Anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly to be honored at Wash U’s commencement

Posted on May 6, 2008 by Dashaway

My blogging buddy, femme, said we have to at least do two “on-topic” posts before I can post more random youtube specials, so here goes. (I’m in a snarky mood, so bear with me…)  Feministing (and the general blogosphere) has been abuzz with the news that anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly will be given an honorary degree from Washington University.  WTF are you thinking Washington University?  I know what I’m thinking right now–glad I didn’t decide to go there!  Zing! ;)  I knew it felt weird there for some reason when I visited…  

What makes me less snarky and more fired up, though, is the fact that WU students are fighting back.  Check out this facebook group (and then join!)  Right now it has over 1500 members.  

Okay– I just have to go back to my sarcasm for a moment.  Check out this quote from the St. Louis news article:

Some students, like freshman Rachel Wisdom, approved of the university’s decision. Wisdom, an intern last summer at Schlafly’s Eagle Forum organization, started her own Facebook group in support of Schlafly. It had 18 members as of Monday evening. “I think the controversy is absolutely ridiculous,” Wisdom said. “If students claim to be open-minded and tolerant, they shouldn’t care.”

18?  Really? *tries hard not to laugh*

Being tolerant and open-minded does not include being ignorant or silent about issues of such great importance.  Shlafly is a vehement opponent of women’s rights.  And she’s being honored for it.  By a prestigious and well-respected university.  Please tell me I’m dreaming.  Students should not have to put up with this.  And I’m glad they’re not.  Check out the official commencement protest here.

 

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One Response to “Anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly to be honored at Wash U’s commencement”

  1. femmemeister, on May 6th, 2008 at 6:01 pm Said:

    It is interesting how quickly conservative-minded folks jump onto the “liberals are more intolerant than we are!” bandwagon. It makes for convenient rhetoric for them–even the laziest plunkheads are capable of pointing their figure at legitimate liberal protests and shouting, “Intolerance!”

    However, that is a lazy argument that is used as a conservative catch-all–it is not a coherent argument, for several reasons.

    1) Protests, as long as they are lawful and peaceful, are perfectly acceptable forms of free speech themselves. Of course people are allowed to have views that disagree with ours–however, we progressives also have a right to poke holes in their arguments, laugh at some of the inanity/insanity to be found in certain people’s opinions, and point out that Phyllis Schlafly might NOT be an appropriate recipient of a highly regarded university honor.

    2) The University is not bringing Schlafly to campus to participate in legitimate discourse or debate. I would not like it if Schafly came to MU, but I would accept it as long as there was an appropriate counterpoint speaker as well. (In fact, Schlafly DID come to MU back in the day, but it was part of a debate format, and so both sides of the issues were addressed.) Wash U, however, is giving her an award and claiming that she deserves the honor. Yes, she is a successful figure, but she also promotes some absurd and obscene notions, such as “Marital rape is not rape” because saying “I do” at the altar somehow implies consent for all sexual activity thereafter. Yikes. That is not merely a dissenting opinion, but a dangerous one that condones and promotes criminal, violent behavior. If a liberal person came to campus who claimed that certain brutal acts of violence were not in fact criminal but should be accepted by society, I would not be happy either.

    Yes, free speech is allowed. But speech that encourages violence and demonizes victims/survivors of sexual assault should certainly not be HONORED by a university.

    I joined the facebook protest this morning, and I wish the students at Wash U the best of luck!

    Phyllis Schlafly does not merely provide a counterpoint to the feminist movement, but she works actively to make life harder and more dangerous for women.

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