A SITE FOR SORE EYES

        CHAKRUM and swordPolitics, speeches and Primary shenanigans take up most of the news these days and it's really hard to even find a web site that hasn't been bought up by one guy-campaign or another.  So, it's great to find one that has a facade with many women's faces and credits.  We can recognize most of the faces but some are new.

        Over 6000 "Eppies" will come together to honor those that broke barriers for women in the twentieth century to commemorate landmarks and pay tribute to the organizations that made these gains possible.  EXPO 2000 Will bring together WOMEN from every sector of society -- media, law, medicine and health care, arts, politics, business, e-commerce, technology, education, public service, trade, unions, non-profits' services, sports, entertainment, advocacy, religion and philanthropy. 

        FEMINIST EXPO 2000

        Of course, we were delighted to see that one of the speakers listed was a favorite SELF-DEFINED WOMAN of ours -- "Eppie" Lucy Lawless from New Zealand!  However, "Flawless" [as her fans (the HCNB's) call her] will NOT BE ATTENDING do to a conflict with her filming schedule, according to the Official Lucy Lawless Fan Club President. She will be sadly missed in this gathering of women's voices.

        Describing her ROLE as Xena, Warrior Princess, Lucy Lawless has said, " Xena is a woman who stands up against enemies and difficult situations in each and every episode.  She's a woman who never gives up, who values friendship and who lives life without compromising. Those character traits fascinate my fans."

        True enough, but it is Lawless' great talent as an actor that makes the Xena character believable, and the inventive and watchful eyes of two producers, Chloe Smith and Liz Friedman, that keep X-WP from deteriorating into the usual Hollywood super-girly rubbish.

        X-WP is in its fifth year and there is no sign that the devotion of its many fans is wearing thin. Its appeal is universal.  Fans come in all ages (including grams and gramps), genders, colors and nationalities.

        For women, Xena is a hero; a role model and a breath of fresh air in cultures that have always afforded women second place and continually reminded them of their helplessness.

        Xena does not accept this characterization.  Every woman who watches as she strikes out fearlessly at injustice, cheers loudly from deep within -- from guts constricted by eons of enforced silence.  They revel in the opening lines that define this character:

        "In a time of ancient gods, war lords and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. SHE was Xena, a mighty princess, forged in the heat of battle... HER COURAGE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD."

        Women are aware that many of their most severe problems and concerns are not addressed by the world powers.  They are cognizant that in some cases it is because those in power prefer things to remain the same.  Case in point, the booming slave trade in women around the world which a Senate panel is now looking into.

        "Trafficking of women and children may be the largest manifestation of slavery in the world today," said the Senate Panel Chairman, Sam Brownback.

        "Each year, 50,000 women are taken to the U.S. to work as sex slaves," officials said. "Feeder countries include Ukraine, Albania, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and Nigeria."

        While it may SOUND encouraging that there is a senate committee looking into this travesty, every woman knows that THEY are part of the vested interest that seeks to continue the sexual slavery of women and children.  The very well-heeled business and commercial complex that contributes to coffers of both political parties support the slavers by using and abusing these enslaved women themselves.

        Slavers frequent large gatherings to provide their slave women to convention goers -- a very lucrative business -- but they won't bother with Expo2000 for obvious reasons.  Just as, if not more importantly, will any speaker at this function even mention the 50,000 women slaves purchased this year?

        We wonder just how the media will cover Expo2000.  If the past is any indication, it will be in snips and snaps if at all.  Even these will be followed by lengthy interviews with so-called REAL women from organizations like "Women for Life" or "The Independent Women's Forum" (Mona Charen's buddies).

        The Expo2000 participants will be characterized as insurgents living in the past or victims of hormonal deficiencies.  This has been the pattern of the media for some time now; especially the majority that are Republican controlled.

        We hope we are wrong about the media and that this time the preachers at Expo2000 are heard beyond the choir without the destructive filter of the far right.

        twanda@together.net  

        2000-009

        Copyright 2000 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@together.net.

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