Politics Makes Estranged Bedfellows

We note that women in Kenya have decided to exert political pressure on a fractious and argumentative coalition government by organizing a nationwide sex strike.

The “soft power” of women is often overlooked in the political and strategic calculation of powerful men, but as I have mentioned elsewhere, if properly organized, a Ghandi-style female satyagraha could be, I think, one of the world’s most effective armaments against fundamentalist oppression.

Read the story here.

4 Comments

  1. JK says

    I wish for the best of outcomes for the women of Kenya, but I worry of the possibilities. I’ve read it somewhere and quite recently so I hope I can get this pert near close to verbatim,

    “…either the parts are so mismatched as to be incompatible, interact destructively, and the apparatus flies apart, or, over time, the continuous engagement of the two parts smooths away the irregularites, and the machine settles into harmonious and productive operation.”

    I rather hope the men of Kenya have the good sense to accept the women’s form of, uh, lubricant. Given the neighborhood, I certainly don’t want to see any apparatus fly apart.

    Posted April 30, 2009 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
  2. Malcolm says

    You do make a good point, JK, and I suppose it is worth noting that Gandhi’s nonviolent campaigns usually broke down in violence.

    There really isn’t all that much hope to be had anywhere, perhaps.

    Posted April 30, 2009 at 2:10 pm | Permalink
  3. bob koepp says

    When non-violent campaigns break down, there’s violence. When violent campaigns break down, there’s peace. Even assuming we want peace, I don’t think that recommends violence. Hope springs eternal! And so does despair.

    Posted April 30, 2009 at 7:31 pm | Permalink
  4. Malcolm says

    Ha! Well said, Bob.

    Don’t know what came over me there; a low moment.

    Posted April 30, 2009 at 11:05 pm | Permalink

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