18 Comments

Indeed

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Let 'em (women, that is) have all of it, and then carefully monitor the results. It couldn't be worse than what men have wrought, but OTOH, anyone that's ever been involved in residential real estate, where women rule the roost, might indicate they're as equally venal as any man. Those women not involved in residential real estate...keep it hidden, waiting for an opening.

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founding

I laughed out loud, in the old way, at this. Thanks, Garrison.

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As Samuel Johnson once cautioned, "Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little." That said, much beyond my mother and the umpteen women schoolteachers who ruled my world through adolescent years (almost as far back as old Sam Johnson), I can only recall the athletic fields and rinks and gyms as places where boys were guided by men to perform according to behaviors, actions, rules and laws that were considered to be distinctly "male." (And even boxing was ruled by the Marquess of QUEENsberry!)

But go tell that to Simone Biles or Megan Rapinoe. Or, for that matter, Miss Frances and her "Ding Dong School."

Dave Jones, Chicago

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That headline is shamelessly aimed at getting women to flock to it (which we're doing, as you see). Also, that pie is too perfect, no doubt a stock image. Ben sounds like the kind of piemaker who exceeds perfection.

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founding

You are going to get all sorts of responses to this! Fromm women, from men, from history majors! Just gird up your loins and take it like a man--from years ago!

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Holy Toledo! My hubby always knows when I read you because I laugh out LOUD!

He would agree with you on this post and I'll read it to him tonight. He has mentioned a few times, that we women are DUMING DOWN the male species. In a weird way, he may be right, especially after reading your post. We women are doing everything now—

uh oh!

I heard the line; "Be careful of what you wish for."

Any suggestions?

Teri

Mt. Hood Oregon

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I'm glad you were a useless English major with a superior attitude. Now, go make some desserts and get it out of your system, then write a Novel about cousins and cherry pies! I am a woman.

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founding

I'm a woman, and I'm reading this! Maybe the surest way to get the attention of someone, is to tell them they're excluded! That's a lot of what this "Gender Revolution" is all about! But think about it! We can't get along without each other! It starts with basic biology - reproduction requires both sperm and egg for success.

And there's probably very little that's entirely the "Fault" of one gender or the other. Think, for example, of Katherine the Great! Did she swoop down on Russia's southern borders because she was a woman? Not by a long shot. She got cold, struggling through Russian winters. She longed for a good sun tan in January, and maybe some grapes and the vintage thereof. It was the entire social/geographic situation that energized the people themselves to follow her leadership and head south.

The drive for gender equality these days, it seems to me, comes from half the population realizing that they have as much rights to "A Seat at the Table" as those who have preempted the position. Things are changing, though. If something should happen to "Uncle Joe" in the next few years, it's possible that "Aunt Kamala" will end up in the driver's seat. Any "mistakes" she makes will be laid at the foot of a "WOMAN". It will probably take a generation or two, but it seems quite possible that there won't be a "gender divide" a century from now!

We're in a time of change, of social flux. It can be hard on men, having all the fingers pointed at them. Perhaps in a few decades, men will be happy to see that women can be the brut of complaints, too. Here's to true equality, for one and all!

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Yep, it was about to happen. Inevitable as the fall of Rome. Who would have known that women are biologically, the stronger, more competent gender. Thanks Garrison

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Regarding history. This is an excerpt for which I've given appropriate credit:

I’m reading an amazing book, “The Expected One” by Kathleen McGowan about Mary Magdalene. It’s the first in a trilogy. Something that the main character said to her history night-class students, hit me as profound. She asked them to take a vow. “I solemnly vow, as a serious student of history, to remember at all times that all words committed to paper have been written by human beings.”

“And, as all human beings are ruled by their emotions, opinions, and political and religious affiliations, subsequently all history is comprised of as much opinion as fact and, in many cases, has been entirely fabricated for the furthering of the author’s personal ambitions or secret agenda.

“I solemnly vow to keep my mind open during every moment that I sit in this room. Here is our battle cry: History is NOT what happened. History is what was written down."

Jill Brooks

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GK,

There are probably a few teaspoons of snark in your claim that History and English degrees are useless but just in case there isn’t, may I suggest reading “Excellent Sheep” The Miseducation of the American Elite by William Deresiewicz. This book greatly enhanced my argument against friends who share your claim.

In addition to his articulate arguments in favor of a liberal arts education, Mr. Deresiewicz cites a WSJ article titled “Your College Major Is a Minor Issue,” which says that companies cite such things as critical thinking, writing skills, communication and problem-solving skills as more important than a candidate’s major.

Students who study English, History or Philosophy learn how to think, how to question and how to learn. Are these not valuable skills to have?

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Oh, you don’t mean any of this, GK. Clearly, you haven’t thought it through. I think perhaps you’re bored and trying to light some fireworks.

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