cowgirrrlpunk

If you're talking about a vagina or a cat, the p-word is fine. Here's when it's not: "Stop being a p-word," "That guy's such a p-word," or "What a p-word!" You see, here's what's wrong with using the p-word like this. What are synonyms that one would use in place of the p-word in these 3 examples? Maybe weakling or wimp. That's why it's not OK.

I am not a member of the "weaker" sex. My vagina's quite fierce in fact. I'd challenge any man to deal with the things my p-word can throw at me at the least convenient times...then call me weak to my face. In fact, I'd argue that women are the tougher sex when it comes to the real trials of life. Yes, brace yourself, I'm going to quote from the gospel now.

In "Steel Magnolias" when Julia Roberts' character is euthanized, her dad can't bear to witness watching her death. But her mom holds her hand through it and bravely says later, "I was there when that wonderful soul drifted into this world, and I was there when she drifted out." But the dad, the two macho brothers, and the husband couldn't bear to watch her die--these guys that had spent the entire movie shooting things and hunting. Who's the p-word now? Like Sally Fields says in the movie, "Men are supposed to be made of steel or something..." HA!

Let me introduce you to "Reverend" Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. Rev. Billy is a political and social performance activist trying to reduce consumption - plain and simple. What's not "plain" or "simple" is his way of bringing forth his message. Rev. Billy dresses up like a televangelist...and plays the part too! He has a choir that sings remakes of classics with an anti-shopping spin. He urges followers to take their evil credit cards out of their wallets and exorcise them. At Christmas time, he asks, "What would Jesus buy?" and talks of the shopocalypse.

Why is this an important cause? Because we buy too much, and when I say "we" ladies, I'm talking about us. Almost everything purchased in a store today is made in a sweatshop that exploits the third world. The "stuff" we buy isn't sustainable, biodegradeable, or necessary. Beyond the human and planetary harms caused by shopping (It's NOT a hobby!), shopping has deeper social implications.