Video of the vagina hatred at link
http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/21/opinion/brown-kicked-out-for-saying-vagina/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 (CNN) -- One week ago, the Michigan House of Representatives was taking up some of the most restrictive anti-choice legislation in the country. It was in the context of this bill that I said, "Finally Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.'"
You can watch me say that here. My comment is made around the 1:50 mark, and you can see exactly how the legislators seated behind me reacted. While there was a scatter of applause from my colleagues, there were no dropped jaws, bulging eyes or fainting. In fact, the only remarkable thing about their response is that there was virtually no response at all.
Not until the next day. That's when I got word that Republican House leaders had banned me and my colleague Rep. Barb Byrum from speaking on the House floor. I was shocked.
Given my speech, I could only assume it was because I spoke to my Jewish values or because I had said vagina. But later that day, Rep. Mike Callton told the press that what I had said was so vile, so disgusting, that he could never bear to mention it in front of women or "mixed company."
Since we share the same religion, I'm guessing he wasn't referring to my kosher sets of dishes. Even though Callton has a bachelor's degree in biology and worked as a chiropractor, it was the word "vagina" that did him in.
As a storm of protest grew against our silencing and women across the state started to rally around my use of the word vagina, Republicans changed course. They insisted they had no problem with vaginas. Byrum and I were being punished for our lack of decorum. We were accused of throwing a "temper tantrum."
Women protest 'vagina' censorship Lawmaker banned for saying 'vagina' Michigan lawmakers silenced for remarks
Take another look at the video. Do you see a temper tantrum? Does that look like a group of people shocked by what we said or how we behaved?
Her point is fine, but it is rather crass the way she said it.
When a woman talks about her vagina --not vaginas in general but hers personally-- and how the state is interested in her vagina, us male-types can't help but picture her naked and sexually.
She could have gotten more to the point with less shock value and spoken of her uterus, rather than vagina. It's not her sexual rights that are discussed, but restrictive laws on reproductive/abortion rights.
So Pariah is right, it's toseed in there for pure shock value, and is rather non-states-man-woman-person-like. I think it's appropriate to reprimand her for such an undignified remark in the House floor.
