There have been these stories about how wonderfully non-abusive
egyptian protestors have been, especially towards the women
protestors. it sounds familiar, a story i’ve heard before. our boys
aren’t abusive, they’re good
progressives/democrats/revolutionaries/christians/whatever. I read
these stories with one eyebrow cocked. and then today the story of
laura logan’s rape and beating was released by cbs. i don’t know who
attacked her, jubilant protestors, the military, the police? but it
was decidedly not non-violent. the murders of protestors at the hands
of police are not non-violent. The beatings and detainment of press
and protestors are not non-violent. it is irresponsible to call this a
non-violent uprising, even though the protestors were non-violent. we
have to remember that. we have to know the risks of violence that
non-violence includes, especially if we are female. that doesn’t make
non-violence any less important but it does diminish the risk and the
sacrifice when we don’t acknowledge them.

—
The trouble with being poor is that it takes up all of your time.
Willem de Kooning