Safety catch not on

by Yule Heibel on November 6, 2003

Via Alternet‘s sidebar, the link to this picture:

Alternet’s caption, via Lakshmi on The Media Mix:

All boys anti-abortion club
The publicity photo on the White House website of George Bush signing the late-term abortion ban says all we need to know about who is making decisions about women’s bodies. See Ma, no women! Added note of irony: the photographer is a Tina Hager.

These men revolt me. Smug, fat, paternalistic, so bloody safe — never hungry, poor, open-minded, or in danger. Safe, that’s what they seem. So safe. They can put women in danger, and they don’t give a damn because they’re safe. Why is it that they can keep making the world a more dangerous place for nearly everyone, but they stay safe? That should change.

{ 4 comments }

Joel November 7, 2003 at 10:09 am

Tyrants love disorder. It keeps them in power.

Edwinek November 7, 2003 at 1:00 pm

Isn’t democracy wonderful? You can be a tyrant and if people complain you can tell them: “Hey, you elected me, so stuff you!”

Yule Heibel November 7, 2003 at 1:51 pm

Tyranny or democracy here? Democracy is still our best bet, given the alternatives. On another note, what really got me about this picture (and you have to see it on the .gov website in full to appreciate the effect): it was able to produce in me a visceral understanding of the women’s power slogan, “keep your laws off my body.” The photo sure made things feel very concrete.

Edwinek November 10, 2003 at 8:42 am

I know, I know… We’ll have to make do, I’m afraid. At least down here we have a democracy which doesn’t feature a more or less omnipotent ruler. But that of course results in a mediocracy.

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post: