From: jnr@igc.apc.org (Jim Rosenfield)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Re: MEDLINE Biblio on Clitoridectomy
Date: 12 Dec 92 19:49:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #R:cdp:1471700286:cdp:1471700303:000:3614
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!jnr    Dec 12 11:49:00 1992


> Jim Rosenfield: It is clear that you have a fetish for
> African private female body parts.

Say, instead, "I think you have....and I want to provoke you with
a libelous attack in public".  This would be more accurate.

> Rosenfield has worked himself into a frenzy.

Not a frenzy, just a real concern and curiosity about the
well-being of children forcible mutilated by their well-meaning
parents.

> Many of us do not support the practise of clitoridectomy.

This is a real show of humanity on your part.  I am surprised.
Then why all of this upset about the my raising of the issue?
Curious....

> She does not feel,  as some might imagine, that it was
> performed in order to make her feel powerless.

I wish *you* would interview a few African women about this.  I
think you may be surprised at how few African women appreciate
having their bodies cut up and their vaginas sewn up.  Are there
any African women out there who could shed a little light on this
topic?

> African culture is devoid of the protracted gender warfare that
> is prevalent in other cultures.

White men in America in the 19th century, when asked about slavery
said "problem, what problem?  Our slaves like being slaves."  Do
you believe this?  Then I'll believe African women are satisfied
with their assigned roles.

> Men have their responsibilities and women have theirs.

Some African women would say "Yes, African men are responsible for
laying about and gambling and the women are responsible for
raising the crops and raising the children.  Such a deal..."

> I ..would be the first to admit that African women do not
> not have as much power as men....

Yes, I agree.  Do you think the women like it this way?

> attempting to blur the natural distinction that exists between
> them can only lead to a large scale breakdown of the African
> family.
> ...Africa can ill afford this.

This is the identical argument used by men in the West to
discredit the historic struggle of women for equal rights.  Do you
think this is a coincidence?

> foreigners who piously crusade on computer networks against
> African culture. For the most part their sentiments are formed
by
> brief articles they read in a newspaper  ......

As I said, this is no crusade, but a public, open inquiry into a
subject some men do not want discussed, and who have resorted to
name-calling and race-baiting to obscure their discomfort with the
issue.  Look to your own intellectual integrity.

> The very first posting on the subject came from one who demanded
> that Africans stop "this barbaric" practise.

This is a scurrilous misrepresentation of my views, and you have
only to read my posts.  I stated that millions of young girls are
subject to a cruel practice and I asked if anyone had information
on this.  I never made any demands nor attacks.  I asked a
question with which you are uncomfortable and embarrassed because
you also find this "culture" abhorrent as you have now stated.

> for the most part white South African....

No, I am white, Southern Californian.  And I prefer tobe
identified as "human being" rather than "white" which allows you
to pidgeon-hole me and make unfair characterizations.  But this is
not new for your and it is not news for anyone in this conference.
Your positions are nearly totally discredited by your
generalizations and your ad hominim attacks.  Still, I do
appreciate what you write in your more lucid moments.  Keep it
up.....

If you have the guts, please say some more about why this practice
(female mutilation) should not be discussed and about how the
African women prefer it this way.

Jim :-)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african