Barbara Kruger, Your Body Is a Battleground
I have been reading the book, “50 Women Artists You Should Know”, and of course I came across the work of Barbara Kruger. I am familiar with her work from other pieces I have seen. However, this image says it all for me in terms of the current state of political affairs. I feel frustrated as a woman during this presidential primary season. I cannot possibly relate to any of the Republican candidates because they are ready to take me back to some crazy time where women are once again submissive to the whims of their mates. I thought we had gotten over all of this but of course during the 2008 election I realized that women were still vastly mistreated in the world of good old boy politics. I remember the mistreatment of first Hillary Clinton and then Sarah Palin by those same good old boys that just couldn’t deal with any woman having the nerve to run for the Presidency or Vice Presidency of the United States of America. Back to the future of politics, 2012, and I feel like I am somewhere lost in time.
Rick Santorum says some of the craziest things. Unfortunately, I think he believes the things he is saying which is very scary for most educated people actually living in the 21st century. Who would have ever guessed that contraception would become the big issue of the 2012 election? We have an economy that is flat, millions of people out of work, an infrastructure built after WWII in vast need of repair, cities that are crumbling, wars in the Middle East and yet he is more concerned about women’s bodies than anything else. It befuddles my mind. I always thought most men wanted some form of contraception. I didn’t think all men wanted to raise large families. It seems to me this has been a settled issue. While most people believe in a separation of church and state, Rick believes the opposite. The more I hear in this election the more I am frustrated by religious zealots. I want a clear separation of church and state. I don’t want to have to follow Rick’s form of God any more than some other religious zealot’s form of religion.
As I look at the other Republicans I see more of the same. I have some brothers that like Romney. However, after listening to Rick I can see that Romney and his form of religion could be just as bad. One of my brothers is a Mormon. I am divorced. He once told me that the only way I could get to Heaven is through my ex-husband. Now that’s a scary thought. I must already be doomed to the depths of hell if I have to depend on my ex-husband for anything quite so important. I have also heard about the concept of the baptism of dead people. I don’t quite understand it. My parents were Catholic. I don’t know if my brother has performed the magic baptism on them, but I know my parents wouldn’t be happy if he did! I am aware that Romney has participated in this concept but he isn’t talking about it.
I really don’t care what your religion is or whether you have a religion. However, I do care if your religion wants to get involved in my government and create laws that will have an impact on my life. I believe a woman has a right to her privacy when it comes to her health care. Men shouldn’t be making decisions for women in the 21st Century. Women are strong and should make their own decisions about their bodies. Period! They don’t need a “daddy” figure in the government controlling their bodies. If a woman is involved with a mate chances are they will make decisions together. However, what Rick Santorum, Mitt, or Newt think, really shouldn’t have an impact on my life or any other woman’s life. They are entitled to their beliefs but they don’t need to make women’s lives miserable with their paternal power. Newt really cracks me up because when he was messing around on all of his wives I’m sure he was happy that his many women were using some form of contraception!
All this primary election has done for me has made me wish that none of my tax dollars would go to “faith based” entities. Churches that are exempt from taxation receive oodles of cash from the government to perform their “faith based initiatives”. Many people aren’t even remotely aware of this funding that has grown over the years. The group Americans United are for a distinct separation of church and state and I am all for that. You can check out their website here and read about the faith based initiatives. http://www.au.org/
The other day I was reading Sky Dancers blog and Bostonboomer posted a video clip from JFK’s speech on religion. If you haven’t seen it you should watch it. He talks about the kind of America he believes in. It is spot on for today. It is timely. Watch it and think about what kind of country you want America to be.
Then move on to George Carlin. Of course you can’t watch George if you’re a prude because he will violate your ears in the way that only George can. What is amazing is how George is dead but his genius lives on!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCWC4sHbIV0