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“I don’t know, we rotate.” — Chief Justice John Roberts, on how the Supreme Court decides swing votes. (via theatlantic)
(via theatlantic)
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NYTimes- Think Before You Breed -
“In fact, people are still expected to provide reasons not to have children, but no reasons are required to have them. It’s assumed that if individuals do not have children it is because they are infertile, too selfish or have just not yet gotten around to it. In any case, they owe their interlocutor an explanation. On the other hand, no one says to the proud parents of a newborn, Why did you choose to have that child? What are your reasons? The choice to procreate is not regarded as needing any thought or justification.”
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“All well and good, right? Women should feel free not to have babies, or not to get married, as they see fit. That’s the mark of a progressive society! Except, if that’s the case, why do we have to keep talking, talking, talking about it? And why do these kinds of articles pop up again and again for women, who need (someone has decided) to remind themselves repeatedly of why their decision is OK, even good. Really, really, it is! We promise! Thus, on a platter for your unmarried, child-free self are another set of reasons why; print them out, stick them to your sad-sack single-lady fridge, keep them handy for when that neighbor across the Thanksgiving table asks your mom what’s wrong with you that you’re not married and having kids already. Because it would be too much to say, simply, that’s not what I’m doing. Or to refuse to acknowledge the question.” — Women Do Not Need ‘Reasons’ for Being Single or Childless
(via theatlantic)
“I understood education as a means of warding off death. You went to school to not go to prison. To not get shot. To not be, as my mother called them, an ‘If I had my gun’ nigger standing on the corner. This is a product of the actual environment. In so many neighborhoods education must be about saving lives. But if you are ranger, this is slavery. Wonder took my father to French. And wonder to my father Nam. And wonder took my father to the Panthers. And wonder took him to my mother. And wonder carries me now to you.” — Ta-Nehisi Coates, on wonder.
(via theatlantic)
“So when the most influential black woman in the world, armed with degrees from some of the best institutions in the world, names Beyonce, a singer best known for a song called “Bootylicious,” as someone she aspires to be, how can we expect young black girls who didn’t go to Princeton to aspire to more than that?” —
Did Michelle Obama Make a Major Misstep with Beyonce? | Loop21 (via tballardbrown)
The person who wrote this obviously does not know ANYTHING about Beyoncé. Firstly, she is one of the few female pop stars out there who has taken complete control of her career. Have you HEARD “4”? It’s such a unique and inspired pop album. Secondly, Michelle can look up to many women at once, and the fact that one of them happens to be in the entertainment industry is not a terrible thing. And LASTLY, she is not best known for “Booytlicious”. She is clearly best known for “Single Ladies”. But I guess that song is to empowering to have fit with the message.*
Also, put the FUCKING accent on the “e”! Don’t be lazy.
*I acknowledge that this song has other conceptual problems. But relative to the other songs out there, it’s pretty okay.
(via npr)