3 High school girls from Lewisboro, New York were suspended from school for saying the word “vagina” at a public reading, against the direction of the school’s staff.
The honor students, Megan Reback, Elan Stahl and Hannah Levinson, included the word during their reading of “The Vagina Monologues” because, “It wasn’t crude and it wasn’t inappropriate and it was very real and very pure,” Reback said.
Their defiant stand is being applauded by the play’s author, who said Tuesday that the school should be celebrating, rather than punishing, the three juniors.
“Don’t we want our children to resist authority when it’s not appropriate and wise?” said Eve Ensler, author of “The Vagina Monologues.”
The excerpt from “Monologues” was read Friday night, among various readings at an event sponsored by the literary magazine at John Jay High School in Cross River, a New York City suburb. Among the other readings was a student’s original work and the football coach quoting Shakespeare.
The girls took turns reading the excerpt until they came to the word, then said it together.
“My short skirt is a liberation flag in the women’s army,” they read. “I declare these streets, any streets, my vagina’s country.”
[...]
But Principal Richard Leprine said Tuesday that the girls were punished because they disobeyed orders, not because of what they said.The event was open to the community, including children, and the word was not appropriate, Leprine said in a statement. He said the girls had been told when they auditioned that they could not use the word.
Reback said Tuesday that no one in the audience was younger than high school age. “What did we do that was so wrong?” she asked. “We were insubordinate, but the reason we were insubordinate was that we talked about our body.”
The school “recognizes and respects student freedom of expression,” Leprine said. “That right, however, is not unfettered.”
“When a student is told by faculty members not to present specified material because of the composition of the audience and they agree to do so, it is expected that the commitment will be honored and the directive will be followed,” he said. “When a student chooses not to follow the directive, consequences follow.”
Bob Lichtenfeld, superintendent of the Katonah-Lewisboro school district, which includes John Jay, said that had the teens, who are in their third year of high school, wanted to perform the play, they would probably not have met opposition.
“As long as the intended audience knows what to expect, we don’t have a problem with it.”
Since the order to not say the name of a body part in public where other school children in their teens could hear it, is utterly puritan and un-American, I’m glad the girls stood up to the school’s staff and that there are many parents backing the kids. It’s not like they were playing the “penis game” where one person says “penis” quietly, then another in the game must say it louder, until someone either refuses to say “penis” louder than the last person, or can’t shout any higher. The girls were reading a respected stage play, and it’s just a word in anatomy.
Won’t someone please think of the children!?
–
Debra has more about vaginas.
I challenge every blogger who reads this, to use the word “vagina” in a blog post title, linking to Debra’s site to give your readers the reason why you’re speaking up for the genital that’s getting the short end of the free speech stick in a New York school.
==
UPDATE:
The following bloggers have taken the Vagina Challenge:
Dave
Rosie
Nicole
Tanya
Dodos
Meghan
Liberal Avenger
Larry
The Courtesan Connection
Late Edition - from Australia
Cris
Ellie
Miss Cellania
Dan
The_Yecart
Stephen
Avedon
Ross
The Hall Monitor
Peri
Progressive Gold
Spiiderweb
fixerbaby
Tim
Rose
Hazel
Tonnet
Ted
UPDATE 2: March 8 is International Women’s Day.
UPDATE 3: Mark says the suspension is on hold until at least Tuesday for review by the Board.
Technorati tag: vagina
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![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
Dave | 07-Mar-07 at 1:19 pm | Permalink
Done! (Actually I did it a couple of hours ago.)
It’s not even a free speech issue. Vagina is the accepted non-vulgar name of the female genitalia. It’s not dirty… unless… Leprine is actually horribly educated and shouldn’t be a principal at all.
I wonder, if there was a play on other parts of the human anatomy if the word “ulna” would be censored.
Saskboy | 07-Mar-07 at 1:31 pm | Permalink
It’s a free speech issue in the sense that a school is condoning staff punishing the girls for standing up for good sense, in light of undemocratic and puritan direction given to them. It’s an overblown reaction by the school for having been stood up to by 3 high school girls, for an issue that they are completely in the clear about.
M@ | 07-Mar-07 at 2:03 pm | Permalink
I don’t mean to be speaking out of turn here — I’d hate to steal someone else’s point — but saying that… that word… is decidedly un-classy.
Otherwise, yes, vagina. Maybe the school would have let them say “birth canal”? Or “hoo-hoo”? Or “I’m more mature than my teachers”?
I’m glad these girls stood up to the school. They are indeed insubordinate, they did indeed disobey their teachers, and they are paying the price. Now the school and teachers are the ones who look like immature idiots. Mission accomplished, I’d say.
Nicole | 07-Mar-07 at 2:48 pm | Permalink
Ok, I even linked ya. Come and check it out. I think I said vagina twice.
Nicole | 07-Mar-07 at 3:49 pm | Permalink
alright, I fixed the title for you. Now get off my VAGINA
Dodos | 07-Mar-07 at 5:35 pm | Permalink
I think that if you say the word vagina, Baby Jesus cries. And teenage girls automatically get pregnant. Or something like that.
Vagina!
James | 07-Mar-07 at 6:10 pm | Permalink
well maybe you could line up with a bunch of 8 year olds and take them to the play vagina monologues in the city… I guess that is not a good idea.
When does freedom of speech cross the common sense line?
RIGHT NOW!
If you guys want to hang out in a personal setting and talk about the vagina that is your right…but it should not be in a community based setting like a high school event. Maybe they could have communicated the adult theme on the invitation. However I am sure that wasn’t the sixteen year olds responsibility or interest. Their lone objective was to shock and create attention for themselves
Saskboy | 07-Mar-07 at 6:44 pm | Permalink
James, you’re way off base, and the pitcher just faked… you’re wrong.
I haven’t seen the Vagina Monologues, but if “vagina” is the most “shocking” word in the passage they read, then your position is ridiculous. In case you didn’t know 8 year old girls have vaginas, just like 16 year old girls, and 32 year old women. Saying the word vagina should be no more shocking than saying the words “nose”, “bladder”, or “foreskin”. I dare say you’d not think it’s wrong for someone to discuss circumcisions in public, and if you think male genital modification isn’t too shocking a subject, natural vaginae certainly aren’t.
The girl’s lone objective was to stand up to immature teachers. Mission Accomplished.
Ashley | 07-Mar-07 at 6:54 pm | Permalink
I’ve seen the Vagina Monologues, and I can say that the passage they read is very tame. It is entirely about how someones clothing is not an invitation for rape. I think that is a perfect section that SHOULD be performed in all high schools. So why is the word vagina so shocking when we are talking about preventing RAPE and sexual assault? Shouldn’t those actions be more shocking than the word “vagina”?
Amanda | 07-Mar-07 at 8:15 pm | Permalink
Their intent was to shock. They said the one word that they knew would tick off teachers TOGETHER. The rest of it was single-voice. They obviously wanted to make a point.
Aren’t there some homeless people they could go feed if they wanted to make a point?
James | 07-Mar-07 at 8:31 pm | Permalink
this was not just for high school students it was a community event where families and younger brothers and sisters were invited…
a descriptive education on circumsicions or excerpts from the vagina monologues is not appropriate for 8 year old children coming to see performances from the students.
maybe if the audience was warned about content, and families had a choice it would have been OK. That was not the case.
by the way a vagina is not a nose or a bladder and it is subject matter that needs direction for young children (especially in the content matter performed)
Saskboy | 07-Mar-07 at 8:40 pm | Permalink
James, children should be taught what a vagina is before they go to grade school, and parents who don’t teach anatomy are being neglectful of their children’s education. And even if there was direction required after the word is heard for the first time, the kids were in the perfect place to have direction - in a school with teachers and presumably parents.
Stigmatization of female genitals is what the Vagina Monologues is about, so if the teachers approved a reading from it, but banned the word vagina, they were being beyond silly. The girls said no kids were below highschool age, do you have a report that says otherwise?
Amanda, yes they showed dramatic flare in making their point, so sue them? Maybe they’ll tackle the acceptance of homelessness next, after they’ve unstigmatized vaginas for the people of their school.
sheena | 07-Mar-07 at 8:47 pm | Permalink
Geez, what a bunch of stupid cunts those New Yorkers are, eh?
Tanya | 07-Mar-07 at 8:50 pm | Permalink
Time for some shameless linksturbation. My two cents.
The above comments are motivating me to record my 7 year old to singing a song about vaginas in exchange for a trip to Sev. Anti-rape messages and the word vagina are highly appropriate.
Amanda | 07-Mar-07 at 9:15 pm | Permalink
By pushing the point with their unison reading, they’re not de-stigmatizing it; they’re reinforcing the fact that there is something “different” about the word “vagina”. If they had simply read the excerpt as normal, no one could accuse them of sensationalizing it. But no, they had to emphasize it.
But yes, *if* the school okayed a reading from the Vagina Monologues but said “don’t say that word” then the school is run by a group of double-digit IQ administrators.
There *is* a fine line between demystifying something and making it blatant. I will educate my children about sex. My at two my son already knows how to clean his penis and calls it by the anatomical name. Education? Sure. Parading things about nonchalantly? Not for me. Just like I wouldn’t want my child’s teacher demonstrating the perfectly natural act of sexual intercourse in front of my child’s class. There’s a difference between being frank and open and being shocking for shock’s sake. Thats the difference between a simple, plain reading and a dramatic, ensemble voice.
If the girls really thought the word “vagina” was in the same category as “television”, why make a dramatic point of it?
Saskboy | 07-Mar-07 at 9:18 pm | Permalink
“why make a dramatic point of it?”
Because the teachers made a dramatic point of it, and the title of the play is the VAGINA Monologues, not the [I'm too ashamed to say this word] or [Hoochy Coo (as Ashley suggested)] Monologues. It’s not like they yelled out “cunt” which I could see some parents taking a poor view of, because it’s a slang swear, and in my opinion is a demeaning word in that it’s almost always used to slur someone, in the same vain as calling someone a “faggot”.
Rosie | 07-Mar-07 at 9:18 pm | Permalink
A good vagina can brighten up anyone’s day. I’ve known what a vagina is since I can remember thinking, and I’m more or less normal. I agree with Saskboy. Vaginas are a part of the body that should be clearly explained to young children. I often found as a child that the most sheltered children were the perviest. I just yelled VAGINA the loudest, so I’d always get in trouble, but the pervy little girl who told me to do it would remain innocent as ever. These kinds of kids were the ones that wanted to play “doctor” too. Children have a natural curiosity about their genitals and its best to give them a healthy realistic attitude about them at a young age instead of calling it a “punky” or “hoo hoo” or “thingie” and making it something girls should be ashamed of.
Amanda | 07-Mar-07 at 9:23 pm | Permalink
I have no problem with vaginas. Sperm, ejaculation, penises, and erections are just fine too. Breasts, ovaries, menstruation and lactation are okay! I have many of the above mentioned parts and go thru some of the above processes! Much like the TV ratings, I think this would have gone over a bit better if the audience had been prewarned about the 14A content. And when I say content, I mean CONTENT — not so much the word “vagina” as the subject matter that the play in question addresses. It is heavy stuff, and would probably be best presented to a prepared audience.
Saskboy | 07-Mar-07 at 9:29 pm | Permalink
I don’t know how unprepared they were Amanda, since it sounded to me like they knew there was an excerpt from the Vagina Monologues in the presentations. Considering it was a part suggesting that women shouldn’t be raped, the content ought to have been clear. And I agree that in the States especially there were going to be parents offended by frank talk about women’s issues, but to them I’m going to say tough titty.
Dodos | 07-Mar-07 at 9:54 pm | Permalink
Here’s my question for James - what happens when 8 year olds hear the word vagina?
We give words their power - if you react negatively to someone saying vagina, you convey the idea that there is something wrong with the word. If you just smile along and, hopefully realize, that vagina is something natural and not just a sexual organ, then the kid will be fine with it - which he/she should be.
Vagina. Vagina.
What’s the fucking problem?
sheena | 07-Mar-07 at 9:56 pm | Permalink
Oh man. You guys are funny.
sheena | 07-Mar-07 at 9:57 pm | Permalink
Oops. You gender non specific persons with equally important sets of sexual organs which are not to be objects of shame are pretty funny.
Saskboy | 07-Mar-07 at 10:19 pm | Permalink
The problem as M@ suggested, is that there are some people in this world that think keeping people ignorant about girl’s anatomy means there will be fewer unplanned pregnancies, and more girls will “remain innocent” until marriage. It’s people living in a dream world, instead of preparing girls for the challenges of being women in a world dominated by men.
Meghan | 07-Mar-07 at 10:22 pm | Permalink
I put it in mine, found your page using stumbleupon….
http://ravenlaughing.livejournal.com/464008.html
sheena | 07-Mar-07 at 10:40 pm | Permalink
Is there an eye rolling emoticon?
Saskboy | 07-Mar-07 at 10:41 pm | Permalink
“Is there an eye rolling emoticon?”
8-| is pretty close?
Candace | 08-Mar-07 at 12:18 am | Permalink
So if I’m reading this correctly, at a community/school event, 3 teenage girls planned - and informed the school authorities - that they intended to read from the play “The Vagina Monologues” and that was okay, as long as the word “vagina” was never spoken?
What was in the program? “Jane, Janet & Jocey recite from “The * Monologues”?
WTF? Either say “NO” to the recitation, or suck it up.
Personally, I would probably argue the former vs the latter, because it may/may not be the appropriate place for excerpts to be read (although not because of the word ‘vagina’), but having never seen the production, I can’t accurately comment one way or the other.
The girls deserve their day in the sun, and the teachers/school their knocks.
Jennith | 08-Mar-07 at 12:31 am | Permalink
I participated in the Vagina Monologues last month, so this hits extremely close to home for me. We got to put a banner up to advertise the performance, over one of the busiest streets in town. However, we could not put the name of the monologues on that banner, so instead it was “A Benefit Performance.” I live directly under where that banner is, so that each time I left my house, I had to be reminded that a part of my body is dirty and unmentionable. That’s what not allowing those girls that one word is. It’s telling them their body is disgusting to people. Whether you’re telling them not to say it in front of a sixteen y/o or a 6 y/o, you’re telling them they can’t speak of their body, even in its most clinical terms.
One of the women participating in the monologues brought her 7 year old daughter to the rehearsals, repeatedly. She saw every piece, including her mother performing “The Woman Who Liked to Make Vaginas Happy” (a piece which involves imitating sexual moans, for those who haven’t seen it.) That girl isn’t going to have any trouble talking about her body when she’s older, or asking questions, and she’ll be SAFER for it. And that’s the problem they have with it, is that we get a word for it. How horrible.
The repeated point made throughout our issues with the banner was if it were the Penis or the Dick or even the Cock Monologues, would anyone have the same issue? Probably not. We are women, we are dirty, and we will be reminded of it at every turn, ESPECIALLY when we try to speak out against that stigma.
By the way, for anyone curious, my piece was (and forever will be) Reclaiming Cunt. And my mother, who I’ve never heard curse, said it with me.
Some mother | 08-Mar-07 at 3:02 am | Permalink
Imagine my surprise when a baby came out through my vagina!
Larry | 08-Mar-07 at 3:51 am | Permalink
During my travels, I often shocked people when I said I was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. When I saw that look, I knew they had misunderstood Regina for vagina.
My 2 cents (CDN) on this hoohaa brouhaha is posted here.
VAGINA « The Courtesan Connection | 08-Mar-07 at 5:44 am | Permalink
[...] Posted by courtesanconnection on March 8th, 2007 This is getting ridiculous. [...]
late edition | 08-Mar-07 at 5:47 am | Permalink
Done. Vagina. In vagina fact vagina I vagina used vagina vagina vagina every vagina second vagina word vagina. Battle vagina on!
Lindsay | 08-Mar-07 at 6:24 am | Permalink
It is a word, vagina, it is definitely not crude in any way. Why shouldn’t children be exposed to that word, its a body part. If that’s the way people feel then we shouldn’t use words like arm, leg, eyeball. I understand if it was a slang word like cunt or pussy, but it was vagina. A vagina is nothing more than a body part. Its true the only function of the vagina is for sex and to act as the birth canal. In the US we are too concerned with censoring everything, even sex ed. I had sex ed when I was in 5th grade…that’s much younger than high school age students, and no one had any problem with words like vagina, vulva, penis, testicles. These are not swears, they are not dirty, they are body parts!!! I can’t say that enough. There is nothing wrong with saying these words, especially not in this context. I’m absolutely disgusted with the school system for suspending them, what is this country coming to? These are the reasons we have i higher rates of teen pregnancy, teen abortion and teenage parents than ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. It is proven that countries that have a strong Sex ed program run by the gov’t (England, Japan and actually many other countries) have lower numbers of teens even getting pregnant let alone having abortions or children. These people also are not shamed by saying words such as vagina. I give so much credit to these girls, and I condemn that school system. Fear of the word does not make anything better.
Vaginas Speak « That Side of the Moon | 08-Mar-07 at 7:02 am | Permalink
[...] Thu 8 Mar 2007 Vaginas Speak Posted by Cris under Activist , Outrageous , Rants Doing my usual reading and linking I came across this: http://www.abandonedstuff.com/2007/03/07/vagina-now-suspend-me/ [...]
Vagina | 08-Mar-07 at 7:53 am | Permalink
Maybe they were just asking someone where they were going for summer vacation…..” I said Regina!”
ellie | 08-Mar-07 at 8:37 am | Permalink
Challenge taken!
I really enjoyed the last line of Debra’s post!
Miss Cellania | 08-Mar-07 at 10:03 am | Permalink
OK, I did it, too.
1. The school knew the play was going to be presented.
2. They should have known the rules for presenting that particular play include that the words NOT be changed.
3. Instead of insisting that the students break the contract for rights to produce the play, they could have forbidden the performance. These kids were set up.
Dan | 08-Mar-07 at 11:47 am | Permalink
Done: http://morenotesfromunderground.blogspot.com/2007/03/whos-afraid-of-vagina-monologues.html yeah, I’m a day late, but there it is.
Stephen Glauser | 08-Mar-07 at 12:49 pm | Permalink
Looks like I jumped in late, but it’s up there. Go Saskboy!
Citizen Wilson | 08-Mar-07 at 9:18 pm | Permalink
Oh my, how many teachers will be suspended when they begin sex education? In my best John Cleese voice: “and class, the man mounts his good lady wife, causing his Penis to Harden! Alright, Jenkins, are you chewing gum?! Again, the man places his penis in his good lady wife’s vagina - ah yes, thank you dear” - and then the Spanish Inquisition bursts down the door!!!!
Anyhow, the bride thinks she heard the groom say…..
http://www.iheartregina.com/regina-blog/i-heart-where.html
:-)
Jason Bo Green | 09-Mar-07 at 8:44 am | Permalink
Hmm, an interesting gauntlet to throw down… I shall think upon it and try to get something up. It was a pretty silly suspension…
Progressive Gold » Blog Archive » Holy Vagina-ing Vaginas, Vaginawoman! | 09-Mar-07 at 12:13 pm | Permalink
[...] “Vagina - now suspend me”: 3 High school girls from Lewisboro, New York were suspended from school for saying the word ‘vagina’ at a public reading, against the direction of the school’s staff. [...]
Peri | 09-Mar-07 at 1:44 pm | Permalink
I’m way late with this, but I couldn’t resist. Do I still get credit for making the post?
Saskboy | 09-Mar-07 at 3:40 pm | Permalink
I’ll add more bloggers to my list, and I’ve removed the deadline of the other day. I’m away this evening, so I may not add everyone to the main list right away.
SPIIDERWEB™ | 09-Mar-07 at 7:07 pm | Permalink
Count me in. Just posted with “vagina” and linked to this story.
Saskboy | 09-Mar-07 at 10:22 pm | Permalink
Wilson, funny video.
Spiiderweb and Peri you’re in the main list.
DM SHERWOOD | 10-Mar-07 at 5:58 am | Permalink
Good for the kid. Kids should shock their Teacher now and then its good for them (the teachers
Crabgrass | 10-Mar-07 at 2:11 pm | Permalink
“No problem at all, Sir! What word would you prefer we use?”
“Just don’t talk about… you know,… about that part.”
Well, so long as the suspension didn’t generate any media attention, giving a WAY HIGHER profile to the word VAGINA than would otherwise have been the case, I expect the principal feels he acted wisely. I wonder if he might make some different decisions if he were able to try this again…
Sheena - 8:47 Mar 7 - nicely put!
fixerbaby | 11-Mar-07 at 11:24 am | Permalink
Heya saskboy,
The vagina challenge, I love it! Good stuff!
Sorry i was late but better late than never:
http://fixerbaby.livejournal.com/2993.html
Rose DesRochers | 11-Mar-07 at 3:43 pm | Permalink
I too have joined the challenge and not only did I use it in my post title I used it several times throughout my post. Why is it that society is teaching children that the word penis and vagina are bad words?
Tim Ebl | 11-Mar-07 at 8:14 pm | Permalink
Nothing says controversy like a controversial thing that sez stuff. The Blue Beaver Beer blog sez Vagina!
Jedediah | 11-Mar-07 at 8:23 pm | Permalink
What you people are not saying is they allowed the word fuck but not vagina…Now that IS a problem…in addition to the idea that these young women can’t talk about their bodies in front of others…That’s just down right ‘mericun!!! THANKS PURITANS!!!
Jedediah | 11-Mar-07 at 8:26 pm | Permalink
If my daughter were in this situation…I would tell here “Well, the administration doesn’t want you to use the word vagina. Any other words for that organ you think up and use on your own?” But hey…that’s just me…
hazel | 12-Mar-07 at 1:41 am | Permalink
Hy Saskboy, loved this challenge and had to take it up. Here’s my contribution!
http://hazel8500.wordpress.com/2007/03/12/vagina-vagina-vagina/
.AmazingDaya. | 05-Apr-07 at 2:43 pm | Permalink
I think that the principal is just overreacting. The word “vagina” is taught in health class, so its said in the high school, so why shouldn’t they be able to say it in a play?
Ashleigh | 18-Apr-07 at 4:28 pm | Permalink
I believe the reason for all of them saying ‘vagina’ together, was so that if they did get in trouble, it would be all three of them getting in trouble together, not just one. It makes more of a point.
Saskboy | 18-Apr-07 at 4:51 pm | Permalink
Good point Ashleigh, there is strength in numbers.
K. Green | 29-Apr-07 at 6:59 am | Permalink
It is simply another outdated attempt to keep women ashamed of their bodies. That someone saying the word vagina is wrong or dirty or inappropriate is trying to push that age old false idea that women are somehow flawed and that our sexuality is somehow dirty. If I were those parents I would make the hugest stink media wise regarding that school and principal (shocking he’s a man) and I applaud those girls. The more women who stand up the less women who will be stifled by a white male dominated rich society…fearful men…men who come from a history of burning women, raping them, robbing them of their identity and rights. It’s 2007 ladies…don’t sit down and shut up.
Melissa | 29-Apr-07 at 2:09 pm | Permalink
Okay, ideally, the school should not have censored the word and let parents know that it would be used so they could make the personal and private decision as to whether or not their younger children would attend. Realistically, they chose to have a censored event in which everyone could attend and not be bothered with explanations they weren’t ready to give.
Whether or not this is acceptable to you and me is beside the point. The point is that the school was honest about their intentions and the girls were not. These three girls, knowingly, agreed to read a passage to excluded the word “Vagina”. They not only failed to uphold their word but made a mockery of it as well.
There are plenty of opportunities to exercise your free right of speech and to educate those who choose to be educated. This, obviously, was not one of them. These girls took advantage of an opportunity to educate by mocking censorship and cramming the word “Vagina” down the auditoriums throat! These girls acted out of immaturity and dishonesty! They negated the message entirely with their selfish ploy to irritate.
Tell me, how many people do you suppose left considering the meaning of the passage and how many left talking about the fact that they said “VAGINA” in front of all those people.
Maybe this is an issue of credibility, as well. I, personally, would rather have my vagina represented by someone worthy of speaking on its behalf. Not a liar and a sneak. And to think…the passage was one concerning rape. Ironic?
Saskboy1 | 30-Apr-07 at 12:02 am | Permalink
Melissa, if they’d not acted in defiance, they’d have just been yet another group of teens put in their place. We have quite too many people of that sort already. This was an act of protest, and it WORKED. Don’t punish them because they did something that worked.
Melissa | 30-Apr-07 at 5:41 pm | Permalink
I just believe that there are better suited ways to oppose censorship than giving closed minded people another example to use for applying it. I have,also, never been much of a fan of having things crammed down my throat. As a woman, it is particularly important to me to feel like I have a choice.
I have just always seemed to get further with a more persuasive method. Believe me, I understand the stigma that woman face concerning their sexuality. It is one of the reasons that I believe that careful consideration should go into our message. I don’t want anyone to be able to say anything but, “Hey, I think she has a point.”
My youth was filled with this type of defiance and it never got me more than a deeper loss of respect.
Brian | 01-Jul-07 at 5:08 pm | Permalink
VAGINA!! I think it is probably so old perverted male principle that decided to suspend the girls for saying it.. In total disregard to the fact that they used the scientific word. I think that it teaches this girls to be ashamed of what nature has on their bodies. It then (because of this shunning of the word) that the subject becomes a greater object of curiosity. It is a KNOWN fact through out ALL of human history that the forbidden fruit taste the best. “No pun intended” Yet these fools running the school STILL think they have Godly like power just as the teachers and principals before them.. And the ones before them.. and before them and so on.. And that they’re “authority” is enough to solve any problem. Don’t even bother trying to argue with such people; because after they are long gone they next generation will be the same way.. and then the ones after that.. and after that. and after.. All I have to say to such close and small minded people such as that is that most closed minds are highly educated minds. But you will never be able to see past what you see in a book, because you tend to forget the author of the book DID see past words in a book, thats why they wrote it and you teach it.. Oh wait.. I have one more thing to say: VAGINA!!!
Brian | 01-Jul-07 at 5:11 pm | Permalink
VAGINA!! I think it is probably so old perverted male principle that decided to suspend the girls for saying it.. In total disregard to the fact that they used the scientific word. I think that it teaches this girls to be ashamed of what nature has on their bodies. It then (because of this shunning of the word) that the subject becomes a greater object of curiosity. It is a KNOWN fact through out ALL of human history that the forbidden fruit taste the best. “No pun intended” Yet these fools running the school STILL think they have Godly like power just as the teachers and principals before them.. And the ones before them.. and before them and so on.. And that they’re “authority” is enough to solve any problem. Don’t even bother trying to argue with such people; because after they are long gone they next generation will be the same way.. and then the ones after that.. and after that. and after.. All I have to say to such close and small minded people such as that is that most closed minds are highly educated minds. But you will never be able to see past what you see in a book, because you tend to forget the author of the book DID see past words in a book, thats why they wrote it and you teach it.. Oh wait.. I have one more thing to say: VAGINA!!! -and the 1st spelling of principal as principle was on purpose.. You philosophers can figure out the reason why.
jason | 01-Jul-07 at 5:18 pm | Permalink
((Reply to: James Says:
March 7th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
and to James:))
if girls weren’t made to believe that their bodies are a topic of secret and shameful discussion.. Then the word would become like a dull blade. It would not because it could NOT have a shock effect… When i was a child even the word “booty” in reference to the buttox was profanity. Now its a what a child uses to refer to their bum. The word obvious have no effect shock wise if it isn’t forbidden in the first place. But with old bags at these girls school running the place it will probably take many many generations before even the correct and scientific version of the word loses its “shock” effect. -which again only caused by it being “forbidden” in teh first place
maddy | 25-Aug-07 at 11:00 pm | Permalink
i call the vagina a fufa………..LOL……go fufa!!!
Nelson | 26-Aug-07 at 7:58 am | Permalink
VAGINA At the risk of being unpopular (gasp), I have to go with the school on this. VAGINA Not because of what the girls said, that isn’t the issue at all. VAGINA The issue is that they were told beforehand that they were not to say the word on stage. VAGINA They said it. VAGINA The school authorities then had no choice but to react as they said they would. VAGINA The punishment was suspension. VAGINA It’s as simple as that. VAGINA Freedom of speech is not the issue. VAGINA The principal even says that they had no problem with ‘vagina’ and that had nothing to do with it. VAGINA The issue was the lack of respect and obedience. VAGINA Schools must maintain some authority to maintain order and discipline. VAGINA Otherwise, chaos reigns. VAGINA And while that might be OK in theory, in practice it is a nightmare. So, VAGINA!
Pax,
Nelson
Vagina Vagina Vagina « hazel8500 | 23-Sep-07 at 10:11 am | Permalink
[...] The Vagina Challenge! [...]
Snusket | 04-Oct-07 at 3:09 am | Permalink
Hehe, you Americans! Hillarious! Thanks to the stuff going on their on the other side of the great pond we Europeans are really made comfortable living where we do! Thank you, patriots of the US of A!
But honestly, this is not even a matter of free speech issue. You try to make it into one (which does not change the facts). In accordance to what you write they were asked not to read it. Why did they not oppose the directive given then? Or did they? That would be interesting to know.
Understandable; if I ask you the favor not to do something, you agree, but then do it nevertheless I would be pissed off (i.e. upset). Would you not be?
Despite that, the piece they read has been a source of trouble for a long time over there in the new indian country, has it not? I agree with you on that one that the folks of the greatest nation on the planet should learn how to use less violence and speak more sex! Yeah!
Sex is not dirty, nor is having a sex or a gender. Violence is dirty and the problem.
Imagine: women of the nation that trusts in God would not have sex anymore with anybody supporting the wars the US administration administers. “If you want the patriotic act you do not get the sexual act!”
How long would it take until the troops would be home? But I am afraid there are too many women deep in it as well? In on this patriotic act… Too bad that feminism always promised us all that the female gender is the more noble on- seems after all the assumption that monkeys are monkeys holds more truth I am afraid.
Say it with me: VAGINA. | braincell soup | 19-Feb-08 at 7:35 pm | Permalink
[...] At any rate, Braincellsoup belatedly accepts the vagina challenge, using the word "vagina" in the title of a blog post, in support of the 3 young ladies [...]