Thursday, March 29, 2012

The war on men

Brave freedom-fighters attacking the Death Star

We men thought we had it good, didn't we? Sure, Republicans were waging a war on women, but no one was targeting men, right? Oh, I'm sorry to tell you that the world has just become really scary.

From BuzzFeed, it's the war on men:
Oklahoma state senator Constance Johnson introduced an amendment to that state's Personhood bill, SB 1433, that would essentially outlaw masturbation for men. Johnson's amendment proposed that the legislation include a provision that men ejaculating anywhere outside a woman's vagina be considered "an action against an unborn child."

Johnson wrote about the amendment in the Guardian:
My action to amend the so-called "Personhood" bill – SB 1433, introduced by Senator Brian Crain (Republican, Tulsa) – represents the culmination of my and many other Oklahomans' frustration regarding the ridiculousness of our reproductive policy initiatives in Oklahoma. I have received overwhelmingly positive responses from men and women in Oklahoma – and worldwide. The Personhood bill would potentially allow governmental intrusion into families' personal lives by policing what happens to a woman's eggs without any similar thought to what happens to a man's sperm.

It's not just Oklahoma, either. That's just the first example in this article. Rosie Gray - clearly, BuzzFeed discriminated against men by hiring a woman to write this, huh? - describes six similar pieces of legislation in America.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

8 comments:

Chimeradave said...

I thought this sort of thing started as a joke to show the Republicans how invasive their laws regarding women and abortion were by switching it around.

Carol thought it was a great idea.

I thought it was an example of Democrats stooping to the level of Republicans.

But who knows, if crazy things like this prevent laws we don't want then it's all for the good , right?

Bill Garthright said...

Well, it is a joke, John. These amendments are meant to parody what the Republicans are doing to women.

They're unlikely to pass (although not all of them have been defeated, not yet), but they were never expected to pass. They were introduced to make a point.

And they've had a pretty good result, so far. They haven't managed to end this war on women, but at least we've won a few skirmishes. Ridicule does work - sometimes, at least.

Chimeradave said...

But how does stuff like this play at election time? The Dems will have trouble bringing up the Republican's crazy abortion proposals because the Republicans will respond with these jokes as if they were for real and then the Dems will say that was a joke and the Republicans will say why are the Dems using tax payer money to make jokes.

m1nks said...

Oklahoma state senator Constance Johnson introduced an amendment to that state's Personhood bill, SB 1433, that would essentially outlaw masturbation for men.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!

And that's all I have to say about that. Too busy rolling around the floor laughing hysterically.

Bill Garthright said...

I don't think so, John. Note that these are all state bills. The political aspects of this will play out at the state level. And the ridicule is pretty obvious.

This is Democrats making fun of crazy Republican proposals, and that's exactly how most people will see it. Only the right-wing true-believers will think otherwise, and they won't be voting for Democrats, anyway.

Personally, I think that ridicule is the way to go. Just get Americans laughing at the GOP and we won't be voting for them.

Bill Garthright said...

Yup. That's my favorite of all of those, I think. :)

Landis said...

Oh no, I have wet dreams and my fiancés on her period. We're both killing babies!! Haha (and I'm kidding)

This was pretty funny and a good post to come back to after being gone a while.

Bill Garthright said...

I'm glad you liked it, Landis. And welcome back! :)