Talk:Medea Benjamin

message: Benjamin disputes the statement that she wanted anyone arrested here. Kellen T 17:46, 22 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  WTO and arrests 

message: I understand the validity of mentioning David Horowitz's criticism of Benjamin. However, since Horowitz makes it his job to accuse virtually all leftists as being Communist sympathizers, I wonder how one makes a determination to include his criticisms and at what length? Does he get a nice long paragraph in the entry for every prominent proponent of universal health care, lifting the embargo on Cuba or ending the US occupation of Iraq?
:We need some representative criticism of her from the right. If we could get a better source than Horowitz, that would be great, for the reasons you mention. But a quick google doesn't turn anything else up. Unfortunately, since Horowitz maintains DiscoverTheNetwork and FrontPageMag to criticize specific leftists, he's often the only rightwinger with any specific criticisms of people or organizations, at least online. Kalkin 18:45, 22 May 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: The section in question is titled "Criticism of leftist views" - are the views cited "leftist", or are they just to the left of Horowitz? The section states as fact that "Benjamin is unpopular among conservatives" - yet only one conservative citation can be found, according to Kalkin. Her views are described as "perceived anti-American" and then a Horowitz list of such dreadful, "anti-American" views as siding with the US Congress against aid to the Contras and siding with the majority of Americans by supporting universal health care is provided. I've edited out "anti-American" as baseless even with the adjective "perceived" lest this section seem more McCarthyite than encyclopedic. I happen to share with John Quincy Adams the belief that the US does not go abroad to seek monsters to destroy, but I don't see Bush and Cheney tarred with the anti-American brush on their wikipages. (I admit that I didn't check - if Bush and Cheney are, in fact, named as "perceived anti-American" on their wikipages, please feel free to revert that portion of my edit.) Biederman 22:28, 20 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Criticism by Horowitz 

message: On Fox news they called her a trust fund baby. True? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.206.165.32 (talk • contribs) 
:While it is not a reliable source itself, a blog printed the Return of Private Foundation from 2011 for the Benjamin Fund Inc which has net assets of more than $12 million. This would indicate that there are substantial family trusts from which she benefits 86.157.47.215 (talk) 22:15, 7 August 2014 (UTC)
thread_title: Money?

message: The article may be improved by following the WikiProject Biography 11 easy steps to producing at least a B article. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me here. -- Jreferee 20:00, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Biography/Assessment#Class_parameter|Biography assessment rating]] comment 

message: User:Thoughtman keeps removing this article from :Category:American anti-Iraq War activists.
A person qualifies for the category if she (a) is opposed to the war in Iraq and (b) is an American residing in America who has said publicly either that (i) she believes that the Iraq War was illegal from the beginning or (ii) she believes that the Iraq War is being waged imprudently and she has become publicly known as a critic of the war or the justifications used to launch it.
This article is largely made up of instances of Benjamin's public protests against the war in Iraq. In my view, she clearly satisfies the criteria for inclusion in the category. What do other editors think?—Malik Shabazz (talk · contribs) 03:19, 6 June 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: I think you're right. At one point I supported the removal because Benjamin is not only opposed to the Iraq War, but more generally antiwar. However, looking at the category description, I don't think that matters, and looking at the current population of the category, she's far from alone. Kalkin (talk) 13:14, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, I agree as well - this is an appropriate category. Kelly hi! 13:17, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

text: There are nearly 100 articles in that category, and I've only edited three of them. Surely you've got a better argument than "It's Shabazz's fault".—Malik Shabazz (talk · contribs) 17:29, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

text: How about an argument as to why it's not an appropriate category? You're not being persuasive so far. Kalkin (talk) 20:51, 14 June 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Category:American anti-Iraq War activists 

message: For those with issues over the white house taunting reference, it's not a text reference -- the Reuters photo clearly shows Benjamin in costume at the gate of the White House. Can't get much more clear than a photo of the person being discussed doing the thing being discussed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.54.77.14 (talk) 16:22, 14 November 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: I looked - the source does not identify her, nor does it look like her as far as I can tell. Considering this is a biography of a living person, where the standards for verifiability are VERY strict, do not re-add this information unless you can provide better sourcing for her presence. SchuminWeb (Talk) 23:03, 14 November 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: Look at the video - It's very clearly her. Her group announced the protest, she describes what they were going to do in the press release, and she clearly identifies what costumes were going to be worn. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.54.79.148 (talk) 14:18, 21 November 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: Halloween White House protest

message: From the first sentence of the article: "Medea Benjamin (born Susan Benjamin on September 10, 1952) is an American politician, and political activist, famous for...."
She has dabbled in politics, but I wouldn't characterize her as a politician. "Political Activist" is more accurate. She's never held a political office. She has run for several offices, but like most third party candidates, she's not running with an expectation/hope/plan of winning the election. The description in the first sentence of the article should probably be changed. At a minimum, "politician" should not be used as the first characterization of her. Maybe move it somewhere else in the introduction? Strike it altogether?
Examples:
Is Ross Perot a politician? I think businessman is more accurate. Ralph Nader? Consumer advocate.
I'll concede that using the same logic, Bill Clinton would be called a lawyer; George H.W. Bush would be called a businessman...but we must consider, and factor what they're *best* known for. --Lacarids (talk) 02:23, 10 April 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: I think striking "politician" entirely is probably a good idea, and I have done so. SchuminWeb (Talk) 11:49, 10 April 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Politician? 

message: The comment alludes to remarks made by Benjamin to Horton's questions. If Benjamin CONSENTED TO BE INTERVIEWED--which she did--then her opinions are ON THE RECORD. The addition, therefore, is about Benjamin IMPLICATING HERSELF IN HER REPLIES.
As it stands the Wiki article reads like a sanitized panegyric to her ego.
Here is the interview link:
http://original.antiwar.com/scott/2009/10/07/is-medea-benjamin-confused/
MB:
"We spoke to a lot of women...[who] were stuck inside their homes.
"We just want to do it in a way that is not going to lead to a Taliban takeover that will put women back inside the home."
Brilliant! MB's worst nightmare--which she sees fit to project upon "women," in toto: That a woman might be 1) at home 2) with (gasp!) children!
An obvious casus belli, i.e., continue the airstrikes, the drone attacks, the internecine slaughter. Empire is going to help to establish a civil society (according to Benjamin), while NOT engaging militarily ("not too much anyway!")--even though we here at home have yet to see civility and equity in 233-years of investor class oppression--so that misandrist Benjamin can rest easy at night knowing she helped manumit an Afghani woman "FROM THE HOME."
Stonewhite 02:19, 9 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: All fixed. All POV and promotional elements have been removed, as were the host's opinions to prevent this from becoming a WP:COATRACK for others' opinions. In an article about Medea Benjamin, it does not matter what the interviewer thinks. SchuminWeb (Talk) 15:28, 9 May 2010 (UTC)

text: Well, since you've resorted to namecalling, I accept that you have conceded your point. SchuminWeb (Talk) 00:11, 15 May 2010 (UTC)
thread_title: Benjamin's denials, hypocrisy, "career" agenda, etc.

message: Is this a press release? Lot's of peacock language in this entry: the woman who brought Nike to its knees . . . key player ... headed a powerful coalition. . . etc.
Also, her political views are presented as self-evidently true: the problem of unfair trade as promoted by the World Trade Organization. . . "fighting the market manipulation by the big energy companies and rate hikes that cause hardship for low-income ratepayers and small businesses". . . "fair trade" alternatives that are beneficial to both producer and consumer. . . the need to stop giving Israel $3 billion in US tax-dollars etc. 76.226.40.251 (talk) 13:44, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: you are welcome to make those changes. I will try to review it myself over the next days as well. thanks. Soosim (talk) 14:26, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: Many of her activities have been covered by mainstream media, but somebody's got to do the work of referencing it. I guess I can do a little of that... CarolMooreDC - talkie talkie🗽 21:30, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
thread_title: Press Release?

message: I rewrote the section on Benjamin's interruptions of Obama on May 23.  I kept in all of the citations, but made corrections and added details.  There were many, many reasons that the whole section had to be rewritten, but I will keep this brief: 
1) There were no details whatsoever regarding the nature of her interruptions.  There were several quotes from Obama, but none from Benjamin; in fact, nothing of the content of the interruptions was stated.  Both voices must be discussed in the article, with primacy granted to Benjamin -- since it is her article.
2) The section contained misleading statements and falsehoods.  Obama did not "allow her to stay"; she was thrown out.  She would have been thrown out earlier, according to Benjamin, except for her threats to "make a scene" to the Secret Service and its subsequent bafflement.  He did not say that she needed to listen "as well as courageously speak"; he said nothing of courage.  Moreover he did not say her voice was "worth paying attention to" and then later "challenge her to listen"; it occurred in the opposite order.  I could find nothing of Benjamin saying that she "generally supports the President" -- I followed all of the links and found nothing; moreover, she has regularly criticized his policies.  Further, Obama did not announce "new policies including the beginning of the process for closing Guantanamo's prison"; by the President's own admission in the speech, his policy has, for a long time, included closing Guantanamo.
3) None of the many citations included the whole exchange, nor was there any transcript.  My new citations include both.
4) Use of the word "heckling."  The oxford dictionary tells us that to "heckle" means: to "interrupt (a public speaker) with derisive or aggressive comments or abuse."  Benjamin uncontroversially interrupted the president.  But were her comments/questions "derisive"?  "Aggressive"?  Filled with "abuse"?  The only possible way her remarks could be construed is as "aggressive"; but then it fails the test for 2/3 of the possibilities.  It also fails the test for what I think is the connotation of the word "heckle", which usually involves a nastiness and lack of constructive criticism.  Clearly Benjamin brought up issues that Obama did not address, contrary to his repeated claims in the speech.  He never brought up the killing of the 16-year old, for example.
5) Style.  The paragraph contained strange constructions like: "numerous further outbursts" and "continued repeated interruptions".  I thought it best to write more simply.
These are just a few of the problems the section had.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wiki.correct.1 (talk • contribs) 21:35, 26 May 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  Interrupting Obama 

message: Three different sections tell the story of her interruption to the Obama speech on Guantanamo.  Some are better than others.  I think the story belongs in at most two places (a brief entry in the intro, and the story under Activism / Drones).  Other opinions?  Gnuish (talk) 06:38, 29 May 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  Consolidate "interrupting Obama" coverage? 

message: This article should not be speedily deleted for lack of asserted importance because a variety of third-party publications such as the Washington Post, Huffington Post, ABC News, etc. that establish notability. --Bahooka (talk) 22:21, 27 January 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Contested deletion Comment 

message: User:Sportfan5000 has chosen to make the external links that did not conform to our guideline a "further reading" section instead.  I don't see how those provide any value to this article whatsoever.  Anyone else have thoughts? Thargor Orlando (talk) 15:34, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: This has been patiently explained to you several times including at Talk:Dallas Buyers Club#Further reading. Your use of WP:EL guidelines does not apply to See also and Further reading sections. Sportfan5000 (talk) 15:39, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: This is arguably a disruptive action by you, as you're simply moving links in an external link section into the further reading in an article you've never been to before.  I have not been "warned," you're simply trying to make a point for a reason I cannot comprehend.  Is there a reason why these should be in a further reading section?  If not, they'll be removed.  This isn't hard. Thargor Orlando (talk) 15:48, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: Everything was patiently explained to you at Talk:Dallas Buyers Club#Further reading. You have no basis for removing potential sources from the Further reading section, nor basis for requiring others to incorporate the sources. I don't see a need to respond to you, endlessly, as i was willing to the last time we went over this same ground. Sportfan5000 (talk) 15:55, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: So why did you move bad external links into a further reading section?  What benefit do those sources give to the article?  The burden is on those who want to include material, so I'd like to see that justification. Thargor Orlando (talk) 16:00, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: Everything was patiently explained to you at Talk:Dallas Buyers Club#Further reading. Sportfan5000 (talk) 17:54, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: This is not the Dallas Buyers Club article.  I'll ask again: why did you move bad external links into a further reading section in this article?  What benefit do those sources give to this article? Thargor Orlando (talk) 18:05, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text:  Citing , from that very discussion. Sportfan5000 (talk) 18:27, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: So is this you admitting that you have no justification for including these links?  I see an attack against me, but no rationale. I also see some canvassing, which is a nice plus.  Thargor Orlando (talk) 18:36, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: There is no attack, no one is admitting anything. I pinged Viriditas as I'm citing their statements from that discussion. The same discussion which exactly parallels this one. This is a pure case of you not getting the point that others keep making. It's bordering on WP:NotHere. Sportfan5000 (talk) 19:12, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: All I'm asking is for you to justify the inclusion of the material that you have added to the article.  This is how things work here.  If you don't have a justification, it will be removed.  That's all. Thargor Orlando (talk) 19:27, 21 March 2014 (UTC)
thread_title:  Further reading 

message: As somebody who teaches Greek classics I've been amazed by her name for some time. Surely an interviewer has at some time asked her what she was symbolizing by renaming herself Medea? With all the provocative Greek myths to choose from, why choose the name of a woman jilted by her husband for a younger woman, who murders her children in revenge? I'm not making this up. The myth is best known from Euripides's famous play, "Medea," in which, Wikipedia summarizes,  "Jason leaves Medea when Creon, king of Corinth, offers him his daughter, Glauce.[2] The play tells of Medea avenging her husband's betrayal by killing their children." I'm not asking us to start psychoanalyzing Medea Benjamin. I'm saying she gives her opinions about everything in the else in the world, so she must have given her reasons for the name at some time. Why not Athena, or Diana, or, if you want to call attention to yourself as unheard prophet, Cassandra?  Why on earth "Medea?" A woman who murders her children? Profhum (talk) 07:37, 6 September 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  What is the significance of "Medea?"  

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thread_title:  External links modified 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: Concerned with the link in the opening paragraph, which takes you to the article on beaver species, not even a disambiguation page (if it were a journalism term I was unfamiliar with). Is this simple vandalism? --Crayolamanic (talk) 22:20, 4 July 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Beaver? 

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message: I just created a "Notes" section in this article distinct from "References", with the former "References" becoming "Notes" and the new "References" containing a single citation to a book.  I did this to allow me to reference that book in the text by the common citation tradition of "Surname (year, page)", which I will add in a minute.  
I've started doing this in other articles, because the refereed scientific journal that published a substantial revision of a Wikiversity article seems to require that style AND it doesn't seem inconsistent with the Wikipedia:Manual of Style.  
I mention this, in case others might question this change.  I hope you find it acceptable and even appropriate and maybe useful.  DavidMCEddy (talk) 13:07, 12 November 2022 (UTC)
thread_title:  References and Notes 

message: — Assignment last updated by Jaschronicles (talk) 03:23, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
thread_title: Wiki Education assignment: Women's Movements in Latin America