tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post206099257572966751..comments2024-03-23T12:05:23.537-05:00Comments on The Wild Reed: Liberated to Be TogetherMichael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-48385171855243099752009-10-08T14:56:03.532-05:002009-10-08T14:56:03.532-05:00Interesting to know the connection in time between...Interesting to know the connection in time between the persecution of gay men and the burning of witches. The witches were for the most part midwives and traditional healers.<br /><br />As the "men" of science, who spent long hours dissecting bodies in the early renaissance schools of science and medicine, became interested in reproduction, they became "male midwives" and increasingly, especially after a male attended birth in the French court in the 17th century, men took over birth in urban areas and among the rich. Of course, they didn't know what they were doing and the maternal death rate skyrocketed. They secretly studied with the rural midwives, even going so far in one case as to disguise himself as a woman, and then would bring the witchcraft charge against their teacher to eliminate the competition.<br /><br />It's true that the best midwives, the ones sought out by most women of the time, were old - probably because they were healthy - but not likely very attractive. The long fingernails on the Halloween witches has a basis in fact: early midwives grew one pinky nail very long and at a birth it was sharpened to a point - in order to break the amniotic sac if necessary.<br /><br />The history of childbirth gets worse from there, by the way, in terms of mortality. To this day, in the country with the highest number of practicing obstetricians and highest percentage of births being attended by men in hosptials (the US) we have the highest infant mortality rate of any industrialized country - 42nd in the world.<br /><br />Meanwhile, in Europe, research is confirming that for better outcomes and lower cost, home births and birth centers attended by midwives should increase. In the US, ACOG is trying to defund birth centers.<br /><br />I write all this because I believe that women's fear of birth and birth pain (fear which produces adrenaline and actually increases birth pain and slows the labor) and the abuse of GLBT persons is more damaging to our culture than the individual injustices reveal. These biased views and practices weaken the partnerships of men and women in families and affect connections in every segment of society, damage that is passed on through the generations.<br /><br />Midwives and gay men are still the biggest threat to values of aggressive patriarchy, dominance, and control (the root of greed).<br />In the birth community we have a saying: Peaceful birth for peaceful earth. If you had ever seen a child born without crying (a fallacy that they need to cry to breathe) and placed on it's mothers breast, allowed to crawl ON IT'S OWN to breast and latch and suckle with no help at all, and if you knew what had been accomplished in the previous nine months to allow that to happen, you would understand that phrase relating peaceful birth to peaceful earth.<br /><br />If you knew that 50% of operative births, believed by mothers to save the lives or health of their babies or themselves, are entirely unnecessary, then you would also know the deep pain felt by some of us "witches" who see that the power to birth is denied to US women - a power that belongs to all women regardless of whether or how they give birth.<br /><br />In both these communities - those of birthing women and those of GLBT persons, the power and beauty of their sexuality is denied in our culture. For me, these denials are of a piece and are at the core of violence and abuse.<br /><br />So blessings to midwives and mothers, to the GLBT community. I do believe that they hold a key to our cultural salvation. Lofty, I know, but loving God's creation is so deep in the faith of these communities, so basic to their survival. It's our pleasure to serve them.<br /><br />Susan LaneSusan Lanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-84648594608739932242009-10-05T21:32:53.769-05:002009-10-05T21:32:53.769-05:00I will never understand people. In a discussion I...I will never understand people. In a discussion I told a man that I objected to him calling gay people fruitcakes and fairies. I asked, "Don't you think such speech is homophobic." The man somewhat laughingly admitted that he was baiting me. Another man (who used to be gay) cautioned him, "Don't take the bait." "Beneath the smarmy, annoying, goody two shoes facade there lurks a lot of hostility. We're dealing with cleverly disguised rage here. Ignore it." I find it interesting that this guy didn't take issue with the impolite language but was annoyed by my criticism of it. Are some of these people so desperate for approval from people that dislike gay people that they will enable them in this way? It is confusing to me.Mareczkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122584421854834046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-62035709216186284462009-10-05T21:07:14.528-05:002009-10-05T21:07:14.528-05:00That was such a sad story, Michael. How tragic. ...That was such a sad story, Michael. How tragic. What a powerful homily. I forgot that it was Solidarity Sunday. It doesn't get mentioned in our diocese. Do the parishes in your Archdiocese generally commemorate this day? It is a beautiful idea. <br /><br />Peace - MarkMareczkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122584421854834046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-72457195469278873672009-10-05T17:28:14.204-05:002009-10-05T17:28:14.204-05:00Karen,
Thank you for your beautiful words, and fo...Karen,<br /><br />Thank you for your beautiful words, and for doing your part in first bringing the story of Adriaen Spoor and Pieter Engels to my attention via your great <a href="http://nihilobstat.info/" rel="nofollow">blog</a>.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-4034284512748386222009-10-05T16:53:04.285-05:002009-10-05T16:53:04.285-05:00Dear Michael,
I had tears in my eyes as I read y...Dear Michael,<br /> <br />I had tears in my eyes as I read your homily. Across time and space you stood up for those boys, and I hope somewhere, somehow, they felt your strength, compassion and solidarity. I believe so. And that is truly the "Communion of Saints."<br /> <br />Thank you.<br /> <br />With Love and warm regards,<br /> <br />KarenKaren Dohertyhttp://nihilobstat.info/noreply@blogger.com