January 12th, 2011

Recommended Reading #29: Politics



Note: The topic being “Politics” this week is not in direct connection with the recent tragedy in Arizona. Politics had been in the queue as a potential subject for a few weeks, and while it was upon reading the third installment of today’s selection that I felt moved to choose it right now, this post overall is not representative of any commentary from me on that event (indeed, the other two selections were written before it occurred and are not related to it at all).

      “To the Oklahoma Lawmakers: poem” by Lauren Zuniga (Recommended Watch, Reproductive Rights) 5/4/10

This video is the performance of a poem in response to the proposed Oklahoma state legislation requiring that women requesting an abortion be shown an ultrasound of the fetus by a health care provider before they may receive one. As a reproductive rights activist, I have been aware of this kind of legislation in various states and was aware specifically of the emergence of this example when it was reported on. This video strikes me as stark and intense as well as poignant and affecting.

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      “The National Portrait Gallery Betrays Constitutional Principles” (Censorship, Free Speech, Religion) 12/3/10

That the National Portrait Gallery chose to remove a display due to pressure from a particular religious faction seems dismaying to me. I deeply appreciate this commentary in response from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC).

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      “Dim Bulb of the Week: It’s a Massive Three Way Tie!” at PostHumorous (Non-sex-related, Government and Culture, United States History) 1/12/11

I happen to have just included a post from this site in Recommended Reading a few weeks ago when the category was “Humor”…because that’s what this site usually contains. Today, however, the author posted an entry in the “serious” category—and it struck me so much that I wanted to share it here. (Note: I too am usually a fan of Keith Olbermann’s commentary.)

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Recommended Reading posted every Wednesday

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