MAN POWER

Which story inspired the lengthiest conversation last week at Propeller? That would be "Karzai: Controversial Afghan women's law to be reviewed," with 41 props, 382 comments, and a mind-blowing 127,275 page views. AbuAmirah expressed his opposition to the law in blunt terms: "Instead of creating these stupid-ass laws, the Afghan government should be thinking about how to make the daily lives of their people better, [by] improving their infrastructure, making sure kids go to school, and rooting out the Taliban." Added wtagg (alluding to sections of the law that give a husband a good deal of control over conjugal relations): "Why a man would be interested in a woman that has no interest in him, is beyond my understanding."

Rocmistro came to the law's defense, arguing that non-Westerners might perceive marriage very differently: "In the United States and other developed nations, we have material wealth, careers, hobbies, and the time to pursue them, to make us feel good about ourselves. They don't have that. The need to have a wife who is 'interested' in you is less important than the need to have a wife who 'obeys' you... We call ourselves an open-minded people, but until we really wrap our heads around what it means to be from another part of the world, we will always judge and condemn other cultures." But SeekingWisdom refused to take the relativist bait: "So because Afghan men are weak-minded little boys--who can't think with their brain, but rather with what is between their legs--they choose to dehumanize the women they lust for, and abuse and enslave them as punishment for their own lack of maturity and manhood?"

Airlight, meanwhile, brought the debate back home with a few comments about her relationship with her fiancée: "He refers to me as his master, his lover, his great happiness and hope. We love each other dearly, but I will not submit myself to him whenever he pleases, he's learned that the hard way." Responded jharris352-43: "I wish you well, dear." (Added BigRonFH: "Obey me, woman!)

What followed was a fuller exposition of conjugal philosophy from jharris352-43: "Women are and should be the property of men. They should not be abused, but they should be obedient.... Not 50 years ago this was common philosophy here, until men lost their minds and bought into the feminist agenda." Replied christian81: "It's called evolution. Come with us or hop back into your cage." Meanwhile, sallies1962 declared her unwillingness to toe the patriarchal line: "I have a 153 IQ, why in the world would I blindly follow anyone? I would be hard-pressed to find a man intelligent enough follow. I am sorry you feel that you are superior because you have an 'outtie' and I have an 'innie'! Common sense should dictate who leads and who follows."

NEWS FROM ABROAD

Barack Obama's trip to Europe inspired several lively posts. "President Barack Obama rejects allegations that US at war with Islam" generated 92 props and 255 comments. Natureboy agreed that we were not fighting a war against Islam, but added his own interpretation of events: "What we're fighting in the Middle East (and sub-saharan Africa) is the global oil war. It's realpolitik all the way, and the sooner you realize that, the better." Said engineer: "[Obama]'s not against Islam. He's against the crazies who only want suicide bombers, rockets, and mortars, and don't give a damn about life.He wants peace where the crazies do not." Tcaros seemed to agree: "Obama is exactly correct we are not at war with Islam. Once America peeled back the onion, we exposed the lies of the Bush administration and their war profiteers." But not Sandmonster: "I AM at war with [Islam], and always will be."

Meanwhile, "Obama Apologizes to Europe for US Arrogance in Liberating Their Asses on Numerous Occasions" rang up 50 props, 35 drops, and 211 comments. For antibrainwasher, the article was pure piffle: "You right-wing morons are predictable as a baby crying or a poodle barking. All negative all the time, full of sound and fury signifying nothing." Not so, said GLee: "Obama speaks for himself and his libby friends only. Almost half of America isn't buying his BS and that number is constantly growing, thanks to Obama himself." A similar response came from RedRiverJ: "He has embarrassed himself, degraded the office of the presidency, and probably hacked off half of America."

AND DON'T OVERLOOK....

With the last election disappearing in the rear-view mirror, Sarah Palin (or at least her extended family) continues to fascinate much of the American public. "Sarah Palin Not Very Happy With Levi And His Sex Talk On Tyra Banks Show" generated 38 props and 177 comments. Said not2needy: "Didn't Bristol Palin go on record as saying that abstinence was unrealistic? Sarah Palin should stop this farce, she's in up to her neck in lies!" Replied ADAGUY: "I don't really have that much of a problem with the Palin family, although if Sarah Palin allowed these kids to live under the same roof, that alone tells me that she is not a conservative, but that she is a fool!" (For tanglang, the whole dispute about the Palin clan was a media sideshow: "Everybody has some in-laws with problems. You're a twit for caring about BS like this.")

Elsewhere, the capture of a rare megamouth shark got the community's attention. Eagle_Eye expressed a certain gratitude that there were still new things to be found under the sun: "I find it really amazing that there are still unknowns in this world, and each day there are discoveries and revelations regarding the world and universe we live in." There were also a few moments of partisan mirth, like this one from LuisR: "Are you sure it was a megamouth shark those Filipino fishermen caught, and not Glenn Beck swimming?" And on a related note, "The Miseducation of Glenn Beck" rang up 88 props and 104 comments. Said Beau7890: "Beck is a true follower of the American way, getting rich by cynically playing to the fears and prejudices of the ignorant and easily misled." Replied Locky12: "And Colbert's nightly romp of sarcasm? No ideas of his own, just rip down whatever is there. I'll take Beck." Take a look at the video below, folks, and decide whether Beck or Colbert was the last man standing.

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