MS. DIGS IN

It's lovely to watch the old left try to come to life.  As noted here yesterday, Ms. Magazine, which all of us rush to each time an edition comes off the press, has refused to run an ad from the American Jewish Congress lauding the accomplishments of Israel women.  The ad, which clearly is a threat to the peace and and to all that humankind has built up over the centuries, is considered, apparently, either too controversial or too problematical.  Now the editor of Ms., Katherine Spillar, in a statement announced on its website in a red frame - how politically appropriate - tries to explain the profound thinking and ideological discipline that went into the decision to reject the ad.

Of course, this has little to do with Israel.  It has more to do with the way the left approaches the world.  Essentially, Spillar argues that the ad favored one Israeli political party, although it doesn't mention any party.  Facts?  Who cares?  She then argues that the term, "This is Israel," must be rejected because it's deceptive.  Israel still has work to be done in advancing women's rights.  Real headline there.  This is the familiar "perfection" standard that you see on the left all the time.  Defend America?  Why?  It isn't perfect. The perfection standard is applied selectively, always to the United States, and often to its allies.  It's never applied to the (lower your voice as you say it with reverence) "third world," whose embarrassing  behavior toward women must either 1) be respected as the choice of another culture, or 2) be understood as the outgrowth of oppression by Western capitalist forces and their Zionist lackeys.

Ultimately, Spillar's rejection of the ad is an insult to women, and that shouldn't surprise us.  Leftist movements tend to look down on their needy subjects.  Doesn't the editor of Ms. realize that her readers understand that this is an ad?  An advertisement?  A statement by people with an interest?  Must they be protected against such a conspiracy?  Relax, Ms. Spillar.  Running the ad won't damage any minds, and might even show that you respect the ability of your feminist followers to think for themselves.  Oh, wait.  It's the left. Strike "think for themselves."

Posted on January 15, 2008.