Well,
that isn’t,
the original phrase,
but,
since there is,
little consensus,
as to who,
coined the phrase,
first,
I am taking my liberties
🙂
One thing we do know,
the phrase,
the personal is political,
was used,
vastly,
by the feminist movement,
a good phrase,
that meant,
in part at least,
if you accept sexism,
in your private life,
because it makes,
you uncomfortable to speak up,
that is political,
and,
if you tell people that sexism,
rape culture and all manner,
of insidious remarks,
that put women down,
aren’t funny,
well,
that is political,
too.
The reason behind,
this long winded,
introduction:
the Sotchi Olympics,
and,
my decision,
many months ago,
to not watch them,
to stage my own,
personal ‘boycott’
I wrote about it,
here,
at the time,
http://bookishbutch.com/?p=3926
my friends and family,
and,
face book acquaintances,
are all aware,
of my position,
on this issue.
But, I will not belittle,
anyone,
for watching,
the Olympics,
I will not preach,
I will not call into question,
their humanity and fortitude.
I am just stating my position.
To me,
this is,
personal,
and,
thus,
political.
I grew up with a love,
of sport,
mostly,
spectator,
:-p
but,
love,
nonetheless.
Not watching the Olympics,
isn’t just windbag stuff,
for me.
It is a sacrifice,
I love the Olympics,
especially the Winter ones,
hockey,
bobsleigh,
speed skating,
all of it,
I am proud of our Canadian athletes,
our women’s hockey team,
will be captained,
by,
one of my favourite,
hockey players,
who will probably,
be making her last,
Olympic appearance,
the great Caroline Ouellette.
The Canadian flag,
will be carried into,
the stadium,
by Haley Wickenheiser,
the greatest female hockey player of all time.
Martin St-Louis,
will finally play for team Canada,
the plucky 5’8 38 year old,
is a last minute replacement,
for Steven Stamkos,
who is injured,
and,
so many great hometown heroes,
and,
determined athletes will be there,
some have worked,
their whole lives for this-
their moment.
So,
no I won’t critcise,
if you choose to support them,
I always have,
and,
I have always,
some would say,
naively,
believed in the principles of Olympism
The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.” –Olympic Charter (lifted from Google)
You see,
what it comes down to,
is,
the personal is political,
for me,
it’s personal,
I am Gay,
and,
I am doing this in solidarity,
for my Gay Russian brothers and sisters,
because they are being,
not only,
oppressed,
but,
persecuted,
brutalised,
and this is my way,
of saying,
it’s wrong.
Have there been,
Human rights issues,
at other,
if not,
all,
Olympic games?
Damn right,
there have been.
Will there be again?
Undoubtedly.
But for me,
a proud butch gay woman,
these are more than I can handle.
The thing is,
I believe,
in accepting all peoples,
not tolerance,
to me tolerance,
is like those people who,
in their mealy mouthed way,
say,
Hate the sin love the sinner.
I am no sinner,
I am a good,
law abiding,
tax paying citizen,
I reserve the right to critique,
my government,
in fact I consider,
it,
a duty of citizenship to do so.
Another thing, I won’t hide behind, this I didn’t choose to be Gay thing. Being gay hasn’t been proven,to be genetic, and I for one, hope it never is, goes the way of it’s not my ‘fault’ as if ‘fault’ there was, nope not fault, choice to be true to yourself and to live your life as much on your own terms as possible
So yeah,
the personal is indeed, political.
Later girls,
BB
