Try this one on for size...

ME - posted on 09/19/2009

Quoting Traci:

Okay, so if you want it another way, then you go to work and have your hubby stay home. Teach your kids that the Daddy takes care of the babies and the mommy is supposed to work. Wonder if we can teach men how to breastfeed.

What do you expect us to say in response to that?

Also...people had been posting some philosophically interesting quotes on this forum in the last few days...I thought it was a neat idea, so I posted a couple of my own...I wasn't expecting any PARTICULAR response, just an interesting conversation...

ME - posted on 09/19/2009

Thanks for asking Traci, I'd be happy to tell you what I get from this quote, unfortunately, I don't have lofty tower to climb down from, but I appreciate the invitation nonetheless...


Nussbaum is arguing that there are groups in every society who have power to influence the norms and mores and values of that society (not only in the US, in fact she is specifically talking about other countries around the world). As such, they often get set in their ways and try very hard to protect them from outside influence, or from the values and ideas of less powerful groups within their borders. In this particular statement she is claiming that such a position has no logical/rational merit. The positions of the powerful are often couched in terms of tradition (religious or cultural), and claims are made by the powerful that it would be evil, wrong, hurtful to society, dangerous to children or dangerous in general etc., to change these traditions or customs. They rarely can provide factual, scientific or rational evidence to support such claims, and it becomes clear that a fear of progress/change or a failure of imagination in finding "alternative ways" of doing things is the real reason that they argue against the changes to which they are so vehemently opposed. This can be seen in the US's historical battle for civil rights for African Americans. People argued that it would be sinful, bad for the moral well-being of our country, for the economic well-being of our country, and for the social stability of our country to give African Americans equal rights, and yet, most thoughtful/educated US citizens believe today that the opposit of all of these has been true. A similar battle has taken place in regards to women, and is currently taking place in regards to specific groups of immigrants, as well as in regards to the LGBT population, and very similar objections are being raised in terms of morality, economy, and "danger". I think it is clear that repeating our mistakes from the past is foolish, and I believe that Nussbaum was arguing for clear-thinking creativity in solving social issues, and against a repeat of past societal mistakes.

Traci - posted on 09/19/2009

Quoting Mary:

I'm not exactly sure how you ONLY got women's equality in the workplace as the subject of this quote either...

And, no that's not ONLY what I got from that....   *sigh*

Traci - posted on 09/19/2009

Ok Miss Academia can you come down from your lofty tower and tell us what you get from this quote?

I

ME - posted on 09/19/2009

I'm not exactly sure how you ONLY got women's equality in the workplace as the subject of this quote either...

ME - posted on 09/19/2009

I was hoping for something intelligent, but that's ok Traci...

Traci - posted on 09/19/2009

Okay, so if you want it another way, then you go to work and have your hubby stay home. Teach your kids that the Daddy takes care of the babies and the mommy is supposed to work. Wonder if we can teach men how to breastfeed.



What do you expect us to say in response to that?