In Which Men are Oddly Necessary and Still at Fault

I am still trying to process this article: My First Abortion Party.

Of course, it is designed to be slightly provocative but I think there is major unresolved tension in the execution (no pun intended) of an ironically practical idea.

"Abortion is, after all, a very tricky topic -- a minefield of opinions where the slightest misstep can elicit unexpected reactions from friends, family, co-workers and strangers. Though I would classify myself an ardent pro-choicer, I also recognize that I am a man, and therefore somewhat of a problematic player in the debate. It’s never been made clear to me what sort of involvement I’m entitled to on the issue, and I don’t feel particularly confident making judgment calls about women -- whatever their political leanings.

I did, however, think the extent to which Maggie’s friends were eager to vilify her partner was peculiar. These were liberal people, after all -- people whose views on sex were worlds away from anything someone might consider "modest." I couldn’t help but notice how aggressive and, for lack of a better term, ‘male’ their attitudes became when confronted with the issue of a woman’s right to choose. It was almost as if, in the process of upholding an ideal of openness and acceptance, they had fallen victim to the same forces they were trying to critique."

Like I said, I'm still processing. Also read a fascinating reaction piece here. Thoughts?

Brain Candy

Thing 1: David Brooks / Liberal Suicide March / New York Times
The definition of 'overreach' is about to be accompanied with a photo of Nancy Pelosi.


Thing 2: Hanna Rosin / American Murder Mystery / The Atlantic Monthly
The scary convergence of crime, midsize American cities, and the end of housing projects.

Ka-ching.

TIME magazine's cover story: Why Marriage Matters.

Caitlin Flanagan has a thoughtful, if not overly profound, article on the nature of American attitudes to marriage. Some money quotes:

"The poor and middle class are very different in the ways they have forsaken marriage. The poor are doing it by uncoupling parenthood from marriage, and the financially secure are doing it by blasting apart their unions if the principals aren't having fun anymore."

"Few things hamper a child as much as not having a father at home. 'As a feminist, I didn't want to believe it,' says Maria Kefalas, a sociologist who studies marriage and family issues..."