I celebrate Feminism and support it in every way.

[Bonobo]

In light of Emma Watson's excellent speech where she emphasized that Feminism cannot succeed as long as only half the population is invited into the conversation, I have decided to re-emphasize the rightness of the Feminist cause of fighting for equality and to throw my strong support behind it unreservedly. There is no question in my mind that full and complete equality is a goal that we should strive for.

At the same time, I am not going to allow voices that sow division and anger between people to take me off the path. As a great response I read tonight said, there should be a recognition that many of the woman whose voices are the most angry and filled with rage are that way because of pain and hurt that have brought them to where they are. As such, their emotional state represents something that we, as good people, need to validate and recognize; that is the wounds that are all to easy to have inflicted on you in a culture with so much imbalance and stresses places on people from rigid expectations, sexual predation, sexual game playing, manipulation of physical and emotional natures, etc.

So, rather than continuing to play the personality game here on DU, I am coming out now and saying that I am going to work towards feeling and expressing more sympathy and empathy towards those who are in pain and suffering. At the same time, I am going to try to promote the message of all-inclusive equality for all. I encourage you all to do the same.

[Veilex]

1. "I am going to try to promote the message of all-inclusive equality for all"

How Egalitarian of you.

[Major Nikon]

2. For any large cause there will always be those who are counterproductive to it

Generally this takes the form of excessive zealotry to the point of division and alienation with a dichotomous "you are either with us or against us" attitude. This doesn't mean the actual cause isn't worthwhile.

[Bonobo]

3. Despite its bad press, the "tone argument" makes a lot of sense.

Conversation, debate, all ideas and thinking are dependent upon language. It moderates and structures all human thought. Used wisely and skillfully, it is a tool for changing minds and influencing people. Used poorly and clumsily, it results in the opposite.

So I have always found the "But that's a TO~OOONE ARGUMENT~~~!!!" meme to be strange. Of course tone is important. Weird.

Clearly Emma Watson understands this.

[kjones]

4. I don't know why some people don't think it is.

Well, unless it is a man greeting a woman on the street, and then tone is extremely important.

Seriously though, I'm not negating that, I'm just saying those who typify that incongruent application of tone are clearly hypocritical. Of course tone is important, it's always important. Divisive commentary is so much spinning of the tires, spinning tires that sling a lot of mud.

Leave it to a witch to try to try to break the spell of (bi-directional) disrespect and gridlock (by some vociferous segments of the conversation who do not represent the average people involved...that is, all the rest of us).

[Doctor_J]

5. Almost every way

I will still not give a hoot if SI publishes their swimsuit issue, or spiderwoman flexes her glutes on a COMIC BOOK cover.

But your point is on the nose. I try not to let the ones who generate eye-rolls dim my view of all. I will continue this practice and listen.