SEXISM IN RELIGIOUS
LITERATURE
"LET US MAKE MAN IN
OUR IMAGE . . . "
- Gen. 1: 26
by
REGINALD YOUNG
General / Sociology / Politics / Geography
For Nazma, Mo, Tatiana and
Liberty.
Copyright
© Reginald Young 2000.
All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication
Data.
A
catalogue record for this book is available
from
the British Library.
First Published in the United Kingdom
by
Reginald
Young
September 2000
Printed in the UK
ISBN
1 899968 08 3
"Reginald! Please speak about sexism in
the park". - Lydia.
Gender Relations in History
What is man?
What
is woman?
How does history, culture and literature - in
this particular case religious literature with reference to the Holy Bible -
define or explain the origin, role, status
and the meaning of what is man and what is woman?
The
Participants:- Human
beings
The
Time:- Always
The Scene:- Speakers' Corner.
The
Speaker:- The "Horse"
The
Audience:- Unpredictable, unforgettable,
and incomparable individuals.
INTRODUCTION
For the 'Horse' it's the usual Sunday
rendezvous.
At the usual place.
Speakers' Corner,
Hyde park,
London,
England,
Europe,
Planet Earth,
The Cosmos!
It's one hour before the harmonious chimes of
"Big Ben" celebrate the arrival of noon on another day, week, month,
year, decade and finally another millennium.
On the main streets of London the traffic is
busy with cars, buses, coaches, vans, motor cycles, bicycles and pedestrians
busily negotiating a route through the bustling traffic and the adjoining
pavements.
On this holy day, Sunday, homo-sapiens and
machines pay tribute to the various Gods of spiritualism, materialism and
civilisation by legitimising the structures, forces and processes of ecological
degradation, pollution and evolution?
Pollution is the consequence of reckless
modernisation.
Pollution is a typical feature of the urban
life styles of modernity.
Pollution is the invisible cost imposed on
the natural environment.
The "right to pollute" is
the popular motto of the unenlightened.
Today there are no open rational protests
from modernised individuals demanding the controlling, minimising or for the
eventual elimination of the most
dangerous forms of pollutants.
Nowadays, the only anti-pollution protesters
are the irrational such as the natural
life processes, global warming, erratic weather conditions, poisoned
fish floating in polluted streams, suicidal whales arriving on sea shores, lung
diseases and the loss of rare plants and animals.
Presently there is no or little
implementation of viable non-polluting policies.
Just words!
Words of the unjust!
Speeches!
More speeches!
Meanwhile in Hyde Park animals and vegetables
rejoice in leisure celebrating their fortunate existence as survivors of a
risky polluted environment.
Being alive on planet Earth is a risky
affair.
Risks condition life on Earth.
To live on planet Earth is to learn how to
handle risks.
By Marble Arch there is risky Speakers'
Corner.
Being at Speakers' Corner can seriously
damage your health.
Free speech at Speakers' Corner is punctuated
with risks.
The risks increase for humans who dare to be
individuals.
The risks further increase for individuals
who dare to think, speak and liberate the dignified soul using
the icon of a "HORSE".
Every Sunday,
at
Speakers' Corner,
it is not unusual to witness the
"HORSE" galloping with enthusiasm
to mount the forum with the usual remarkable ironic style and rears before a receptive audience already
anticipating the neighs on his arrival.
This is the beginning of the end of the
beginning of the controversy instituted in the geography of "GENDER RELATIONS" that is
sociologically defined as "SEXISM".
- A
favourite theme of the Horse's speech performance.
HORSE SENSE OR PHILOSOPHY
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH?
Sexism,
crime, terrorism, abuse, war, death, pornography and pollution are all social hazards.
Can any compassionate individual find comfort in
successfully challenging the dangers of
pollution only to perish under the tyranny of sexism?
Can abuse
be ended by focusing on a specific form of abuse or by denouncing all forms of
abuse?
Fate will
be the judge!
- The
'Horse'
"Thank
you ladies and gentlemen for a warm and friendly reception.
Your
intelligent faces and smiles make me speechless.
Please
forgive me for standing above you on
this platform.
The
reason I stand on this platform is to appear visible to any member of the
audience who may be standing at the distant periphery of the expanding meeting.
Actually
there is no need for me to make a public speech to good individuals.
In an
ideal situation silence should prevail
so that good individuals have the freedom to speak for and be their independent
selves.
I speak
in order to prove that speaking is not
always necessary." Clarify the speaker as he made his introduction to a
waiting audience.
"Are
you all tourists? Inquired the speaker.
"We've
travelled to London to hear you speak!" Replied a female among a party of
tourists.
"Thank
you!
It will be an honour and a pleasure to make a
speech for you." Acknowledged the
speaker in an appreciative tone.
"Where
did you hear about Speakers' Corner?" Asked the speaker.
"We
learn about Speakers' Corner while studying the English language at
school." Answered the female tourist
"How
long were you speaking at Speakers' Corner?" Inquired a male tourist.
"I've
been speaking at Speakers' Corner for over thirty years but it doesn't matter
how long I've been here, every time
I visit
Speakers' Corner to make a speech it's a learning experience for
me." Explained the speaker.
"Why
do you speak?" Asked a female in the audience.
" I
speak to flex the muscles of democracy, to exercise my vocal chords and send a
signal to the authorities that freedom of speech is a necessary democratic
movement for change, a normal civil activity outside the Houses of the
"Mother of Parliaments", to engage in physical exercise by cycling through Hyde Park
breathing in non-polluted air while meeting new different kinds of people from
all walks of life, from all over the world. Furthermore, I speak during all the
seasons of the year just for the fun of it." Explained the speaker as he
justifies his life long hobby.
"What
is your subject today?" Inquired a female tourist accompanied by two
female companions.
"I
have not prepared any subject for my speech today." Responded the speaker.
"What
would you like me to talk about?" Asked the speaker.
There was
complete silence among the audience.
"Well,
thank you for trusting me to choose a subject". Remarked the speaker.
Erecting
his posture and raising his voice with vigour
the speaker announced his topic for today.
"Ladies and Gentlemen the subject of my
speech today is Sex-Hism.
Sexism is too liberal!
Sexism is about the abuse men and women inflict on each
other!
Sex-Hism is gender specific!
Sex-Hism what men do to women.
Sex-Hism is a fusion of instruments
of oppression including masculinity, patriarchy, phallocentrism, androcentrism,
misogyny, essentialism, biological determinism, pornography and war?"
There
were smiles and laughter of approval from the audience.
"Many
words have been spoken, written and read about the subject of sex!
I must confess that I do not know what the
word sex means!
Sex is a
big word that plays a significant role in our personal, political, economic,
social and cultural life." Declared the speaker.
"Tell
us your experience about sex, it will only take a minute!" Interjected a
regular male middle aged bald headed heckler.
There was
laugher in the audience at the heckler's joke.
In fact
it is an old over worked joke that
regular hecklers employ to attract the attention of new comers to Speakers'
Corner.
"Speakers'
Corner is not the perfect place to speak reasonably about the complex subject of sexuality because of the following
reasons:
a) Sexuality is perceived as a personal issue
and as such some individuals might
consider it impolite or embarrassing to
express their opinion or listen the
expression of other individuals on the
subject.
b) The diverse complexion of the visitors at
Speakers' Corner implies that there may
be
different and conflicting ideas about what sex is and what it means.
c) Some individuals might create
misunderstandings by narrowly interpreting what the
speaker is saying. For example, in
common-sense usage the term sex is used in a
crude and abstract sense in such a way
that no distinction or difference is made
between sex, gender, sexuality, sexism,
misogyny and pornography.
d) The
risk of unpredictable interruptions and
disruptions by troublesome individuals.
To avoid judgmental, biased and dogmatic
remarks it's not wise for the speaker
to make any assumptions about any
individual.
For the
benefit of the tourists and all new comers I shall make a brief introduction!
I do not
represent men and men do not represent me!
I do not
represent any political party but I like parties and partying!
I do not
represent any race or ethnic grouping, nor am I represented by any race or
ethnic grouping!
I do not
represent any religious group or cult!
I find
religious individuals interesting for the following reasons:
1) Religious
individuals claim to believe and live in harmony with their Gods yet they
still feel so lonely
as to satisfy the need for busily
recruiting and converting new members to join their
ranks.
2) Having
found their anchor in their chosen Gods religious individuals do not mellow
out but energetically assault
other individuals who worship different Gods, in a
vain attempt to prove that their chosen
Gods are superior to all other Gods.
3) Religious individuals are liars and
cowards!
Religious individuals allege that heaven is
a better place to be than this fragile
Earth but will not make the ultimate
sacrifice by committing suicide, to set a leading
example by arriving at their so-called
heaven to meet their Gods, instead, these
pretentious faithful individuals would
rather exterminate any plant, animal or living
species to preserve their lifestyles, so
that their victims may reach heaven to meet
their
Gods before they do while
confiscating land, own private property, go after
money and abuse children.
This is
not a religious meeting!
Please do
not believe in what I'm saying for I may not know what I'm talking about!
Now, are
there any Questions before I start
making a speech about sex, sexism and sexuality?" Inquired the
speaker.
There was
no response except some curious expressions on the faces of the audience.
"Once
again ladies and Gentlemen!
Today's
subject is sex!
When I say sex what do I mean?
I don't
mean sexual intercourse." Proclaimed the speaker.
"Aaaaahh!
What a
shame!" Said some jokingly in reaction to the speaker's statement.
"I
mean sex-u-al-i-ty!
That is, sex,
you, all and a cup of tea!
Seriously,
what I really mean is the politics of
sexual identity as variable of gender relations!
I shall
be attempting to raise the issue of what is man or woman in relation to gender
construction!
To make
the topic of sexuality more
rational I shall discuss what is gender
or how gender was constructed with reference to some sexist verses quoted from
religious literature.
In fact the subject should have been given the
title or defined as sexism in religious literature.
In this
case the Holy Bible.
The Bible
and gender construction.
How is
gender defined or constructed according to the Bible?
How does
the Bible explain the origin, meaning and role of what is man or woman!
Let us
see what the Bible has to say about the gendered definition of man and woman!
I shall
quote from the Bible and later make some comments regarding the quotations!
All are
welcome to participate!
Comments,
criticisms and debatable presentations will be appreciated!
According
to the holy bible, the ancestry of
homo-sapiens can be traced to the garden of Eden where god created the first
human being on earth with a masculine gender identity popularly known as Adam.
The term
'mono'-genesis is usually employed by historians to describe this process of
single origin or source!
For our
purposes in this particular case regarding the subject of sexism it would be
more appropriate to refer to the biblical assertion that the origin of humanity is traceable to a
single man named Adam as 'man'-ogenesis!"
What sort
of place was Eden?
It was a
sacred place with no toilets, no canteen and no electricity!
Who was
God and how did he create the world?
Let's
explore this phenomenon Ladies and Gentlemen!
Since God
is omnipotent (all powerful) and omniscient (all knowable) one can logically
conclude that he must be the greatest mathematician of all times although he
never went to school!
So it is
reasonable to assume that God the creator, the mathematician must have
constructed a graph with x, and y axes as the
mathematical model for creating the world at the 'origin'!
Somewhere
along the x-axis, let us say minus a million, God had already begun the count down to creation moment, zero time!
God took
some time off and went on a long 'holy-day' only to arrive just-in-time when
the count down was at -1.0, -0.99,
-0.899, etc., until he spectacularly arrived at O (zero) - the origin on the
x-axis time scale where he miraculously decided to create the world with raw
materials obtained from some mysteriously God forbidden place.
Being
delighted with the consequences of his
creation God further heightened his
euphoria by rewarding himself with a bonus by creating man with a mixture of dirt.
This man
was called ADAM meaning a A - DAMN (retarded) -man!
According
to a racist version of His-story justifying the supremacy of the yellow races.
God decided to create the perfect man on Earth by taking a mixture of dirt plus
clay and shaped a model of man then
placed it carefully in an oven for a very long period of time.
After removing the model shaped like a man from the oven God saw that it was
too over baked or the colour was too black!
Thus came
the black man!
So
God decided to throw it away and make a
second attempt at creating the perfect man!
On this
occasion God removed the model shaped like a
man from the oven too soon. The result was also disappointing!
The model
of man was not cooked properly or the colour was too white!
Thus came the white man!
So God
tossed it away and started all over again to make a the perfect man on Earth!
After careful consideration and much thought God finally decided to make a
third attempt at making the perfect man!
On this
final occasion God take the model that was shaped as a man and placed it in the
oven for not too long a period, nor too short, just the right time!
When God removed the model shaped like man
from the oven it was not black, nor white but yellow and bright in colour!
Thus came the yellow man, the only perfect
man on Earth!
God was amazed and happy to discover that he had got it right the
third time!
How did
Adam survive in the garden of Eden?
Only God knows!
Let us
speculate!
As the
sun rises on a normal day of Adam's diary.
Hunger
awakes Adam at dawn.
The
procedure for preparing breakfast was fairly straight forward.
Braving
the elements Adam was forced to overcome obstacles such as menacing mosquitoes,
killer bees and being raped several times by the green monkey as he struggles
through the jungle to collect dry wood for fuel.
While
visiting the river to collect water he ran the risk of being snatched by the
ferocious jaws of river crocodiles!
He risked
life and limb to capture beasts for meat and milk!
On
unsuccessful days he had to contend with eating grass and leaves like the mountain
gorilla!
In the
evening as the sun goes down and the moon rises Adam's body became restless!
Sometimes
for comfort he would seek comfort in the presence of a tree by hugging it.
But it
was all in vain!
There was
no rest at night for Adam's body and
soul!
Romantically,
the stars were like candle lights, lightning and thunder were comparable to
disco lights and pounding rhythms of heavenly
base drums!
'Adam and
the ants' and 'The Blow Monkeys' were the minstrels creating serenading melodious tunes in a vain attempt
to soothe Adam to sleep!
The cycle
of waking up to a hazardous existence and ending in restless tormenting nights
became unbearable for Adam to endure!
Adam's
patience, tolerance, perseverance, and endurance ran out!
His only
response was to organise an industrial
dispute - go on strike!
The first
industrial dispute occurred in the Garden of Eden!
In those
days before the development of modernity the ozone layer was intact!
In fact it was so thick that God had some
difficulty in seeing or locating Adam's whereabouts.
However,
God eventually became concerned about Adam's strange but abnormal behaviour of
not performing his ritual duties that included absolute loyalty, dedicated
adoration, blind obedience and praying on his knees constantly to demonstrate
his faithful worship to God.
"Adam!
Adam!
Answer me Adam!
Where are
you Adam?"
God angrily summoned Adam.
"Here
I am Lord!" Replied Adam hesitantly.
Where
have you been?
Why
haven't you been praising me lately?
You're not
thinking of disobeying me, are you?
Are you
thinking of challenging my authority?
I hope
you are not thinking of being disloyal to me by breaking the rules, Adam?"
God questioned Adam.
Adam
stood defiantly looking towards the white and dark passing clouds in the sky
while simultaneously trying to control his trembling body and violently waving
his clenched fists retorted:
"Now
look here God!
What kind
of beast do you think I am?
I'm only
a God fearing man!
Since you
put me in this God forsaken place you
called Eden my life has been full of misery, unhappiness and loneliness!
I am
always busier than the bees!
My nights
are spent in restless sleep and when I wake up in the morning I'm always
hungry, cold and sad!
Furthermore,
organising daily chores such as preparing a meal occupy most of my time
sometimes well into the night!
Trying to
obtain fire wood, water, milk and meat are a risky exercise!
Every
time I walk through the jungle I'm hotly pursued and raped by the green monkey!
Mosquitoes,
killer bees and tetse flies set up ambush thereby forcing me to getaway in
fright!
Moreover, to add insult to injury I narrowly
escape the ravaging jaws of river crocodiles every time I try to get access to
water in the river!
There is
even more trouble for me when night falls!
I feel a
turbulence in my body especially when the moon emerges in the star filled sky!
I can
feel my flesh throbbing, my heart beat rate increasing as blood furiously
rushes through the veins in my body!
I
couldn't sleep!
I keep tossing and turning!
Many
times I have to seek refuge and comfort by hugging trees but in no avail!
I've had
enough of this existence!
I can't
take it any more!
Why did
you create me and put me in this dreadful place you called Eden?
This is
not a good life!
There
must be a better place than this lonely, bitter, cold, unhappy, soulless,
careless and loveless Eden!
God!
You know
how I look up to you!
Worship
you and respect your authority!
How
strong is my loyalty towards
you!
How much
I obey your rules!
Follow
your instructions!
No matter
how hard I try, life sucks!
I don't
know what to do with myself!
Life is
not fun for a lonely meat eating man like me!
Meat
eating beasts are not altruistic!
Meat
eating beasts are more cunning, bigger and stronger than me!
In fact I
am less intelligent than all the beasts of Eden, even the non-meat eating ones
How long
shall I have to suffer just to capture some meat for
food?
How much
more shall I take?
How much
longer do I have to suffer like this?
When
shall I be happy?" Adam petitioned God.
As Adam
protested energetically in the presence of God.
An awful
overwhelming silence became a reality as God pondered on what to do with his
favourite masterpiece Adam , the perfect man who was destined to fulfil his
creative plan.
After a
long silence, God summoned an exhausted Adam.
"Well
Adam!
I have
listened attentively to your grievances and I think I have just the solution to
all of your problems.
So why
don't you go to sleep, have a rest and leave everything to my capable hands.
Don't
worry Adam!
I'll fix
it!" Instructed God.
Adam
obeyed God's instructions and fell into a deep, deep sleep.
God
embarked on preparing the solution for Adam's dilemma by organising a manual
for surviving in Eden called 'The creation of wealth in Eden and the division of labour according
to gender', co-authored by Adam Smith.
A
surgical operation with no anaesthetic was performed by God to remove one of
Adam's rib.
God then made a woman from the detached
rib.
Early one
morning Adam had a shocking experience that aroused him abruptly from a deep sleep.
It was
the shocks that came from the static electricity that was created by Eve's
gentle fingers as they pass through the hairs on Adam's chest while her warm
body touched his in blissful caress as he lay.
When he
opened his eyes he was overwhelmed by amazement at the sight of a beautiful,
blond, blue-eyed fair skinned female lying comfortingly close to his body.
Adam in a
state of bewilderment attempted to rise but Eve with both of her hands
gently placed on Adam's shoulder
reassured him with a friendly smile and said in a soft melodious voice.
"It's
all right Adam, just lie back and relax and let me be the one to help you make
your life easier.
I'll be
your remedy, your nurse, comforter and personal provider.
You don't
have to get up early in the mornings to make breakfast anymore.
I'll
prepare breakfast every morning, including breakfast in bed." Eve informed Adam about her ordained gendered
role, responsibilities and duties in Eden.
Adam was
amazed with the new changes Eve had brought into his life.
Happy
daybreaks, easy life style and peaceful nights full of pleasure, comfort and
satisfaction.
It was
the mother of all miracles.
Adam's
liberation form suffering had alienated him from the realities of the day to
day risks and hardships of procuring and preparing meat for survival in Eden.
The
arrival of Eve stimulated a gendered
division of labour that was unequal in allocating most of the repetitive,
boring and arduous tasks for Eve to perform, while Adam was busy indulging idle
adoration, euphoria and privilege of his new found status sanctified by his
masculine gendered creator, God.
Although
Eve's arrival brought about a change in Adam's socio-economic reality. Adam's
view somehow did not correspond to the
needs and demands of the changing social
environment.
In other
words, Adam remained the phallocrat that God had made him to be.
His
phallocentric values were undermining his ability to communicate effectively
with Eve as an equal independent partner.
This
condition resulted in endless arguments.
"What
is a phallocrat?" Asked one smiling female.
The
speaker began to explain:
"Let's
look at it this way!
An
aristocrat has no love in the house!
A
phallocrat is a penis in the house!" Explained the speaker.
Loud
outbreaks of laughter from members of the audience.
"Seriously,
a phallocrat is an individual who assumes an all-powerful status which is
determined by the notion, that having a penis attached to the body is a sign of
privilege, superior rights and exclusive abnormality based on nature,
philosophical reasoning, empirical facts and the predominant status of the
patriarchal cultural, political and socio-economic order.
The philosophy
of a phallocrat is phallocentrism.
As an
ideology, phallocentrism justifies abuse, the colonisation of the human ecology
including nature, alienation, socio-economic inequalities, discrimination,
exclusion, patriarchal tyranny, rape, pornography, misogyny, sexism, prejudice,
racism, fascism, exploitation, oppression, imperialism, globalisation,
violence, civilisation, modernity, progress and war.
Phallocentrism is, in this case, means cherishing the idea of having a penis
attached to the human male's body at birth or by nature elevates the person to
a superior, perfect and complete human being that is endowed with a
patriarchal status, accompanied by automatic privileges of being the authority,
possessor of the absolute truth and whose values are assumed to be the centre
of the universe sanctified by the gods.
In other
words Eve who was not born with a penis attached to her human female's body,
was perceived as an incomplete, irrational, inferior, potential victim,
dependent, marginal, powerless, dissatisfied, castrated, alien and subnormal
object subjugated to the supreme will of man, god and the institutions of patriarchy within civil society
and the state.
One day
during a heated debate with Eve, Adam asserted:
"Remember
Eve, I am the one with the god given penis!
If I do not stand up and fight for retaining
the penis, what it means and symbolises, my exclusive life as a man, patriarch
and ruler of the animal kingdom would be in a state of perpetual misery or
cease to exist!
You must
be reasonable and look at reality through the eye of the penis!
Reality
through the eye of the penis is easier for me to grasp!
The penis
is the only key to my freedom!
The only
link to heavenly consciousness!
The only
basis of our "true selves" as creatures of God!
Remember, the letter "I" is the only supreme symbol for the "PENIS"(pen-is)!
"I", being a "kind man", don't mind carrying this "pen"-ultimate
responsibility(the penis) on my body constantly while I roam all over Eden!
The penis is WANTED dead or
alive!
God made you without it!
God created me with it!
You envy it!
I am lost without it
You empower the superior status of the penis!
You elevate it to an attractive, sexy and
romantic status!
Because of the value you attach to the penis
I can use it to my advantage and pretend I'm OK!
The penis has become a reified entity acting as
my foundation and a veil to hide
my insecurities, stupidity and the crisis of my masculinity!
Tell me, woman!
What am I supposed to do without my penis?
Without
your obsession with the penis, my efforts to appear attractive would
fail!
Please don't expose my confused self!
I love my penis and the comfort it brings!
I love you because you believe in the need
for having the penis to survive!
We share
a special kind of love!
A man's Love!
A homosexual
manner of love in the spirit of true
brotherhood!
We are
both "penis lovers"!
The penis
is the basis of my authority!
The penis
is the key to rescue me from insanity!
Please my
dear Eve!
Take me
as I am!
With your
compliance and the blessing from God above in Heaven, we can re-invent the
penis as the "supreme being"- the phallus - a magnificent icon personifying power, prestige and absolute
authority!" Adam proclaimed.
Adam's
proclamation was abruptly interrupted when suddenly, from nowhere appeared dark
heavy clouds, loud blasts of thunder and lightning followed by the excited
voice of god.
"Adam
I am the 'SUPREME BEING'!
You called my name?" Declared God
"Yes
God!
You are
the SUPREME BEING!
I was
just telling this woman how grateful I am for the existence of the SUPREME
BEING - THE
PHALLUS!" Responded
Adam.
"Are
you cocksure Adam?" God questioned Adam.
"Yes
God!" Replied Adam.
"That's
my man!
That's
the sort of speech I like to hear!
You are a
good man Adam!
I love
you!
You are
always making penetrating insights when
engaging in intercourse with the woman socially or otherwise!
Don't
forget Adam you are not alone!
Should
you need any support or help just point straight to heaven and call on
the SUPREME BEING!" Commented the Lord God Almighty.
Adam
slowly turned to Eve and exclaimed:
"Did
you see the point that God was making Eve?
Did you see how quickly God responded when I
mention the SUPREME BEING as the "PHALLUS"?" Remarked Adam.
"Praise
be unto thee!
'O' God of the heavens and the Earth!!
Praise be
unto thee!" Extolled Adam.
"Amen
Adam!
Amen!" Shouted someone in the
audience in jest.
Laughter
erupted from the audience as some individuals turned and looked at each other
face with embarrassed astonishment.
Eve being
created from, by and within the masculine, patriarchal phallocentric and
androcentric model responded in kind:
"Pardon
me Adam!
You
cannot be serious!
Why do
you abuse me by using the flimsy excuse of the missing penis?
Have you
forgotten you have a rib missing?
Does
having a missing rib makes you a perfect
creature?
Remember
I am the missing rib!
Without
me you will not be the perfect man that God intended to create!
So, we
are equally both victims of what's missing!
That is
the point!
Adam!
You are penis-dependent!
You are a
BIG JOKE!
Since the
penis is the key to unlock your bigotry!
You gave
me no alternative!
Adam,
since you make that thing you called
the penis the "pen"-ultimate
cause of your existence, status and pride, I'll go and find me an independent
penis or something that looks like one that is not attached to an insecure man
on the edge of insanity, to equalise your sexist bigotry!" Eve responded defiantly.
The
audience erupted with more laughter.
There was
a pause as the speaker took a sip from his whisky flask.
"Come
on Mr. speaker!
Please
tells us more!
More!
We want
to hear more!
What did Eve do?" Asked one young female.
"Yes!
What did
Eve do!
We can't
wait!" Shouted a young male in
support of the young female.
Feeling
slightly relaxed and light on his feet after taking two sips from his whiskey
flask, the speaker continued to speak.
"Eve possessed with rage and anger felt empowered
by her new sense of "in"-dependence, diligently set off with haste to
discover the lacking phallic icon that will redeem her to be an independent
complete human being that's equal to and recognised by Adam the patriarchal
phallocrat.
After a
very long journey on the road to freedom Eve decided to rest under a tree.
While
resting peacefully under the tree, Eve was disturbed by a
strange soft whisper of a stranger with a smooth faint mellow voice.
"Pssssssstt!
Pssssssssst!
Psssssssssst!
Well! Hell-l-l-o-o-o!
What a
beautiful subtle body you have!
What have brought you to this part of the
woods may I ask?" Inquired the strange creature.
"My
name is Eve!
God
created me from a rib taken from a sleeping man called Adam!
That makes me a woman, a walking rib, I was
told!
Adam and I had a quarrel.
I do my best to please Adam by giving him everything he had ever wanted or desired
but for some weird reason, he thinks all my efforts are duty bound to my
assumed subordinate status and any attempt to be assertive, question or change the perceived superior prestige of his and
God's authority is futile.
When I
ask him why, his abrupt reply was it's because God has blessed him with a penis that signifies the penultimate authority.
He sees
me through the eye of the penis!
We share
the same beliefs and values and pledge to be loyal and obedient to God! That's
why I must find a way to communicate and make peace with Adam!
Well,
this is my mission at least.
Who are
you and what are you doing curling up between the leaves of the tree?"
Asked Eve after explaining the difficulties
of her relationship with Adam.
"I
am a serpent!
In the
book of 'Genesis' God made me the
cleverest of all the animals!
Sometimes I wonder why.
Also in the book of 'Revelations' I am also known as the Devil, Satan which God has chained for a
millennium.
I have no
sense of time!
I'm not
in a hurry!
I do what
I want and I go where I please!
As you can see I am free to move into any
crevice, around any corner and up any tree with ease!
Easy and
pleasure seeking is my motto!
Here, try one of these delicious apples!
This one looks golden!
It's just for you! " Asserted the
serpent.
Overwhelmed
by what the serpent was saying, Eve stood up stretched out her hand and picked
the golden delicious apple from the branch where the serpent curled around and
started to eat it.
The tasty
fruit was so appetising that Eve picked as many as she could possibly eat and
more.
Meanwhile,
Eve began to feel a strange new healing sensation passing through her body.
Her
visions became clearer.
Her eyes became more focused.
All
material objects around her became alive.
Life and
reality became an artistic colourful expression.
Feelings
of calmness, peace and joys overwhelmed her.
Vegetarianism
was her intoxication.
The
serpent realising what Eve has done became concerned and reminded her of the
consequences of her action.
"What
are you doing woman?
Take it
easy with those fruits!
Don't you know that it is forbidden by God to
pick and eat any fruit from the tree of knowledge?
God
labelled the tasty sensational experience from the fruits of this tree as
"EVIL".
Why!
I don't
know!
God
presumed man was created absolutely perfect and expects man to
fulfil his dominant patriarchal role under the heavens with loyalty, obedience
and reverence within god's structured plan.
1
Corinthians 14: 33:-
"For God is not (the author) of confusion,
but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."
Since you
are only a woman created from one of man's rib.
God
expects you and your originator and
partner (Adam) to comply with the prohibitions that were formulated
to regulate your behaviour, personality
and ultimately your predestined existence in Eden.
Eve!
You and
Adam's fate are sealed.
Any
deviation in thought, speech or act however slight from god's straight and
narrow path will be considered unacceptable, intolerable and condemned by God
as an act of rebellion, an act of "EVIL"
Don't you care about God's rules forbidding
anyone to pick and eat any fruit from the tree of knowledge?" The serpent
questioned Eve.
"Why?
I feel healthy, confident and happy!
Nothing else matters!" Declared Eve.
"Why?
You asked
why?
Because
God the almighty, ruler of the Heavens and the Earth, the supreme authority who
makes the rules demands obedience and absolute loyalty from all the living
beings under heaven that he created." Responded the serpent.
"S-s-s-s-e-erpent,
I dream dreams!
I feel
pain and my body trembles with uncontrollable tensions!
Of whom
shall I be afraid?
I don't
know why I choose this particular tree to rest, embrace and shelter or why I'm
talking to you!
I don't
know what I'm doing right now but most of all I did not ask God's or man's
permission to be here communicating with you!
So why must I justify myself to anyone?"
Eve explained to the serpent.
"Woman
you violate God's rules!
Your
assertive personality scares me!
What I mean is, I am scared of how God will
react to your "good" news of being a vegetarian!
I have never witnessed God being in an
uncontrolled disorderly state debating with an assertive vegetarian
revolutionary woman!
Furthermore,
woman you seemed to be in a lot of trouble lately.
First,
you argued with Adam and second you disobeyed God by eating the an apple the
forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge." Declared the serpent who
became concerned about the implications of Eve's changing lifestyle.
"My
name is Eve!
I would
appreciate it if you call me Eve instead of woman!" Responded Eve.
"My
dear friend Eve, it's not right to break God's rules.
Anyone who disobeys the rules God will be
considered as evil!" Stated the serpent.
"Even
if the rules make one's life unhappy,
unhealthy and risky?" Eve queried the serpent.
"Yes!
God's
rules must be obeyed by man or his subordinate! Answered the serpent.
"Well
it seems to me the rules of God that man obeys were made for fools engrossed in
stupidity.
If I'm accused of being evil because I picked a fruit from the tree of knowledge to
secure my life in health, wisdom, happiness and independence, so be it!
Remember, I'm only a woman with an inferior status in God's and man's eyes!
My name
is Eve!
I have
tasted the fruits from the tree of knowledge and I like it!
I am no
longer the original, virgin, dumb impotent woman that God created!
I am a
self made anarcho-eco-radical-feminist-lesbian revolutionary!"
Freedom
is good!
Change is
good!
No fear
of pain!
No fear
of fear!
No hate!
No
strife!
No
obedience to any authority, God or man!
If it's
evil to rebel and shatter the chains of mental slavery.
Then evil
is good!
No
turning back now
s-s-s-s-e-e-r-r-r-rpent!
I feel
like a new being!
Oh!
How I do
love my new self!
I will
live to be me!
Self
preservation is my motto!
To be
myself I don't need:-
1)
To submit to any SUPREME BEING including THE PHALLUS.
2)
To react, ape or compete with any phallocentric entity include man, God
and Authority.
3)
To play the pretentious homosexual role to please man, God or any
phallocentric oriented female.
4)
A penis to laugh, think, sing, learn, live, be assertive, love, care,
and be happy.
From now
on:-
a) All females and males experiencing a
subordinate status under heaven in the animal kingdom
are my sisters and brothers and will be treated as friends by me!
b) The clitoris will be liberated and
celebrated!
c) My body will be wild and free!
d) I shall loosen up!
e) Go where I want!
f) Look where I want!
g) Do what I want as I please without asking
man's or God's permission!
Declared Eve as she stands
confidently on her feet..
"Do
you realise what you just said, Eve?
You have
definitely changed!
You have
become a trouble maker!
God, man
and all meat eaters will see you as evil, unruly and dangerous!
You will
be famous as the first anarcho-vegetarian-feminist but notorious in 'HIS'-Story
by all misogynist, sexist and phallocentric bigots as 'EVE' - the first
woman that originated 'EVIL'!
It will be written that 'EVIL' came from
'EVE'". Proposed the serpent.
"Why?"
Asked Eve.
"The
tree of knowledge, this tree I'm cuddling, the same tree you dare to pick a fruit and eat, was a one off creation by
God.
It was a prototype created by God for the sake
of variety and research.
Fruits from this tree of knowledge contain
all the necessary nutritional ingredients to cause all living creatures to be
healthy vegetarians by fulfilling their every need, curing them from life
threatening diseases, cancers, recurring hunger, thirst, addition and
cannibalism to enjoy a lifestyle
with liberation, independence and self
sufficiency.
It was
too perfect for God.
Each
living creature possessed by an independent free will, will inevitably create
disorder, chaos and confusion thus marginalising God as a non-influential,
inferior, expendable and insignificant entity.
God being
a megalomaniac, fascist, egotistical psychopath needs all the living creatures
he created to be defective imperfections dependent on his existence, his will
power and whimsical obsessions.
So God
decided to revise his perfect model for a more imperfect one, tailored to suit
God's superior, patriarchal and misogynist limited status.
This revised
model of creation elevated man to the
supreme status above all the animals in the animal kingdom by
sanctifying the practice cannibalism
causing man to survive in a defunct mental state.
Cannibalism
was designed by God as a mechanism to guarantee the survival of animals that
achieved being cunning, fortunate,
possessing the strongest muscles and sharpest teeth.
The
disadvantage was these animals that
survived were not necessarily wise and their fate was interrelated and
interdependent with the complex dialectical processes of nature.
Since man invented the gods with alien supreme
values to justify his insignificant, futile and insecure existence, he presumed
the right and privilege to attack, destroy or abuse all life species that are
linked a complex interdependent relationship within the biosphere, in the name
of consumerism and progress.
This tree
of knowledge and life was created to nourish vegetarians and to heal those
animals that are suffering from the compulsive cannibalism. I spent most of my
time on this tree because it is visited only by vegetarians.
With
vegetarians I feel safe and my life is less risky.
As you
can imagine it's not a comforting thought to be the favourite meal of some
strange blood thirsty carnivore.
However, this tree is my refuge and my
hope." Described the serpent.
"What
do you mean by saying this tree is your refuge and hope? Eve inquired.
"It's
my refuge when the vegetarians visit but sometimes when I'm in the mood to
convert some dim-witted carnivore I
intentionally position my body between or among some apples as a bait to
attract the unsuspecting carnivorous
beast.
As soon as the beast is about to make a kill
or take a bite at my flesh, I swiftly move away from the jaws of the unlucky
beast and the poor creature then bites one or more apples.
All it takes is one bite, one taste of a fruit
from the tree of knowledge and the taste for meat vanishes.
The fruit
of the tree of knowledge is so tasty that not even the tongue of a carnivorous beast can resist chewing,
swallowing and digesting.
The
conversion is instant. Instead of abusing and
killing animals for a meal the carnivores have been converted into
animal, trees and nature lovers.
The
personality also undergoes a fundamental change
from being aggressive, hyper-active and reckless to a calmer, gentler
and caring creature.
The
carnivore is transformed into a vegetarian forever and I'm pleased with my
achievement.
The
Garden of Eden has become a safer place for all potential, actual or would be
victims of cannibalism." Expounded the serpent.
"Eve!
E-ee-v-v-ee!
SS--ssss-eee
the changes that have happened in your life?
Your mind
is brilliant, your eyes are brighter and
your face is lovelier." Complimented the serpent.
"Yes!
Since I
ate that apple or fruit you gave me, I feel more relaxed, intelligent,
confident, healthier and courageous." Eve commented.
"Look
at the way we are, the three of us, the tree, your body and mine all within one
embrace experiencing peace, comfort and friendship." The serpent remarked.
"Serpent!
Do you
think Adam can enjoy these wonderful moments? Asked Eve.
"Certainly!
My dear
friend Eve!" Replied the serpent.
"But
how? Asked Eve.
"Man
was created only in the image of God
although he lacked equal status with God. God made Adam perfect but
inferior to God or a creature of perfect imperfections.
To add
insult to injury God removed the best part of Adam's body, a rib, from his
symbolic liberated, revolutionary left side to create a woman.
Furthermore, God made Adam's personality with
the following qualities:-
a) Servility
b) Deference
c) Cowardice
d) Self-contempt
e) Submission
f) Dejection
g) Somnolence
With the
supreme authoritarian rule from above, the enforced prohibitions in the social environment, his biological
limitations, his neurosis and inferiority complex all contributed in
perpetuating Adam's state of wretchedness.
In
desperation Adam grasped or holds on to the only sign of hope that was before
him to obtain salvation.
That sign
of hope was the penis.
Phallocentrism
was constructed as the dominant ideology to justify the patriarchal order under heaven.
The penis
became symbolically the centre of man's universe, the focal point or pivot of
his existence.
Adam was
not psychologically equipped to maintain, sustain and reproduce a peaceful
healthy relationship with any animal on an equal basis.
Because
as a meat eater man was created by God
with a carnivorous life style!
On
compassionate grounds Adam needs your encouragement more than you need his!
Eve!
Right
now, Adam definitely needs you to introduce him to a new vegetarian
lifestyle to be a complete, dignified,
liberated, fulfilled, courageous and independent individual that appreciate the
femininity within his soul.
Now that you are in touch with your
femininity, have peace and harmony with your feelings, no longer afraid of your
pain, "in"-dependent or depend on your inner self and potential
creative powers and finally, love for
yourself.
There is
no need, reason or cause for you to compete with Adam, depend on him, justify
yourself to him or even try to please him unconditionally.
The
chains of bondage and dependency in your relationship with God and the man
called Adam is broken forever! " Explained the serpent.
"So
how would it be possible to rescue Adam from his addiction to cannibalism,
somnolence and dependence of God?" Asked Eve.
"We
must scrutinise, organise and exercise with diligence." Replied the
serpent.
"Since
Adam is a phallocrat.
He
believes he possesses special powers because he has a penis attached to his
body. He is viewing reality through the eye of his penis. In other words, he
behaves as if his brain is in his penis.
Adam
perceives the brain as a separate independent organism from the rest of the
body.
If or
when he sees the shape of a serpent's body, my body, he will assume, since my
body is shaped like a huge penis, it must be one.
Inferiority complex will overcome him when he
examines the size of his penis and compares it with the length of my serpent's
body.
Adam's self esteem will decline and he will
become angry and vulnerable to guilt, anxieties, phobias and suggestions,
especially when he sees my serpent's body wrapped around yours.
He is only a phallocentric, misogynist,
masculine man as such he will involuntarily assume that my serpent's body is a
mighty penis attached to your body and this makes you Eve a better man than he
will ever be and he will perceive himself as the subordinate woman he wants you
to be.
His
inferiority complex will motivate his envy or penis envy to approach you to
find out how it would be possible for him to obtain such a penis or even
bigger.
This is
the moment he will surrender his individual, dignity, self respect,
independence and masculine phallocentric
power to you.
He would
make all the promises under the sun, all
the vows under heaven to gain your trust but if you should speak a word he will
not hear you, remember, his brain is in his penis.
He will
be obsessed with the penis wrapped around your body.
Adam the
man is a phallocrat!
A
fsscist!
Besides
he is only a man!
All you
have to do my dear friend Eve is look into his eyes without speaking a word and
offer him an apple or two.
Your
silence will mystify him.
The taste
of the fruit will do the rest." The serpent explained.
After a
convincing sermon by the serpent Eve stood up with exhilarating passion with
the serpent curled comfortably around her upper body and declared in jest ;
"S-s-s-s-e-e-rpent!
Let's do
it!
Let's go
for it!
Let's rock
and roll!"
"Ye-e-s-s-s-sss evil Eve!"
Let's do
it!
Let's
educate, liberate and celebrate! The serpent responded with humour.
As Eve
and the serpent proceed in their search to find Adam they were escorted by a
host of friendly beasts singing, howling, dancing and prancing in a carnival of
procession celebrating the bonding of Eve and the serpent as a symbol of love,
peace and a vegetarian lifestyle.
Meanwhile
Adam was in his usual state of desperation unsuccessfully struggling
to hunt
some poor unfortunate unwilling animal for a meal.
Suddenly,
Adam was distracted by the blaring melodious sounds of elephants followed by a
parade celebrating animals and lost sight of his tormented prey.
Adam was
captivated by the carnival atmosphere as he beholds the young male beasts
partying and raving as their nimble bodies wildly gyrate in a grand rehearsal
act of procreation while the vibrant orchestrated sounds of vegetarian
creatures animate the atmosphere.
It was
rumble in the jungle.
Adam
stood up with amazement wondering what the commotion was all about. Suddenly,
whilst glancing at the parade his eyes
caught a glimpse of a human female. Adam's body began to tremble uncontrollably
to the rhythm of the animal festival.
"Well,
it looks like Eve.
Her face
is smiling.
Her skin
is fair and smooth.
She looks
much healthier now.
What's
that shivering long colourful shining
smooth object curled around her
body?
It looks
as if it's a penis.
It is!
It is a
penis!
This must
be the sole reason why the animals are following her and celebrating.
Eve was
serious when she pledged to find a penis of her own.
Now she's
found one even over animals.
Eve has
become a better man than me.
I must
obtain an equal penis like hers or even
bigger then I'll be the powerful, dominant and popular creature in Eden and all
the animal will be under my control including Eve.
I'll make
friends with her.
I'll do
what ever it takes, be a slave, beg, cheat, lie or steal to secure a penis as
big as hers. With such a penis I'll be the happiest person in the world."
Whispered Adam as he focused his eyes on Eve and the serpent.
"Hello
Eve!
I love you!
You are
looking very beautiful!
I want to
share my life with you!
You are everything to me! Adam praised Eve.
But in
his mind Adam was concerned, for his compliments were a dishonest ploy to trick
Eve to reveal the secret of the whereabouts or the knowledge of how to acquire
what he perceived to be a huge penis curled around her body.
Eve was silent despite the fine words of Adam.
So far so
good.
The
process of Adam's conversion is turning out to be easy. Adam is unaware of the
plan that was constructed by Eve and the serpent to redeem him from
cannibalism, misogyny, phallocentrism and patriarchy.
Adam the
phallocrat was being too smart.
He was playing
with fire as he was underestimating Eve and the serpent.
In fact,
perceiving Eve as an object of pleasure and prey blinded him to his extreme
vulnerability.
Adam
persisted in his treacherous ploy.
"I'm
hungry for your love, Eve!
What's
that you're holding in your hand?
An apple?
Aaaahh!
Can I have a little bite and taste your apple,
my love? Pleaded Adam dishonestly.
Without
speaking a single word Eve slowly reached out her hand and touched Adam's lips
with the apple.
Adam took
the apple with his right hand and slowly took a big bite, looked Eve in the eye
and took another big bite, then another until the apple was consumed.
Eve
offered Adam another apple and he repeated the operation.
Adam felt
refreshed and relaxed.
He became
more aware of his self feeling, self esteem,
confidence and his dignity
increased with a new feeling of independence.
Adam's
mind was now clear of all conspiratorial thoughts.
He no
longer felt fear, hate or insecurity.
As Adam
moved closer to Eve the serpent leisurely wrapped its elongated body around
both Adam and Eve and whispered:
"Being a vegetarian in love, peace,
communication and freedom is good for
us!
Don't you
agree?"
"I
agree!" Eve whispered to Adam.
Adam was
transformed into a new being with a new outlook on life, living in a new way
without strife and no more avoiding pain.
Adam
began to recognise Eve as a different, independent and equal being with rights
of her own.
He
listened to her with patience, care and attention.
Adam was no more afraid to express his
feelings, thoughts and emotions about the relationship he shared with Eve.
Furthermore,
Adam showed an appreciation for his relationship with Eve by giving compliments
and telling Eve he loves her every day.
In fact
Adam became fulfilled and "in"-dependent on his inner self that the
relationship between him and Eve became healthier without imposing demands or
other forms of abusive behaviour.
Adam's
new politics became non-political.
The
serpent realising Adam and Eve's new found happiness in their relationship,
discreetly departed with pleasurable contentment that his mission involving Eve
and Adam has been a complete success.
Eve and
Adam were transformed into a vegetarian
lifestyle forever in love with each other and cured of the vicious addiction
to cannibalism.
That was the first moment that Eve and
Adam experienced an evening of peace,
love and tranquillity of evil indulgence without fear, inhibitions and bodily
restrictions that were imposed by a
phallcentric patriarchal misogynist order sanctioned by the almighty God in
heaven.
Early the
next morning, just before dawn, an orchestration of boisterous sounds
vibrated the air penetrating the sky.
The
raucous was caused by the conflicting sounds of young roosters in their prime
boasting of their progressive reproductive sexual conquests of all the hens in
Eden, young and old, challenged by the sounds of energetic protests by a flock of
dissatisfied hens asserting the right to
undefine the concept of reproductive sexuality to include a new model of
relationship with roosters, sharing more time for romance, friendship, respect
and the sharing of responsibility in nurturing chickens.
Meanwhile,
a counter demonstration was organised by foxes and other carnivores asserting
their natural right to hunt more chickens.
Wild dogs
plus other meat eating beasts also joined in the noisy confusion voicing
their joy and right to pursue the increasing population of foxes
and carnivores chasing the increasing population of chickens.
This
pattern of carnivores hunting carnivores and non-carnivores, wild dogs hunting
foxes that hunt chickens and other potential preys had become a recurring cycle
in Eden, to such an extent that a domino effect of disturbances and protests
affecting all the meat eating beasts whose survival depended on sustaining an
adequate number of beasts to balance the ratio between carnivore and prey to
preserve the practice of cannibalism within the whole relative food chain.
The
sounds of protests must have vibrated the walls of heaven. For God was angry
because there was no peace under heaven among the beasts existing in the animal
kingdom.
There were many reasons why God was
justifiably angry.
God was
not a democrat.
God did
not invent democracy.
God was
not a liberal.
God did
not invent liberalism.
God had
created the animal kingdom and structured it in a pyramidal patriarchal
phallcentric misogynist order to boost his
megalomaniac fascistic ego.
To
experience a shattering blow to the foundation of one's self esteem is more
than enough to make any god angry.
Recognising
the raucous was the consequence of an imbalance in the cannibalistic
phallocentric patriarchal order God decided to summon a summit meeting to
investigate the reason for the increasing population of wild beasts that foster
the meat eaters to agitate,
demonstrate and celebrate.
God's self esteem was declining rapidly and he
became frustrated that his credibility as the supreme authority of heaven and earth will be lost and Adam
will quit fearing, respecting, obeying
and being faithful to him. God became
angry and decided to summon Adam and Eve in his presence.
God
called on Adam:
"Adam!
Adam! Where are
you Adam? Answer me
Adam! Adam
where are thou?" Inquired God.
Eve and
Adam were still asleep engrossed in their new joyful confidence caused by the
revolutionary changes in their personal lifestyles from being restless meat
eaters to peaceful vegetarians, calmly opened their eyes lids and glanced towards the sky in the direction
where the raging restless voice of God
echoed without fear, excitement nor
anger unaware of the unruly commotion taking place among the meat eating beasts
in Eden.
Remember
Eden was before the era of modernity and its negative consequences that imposed
a cost on the environment including the ozone layer. So God had to struggle to
penetrate the dense ozone layer to gain access and a clear view of Eve and
Adam.
"Oh!
There you are!"
Declared
God as he tries to control his fury.
"I
am God, the almighty creator of the heavens and the Earth.
I am the
supreme master of the universe superior to all the masters including man.
I created the world with perfect order, stability and peace.
Every beast was made to be different to
function in the role designed to maintain balance, order and stability.
Absolute
loyalty, obedience and deference is the glue that bind each and ever creature
in a harmonious relationship with the perfect order ruled by the supreme
master, God.
I Am thy
God.
I make the laws of Heaven and Earth.
I am the power because of my masculine
patriarchal status.
It
pleases me when the rules and the laws of heaven are followed.
I the
Lord thy God created cannibalism as the perfect mechanism to regulate the
population of flesh eaters.
Furthermore,
being of masculine gender by identity and homosexual by lifestyle do not make
love to Goddesses.
So the
only satisfaction, indulgence and entertainment I have is pornography.
That is
observing the wonderful beasts I've
created abusing, slaughtering, consuming each other and reproducing the whole
flesh eating life cycle.
Recently
I have discovered that there has been an increasing population of cocks of the
feathered kind which affected the perfect balanced relationship among meat
eaters. Adam, ruler of Eve, the fish and all the wild beasts of the air, land
and water you are responsible for setting
a good example, being a role model of all carnivores by eating the meat of roosters, at least one rooster a day.
You
disobeyed my commandment, displayed disloyalty and to make things worse,
deviated from the lifestyle of
cannibalism to a vegetarian one.
Now, what
do you have to say in your defence?" God hath spoken to Adam.
"All
I did was ate an apple that Eve generously gave me and I fell in love with the woman and the apple." Replied Adam.
"It
wasn't Adam's fault nor mine!
It was
the serpent that lives on the tree of knowledge that enlightened and tempted me
with the apple or fruit from the tree of knowledge that I shared with Adam who
became my sweet heart!" Eve intervened in Adam's defence.
"Adam
I am the Lord thy God!
Supreme
authority of the Heavens and the Earth!
I created
you to be a man, master of all the wild beasts of the air, land and water.
I created you in my image to be of same mind,
body, gender, sexuality and lifestyle.
I made you to be a faithful, meat eater with homo-gender values.
I specifically instructed you not to eat any
fruit from the tree of knowledge.
Now, look
what a mess you've got me into.
Because
you have tasted the fruit from the tree of knowledge, you have lost your
appetite for meat, lost the power that
was the privilege of your patriarchal status, and what's worst of all you are
listening, communicating, sharing and giving compliments to the woman named Eve
who was only created from a rib while you were asleep.
Adam you
have become a wimp, a sissy and a
heterosexual vegetarian.
You, Eve and the serpent have committed a
great sin.
From this
day it will always be remembered that Eve, the first woman was the originator
or creator of Evil that caused man fall
from grace and perfection.
Evil Eve
will forever be the symbol portraying all women who disobey, exercise their free
will as independent individuals or challenge authority as evil and dangerous
creatures to man, God and the holy phallocentric patriarchal misogynist
universal order." Proclaimed God
Being
aware his vulnerability in the form of
an imbalance emotional state. God suddenly realised that he shared some of
Adam's personality traits. After all
Adam was created in the image of God. God decided to justify his
superiority by veiling the sameness he shares with Adam while simultaneously
reconstructing, reproducing and perpetuating an imaginary arbitrary difference
defined with fear, mistrust and threatening potential to exclude Adam, Eve, the
animal kingdom and the ungodly.
In other
words, inclusion/exclusion, difference, identity politics, ism's and schisms
are variables of a colonising, patriarchal, misogynistic, fascistic order
that was sanctioned or legitimised in God's name.
"Adam you are my first and only perfect creation!
I must
make an example of you and your accomplices
so that all meat eaters would realise the futility of resisting,
challenging and disobeying the supreme patriarchal phallocentric misogynist
order.
I
therefore condemn you to a life of suffering by expelling you from the garden of Eden where you will
"work" so hard that by the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread.
Eve from this day of exclusion from Eden you will give birth in pain and
sorrow.
The
serpent you will loose the use of your tiny legs and crawl on your stomach for
all the days of your life." Commanded God as he passes judgement on Eve,
Adam and the serpent.
The
serpent celebrated the freedom from the garden of Eden by composing poems,
songs and ballet.
Eve and Adam
were encouraged by the serpent to make use of the opportunities, individual responsibilities and the advantages of being free, independent and hard-working in the pursuit of their
self interest with an unwavering discipline while focusing on their goals to
earn self development, esteem and respect.
"I
don't need those tiny legs God claimed he created anyway.
They were
a nuisance and most inefficient
for practical purposes such as running
fast to escape danger, sliding
between narrow crevices, manoeuvring delicately along slender branches of trees, roaming leisurely
at a comfortable pace in silence without disturbing sleeping beasts and drawing
attention to myself.
Besides I
am a thinking creature that plans strategically rather than take flight plus I
have enough strength in the muscles of my body to move at my own pace."
Expounded the serpent.
"Eve
and Adam!
The
universe is an expanding space outside the garden of Eden!
The
supreme God's recent behaviour is a consequence of a nervous breakdown, a lapse
into complete madness!
God's obsession
with his egomaniac, megalomania, fascist, misogynist, phallocentric and
patriarchal order had transformed Eden from an experiment in creation to a holy
"Funny farm" where all the wild beasts inmates engaging in a
dependency relationship with God resulting in fatal addition to the practice
of cannibalism - the insatiable hunger
for meat and the unquenchable thirst for blood.
It was a blessing in disguise to be banished
from Eden!
The
garden of Eden is the original perfect an asylum created and managed by the
supreme insane being himself, God.
All
intelligent, free thinking non-fascist animals will forever celebrate the act
of rebellion against the authority of
the supreme so-called holy God thereby liberating of the mind from the chains
of fear, superstition, prejudice, hate and somnolence that God has
contemptuously condemned as evil and
sinful.
So good
luck Eve and Adam!
You'll
never know your full potential or what secrets await you in your new godless
universe!
Remember Eve and Adam, here, outside Eden,
God's definition of work as a means of
penalising or coercing the disobedient
or sinners and as a state of alienation is not sacrosanct!
Work can
be undefined as a creative, self-fulfilling and constructive activity!
Eve and
Adam you are now responsible for your
own fate, so you don't need me to tell you about your inalienable right to define your life's activities as you will
according to your self interests!" The serpent ended his announcement with
an optimistic note and disappeared into the horizon rattling his tale.
"Ladies
and Gentlemen!
In the
genesis of creation God's mathematical logic was simple and dictated a simple
linear life style punctuated by a masculine epistemology.
Reality
was seen through the eye of the penis.
One plus
one was equalled to two.
As soon
as Eve was created there was a revolution, a discontinuity of the masculine
epistemology.
Reality
was no longer perceived through the eye of the penis.
Instead
reality was perceived far beyond the narrow boundary of the penis into the
expanding circular universe.
In fact a
complete epistemological break from the masculine to feminine epistemology
occurred.
The laws
of mathematics were fundamentally changed.
One plus
one equal two was radically changed to One plus one
equal to three.
Life also
became complex, unpredictable and risky.
Today we
can honestly say with confidence and a degree of satisfaction;
Thank you Eve for being evil!
For being
the first vegetarian!
For
educating Adam how to think independently from God!
For
liberating the human mind from mental slavery, fear, prejudice, superstition
and hate.
For
liberating us from the Garden of Eden to discover the secrets of the universe!
For
discovering radiation, electricity, oxygen, carbon, penicillin, water
management, art, romance, love, democracy, communication, architecture,
engineering science and technology, the bicycle and numerous unmentionable
items that are ecologically friendly.
Furthermore,
for a vegetarian lifestyle!
Please
excuse me while I drink some water!
I'll be
back!" Pronounced the speaker to an understanding audience.
The
speaker stepped down from the rostrum to have well deserved break.
Most members of the audience patiently waited for the speaker's
return.
During
this short interval the speaker took the
opportunity to quench his thirst and organised the notes for his next
presentation.
Feeling
refreshed the speaker returned to the rostrum
with the Bible and notes in his left hand, raised his head while pushing
his shoulders back, smiled as said:
"Thank
you for waiting Ladies and Gentlemen!
Now let's
return to the subject of sexism by researching some serious texts taken from
religious literature." Announce the speaker as he explores the pages of the Bible.
"Let's begin at the beginning in the book of
Genesis.
For those
of you who are into pop music you should be familiar with Phil Collins' group,
Genesis." Humoured the speaker as he jokingly made a reference to a
popular musician and his supporting group.
Laughter
erupted in the audience as demonstration of appreciation to the speaker's
witticism .
"Let's
turn to the first chapter of Genesis, verses:
26 and 27 and quote.
For Phil
Collins fans it's volume 1, track 26-27.
Verse 26;
"And God said. Let us make man in our
image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move
along the ground."
Verse 27;
"So God created man in his own image . . . ."
"Please allow me to explain this
biblical notion.
a) When
God said let us make man in our image.
This implies that God was not alone.
There were witnesses. Queen Victoria
and I were present on that momentous
occasion."
Laughter erupted in the audience.
b) "Please note God did not say let us
create woman in our image.
This means that man's image is god's
image.
In other words man look like God.
Are there any men present in this
meeting?" Inquired the speaker
One
middle-aged male raised his hand in response.
"There
you are Ladies and gentlemen there is a man among us.
Look carefully at his appearance and you will
know what God actually looks like.
As you
can see this man has a bald head, wears sun glasses and Levi jeans.
So Ladies and Gentlemen if this man is exactly
the image of god who created him then according to the Bible, today God must be
bald, wears sun glasses and Levi jeans."
Laughter
in the audience as the speaker attempts to rationalise the biblical verses.
"Mr.
speaker may I ask a question?
Shouted one female with a shrilled humorous
voice in the audience dominated by the presence of men taller than her.
"Yes,
please do!" Replied the speaker.
"If
what you say is true about man being created in the image or likeness of God
and since God is of the masculine gender while the Goddess belongs to the
feminine gender.
Does it
mean that God is androcentric and a misogynist with homosexual values?"
Asked the
female.
The males
in the audience suddenly turned their dumbfounded solemn faces towards the
female with suspicion.
"Good
Question!
Well presented!
It's a
feminist question!
Well
done!
Yes!
I agree!
In fact you have anticipated the very points
I'm about to make.
Thank you!" Said the Speaker as he continues with his
presentation.
"c)
If man was made in God's image, whose image was woman made?
If man looks like God, whom does a woman
resemble?
Only God knows the answer to these
questions!
This implies that woman's image is not
godly, recognised by God or man and is
not respectable in the eyes of
almighty God.
Furthermore, since the word woman does not appear chapter one in
the book
of Genesis, the first book of the holy
Bible, we cannot assume that God had any
idea what a woman looked like.
Finally, is God a misogynist?
Judge for yourselves!
d) In the
same verse in the same breath God said let man rule over the fish.
So man is appointed the ruler of the fish
by God.
Again no mention was made of the big W.
You know to whom I'm referring.
In fact the verse goes on to state that
man is also the ruler of birds, all life stock
on Earth and even creepy crawlies."
There was
loud laughter from the audience as the speaker paused and continued with the
speech.
"In chapter 2, verse 18 reads:
"The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will
make a helper suitable for him."
In
chapter 2 in this verse God is referred to as Lord God.
I'll give
you an explanation.
God is
omnipresent!
God is everywhere!
God is Omnipotent!
God is
busy answering prayers by doing great and wonderful deeds for all nations!
God is
like an American satellite orbiting the Earth!
When he
passed over Great Britain he was given a knighthood by the mother of
Parliaments as a token of gratitude for sanctifying the British Empire, patriarchy,
phallocentrism and misogyny!"
Loud
laughter erupted from the audience.
"God
said that since it is not good for man to be alone, he the almighty God will
make a Helper suitable for man.
Now, what
does God mean and why has he chosen the word Helper?
God is a
phallocrat!
God
gave man
a penis!
The penis
is a status symbol!
Having a
penis is no easy career!
It's the
"pen"-ultimate responsibility!
The
penis is too complicated to be handled by man alone!
So God
realised man needs a suitable helper to help man sustain the penis."
Explained the speaker.
Whistles
and Laughter erupted in the audience.
"Moreover,
God is omniscient, intelligent, compassionate, sophisticated, kind and politically correct.
God doesn't want to offend anyone, especially
the one, the big W(woman), that has not been created yet.
When God
was communicating with man he used coded
vocabulary which only man and God understood.
God chose
the term "Helper" as a politically correct code so that sexist, misogynist,
phallocentric, androcentric and patriarchal individuals will know what God means or to whom he was referring."
Explained the speaker.
Out
breaks of loud laughter erupted from the audience.
The
speaker continues to elaborate.
"Verse 19 states:
'Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the
field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to
the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature,
that was it's name.'
Verse 20
reads; "So man gave names to
all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam no suitable "helper" was found."
We have
observed from the quoted verses that God empowered "man" be the namer,
the definer of each "living creature" and NOT the big W
.
You god
fearing men out there know what I mean.
Furthermore,
man or "Adam" as God preferred
to called him, obediently accepted his God given role without questioning or
challenging God's sexist discriminatory
policy. Moreover, with incomprehensible conciliatory style verse 20
ended by highlighting the issue that
"poor" Adam still had no
suitable helper after disrespectfully alleging that "man gave names to all
the livestock."
Ladies
and gentlemen, what have we learnt so far from Genesis the first book in the Holy Bible and the
construction of gender?
What we
have gathered so far throughout the
first chapter and up to verse 20 in the
second chapter of the book of Genesis is
the amazing accomplishment of the almighty God in creating man as the
star of the genesis of life.
In
addition how does the glorious God in all his wisdom defines what is man?
Let us
revise.
1) Man is made in the image of the Gods!
2) Man is
ruler of the fish and all the creepy crawlies!
3) It is
not good for man to be alone!
4) Man is
a namer (definer)!
5) God
will make a helper suitable for man!
God moves
in mysterious ways.
All that
we have been patiently waiting for will
be revealed in the next few verses.
So all
those of you who are females or not labelled as man this is the sacred moment
when you will find out your origin, status and role in God's creation.
Ladies
and gentlemen!
I now quote from Genesis §2;
Verse
21; "So
the Lord god caused the man to fall into deep sleep; and while he was sleeping,
he took took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.
Verse 22; "Then the Lord God made a woman from
the rib he had taken out of the man, and
he brought her to the man."
Verse 23; "The man said, 'This is now bone of my
bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall
be called a "woman", for she was taken from a man."
Fellow
mortals the first time woman was mentioned in the holy bible was in verse 22 in
the second chapter in the book of Genesis.
Furthermore,
God the supreme misogynist, put man into a deep deep deep sleep, severed one of
man's ribs without consent or an
anaesthetic, made a new different being
from the rib taken from man and called the rib innovator, "woman."
Ever
since the Gods have taken man's rib to create woman, the presence of woman in man's mind has always provoked a severe
pain in man's side.
We want
our bones back!
It's the
only remedy for our feelings of perceived insecurity!
Women
have taken our ribs, taken jobs and to
add insults to men's injury women have taken and are wearing our trousers to
cover those ribs!
We are
weary because we have nothing left to wear!
According
to the Bible women are only walking ribs!" Announced the speaker.
Loud
applause, laughter and cheers from the audience.
"My
dear brother man, is that female standing by your side your sweetheart?"
Asked the
speaker.
The male
replied by nodding with a broad smile.
"Please
remember, tonight when you are grooming and making love with your sweetheart,
remind her that you are only grooming and making love to your own rib!"
Proclaimed the speaker.
Cheers
and applause from the audience.
"Also,
if there are any misogynist among us, please keep in mind that when you abuse
any woman you'll be abusing your own rib." Asserted the speaker.
Applause
and smiles linger on the faces of the audience.
"There
is more ladies and gentlemen!! The speaker reassures the audience.
"It's
a lot of nonsense!
Your quotations from the Bible are totally
irrational!" Shouted a young female accompanied by her boy friend as they
passed by the audience.
As the
young couple did not stop for an answer, the speaker smiled and did not
respond to the heckler's remarks.
It is
often the case when some visitors arrived at
Speakers' Corner while a meeting is in progress and the speaker is engaged in explaining a
complex idea or a difficult subject as sexism in religious literature with
irony, the new comers often interpret what they thought the speaker had said in
a narrow, literal and prejudiced way thereby unwittingly distorting the aim,
content or meaning of the subject under discussion. In this case, although the
speaker agrees with the heckler to a point, the heckler is unaware of how and
why the speaker is presenting the subject in an irrational way because as usual
most hecklers at Speakers' Corner are not good listeners for various reasons
including impatience, unreasonable assumptions or motivated by malicious intentions.
The
speaker aims to raise the level of consciousness of some members of the audience to the
subject of misogyny or abuse in human social relations within society, history
and culture that is justified by the ideology of sexism. The use of irony as a
method is to include all the contradictory factors thereby highlighting the
tensions, ambiguities and irrationalities of the subject under discussion with
the aim of stimulating discussion, debate and hopefully to create a better
understanding of the subject under discussion.
After a
short pause caused by the heckler's interruption the speaker continued with the
speech.
"Ladies
and gentlemen!
Geneses
§3 verse 16 states:
"To the woman he said, 'I will greatly increase your pains in
child bearing; with pain you will
give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule
over you."
In this
quotation it is implied that God is constructed as masculine gender (he) and as a demonstration of his wonderful love for women he solemnly
promises to "greatly increase" women's "pains in child
bearing!" Commented the speaker.
Amen!
"Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
All glory
be to God the almighty!" Shouted a male member of the audience.
The
audience erupted in rapturous laughter.
The
speaker continues:
"Three
points raised by the quoted verse
concerning God's social policy towards
the woman.
1) God pledged to deliberately increased the
painful suffering of the woman
during child birth.
2) If the woman has a desire she is not morally, intellectually or legitimately
qualified to exercise her free will to
do as she pleases with her desire but must
surrender any such desire to the
control of her husband to do as he
wishes.
3) The husband is ordained by God to
govern forever over the woman's
fate.
God is a misogynist!
Lets
continue with the research Ladies and gentlemen!
1 Timothy 2:3 11-15
(11) "A woman should learn in quietness and
full submission.
(12) "
I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must
be silent."
(13)
"For Adam was formed first, then Eve."
(14)
"And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was
deceived and became the sinner."
(15) "But
woman will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with
propriety."
These quoted verses portray woman as:
propriety."
These quoted verses portray woman as:
a) dumb,
powerless and subservient creatures with passive bodies.
b) As subordinate, evil conspirators undermining
man's supremacy.
c) Woman's sad and unfortunate plight can only
be redeemed by the curse of childbearing on condition that she persevere in
being gullible, devoted to god and man and blameless regardless of all the previous misfortunes she had
experienced.
Here,
again, God does not fail to prove he is an ardent misogynist. Declared the
speaker.
"Why
do you hate women?" Shouted an angry female in the audience.
"Who
are you?" Asked the speaker.
"I
am a woman!
What do
you think?
Replied the resentful female as she moves
forward protruding her seductive breasts with pride.
Some
males in the audience whispered with excitement.
"What
is a woman?" Cross-examined the speaker.
"You
tell me!"
Responded
the cunning female.
"Do
you think I am sexist because I'm talking about sexism? Asked the speaker
"Yes!"
Interrupted a mischievous male.
"And
who the hell are you?" Reacted the speaker in disgust.
"I'm
a man!"
You are a prick!" Replied the troublesome
male.
"Do
you love women?" Interrogated the speaker.
"Yes!
I'm a man!
Of course
I love women!" Replied the male.
"What
is a man?" Cross-examined the speaker.
"Look
you can see I have a dick!" Retorted the angry young male gripping his
crutch with both of his hands while he
gyrated aggressively before the audience.
There was
a mixed reaction from the audience. Some males cheered him on while others
laughed approvingly. Some females utter sounds of ridicule, some leaped
forward curiously to investigate if
there was any substance hidden under the crutch of his pants to prove whether
the fuss being made by the insulting male was worthwhile, while others were
obviously embarrassed.
"Are
you a man?
Where is
your penis?" Interjected another male accompanied by a female.
"Go
on show us!" Shouted a male encouraged by a group of excited males.
At this
conjuncture the misogynist chauvinist males realising the speaker is on his
own, seized the opportunity to belittle him by demonstrating how masculine they
are in defending their perceived stereotyped images of what women are or how
they should be treated.
After a
pause the speaker responded:
"As
far as the penis is concerned, I don't have one!
I gave it
to my girlfriend!
She knows exactly what to do with it!
Laughter
erupted in the audience.
"You!
Yes, you
who call yourself a man and said you love women!
Why don't
you stand up on a rostrum and educate, agitate and protest against the global
patriarchal socio-economic structures, the
misogynist ideologies and the various negative forces of sexism that
degrades humanity including the so-called women you pretend to love?
For those
of you who aggressively opposes me and not the subject I'm address
Your
mindless behaviour demonstrates your prejudices!
Instead
of inquiring about the subject and why I am presenting it the way I do!
You took
the liberty of making some unreasonable
assumptions and unfair judgements!
But let
me ask you this!
What is
the difference between an opinion, a point of view, a fact and a policy?
What is
the difference between common sense, hypothesis and theory?
What is
the difference between a discussion, a debate and an argument?
In other
words, I do appreciate the dilemma and risks involved in attempting to address
such a complex subject as sexism in a public place as Speakers' Corner where
spontaneity, prejudices, disorder, unmanageable notions run free!
Do I have
to be sexist to speak about sexism?
Do I have
to be a vegetable to go to the kitchen?
Do I have
to be sick to become a doctor?
Do I have
to be excrement (shit) to go to the toilet?
Do I have
to be ignorant to know what is ignorance?
So,
please Ladies and gentlemen, let us not assume anything, otherwise anything
will make an ASS of yoU and ME - (ASS-U-ME)
Now let
us return to the question of what a woman is!
What I
mean is, how would you define the term woman?
In other
words, is or can a woman be defined as a word?
A phrase?
A
sentence?
A book?
A
library?
Or an
institution?
In fact
according to the London School of Economics women are an institution!
Why?
Because
of the existence of the 'Women's Institute' at the LSE.
The
'Women's Institute' conducts postgraduate courses and research projects on
gender relations.
I
recommend everyone, to spend some money
and embark on a course." Clarify the speaker after being deviated by a
series of interruptions, some earnest, some probing and some disruptive.
1 Corinthians 11:3:8:9
(3)
"Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ,
and the head of the woman
is man, and the head of Christ is God."
(8)
"For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;"
(9)
"neither was man created for woman, but woman for man."
With
brevity, clarity and simplicity these verses of Corinthians describe the
patriarchal, phallocentric, androcentric, sexist, misogynist, masculine and
homosexual features of an unequal hierarchical world order created and
sanctioned by the almighty God.
In other
words woman is defined by the above quoted verses as:
1) Belonging to a sub-sub-subordinate status
within the patriarchal hierarchy
represented by the masculine gender as
God, Christ and man.
2) As a derivative of and dependent on man.
3) As a subservient creature to man.
God is a
misogynist!
Let's
continue Ladies and Gentlemen!
I Corinthians 14: 33-35
(34)
"Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed
to speak, but must be
in submission, as the law
says."
says."
(35)
"If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own
husbands at home; for
it is disgraceful for a
woman to speak in the church."
woman to speak in the church."
Well! well! well!
Ladies
and gentlemen!
This is
it!
There are
no hidden meanings!
Verse
(34) clearly states that Women are not allowed to speak in the churches and
should remain silent in submission to man and God.
This
means that women who are priests are criminals! Women who sing, preach or make
the slightest noise including farting in
church is guilty of disobeying God's law.
This
means all the evangelical religious sects are committing heresy by allowing
women in the congregation to sing, shout, scream, praying loudly "Praising
Jesus" or making senseless noises, violently shaking their bodies and
throwing themselves on to the floor.
For
speaking in church is a devilish act.
To add
insult to injury, verse (35) advises women to consult their husbands at home
where patriarchy reigns supreme even if their husbands are less educated, less able or more disable than they are.
May I
remind you Ladies and gentlemen that God is a misogynist.
And
finally Ladies and Gentlemen the last quotation is from
1 Peter 3:1
(1) "Wives, in the same way be submissive to
your husbands . . . . . ."
This
verse aptly summarises the final
component that is essential in
constructing an ideal triumphant
patriarchal order under the heavens, the
state plus civil society and in every household thereby legitimising male
domination over all women within the geography of human social relationships
influencing international relations, industrial relations, gender relations,
ethnic relations, family relations and ultimately personal relations.
Ladies
and gentlemen!
That was
sexism in religious literature with reference to the bible!
Thank you
for your time and attention!
Thank you
for being patient!
Thank you
for understanding and tolerating the irony of my presentation!" Announced
the speaker as he summed up his presentation to an attentive, active and
appreciative audience.
The
audience showed their appreciation by silent admiration, smiles and applause.
The
speaker acknowledged the thankful audience by bowing his head and raising his hands in salutation
before slowly dismounting the rostrum to retreat into restful contentment.
On this
occasion the speaker was successful in his attempt to talk about the subject of sexism in religious
literature.Speaking about religion and sexism in an ironic style is often not appreciated at Speakers' Corner for many reasons including:-
a)
the presence of individuals legitimising fundamentalist views of all sorts from
religious to non-religious ideologies.
b) the prevalence of prejudice,
misogyny, culture of masculinity and patriarchal values among most speakers and visitors at Speakers' Corner.
c) The ignorance, gender prejudices
and intolerance towards individuals expressing
feminist perspectives that challenges the sexist misogynist patriarchal popular ideologies of the status
quo.
As a
result of the above reasons the speaker is often subjected to victimisation
ranging from psychological, emotional to physical abuse.
Since the
speaker prefers a complicated style to present controversial subjects, he
accepts this as a normal "performance hazard" to be experienced at
Speakers' Corner, a minor price to pay for the dream of exercising the right to
participate in the democratic process
defending democratic values.
The illustration
of sexism in religious literature, in this case the Holy Bible, demonstrates
that misogyny, phallocentrism and patriarchal values have their respective
foundations deep in "His-Story", society and the human psyche.
Even
today, during the month of August Y2K
as we explore the frontiers of ciberspace linking billions of human
intellects with the internet revolution, the spectre of sexism is alive and
kicking even in the prose of Article
One concerning the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights instituted by the United Nations.
It is
ironic at best but sad at worst that after Two Thousand years after the
birth of Jesus - the son of God - the best or the highest form of organisation
humanity has ever created on planet Earth has been the UNITED NATIONS ORGANISATION, which celebrated decades
dedicated to women's rights without any significant success in mobilising the
appropriate and adequate human resources to radically eradicate the abuse,
suffering, deprivation, exploitation, oppression, discrimination, fears and
injustices degrading humanity including
individuals labelled women.
Here is
an example given below:-
UN UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:
Article 1.
"All human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and
should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
Mrs. Robinson - UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights
announced:-
"Human Rights are
Women's Rights too and
the UN must be the uncompromising guardian of Women's Human Rights."
COMMENT
The last
word ("brotherhood") of the First Article of
The UN Declaration of Human Rights repudiates Mrs. Robinson's ethical
affirmation that "Human Rights are
Women's Rights too".
Why does
the masculine gendered term "brotherhood" explicitly refers to men as
a singular gender and implicitly includes women - as a different
singular gender group in its universal interpretation?
If it is
true that "Human
Rights are Women's Rights too", then why isn't the feminine gendered term "sisterhood" included as the last
word of the First Article of the UN Universal Declaration of Human
Rights?
While
addressing an intelligent audience at Speakers' Corner, London, England, on the
6th of August Y2K, the Speaker read publicly Article 1 of the UN Universal Declaration
of Human Rights after presenting an ironic discourse on the theme of sexism
in "His-Story" and religious
literature by quoting some verses
from the Holy Bible, to demonstrate the fact that sexism(i.e.-Misogyny,
phallocentrism, androcentrism and patriarchy) is not only an ancient phenomenon
but is also a contemporary problem confirming historical continuity,
consistency and hegemony.
"His-Story" highlights the production,
reproduction, legitimisation and endurance of the prevailing, socio-economic,
political, cultural, ecological, military and technological conditions that
stimulate the negative features such as sexism, familism, casteism, tribalism,
nationalism, fascism and neo-fascism that punctuate the geography of human
social relationships.
FURTHER READING
'UN
Universal Declaration of Human Rights'.
'Knowing
Women'. Edited by Helen Crowley and
Susan Himmelweit. Polity Press.
'The
lenses of Gender'. Sandra Lipsitz Bem. Yale University Press.
'Disciplining
Foucault'. Jana Sawicki. Routledge.
'Breaking
Out'. Liz Stanley and Sue Wise.
'Women as
Revolutionary Agents of Change'. Shere Hite. Sceptre Books.
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