Satin Bower Birds of Australia use found objects such as colorful feathers and shells to enticed the ladies into their love nests. (Hand-colored lithograph by Elizabeth Gould from The Birds of Australia 1840-1869 by John Gould)
"Clearly Tiny is more of a 'man' than those who attacked your site! Also better looking," writes our blogfriend Gayle Miller of And you thought YOU were cranky? in the comments to our previous post. We agree. The problem with the honor societies of these misogynous Islamicist types [not to mention most other human societies throughout history dominated by insecure males] who want us to submit to sharia law is a reversal of the natural order of things. The usual Darwnian scenario, as with Bower Birds, for example, is for the females to select the males. The ones whose behavior turns the gals on are the fellows whose genes make it into the next generation. Enter the followers of "the prophet Muhammad [PBUH]." Do as we say, or we kill you. You, too, sweet lovely wife. Hubba, hubba. If you happen to get raped by my brother or my best friend, you will be stoned to death. The woman made me do it, Lord. Women are so stupid? Multiple-wife theologies imply that God favors what a man thinks he wants as opposed to what a woman wants. It works for some species, but in our species, we think it's a big mistake. Without the women to select, you lose half the potential of your society's braintrust by stashing the gals behind the seraglio curtain.
Curious that you wrote this right now, Sisu, since there's plenty o'news today about honor killings and forced marriages and child brides (you can peek at chez blog moi). Very depressing that these practices are SPREADING, they're not being stamped out.
Posted by: misskelly | May 03, 2006 at 04:46 PM
And my, what clever birds! I wish my husband would entice me into a love nest with feather and shells. Must leave some hints around the house....
Posted by: misskelly | May 03, 2006 at 04:54 PM
Well despite all the talk and the PC hype anyone should be able to see that men are different from women. Why this frightens some males I don't understand. I know I have my prejudices. Lousy women drivers make me say that stupid woman whereas if it is a man I say that stupid SOB. However men should face up to the fact that any particular woman can be superior to most men in any field that the prerequisites require intelligence and persistence.
Posted by: goomp | May 03, 2006 at 05:07 PM
Thus the reason the Mid-East is still sitting in the dark ages. We need both men and women working together to advance. There is always someone who knows something you don't - be it a man or a woman.
If you exclude 50% of the population from helping you move forward, you not only stop moving, you regress. (See Afghanistan for details)
Posted by: Teresa | May 03, 2006 at 10:43 PM
We need a lot more shells and feathers, and a lot less rock and roll?
http://www.gospelmusic.org.uk/v-z/we_need_more_of_jesus.htm
Posted by: Sissy Willis | May 04, 2006 at 06:41 AM
Thanks for the mention Sissy. And I'm all for more feathers and shells!
Tomorrow is the extraordinary Sam's 5th birthday. Like your beautiful cats, he is a constant source of joy in my life.
Posted by: Gayle Miller | May 04, 2006 at 09:12 AM