No Thanks. I've Got One Already

Hello Folks.  It's Patri-ette again.  I know you'll all rest easier when VW gets back from his worldwind overseas tour and will again take up the cause for THE VIOLENCE WORKER blog. In the meantime, I thought I'd call your attention to the latest on freedom of expression here in the homeland.  Written by Tom Coyne, Associated Press Writer, we are presented with "At Catholic Colleges, 'Vagina' (rhymes with Carolina) Dialogues."  In essence, the Roman Catholic University of Notre Dame has finally appointed a priest with "chutzpah", The Rev. John Jenkins, President of the University, and the right Reverend has said that he is "scaling back 'The Vagina Monologues' Play this year--limiting it to a classroom setting and barring ticket sales."  This decision, of course, will fall hard on people who feel a university is "meant to be a place of learning, a place of ideas, a place where you can say what you want and learn from what others say and what others think."  You know what?  I agree with that quote.  I think that universities SHOULD be the place where all of the above-mentioned occur.  However, give me a freakin' break, folks!  The Vagina Monologues, an Eve Ensler play (I'll bet that' a pseudonymn...I mean, what's the probability that someone named EVE should write a play about vaginas?) is based on discussions with girls and women.  Apparently, the monologues "include sections about homosexuality, orgasms, and rape."  Now, I freely admit I have never seen this play.  Don't place any bets on the odds that I'll go, either.  I wouldn't be willing to shell out the dough to hear some gal talk about her vagina.  No thanks.  I've got one already.  In addition, I'll be the first to admit that I love being intimate with my husband.  That being said, I don't plan on any further news, magazine articles, radio shows, TV specials or big screen cinema movies about it.  I wonder if these "monologues" also include:  Being in love with a wonderful person, healthy and happy intimacy, the joy of fidelity...See, folks, that's the problem I have with a play that mainly capitalizes on extremism, feminism, and any other "ism" that comes to mind. Apparently, the Rev. Brian Shanley, President of Providence College agrees.  He states, that the play has little redeeming value.  "All the sex in the play is immoral.  It's same-sex, it's autoerotic and extramarital."  So, basically, from a Roman Catholic view point, and I am sure, other Christian denominations, Judaism and Islam, this play would not serve the purpose of promoting the lives that these religions wish to foster in their members.  However, of course, there are a group of women,  professors of womens studies included, that are making their voices known on these campuses as well as others saying that to restrict these monologues would be to squelch awareness of violence against women.  I hate to tell these women this, but I have been well-aware of violence against women LONG BEFORE THIS PLAY CAME TO BE.  There is also violence against men, children, animals, the elderly, the mentally or physically impaired, hostages, etc.  Ladies, what's your point, really?  If you want to get me to buy a ticket to something as snoring, I mean boring, as this would be, I suggest you do one of two things; either, incorporate the ideas of  healthy and happy intimacy,  fidelity, marriage and family OR turn it into a musical.  I can sit through anything as long as there is catchy singing and toe-tapping. 
Yours til VW comes home,

Patriette

Comments

[prying1]

I love musicals. My favorite was seeing Richard Harris in Camelot. Think maybe Barbara Streisand would play in this one?

For some reason when I first heard of this stage play the I thought she might be in it.
p.s. Have you ever seen her website? How old is that picture? From the 60's? :-P

[Just another republican]

As I understand it, and correct me if I'm wrong, Notre Dame is a private univeristy and as such is doesn't mean a damn what other people think what should and what should not be played or said. If it offends a person, instead of the liberal whining they should just go to a different univeristy not forcing other people to accept your standards of (low)morality.

All this does, and allthough I am not religious by any means, makes me want to go to Notre Dame (ha, I can dream!)

Point blank, the Trustees or the president or whoever is in charge over there has the right to determine what will happen on his property. If you don't like it, then there are numerous public schools, I'm sure, that endorse shock art.