Jezebel 
Enter your username and password.
New York, 7:39 PM
Tue Nov 24
62 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip your editors:
tips@jezebel.com
Editor-in-Chief:
Anna Holmes
Email | Twitter
Deputy Editor:
Dodai Stewart
Email | Twitter
Senior Contributing Editor:
Tracie Egan
Email | Twitter
Contributing Editors:
Anna North
Email | Twitter
Sadie Stein
Email | Twitter
Reporter:
Irin Carmon
Email | Twitter
Editorial Assistant:
Margaret Hartmann
Email | Twitter
Contributors:
Rich Juzwiak
Email | Twitter
Latoya Peterson
Email
Jenna Sauers
Email
Lizzie Skurnick
Email
Interns:
Katy Kelleher
Twitter
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
Parents who use contrarian sexist banalities have children who use contrarian sexist banalities.
11/20/09
Yeah, the men had nothing to do with that. Damn sexual freedom for making my sister beat herself up.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
One personality disorder ... er "trait" that many ultra-conservatives have is that they tend to be able to hold two opposing and contradictory thoughts in their head at the same time without cognitive dissidence. Go figure.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
Am I just misunderstanding that sentence, or did he just refer to his sister as "It"?
11/20/09
11/20/09
I agree that there's a definite possibility the end result might be problematic, but I wouldn't be able to tell it from this article. It's just a snip job that doesn't really say anything conclusive about the book.
Hell, the quote you're taking so uncharitably is trying to make precisely the point that it wasn't the 'fault' of the sexual revolution or the feminists that she ended up as she did, and that a simple 'return' to some unrealistic-yet-imagined "earlier, better time" wouldn't have saved her.
To the extent that we know anything from this article, it sounds pretty clear that he's making a book about how people fared in the sexual revolution, for good and for ill, *without* blaming the sexual revolution itself or claiming that society should have collectively 'done something else'.
What, exactly, is novel or controversial about the idea that with more freedom often comes new and different pressures, for better or for worse? Isn't this the basic idea behind schools that institute school uniforms?
I think a lot hinges on the book's portrayal of men -- whether or not their bad behavior is put under the microscope, subjected to real analysis.
If anyone deserves not to have pointlessly snarky conclusions jumped to, it's Martin Amis.
11/21/09
I'm an Amis fan. I put off reading the Guardian article until just now - mostly because I had little faith in the Guardian's ability to deal with Amis objectively given their general distaste for him but also because I didn't want to have to defend Amis for another poorly thought-out declaration. I was pleasantly surprised on both counts. For the most part.
I've read most of his stuff and I'd be quite surprised if he didn't put his men under the microscope. I don't think he protects any of his characters and certainly not his male characters - they are unreliable, violent and desperate in London Fields ; unreliable, violent and untrustworthy in Other People; inhumane, violent and delusional in Time's Arrow. He is just in the treatment of his characters and I look forward to his commentary on the sexual revolution. Though, really, he's commented on it all along and what I really look forward to is a synthesis of this commentary.
And anyway, this isn't the first time he's written about his sister. There's a little Sally Amis in all of his female characters.
.
10/26/09
This pic will be my desktop and personal inspiration for awhile. #pakistan
10/26/09
10/22/09
10/20/09
While there are probably plenty of reasons for Pakistanis to be upset with the US, I really feel like the anger is misdirected here.
10/20/09
We have all the money and power in the world, we stir sh*t up and rarely pay for our actions.
I mostly love this country but we're f*ck up in many ways. #punjabuniversity
10/20/09
The US has its faults, but what I'm reading from that caption is that Pakistanis are upset that our pursuance of the terrorists (in a possibly misguided attempt to fix our mistakes of the past) pissed them off and they reacted violently.
I think my main issue is that the protest signs call for the downfall of the US. How about "Down with Terrorists" instead? #punjabuniversity
10/20/09
[www.salon.com] #punjabuniversity
10/20/09
In turn, terrorists did what they do, they terrorize innocent victims, and now everyone says "OMG, if the US had just stayed out of our country, this never would've happened."
Hence my "lay down with dogs, get up with fleas" comment below. #punjabuniversity
10/20/09
If it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure any one of those folks would jump at a chance to come to the U.S. and become a citizen but while they're in Pakistan they pretty much are going to hate our guts.
So i'm not sure of what to think about "terrorists". I mean it must take something pretty hard core to turn a person so cold. I've never thought of these faceless "terrorists" as thrill killers. I hope I don't sound like I think of what they're doing as a good thing because I don't. But "blame the terrorists" seems to be a throw away argument as 1. everyone keeps saying that and 2. it isn't going to make the terrorists go away.
In nations of wealth and stability this type of thought process isn't normal. That's why we don't understand them. We have a good life in this country and have no idea what really goes on in this world beyond CNN/Fox/MSN. Putting in money to help build the country and help the people would be better then military aide and would help us in not having the Pakistani people hate us so much. They don't see anything except 1. more people are dying 2. the attacks have increased since the U.S. began their wars in the middle east and 3. their country is more in shambles then ever 4. the money the U.S. is providing isn't doing them any good but is putting their government into western debt and pocket.
10/20/09
10/20/09
'we have everything and they have nothing'? really? how about hundreds of years of culture? how about a rich and colorful history? does that count as 'nothing' because its not the same as what we have?
also, do you REALLY think 'any of those folks would jump at a chance to come to the U.S'? really? I'm not sure where you're getting this from, but the fact is, as citizens of the commonwealth Pakistanis were, in fact, allowed to migrate to the UK up until the 70's and millions (most) of them chose NOT to. Yes, it is not the 70's now, and the UK is not the U.S, but really, unless you have ANY facts to back up your (in my opinion ridiculous) statement, what you're saying is purely conjecture and should not be stated as fact.
Furthermore, Pakistani's, as a people, do not hate America or Americans. Yes, there are many that do - just as there are many AMERICANS/Britons/Australians etc that hate American and Americans.
In addition, you have missed out two key points (you really should read up more on this issue if you are interested enough it in it to comment) 1. We (the U.S Govt) paid the Pakistani govt millions of $ during the Cold War to house/arm/train the Taliban in secret. WE put these people there. They do not belong to the same ethnic groups as those native to the NWFP. WE put them there.
2. Most articles point out that the protests against America stem from the Taliban stance against Pakistan based on the Pakistani governments support of U.S policy. I would imagine, then (and many articles make this point, such as a couple posted on the huffington post) that these educated and liberal women are protesting OUR role in what has made THEIR country a hotbed of violence.
I'm not saying I agree with the sentiment of 'down with U.S.A, obviously. What I'm saying is that I strongly disagree with your statement/assumption/whatever it is, that they 'have nothing' and they 'see nothing'. These people do not live in caves. #punjabuniversity
10/20/09
(I feel ya) #punjabuniversity
10/20/09
10/20/09
10/21/09
I was not referring to culture as I do not think that is measurable.
Your item number 2 is basically what I was trying to say. As far as the immigration statement I made, it was a generalization, I will admit that but I still stick by it. I personally think most people in the world (especially those in third world countries) want to be here it probably stems from the fact that my family are immigrants to this country.
The day I say I know everything is the day I become a fool. My opinions are not fact. You have a good day. =)
10/21/09
From what I understand, corruption is rampant in the country and the U.S actually hasn't been able to track dollars given to Pakistan. #punjabuniversity
10/20/09
There's an old adage about lying down with dogs and getting up with fleas. I don't see that beautifully illustrated on snazzy little signs.
But it's our fault. Natch. What do I know about the Taliban and terrorism and whatnot. #punjabuniversity