…we are stepping into where we never imagine words such as hate and territory and the like--unbanished still as they always would be--wait and are waiting under beautiful speech. To strike. --Eavan Boland, from "Writing in a time of violence" When I was young I was obsessed with the past (actually, I still am and I’m old),—that imagined past I had been taught, particularly by so many women writers. Often the heroines were writers who struggled to be what society wanted a woman to be and look like—women like
I've been thinking about nonviolence myself a LOT lately and I have no good answer. All I know is it is the expectation until the State decides it's time to get violent, then "if the person had only done what they were told it wouldn't have happened!" becomes the justification. It's sickening, when the faceless militarized automatons of that state are DRESSED in violence. It is a loathsome situation.
I have always been fascinated about women who defied norms and stereotypes and chose to fight during war. I want to thank you for writing about lack of acceptance to the natural image of feminine strength because of which when women go to war they try to fight like a man, not like a woman. Society uses 'like a woman' phrase only in derogatory sense.
Here, I also want to recall Rani Lakshmi Bai, a 19th century Queen from Jhansi region of India. She along with a small group of rebels single handedly fought hundreds of British soilders to defy handing her state over to the empire. And best part yet she did it clad in saree, jewelleries and armour with her infant child tied to her back - like a goddamn woman.
Your epiphanies reminded me of her. Thank you for writing this. ❤️
Dear FREYA,wrongly I wrote my comment replying to your article...anyway I replied..Very good work as usual..
I've been thinking about nonviolence myself a LOT lately and I have no good answer. All I know is it is the expectation until the State decides it's time to get violent, then "if the person had only done what they were told it wouldn't have happened!" becomes the justification. It's sickening, when the faceless militarized automatons of that state are DRESSED in violence. It is a loathsome situation.
Another great piece, Freya. Thank you.
I have always been fascinated about women who defied norms and stereotypes and chose to fight during war. I want to thank you for writing about lack of acceptance to the natural image of feminine strength because of which when women go to war they try to fight like a man, not like a woman. Society uses 'like a woman' phrase only in derogatory sense.
Here, I also want to recall Rani Lakshmi Bai, a 19th century Queen from Jhansi region of India. She along with a small group of rebels single handedly fought hundreds of British soilders to defy handing her state over to the empire. And best part yet she did it clad in saree, jewelleries and armour with her infant child tied to her back - like a goddamn woman.
Your epiphanies reminded me of her. Thank you for writing this. ❤️