stand religion either, but I don't presume to be better than them.

[Cleita]

7. I agree.

Fourteen years doesn't give a child a whole lot of experience in dealing with a nutcase, especially if your parents shelter you from the fact that there are dangerous people out there. Also, the fact that Elizabeth might have feared for her sister's safety may have made her an easier target than if she had been in the bedroom alone. I think maybe this is why she didn't scream bloody murder.

I don't think she should be exploited for nosy people's purient interest.

[Piperay]

8. Her parents aren't RWings...

in fact they are Democrats and the father has had some pretty harsh words for the repukes. Plus, you never know what you or anyone else is going to do in a situation until you are IN THAT situation.