There are two books that have inspired a great deal of my current ideology: Cunt, by Inga Muscio and...

There are two books that have inspired a great deal of my current ideology: Cunt, by Inga Muscio and The Story of B, by Daniel Quinn.

Cunt made me more aware...of everything, it seems. For too long women have remained silent, either by choice, by force, or because they knew no other way. We want to end the silence. (Most of) the world, its politics, economies, and religions, are dominated by men. What sense does this make? The world has sprung forth from a woman's womb - how have we come to let our women be pushed to the side, to lose their value as women? Women deserve to be acknowledged, not stepped on; to be revered, not locked away, mute, invisible.

Now, I know that there are many people who have read The Story of B, and many who have felt a fire kindle within them: a desire to save the world, if you will. And many have gone so far as to actually do something, however slight toward this goal that is not noble or morally right, just absolutely necessary for the continued survival of this species.

I'm not sure that the continued survival of this species is such a good idea. Quite frankly, I'm tempted to hope that we don't develop the capability of planetary colonization before our current path drives us to extinction.

But what do I do? Instinctually, my first thought is to grab a knife, a blanket, and a water bottle and head out. Fuck Taker Culture! But then there is of course the issue that I could never survive out there on my own for long. Okay, so I take some survival courses. I become the best damn survivalist ever. And I leave. And survive. And have a great life out in the middle of the Law of Life. But is that the point of Daniel Quinn's works?

I actually do think that it could be a partial point, but not the only point, not the inevitable point. He doesn't want us to give up technology, doesn't want us to 'go back' to anything. Part of what he wants is for us to go make lives for ourselves that are worth living.

I think I'll end it here for right now: You have to save yourself before you can save the world.
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