Culture vulture

The insomniac’s notebook #10,950: Why don’t women rule?
Occasionally when lying in bed at 4 a.m. assessing the state of human affairs—the degradation of the environment with no regard for future generations; the stratification of the economy to serve the smallest possible number of rich old men; the willingness of the ruling class to send the youngest, strongest adult members of society to die at the orders of rich old men who have no intention of joining them on the field of battle—Culture Vulture can’t help asking: Would the world be a better place if the guiding principles of society were based on actions more closely associated with feminine values?

For instance:

If the physical environment were treated as a home, a school and a garden rather than a battleground, a trap and an armed encampment, would we feel better about being alive? If the economy were structured to provide every child with a safe, supportive environment and an education suited to his or her particular aptitudes and to provide every adult with adequate food, shelter and meaningful work suited to her or his abilities and interests, would there be less unhappiness and unhealthiness in the world? If instead of using young people as weapons, our governments encouraged them to interact and cooperate in optimizing the environment and the economy would there be less war and more hope for the future?

Like everyone else who allows their slumbers to be disrupted by trains of thought and lines of questions that have no ready resolution, Culture Vulture often tosses and turns, trying to find a comfortable position that will allow the mind to quiet itself and sleep to enter and knit up the raveled sleeve of care, to cop a phrase.

And, also like the aforementioned everyone else, Culture Vulture often grasps at straws of reason that will bear him to sleep on this flood of irresolvable inquiry. Such a straw floated into my mental grasp on a recent such night.

The thought that came to mind was: Until the workers control the means of production they will continue to be oppressed by their overseers. Suddenly the oppression of women in general and the Roe vs. Wade controversy in particular were seen in a new light: If the women of the world seized genuine control of the means of reproduction, would they choose to create enough babies to fuel a war-driven economy? Or would they say, “Look, we love children, but we’re not having any more of them until you guys knock off the bullshit and straighten this place up.”

As you’ve no doubt figured out, diverting my thoughts into this line of speculation didn’t really calm the waters and beckon sleep, but somehow it fanned a tiny spark of hope that sustained me through the night.

Valentine songs
1. Ian & Sylvia, “Love Is Strange”

2. Shonen Knife, “Wonder Wine”

3. Yoko Ono, “Yes, I’m Your Angel”

4. Bob Dylan, “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You”

5. Kate Bush, “Hounds of Love”