Comments for ZackFord Blogs

Comment on Reflections on “The Invention of Lying” by thepilatesbiz

thepilatesbiz — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:55 +0000

For the last two weeks, everyones been paying attention as polls started to show that Brown was, indeed, a threat to win the seat so Democrats started to mobilize. That was when the race started to look like a high turnout special election and that was when Brown was at greatest risk. That was also when the main battles were fought (debate, money bombs, endorsements, SEIU/ACORN enlistment, ad wars, etc.)

Comment on What Disney Taught Me About Gender Roles by Jay

Jay — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:50:22 +0000

princess and the frog? Pocahontas?

Comment on What Disney Taught Me About Gender Roles by Caitlin

Caitlin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:09:41 +0000

First of all, Disney owns Pixar. They are the same thing. So any thing Pixar makes is Disney-made.
Second of all, I love Disney. I love the songs and the characters and the stories and the magic. I have always loved Disney. Never have I ever noticed any of the negative things you guys have pointed out until the last few years when everyone decided to jump on the Disney-hating bandwagon.
I never hear people up-in-arms about Kesha’s “Get Sleazy” Tour, or the guys on Jersey Shore wanting to find girls who are “down to fuck” or that models weight 23% less than the average woman or that all of Rihanna’s songs are about how she likes rough sex and most (definitely not all) rap music played on the radio are about strippers and weed.
There are SO many more important things that are fed to kids and teens every day, all the time and are so much more detramental to how they view themselves and their worth.
Disney is about magic, about dreams coming true. I think every girl should marry a prince, no girl deserves to be stuck with anything less than someone who adores her. I know what you’re going to say, “But they only love them for their beauty!” Yes, this is true, but I understood, even from a young age, that beauty is not what counts, it’s what’s on the inside. That is a value that should be tought by parents, not movies.
Also, I would also like to point out that none of these princesses got their princes because they were slutty or easy or hooked up with every guy in the kindom or wore tons of whoreish make-up. None of them obsessed about their beauty or tried to be beautiful. I think society made beauty being skinny and provactative and trashy and Disney made beauty something that resonated from the characters’ kind, gentle personalities.
Also, these movies were made in the freaking 1950s, 60s, and 70s. EVERYTHING was sexist and objecitfying to women back then, not just Disney. And these movies weren’t made for that purpose or as some kind of propoganda.
I’m so glad you said Mulan is a princess. She has and always will be my role model. My children will watch that movie. She is such a strong, powerful, independent, smart, woman in a time period and place where behavior like hers was punishable by death.
Of all the little girls I have ever known and of all my femals friends, not one of them has ever said that these princesses taught them to be submissive, to wait around for their prince, or that beauty is the key to everything. Not one. And these girls are different weights, heights, races, and backgrounds, What we got from these movies was that magic can exist in the real world for anybody and that dreams to come true. So while your points are valid and true, that’s not what any girl I know ever got out of a Disney movie. Why souldn’t every girl consider herself a princess? I believe that is what Disney is out to teach, every girl is a princess.

Comment on Why Higher Education Should NOT Promote "Spirituality" or "Spiritual Development" by cait

cait — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:36:32 +0000

dear Zack ford,
what you follow is what you follow and while i dont mean to preach or push beliefs on you i personally agree with spirituality in schools and for higher education choices if you do not believe in or follow these teachings then dont take the class or worry about others who do we all have our thoughts and beliefs this is what makes life and the people around us interesting, i was glad to find your blog it let me see that you have a strong opinion just as i but almost opposite of mine. I follow no religion but have a strong spirituality. Part of my spirituality is based on the thought that we all and everything is one , now i could say its by the soul and spirit that we are connected as one but i dont know for sure these things are real. What makes me trust so much in what i believe is that you and i have something in common and it is the strong opinion and drive for what we believe and want and these are qualities that unit the living beings in this world. So why not let those who believe in spirituality learn about it and instead of thinking there shouldnt be schools for an education of this kind , and work to help those who believe as you do to earn an education of your kind. just a suggestion :) We all should have the option to earn in education in the fields we please.
i mean no offense by anything said above and hope it may change your view even if its a common understanding of what i say .
thanks for reading! – luna

Comment on Queer and Queerer Ep. 12 – That’s So Fat! Body Image and Metrosexuality by Irene

Irene — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:05:34 +0000

Always refesrhnig to hear a rational answer.

Comment on What Disney Taught Me About Gender Roles by Joseph

Joseph — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:29:22 +0000

What is with the “Disney Princesses are bad role models” crap? They’re fictional characters; they shouldn’t be role models. Go teach your kids ethics and morals or, at least, find a real role model they can look up to…or would that be way too difficult for parents? I guess shoving a kid in front of the TV is a lot easier than having to deal with them.

The statements are also exaggerations and even untrue for these characters. I’ll just use Ariel and Eric as examples:

* “It’s ok to abandon your family” – Her father was a racist asshole who nuked her belongings. I don’t think he’s a bad character; in fact, I think he’s one of the most interesting characters in a Disney film, but he did push Ariel to the edge. It’s not like she intended to leave her family forever either.
* “drastically change your body” – Does anyone expect a mermaid to just drag herself everywhere? A mermaid becoming a human, so she can walk on land, is in no way comparable to plastic surgery. Don’t even try to pull that one off…
* “and give up your strongest talent” – She never seemed particularly happy being forced to sing. Just because her greatest known talent was singing doesn’t mean she had to become a singer. She was far more interested being an “archaeologist/anthropologist” anyway.
* “Once he sees your pretty face, only a witch’s spell could draw his eyes away from you” – At their first meeting, when Ariel is a human, Eric is only drawn to her because she looks like the girl who saved his life. The second he finds out she can’t speak, and thus not the girl he wants to find, he loses interest but does grow to love Ariel as he realizes that waiting for the mystery girl just isn’t going to work.

Now for Eric: “Women have nothing important to say.” OK, this right here proves that whoever made this has not watched the film. The fact that Ariel can’t speak is the main reason Eric doesn’t instantly fall for her. He believes that she isn’t the girl who saved his life and, like I mentioned earlier, he grows fond of Ariel because waiting for the mystery girl is a waste of time when there’s this really great girl living in his castle.

These films have flaws, like any other film, and you can freely criticize them for those flaws. Just don’t make up crap so you can complain about Disney and our “poor, helpless children.” It makes you sound like one of those religious fanatics who will criticize anything by saying “What about the children?!”

Comment on The Lesson We Didn’t Learn From 9/11 by Piet

Piet — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:41:40 +0000

Dear Mr.

To promote skepticism/critical thinking I wrote some questions for the Christian believer. . Are you able to put the link to these questions at your blog.

Thank you very much,

Piet – Rotterdam – Netherlands.

The original questions

http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=8382
The translation
http://www.freethinker.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10033

Comment on A Reminder of Why The Catholic Church Sucks by Debbie

Debbie — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:07:27 +0000

My brother-in-law, who is Catholic, recently asked me to be his son’s godmother. I told him that I would be delighted. The priest at his church told him that I could not, because I am not Catholic. My husband and son are Catholic. My son attends a Catholic school. Our hard-earned money goes into the church coffers every Sunday. I suppose that he thinks the priest in Churchill that was recently arrested for viewing child pornography on his computer, in the church, would be a better godparent? In my eyes, this man has done nothing but attempt to drive a wedge into our family. My sister, who is also non-Catholic, is my son’s godmother. Should I send this priest the definition of the word “arbitrary?”

Comment on What Disney Taught Me About Gender Roles by claire

claire — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:10:47 +0000

hi guys i’m doing a research project in how disney movies reinforce negative gender and racial stereotypes and would love to hear you feedback and if you had time if you could fill out my survey i would so appreciate it
thanks
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHlvcHR6ODFQWkVuZVJOVi1tdHlla3c6MQ

Comment on I Don't Want You To Pray For Me by D. Rushton

D. Rushton — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:54:06 +0000

Zack;
Let’s call a “Spade-A-Spade”! Pray is nothing more than “Christain Masturbation”. And when they have a ‘Pray Meeting”, that is “MUTUAL-CHRISTAIN-MASTURBATION”! And when they say: “I’ll pray for you.”, say: “Jerk-Off for yourself. Don’t jerk yourself off on my account!”. And to be NASTY!…. Add: “I forgive you for you are PROGRAMED, and FAIL to use your BRAIN!”.

Comment on “Transgendered” Is Not A Word. Stop Using It. (UPDATED) by Marco

Marco — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:23:23 +0000

Please supply me with some spare time. Apparently you have copious amounts. In the meantime I will judge people buy their hearts and their deeds and not be a slave to the dictionary. The “word police” are hard at work telling us that the word “marriage” belongs to them alone, so some of us are kind of fed up with that nonsense.

Comment on Queer and Queerer Ep. 12 – That’s So Fat! Body Image and Metrosexuality by duvar

duvar — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:26:06 +0000

Tania, thank’s for the link :)

Comment on What Disney Taught Me About Gender Roles by Agnete

Agnete — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:21:25 +0000

I’m totally pro-Disney. I have one thing to say. You all sound very bitter. And about Ariel and how horrible it is that she gives up everything for this man that she is in love with – I find it very beautiful. Why show kids a harsh immage of the real world and how misserable it is? They’ll understand that soon enough. I agree that the prince is a boring character but that is because the story is not primarilly about him. Ariel gives up everything to get what she wants – that’s pretty daring.

Now I understand completely you cynics. If you’ve never fell in love and risked everything and got the boy/girl you loved I totally understand your bitterness. But it does happend. And I think Disney movies are great espessially for kids to watch.

But you gyes go on and agree on how horrible it all is. Doesn’t make you happy.

Comment on Negrophilia: An Invitation To Racism by Rev. Bob

Rev. Bob — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:27:37 +0000

Mr. Ford, by failing to read the book, actually trumpeting your unwillingness to even touch the book, you’ve not allowed Rush to flesh out the you sound-bytes you pretend are substance, and so you’ve entirely discredited any of your oversimplified, liberal knee-jerk responses to those sound-bytes. I’ve read stuff by Rush, and though I don’t agree with a lot of what he says as a progressive myself, his views are shared by many blacks in the U.S., have their place in our discourse, and should be respected rather than be subject to what actually amounts to white racism on YOUR part because you seek to delegitimize and make inferior what are still black views. Herman Cain and Clarence Thomas and Shelby Steele don’t exist in a vacuum, as if propped up by racist whites, which your version of white racism fantasizes; they represent the legitimate views of millions of American blacks, and you should read their perspectives. I know you’re frightened of reading anything of substance that might chip away at your self-assured liberalism, as I once was, when I too was younger than 30. But you should.

Comment on LGBT Human Rights Internationally – The Yogyakarta Principles by Yasmine Archilla

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Comment on So Why Am I Single??? by Leia Schwebach

Leia Schwebach — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:02:54 +0000

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Comment on Obama “Evolves” a Bit and Other Tidbits on Marriage Equality by “Why I Support Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples!” | “To deny same-sex couples equal marriage rights is contrary to basic liberty.” « snoopervizion #lgbt #progressive #p2 #treehugger blog

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:38:57 +0000

[...] Obama “Evolves” a Bit and Other Tidbits on Marriage Equality (zackfordblogs.com) [...]

Comment on What Disney Taught Me About Gender Roles by sherene

sherene — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:33:26 +0000

Hello :)

I love disney princessses but I believe they are not very good role models.

Comment on Spirit Day Beyond Purple by Let’s be here for each other! |

Let’s be here for each other! | — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 08:47:30 +0000

[...] Spirit Day Beyond Purple (zackfordblogs.com) [...]

Comment on The Lesson We Didn’t Learn From 9/11 by Roya

Roya — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:04:39 +0000

To me, the lesson of 9-11 is that if the U.S. is threatened, it will use its power to spread its political and military activism across the globe. My thoughts are partly based on the premise of the book “Surprise, Security, and the American Experience,” by John Lewis Gaddis. I also think that Christian fundamentalism has had an enduring thread in U.S. foreign policy, so it would be surprising to not see its impact on what is now our longest-running war(s). Also, I think these conflicts are less about Islamaphobia, and more about a defense of liberal western values such as freedom of speech and religion. Or a freedom to not have religion.

Comment on Queer and Queerer Ep. 57 – Coming Out To Your Wife At 53 (ft. Peter Leeson) by ZackFord

ZackFord — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:56:56 +0000

You’re so right! I did forget. Thank you for sharing it!

Comment on Queer and Queerer Ep. 57 – Coming Out To Your Wife At 53 (ft. Peter Leeson) by Peter Leeson

Peter Leeson — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 13:40:52 +0000

You forgot Wilfred Owen’s poem:

It Was a Navy Boy

It was a navy boy, so prim, so trim,
That boarded my compartment of the train.
I shared my cigarettes and books to him.
He shared his heart to me (Who knows my gain!)

(His head was golden like the oranges
That catch their brightness from Las Palmas sun.)
‘O whence and whither bound, lad?’ ‘Home,’ he says,
‘Home, from Hong Kong, sir, and a ten months’ run.’

(His blouse was all as blue as morning sea,
His face was fresh like dawn above that blue.)
‘I got one letter, sir, just one,’ says he,
‘And no shore-leave out there, sir, for the crew.’

(His look was noble as a good ship’s prow
And all of him was clear as pure east wind.)
‘I am no “sir”‘, I said, ‘but tell me now
What carried you? Not tea, nor tamarind?’

Strong were his silken muscles hiddenly
As under currents where the waters smile.
‘Nitre we carried. By next week maybe
That should be winning France another mile.’

His words were shapely, even as his lips,
And courtesy he used like any lord.
‘Was it through books that you first thought of ships?
‘Reading a book, sir, made me go abroad.’

‘Another hour and I’ll be home,’ he said.
(His eyes were happy even as his heart.)
‘Twenty-five pounds I’m taking home,’ he said,
‘It’s five miles there; and I shall run, best part.’

And as we talked, some thing he said to me
Not knowing, cleansed me of cowardice,
As I had braced me in the dangerous sea.
Yet I should scarce have told it but for this.

‘Those pounds,’ I said. ‘You’ll put some twenty by?’
‘All for my mother, sir.’ And turned his head.
‘Why all?’ I asked, in pain that he should sigh:
‘Because I must. She needs it most,’ he said.

Wilfred Owen 1915.

Comment on Queer and Queerer Ep. 57 – Coming Out To Your Wife At 53 (ft. Peter Leeson) by Our very own Peter Leeson | Q:alliance

Our very own Peter Leeson | Q:alliance — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:50:33 +0000

[...] The podcast is available here: http://zackfordblogs.com/2011/09/queer-and-queerer-ep-57-coming-out-to-your-wife-at-53-ft-peter-lees... [...]

Comment on Ironically, My "This I Believe" Essay by Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:54:04 +0000

In the stories section of my blog above, you will find my essay “This I believe”. Your essay REALLY helped me shape my own and I just wanted you to know it existed so I didn’t feel like I stole any of your credit. There it is, and I tweaked it a little to better fit my situation… but there you have it. I would love some feed back, if you ever get the chance. E-Mail me!

-Michelle <3

Comment on Queer and Queerer Ep. 56 – Lady Gaga and the Pop Culture Shakeup by Joe G.

Joe G. — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:39:36 +0000

First, thanks for the mention. I love hearing about myself.
Second, I’m not that big of a fan of Lady Gaga. I only asked for her because much of Peterson’s other musical selections were less than stellar. Not that I’m an elitist or anything…
Third, Mina was Italy’s first big pop star, not rock-n-roll star. I can’t tell you how many times I told this to Peterson, but he still got it wrong.
Fourth, maybe Peterson’s masturbation caused the quake?
Fifth, I had nothing to do with Peterson making the mention of that composer’s name a toxic issue although I like hearing myself mentioned again.
Sixth, I love pop culture discussions, and you guys added a nice analytic twist to it. Bravo!