Comments on: Fonda Is Weeping, Jong Is In Spasm: Pre-Election Psycho-Somatic Hysteria.

By: Milos

Milos — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:08:04 +0000

First, in response to comment no. 19 from Wassom: Jane Fonda has been absent from the “far left” of the political spectrum for some time. Anybody with a computer can verify that about 10 years ago, Fonda became involved with evangelical Christianity and publicly declared herself a Christian on (where else?) the Oprah Show in 2000.
Second, in response to Ms. Chesler’s article: other than an annoying tone of reproach and in-fighting that I detect with respect to her opinions of Fonda and Erica Jong, I agree with her underlying point. The Obama rock-star personality cult is scary. I reluctantly voted for him because he’s not John McCain, not because I’ve accepted Barack as my Personal Savior. What Obama will do for the country remains to be seen, and it’s an unfortunate weakness within the human psyche to look for icons and gods to prop us up and make us feel good. Feminists are human and fall prey to this tendency just like anybody else, and Chesler is right to comment about it in an area where she’s very qualified to do so. Let’s not forget that Ms. Chesler is a lifelong, committed feminist herself (as am I, by the way – men can be feminists too if they have any notion of fairness and equality for all human beings). The feminist-bashing tone of many of the responses here is offensive and stupid. And third, Ms. Chesler, you are correct that Muslim dictators torture and kill Muslim dissidents. Even the term “Muslim dissident” is rarely discussed in the news. However, the U.S. government has been equally guilty of torture and false imprisonment with respect to Muslims and suspected Muslims. Guantanamo has falsely imprisoned and held, tortured and overseen the brutal and needless deaths of many individuals during the course of the Iraq war. On this earth there are no hard and fast heroes and villains. All of us human beings are susceptible to evil, weakness of spirit, and cult-like behavior. If we adhere to principles, rather than individuals or groups, we’re less likely to go astray, or, as in the case of the Obamabots, get “hysterical.”

By: Election-induced insanity — Cranach: The Blog of Veith

Election-induced insanity — Cranach: The Blog of Veith — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:06:03 +0000

[...] Phyllis Chesler is worried about Pre-Election Psycho-Somatic Hysteria: There are important reasons to vote for Obama and important reasons to vote for McCain. Neither [...]

By: Akira

Akira — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:19:46 +0000

My translation of the Corriere della Sera article re Jong, Fonda etc:

http://brianakira.wordpress.com/2008/11/01/prospect-of-obama-loss-and-subsequent-civil-war-has-hanoi-jane-and-comrades-terrified-in-tears/

By: iammefrommiami

iammefrommiami — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:59:52 +0000

I’m not voting for either -but I understand the excitement, how could you not? You would have to completely lack empathy with the historical suffering and oppression of black people in America. Yeah I guess if you just brush off slavery Jim Crow and “I have a dream” then it’s like, “what are these crazy people so excited about”?
There is strong symbolism in a black man becoming president-personally I would have been happier with Hillary -but I am excited, also saddened about Obama because he is not going to take us all to the mountaintop. But still if he wins it is a big deal. Of course a female VP is also a bit of a big deal so either way this is one cool election!

By: SRBUSS

SRBUSS — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:42:36 +0000

As a holistic psychotherapist, I have learned that back problems frequently stem from feeling a lack of support, usually experienced as support one’s belief system provides. It makes sense that anxiety experienced over this support system feeling under threat would manifest as physical symptoms. Fear is running rampant in today’s world and an effective antidote is faith. Obama is riding this wave and using it to his political benefit. Those who hunger for faith over fear within their own lives, AND search for it outside of their own internal belief systems, cling with the desperation of one who has been treading water does to a life preserver. Obama has been presented as the embodiment of faith over fear. This is a powerful elixir.

If Obama becomes our next president, he will have an awesome (and virtually untenable) task to fulfill as the provider of this faith. He is a politician, not a messiah, as the world will soon discover.

By: Wassom

Wassom — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:07:42 +0000

Phyllis
I’m really enjoying the different outlooks and opinions. Keep stirring the pot. Eventually all the crap boils to the top!
Gianni, I am wondering what country your from? I sense an accent, and
a very real disassociation with THIS country.

If your on a high horse about Fonda, you might as well get off.
It’s what she stands for that most conservatives are against, and we all know she is on the far left. The reason she’s having convulsions about supporting her man, is that she has so much at stake in what her and her fellow feminist stand for, which is NOT what real women in America stand for.
The hysteria associated with the obamabots, is scary. He doesn’t stand for anything this country was built on, and will surely destroy the foundation for which all true Americans have died to uphold.
I’d rather see hysteria in a Pentecostal Church, with people under the power of the only True and living God, than the Idea of change, that is so falsely being clung to.
That’s desperation.

By: Micha Elyi

Micha Elyi — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:55:51 +0000

“What can it mean when smart, feminist women start acting like hysterical nineteenth century heroines?” As an expert witness to feminism and matriarchy I must ask, when has it not been thus?

By: Gianni

Gianni — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:35:26 +0000

Folks: when I wrote about the lynching Fonda, Jong and Steinem I did not meant that the author did that. In fact Chesler did not even mention Steinem in her article. Hev did.
It is some of the people who are posting here are doing a bit of it. So YOU for not referred to Ms. Chesler but to some of the people commenting.

By: NahnCee

NahnCee — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:12:44 +0000

I’m feeling a little sorry for poor Hanoi Jane. She hasn’t even said anything this time, let alone had any pictures taken perched on an enemy gun, and she’s being hoist again for shit that happened decades ago and which she has apologized for publicly and earnestly several times.

I think Jong needs to be skewered mercilessly for her self-absorbed hsyteria, but how do we know that Jane Fonda — who always struck me as being a very tough cookie — said or did what Ms. Jong claims?

Jane is an easy target because of what she did back then, but for me, I’m going to wait until she actually says some dumb damned thing all by herself before I ratchet up the rage against her.

In the meantime, whacking the Jong pinata is excellent fun and I encourage all your efforts in hitting it hard enough to ricochet off the B. Hussein pinata, making it open up and spill its guts.

By: Gianni

Gianni — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:21:05 +0000

The comment I am reading, expecially the last ones, show the forum is slowly degenerating.
From comments on the general feelings of the american electorate we are moving to an anti-feminist slugfest.
Wait a moment.
Are you totally sure that women, expecially feminists are all so ysterical? Are men, or McCain supporters so calm and relaxed?
From the postings it seems that Obama supporters are a bunch of brainwashed idiots while McCain supporters are such good mannered guys.
This is very unfair.
Vote who you want, but stop demonize the other.
And, excuse me, but the Obama camp is on the receiving end of the nastier comments.
You don’t like Obama and plan to vote McCain? Do it. But don’t speak about Obama supporters as evil monsters from outer space.
They should be people with whose political views you disagree. No more and lo less. Is it that complicated?
And that after what the black people had endured the tension is a form of general catharsis they hope will happen.
Yes, some of Obama supporters behavior is sort of weird. But have you ever gone into a evangelical/pentecostal church?
And let me add that after two consecutive republican victories to the precidency, a change is just another confirmation of the seriousness of the us democracy.
This is how democracy works. Once party A wins and another one party B wins.
Is it such a tragedy? I would say the same is democrats had just wom precidency twice.
And, by the way, people should discuss issues and platforms, not clappings or real or perceived hysteria.
All the world is holding the breath for the outcome of this election you are having, so I don’t see where is the big deal is some people are having headaches in these days.
And…you are not just electing the president. There are local elections, ballots, etc. Discuss these. It is more constructive than lynching Fonda, Jong and Steinem.