[Lnc-business] Something to air out, and then be done with it and move on to our important work

Tue Apr 25 18:13:08 EDT 2017

Sigh.  I have debated with myself whether to reply to this or not.  On the
one hand, it's silly and I think most of the LNC ignores it.  On the other
hand, leaving something like this unaddressed might make casual observers
mistakenly think there is something to it.  In the unfortunate world of
identity politics, men aren't even allowed to speak about it except to say
that everything women say is right, and men are horrible pigs.  <eye roll>

Just today Caryn Ann said to another Bylaws and Rules Committee member,
"Let's be more like Bill and Ted: Be Excellent to Each Other."  I don't
think that rule was applied in this circumstance.

You can't on the one hand say that you know it wasn't meant "that way", and
at the same time give the reactionary speech to play "the woman card" as
though it was meant that way.  If you know it was "not meant that way" then
it is unfair to later say "it wasn't right", and was an insult to women and
to Colorado, escalating and projecting it onto an even broader audience of
alleged victims.

The context was an effort to break a tie.  Both candidates were asked if
they would have an option to seek appointment from a state affiliate.  The
comment was about the likelihood of the candidates winning state
appointments, not in any way a comment about anyone's gender or
qualifications.  The exact same comment would have been relevant if the
genders had been reversed, or if said by a woman to a woman.

I think sometimes women have their offense sensors turned up too high.  If
women come to the table with a preconceived notion that they will be
treated differently because they are a woman, then they are more likely to
interpret a  man who takes a different position as battling womanosity,
rather than having genuine issue disagreements.  Just as women don't want
to be treated differently than men, it is not fair for women to react to
situations differently because the other person is a man, when the same
thing said by a woman would not have even been debated whether it was "that
way" or not.

If women don't want gender to matter, and we want to be judged only on our
merits, we should stop raising our gender flags to change the subject and
portray the other person negatively just because they disagree with us or
run against us for office.

It is an attempt to create women's privilege, rather than women's equality,
when women won't allow a man to be perceived as merely having a
disagreement with them about issues, but instead project sexism onto the
man for the crime of not just letting the woman win the discussion because
of her gender.

Though gender was not at play in this situation, let me also say that
frankly, in the LP the female candidates often have advantages.  In life I
have certainly encountered a few men who just couldn't hear it when I gave
them the correct answer to their question, but they were happy to accept
the same info from a man.  It's not a one-way street.  There are women who
feel the same way about men.  I have not experienced gender hurdles in the
LP, but maybe the men who run against the women for national office have
room to complain about it.  Some female candidates flaunt their cleavage to
try to get elected, because they want the men to react to their womanosity
when it works in their favor, and then when disagreements arise they
suddenly allege that their gender is a disadvantage and project their
offense onto all other women.  That's nonsense.  We women can't play it
that way without hurting ourselves.

It's not consistent to decry identity politics while at the same time
engaging in it.

-Alicia

On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 9:58 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <carynannharlos at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Something happened last LNC meeting that really troubled me.  And I don't
> think it was intentional, but I think we need to be aware.  There are
> still comments that are made in this Party to women that would never (or
> perhaps never) be made in the same way to men.
>
> I get to anywhere I get to because, ultimately, of my merit. The comment
> about me now that my husband is State Chair was IMHO improper and would not
> be said to a man in an opposite role, or if so, the connotation would not
> be the same.
>
> I remind everyone - *I* was involved first. I work my ass off. And if I
> get any position it isn't because my husband is State Chair. I earn my own
> money and I earn my own merit.  I have a very good reputation on platform
> issues in CO because *I earned it* though hard fought effort and leading
> the Party through a very difficult time not because of who I am married to.
>
> If anyone thinks it is ever remotely acceptable to suggest otherwise or be
> silent when anyone else suggests otherwise well....
>
> Don't wonder why some women say the Party is not friendly at times to
> women.  I don't think that reputation the LP has is always fair, but I do
> think we need to listen when it might be and just be aware.
>
> I know it wasn't meant that way. But I am not the only person who took it
> that way and it was broadcast to the whole Party.
>
> And I HATE identity politics with a burning passion and rarely if ever say
> any such thing about this subject. I can give as good as I get.
>
> But sometimes it is nice for *others* to say - hey, that's not right.
>
> And that comment said last meeting... it wasn't right.  To me or to the CO
> affiliate.
>
> Thank you for listening but I think it had to be said and with that, time
> to get back to work.
> --
> *In Liberty,*
> *Caryn Ann Harlos*
> Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona,
> Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
> Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
> <http://www.lpcolorado.org>
> Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
> <http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org>
> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>
> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
> *We defend your rights*
> *And oppose the use of force*
> *Taxation is theft*
>
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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