Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Ben Atherton-Zeman - Feminist, Actor and Husband" <>]

I've been lovingly confronted by my friend Tony Porter from "A Call to Men."

Tony has been so kind as to give me feedback about my Quote of the Month, 
from Robin Morgan, below.  I've included this quote one final time, along 
with Tony's response to it - after this, I'll be changing the quote.  He has 
also asked me to forward his comments to you, my colleagues, as you'll see 
below.

I want to thank Tony publicly for his work to end racism and men's violence. 
Please read below for his comments.  And if you're not familiar with his 
work, check out http://www.acalltomen.com.

Until the violence stops, Ben.

Ben Atherton-Zeman, Maynard, MA USA
Actor, Comedian, Feminist and Husband
Presenting a One-Man Play: "Voices of Men," www.voicesofmen.org (video clips 
take a second to load)
Booking information: 978-897-3619 (note new number - I moved!)

Quote of the Month, February 2008 (African-American History Month)
"When a sexist idiot screamed 'Iron my shirt!' at (Hillary Rodham Clinton), 
it was considered amusing; if a racist idiot shouted 'Shine my shoes!' at 
(Barack Obama), it would've inspired hours of airtime and pages of newsprint 
analyzing our national dishonor.Goodbye to the most intimately violent 
T-shirts in election history, including one with the murderous slogan 'If 
Only Hillary had married O.J. Instead!' Shame.Goodbye to the sick, malicious 
idea that this is funny. This is not 'Clinton hating,' not 'Hillary hating.' 
This is sociopathic woman-hating."
- Robin Morgan, "Goodbye to All That (#2)," www.robinmorgan.us.  Full essay 
posted on www.womensmediacenter.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anthony Porter" <>
To: 
<>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 12:25 PM
Subject: My Friend


> My Dear Friend Ben
>
> While I love and respect you, we should be mindful of the full impact of 
> statements made regardless of intent when speaking of group oppression, 
> see below:
>
> While any sexist comments directed at Senator Clinton are inappropriate 
> and should not be accepted on any level, when we make comparisons and use 
> comments to the effect of "if it was a racist comment we would....."    We 
> must understand that such comments themselves are racist.  We do not need 
> to use comparisons of racism connected to Senator Obama to speak out 
> against sexism directed at Senator Clinton.
>
> Please pass this along to you email list as well.
>
> Tony Porter