Comments on: The Death of Feminism: What’s Next in the Struggle for Women’s Freedom http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/11/15/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/ Conservative and Libertarian Intellectual Philosophy and Politics Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stephen Edward http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/11/15/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-33113 Stephen Edward Fri, 01 Dec 2006 03:24:20 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/#comment-33113 Whether it's the confused thinking of feminist professors or the disconnect from reality of so many of the entrenched (tenured) Marxist professors who dominate university faculty, I suspect that the root of it all may be the sad truth that "modern education in the United States has largely separated virtue and knowledge. ...But things have not always been this way; nor should they be now. One necessary condition of America's being delivered from its present educational crisis is a recovery of the belief that there is a transcendent, universal moral order. (The Closing of the American Heart by Professor Ronald H. Nash) Dr. Nash quotes Joseph Baldacchino: "To apprehend this reality, and to act in the light of the transcendent purposes with appropriate reverence and restraint, is the essence of wisdom; and to help deepen and strengthen this apprehension-through philosophy, history, literature, and the arts and sciences-is the overarching prupose of any education worthy of the name." ...Harvard professor and author, Irving Babbitt, further adds that , "teachers--if they are doing their job correctly--form the great link in the chain of civilization without which it cannot hold. They are both the conservators and the transmitters of culture. It is from them that future generations come to appreciate the ideals of their country and the wider civilization of which it is a part: justice, for example, and equality, and ordered liberty." Whether it’s the confused thinking of feminist professors or the disconnect from reality of so many of the entrenched (tenured) Marxist professors who dominate university faculty, I suspect that the root of it all may be the sad truth that “modern education in the United States has largely separated virtue and knowledge. …But things have not always been this way; nor should they be now. One necessary condition of America’s being delivered from its present educational crisis is a recovery of the belief that there is a transcendent, universal moral order. (The Closing of the American Heart by Professor Ronald H. Nash)
Dr. Nash quotes Joseph Baldacchino: “To apprehend this reality, and to act in the light of the transcendent purposes with appropriate reverence and restraint, is the essence of wisdom; and to help deepen and strengthen this apprehension-through philosophy, history, literature, and the arts and sciences-is the overarching prupose of any education worthy of the name.” …Harvard professor and author, Irving Babbitt, further adds that , “teachers–if they are doing their job correctly–form the great link in the chain of civilization without which it cannot hold. They are both the conservators and the transmitters of culture. It is from them that future generations come to appreciate the ideals of their country and the wider civilization of which it is a part: justice, for example, and equality, and ordered liberty.”

]]> By: Nathan Alexander http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/11/15/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-32674 Nathan Alexander Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:23:18 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/#comment-32674 I think part of the problem is that in a democratic society, language itself may be appropriated by anyone for nearly any purpose. There's no reason you can't be a feminist and a misogynist simultaneously in a democracy. What is to stop you? (other than social opprobrium--and how much does that matter when your salary comes from elsewhere?) The interesting question is not how possibly can such contradictions be reconciled, but what are the demands of power which enable them to be "overlooked." The ideology of the intellectual is that the intellectual is somehow "above the fray" and indifferent to power. Realistically, the intellectual's willingness to represent power is most exposed in these moments of "overlooked contradiction." It is a bit generous to say that certain academics are simply bullies! They wield (through representation) real force! Be careful! They aren't accountabl to being coherent--a sign of brute power! I think part of the problem is that in a democratic society, language itself may be appropriated
by anyone for nearly any purpose. There’s no reason you can’t be a feminist and a misogynist simultaneously
in a democracy. What is to stop you? (other than social opprobrium–and how much does that matter when your salary comes from elsewhere?) The interesting question is not how possibly can such contradictions be reconciled, but what are the demands of power which enable them to be “overlooked.” The ideology of the intellectual is that the intellectual is somehow “above the fray” and indifferent to power. Realistically, the intellectual’s willingness to represent
power is most exposed in these moments of “overlooked contradiction.” It is a bit generous to say that certain
academics are simply bullies! They wield (through representation) real force! Be careful! They aren’t accountabl
to being coherent–a sign of brute power!

]]> By: Nicholas Stix http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/11/15/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-32279 Nicholas Stix Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:36:53 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/#comment-32279 Excellent review essay. Anyone who has spent any amount of time working in academia is aware of what cowardly, bullying opportunists most academic feminists are. Excellent review essay. Anyone who has spent any amount of time working in academia is aware of what cowardly, bullying opportunists most academic feminists are.

]]> By: Ron S. http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/11/15/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/comment-page-1/#comment-32192 Ron S. Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:12:53 +0000 http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/the-death-of-feminism-what%e2%80%99s-next-in-the-struggle-for-women%e2%80%99s-freedom/#comment-32192 I've often wondered, considering how middle eastern societies treat women, why feminist organisations wouldn't be 100% behind the war in Iraq, the War on Terror, etc. If we were talking about Arkansas instead of Iraq, they would be screaming bloody murder and wouldn't shut up. Can you imagine the reaction if it was an American who made that cat and meat analogy (regarding unveiled women) instead of some mullah? Don't hear a peep from them though, do you? I think the bottom line is that when a group is rising in prominence (whether it is NOW, NAACP, or the current republican congress) they rise on their principles. Once they acquire power and influence, they come to a point where they have to choose between hanging onto their power or their principles. Some, like the examples I gave, choose power and influence over their principles. (If you are accused of being racist, you get marginalized and when that happens you lose power and influence). I’ve often wondered, considering how middle eastern societies treat women, why feminist organisations wouldn’t be 100% behind the war in Iraq, the War on Terror, etc. If we were talking about Arkansas instead of Iraq, they would be screaming bloody murder and wouldn’t shut up. Can you imagine the reaction if it was an American who made that cat and meat analogy (regarding unveiled women) instead of some mullah? Don’t hear a peep from them though, do you?

I think the bottom line is that when a group is rising in prominence (whether it is NOW, NAACP, or the current republican congress) they rise on their principles. Once they acquire power and influence, they come to a point where they have to choose between hanging onto their power or their principles. Some, like the examples I gave, choose power and influence over their principles. (If you are accused of being racist, you get marginalized and when that happens you lose power and influence).

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