| July 8, 2005 Alaskan in Exile by Stephanie Collinsworth That’s right. I’ve changed my professional name to Stephanie Collinsworth. That’s because I’ve heard the wishes of the editor, and have decided to do my part to add a little estrogen to the columnist department. I realize that I don’t have any real estrogen to offer, but as you can see from my updated photo, I certainly make a handsome woman. And if nothing else, there will at least be the notion that women are influencing the words herein. Selbig is right. There should be more women involved in the columnist arena. How else can we effectively give voice to the thinking minority? Women are the balance in our discourse. They do wonderful things, like remind us to send cards to people, or point out when our boxers haven’t left our bodies for three weeks. They also keep us warm at night, and listen to us whimper and cry when we get sick. And the organizational skills of women are frighteningly acute. I’m not trying to worship women here; I am only advocating their inclusion. Bear in mind that women can also be emotional and at times difficult. In fact, just recently I had a “discussion” with the woman in my life, and I made some smart-ass comment about women being emotional and sensitive. “Then why do you want one in your life?” she asked. “Because women are wonderful,” I said. I am surrounded by women these days. One is seven months old, another is the mother of the seven-month-old, and the other is my partner. Having a daughter does a lot to alter a man’s man-tainted view of women. Not that there’s anything wrong with men. In fact, the women in my life adore men, when men aren’t behaving incorrectly, which when we are we are too simple to recognize, right? Anyway, until a woman steps up to the columnist plate, I am more than happy to cross-dress, and cross-write. An Addendum: I just read this latest column to Beth, the main woman in my life, and she chimed in rather astutely. Here is what she said: “It’s not that women are overly emotional. We’re sensitive, because we are nurturers. And to nurture, you have to feel.” There, a nice healthy dose of real estrogen. Maybe I should at least take off the wig for that one? No. I kinda like the wig. Neil Zawicki, exiled Alaskan, is Editor at Large for Insurgent49, a former reporter for the Alaska Star, and winner of the Alaska Press Club's 'Best Columnist' award. He is now living out the rest of his days in an undisclosed location in Oregon. He can be contacted at - neil@insurgent49.com |
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July 1, 2005 June 24, 2005 June 17, 2005 June 10, 2005 June 3, 2005 May 27, 2005 May 20, 2005 May 13, 2005 May 6, 2005 April 29, 2005 April 21, 2005 April 14, 2005 April 7, 2005 April 1, 2005 - also by this
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Reserved. in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership. |
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