This Crackpot and These Women
Jan. 4th, 2006 09:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
woodwardiocom-The fifth episode of the first season of The West Wing is titled "The Crackpots and These Women". The first part of the title is not relevant to this post; the second part comes from a conversation near the end of the episode. The staff are gathered to enjoy the president's chili, and are all talking in little groups. President Bartlet quietly says to Josh and Leo, "Just look at these remarkable women," and goes on to talk about the strength and beauty and intelligence of the women in the room, of C.J. and Mandy and Mrs. Landingham and Donna.
-I know how he feels.
-Every day I look around at the women I know, and am astounded. I look at the women I love, the women who are my friends, even the women I don't know that well, and I am constantly in awe of their beauty and intelligence. Of their wit and style and passion. Of their wisdom and kindness and grace. And I am constantly amazed that I am privileged to know them and be part of their lives. My luck astonishes me anew every day.
-Thank you.
-I know how he feels.
-Every day I look around at the women I know, and am astounded. I look at the women I love, the women who are my friends, even the women I don't know that well, and I am constantly in awe of their beauty and intelligence. Of their wit and style and passion. Of their wisdom and kindness and grace. And I am constantly amazed that I am privileged to know them and be part of their lives. My luck astonishes me anew every day.
-Thank you.
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no subject
Date: 2006-01-04 07:31 pm (UTC)-It's fair to ask, "Jon, why haven't you made a similar post about the men in your life? Why are you favoring women? Isn't that sexist?"
-The truthful answer there is that my posts reflect my thoughts. I make a lot of posts about how wonderful my friends are, without reference to gender, because that's how I feel. I also make posts about how wonderful the women in my life are, because I often feel that way, too: Awed and humbled that the women in my life are so wonderful.
-The reason why I'm unlikely to make a post about the men in my life is because the men are lumped under "friends", along with the women, while the women are also "people I'm attracted to". And therefore I think about them separately.
-Also, your position of, "I was slightly saddened that a gender-based group was called out," is a lose-lose argument. If I only made posts about how wonderful guys are, that would be obviously sexist. Apparently, making a post about how wonderful women are is also sexist.