2 J
To the Editor:
ceremonial lust/bartered
constraint into dimensions
circumfered shock
One of the side benefits of aging should be
a-cautious rejection of dangerous
advice-giving to the young. Old Abbie is, I
think, sliding on decayingice when he sez he
is "living everyone's fantasy." I can change
my identity more rapidly and more
profoundly daily in Austin than he can on
the run.
On the run he is more bound to the
support system and fidelity of New Wife
and decisive aid than as a publiC~gure.
There may be exhilaration of constant
surveillance in his flight, but I don't need
him to belie, defensively, stress as freedom.
I would respect him more for relating the
rigors which are, I know, inherent in his
constricted freedom. Dante~in exile: "How
wearied I am of climbing another man's
stairs."
Nedra Krishna McCloud
OBSERVER EDITOR BLASTS
WASHINGTON POST'S
FEMINIST COVERAGE
Dear Sirs (sorry to see that you're all sirs):
In fairness to the poor old Dallas Times
Herald, I feel I should point out one
inaccuracy in Ellen O'Bryan's otherwise
excellent and perceptive account of the
Conference on Women in Public Life (Sun,
Dec. 1). During my stint on the
women-and-media panel I read not from the
Times Herald's society page but from the
inimitable work of Jeanne Prejean, society
editor of The Dallas Morning News. The
News alone deserves credit for Prejean's
effusions, which appear regularly in the
News. I recommend her work to anyone in
need of a belly laugh.
During the media panel, there was some
mildly acerbic discussion about what the
conference might get in the way of press
coverage, but none of us was realistic
enough to envision anything as appalling as
what appeared in The Washington Post. It
was a condensed version ofa UPI wire story
under the headline "Women and Sex:"
"Sex is the easiest and most effective
route to political power for women,
according to an Australian feminist.
"Elizabeth Anne Reid, speaking to a
conference on women in public life Monday,
said male politicians expect women to act as
sex objects."
The story went on to use a few of Reid's
quotes, but none of them in a context that
gave the slightest clue to the fury and
disgust she actually feels about the
situation; and there was nothing in the
story to correct the initial impression that
she advocates using sex as a means to
political power. Since I am a member of the
National News Council myself, I cannot
bring a complaint before it, butI am in hopes
that some feminist who heard Reid's
powerful speech will see fit to do so. The
Council takes complaints concerning the
accuracy and fairness of the national news
medi~: both UPI and the Post, through its
own wire service, come under its purview•
The address is: The National News Council,
One Lincoln Plaza, New York, N.Y., 10023.
While I have considerable sympathy for
the point of view of Bobble Nelson and the
other feminists who protested at the
conference (a point of view only belatedly
recognized in the current issue of The Texas
Observer), I am perhaps somewhat more
tolerant of efforts like the conference. None
of us was born liberated. I think one has to
start with women where they are, rather
than chivvying them for not being further
along. God knows, the attention paid at tn~
conference to the problems of poor an
minority women ranged, for the most part,
from zilch to pro Iorma. But the audience
was, in the main, white and middle claSS.
From Tupperware parties to tl~
conference was a long first step for many o
them. Liz Carpenter, for example, is a
woman with a good mind who has, to coin a
phrase, come a hell of along way. Should she
he faulted for not having come further or
encouraged for having come as far as she
has? The conference could have used more
Elizabeth Reid and Bobbie Nelson and less
Sandy Duncan, but then, that's only mY
opinion.
As to Nelson's provocative point that not
all women are "sisters" -- too true. But In
my more imaginative moments, I have
visions of a liberated Jeanne Prejean. Who
knows where her head will be five years
from now9 By whom and how is it to
• q
decided which women are or are aot sisters.
Is any woman who has ever been a Bunny to
be forever denied sisterhood? Any women
who hasn't achieved 60 percent or better 0n
a feminist consciousness scale by Jan.. 1,
1968? If liberation is, as I believe, a sloVl,
sometimes pafnful very personal evol0"
tionary process, then establishing any kin,d,
of cut-off between "sisters" and "enemies
is as stupid as it is pernicious.
As for Nelson's even more provocative
point about whether or not it is of anY
benefit at all for women to gain power in the
existing political structure, ah, now that,
sisters, should have been discussed at that
unsatisfactory and shallow conference.
Peace,
Molly IvieS,
co-editor, The Texas Observer
II
f
-N
Editor Jeffrey Nightbyrd
Managing Editor Dave Moriaty
Editor at Large Michael E~kin
Art Director Dan Hubig
Theater Michael Venture
Music Bill Bentley
Art Carlene Brady
Sports Big Boy Medlin
Advertising Rhett Beard,. Cass Hook,
Deborah Stall, Ted Isensee
Staff Marty McKenzie, J.R.Compton,
Danny Schweers, Enrique Pasa, Cyndy
Webendorfer, A. Poynor, Laura Eisen-
hower, Jose Campos, J. Entropy
Contributors Cheri Britton, Pat
Knight, Beau Byers, Eagle Pennell,
Theme Dryer, Norm Beitch, Shannon
Sedwick, Melinda Wickman, Charlyn
Zlotnik, JulieAlibrando, Linda Sullivan,
Lorenzo Milam, Ken McHam, Nick
Spitzer, Clifford Endres, Luther
Sperberg, Joe Nick Patoski, Hall Wylie,
Rosie McDermott, Nicholas Russell,
Karen Hale
"Austin Sun published bi-weekly on
Thursdays by the Austin Sun Publishing
Co. Inc., 404B West 15th St., Austin,
Texas 78701. 472-1780. Subscriptions
$5 for 26 Issues, All contents herein
copyrighted. ©1975, The Austin Sun
~.fublishing Co. Inc.
BILLY SWAN
Hopefully, he can help. These days you have
to take whatever doses of rockabiUy you can get.
Billy Swan is the man who wrote "Lover Please"
for Clyde McPhatter, produced "Polk Salad
Annie" for Tony Joe White, played guitar in the
first Texas Jewboys and sang "I Can Help" for
himself.
December 13 Armadillo World
Headquarters
BOB DYLAN:
TRIBUTE TO JOHN HAMMOND
Dylan will be one of many to appear in this
three-hour television special in honor of record
producer John Hammond. Hammond is the
Columbia producer credited with signing Billie
Holliday, Benny Goodman, Dylan and most
recently, Bruce Springsteen. Featured on this
Public Broadcasting System show will be
Goodman, Helen Humes, Benny Carter, John
Hammond, Jr., Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee
and George Benson, along with industry heavies
and film of other performers.
Saturday, 8:00 P.M. KLRN/Chmmel 9
ELECTRIC RATES COMMISSION HEARING
The gaunt, trembling man anxiously
approached the cashier's window. "I'd like to
report a crime," he said as he handed over his
electric bill.
Mayor Friedman's Commission has been
studying electric rate systems for half a year
now, and is hungry for new ideas. Speak your
piece at the Public Hearing, Tuesday night at 7
p.m.
December 16 Municipal Auditorium
NUTCRACKER SUITE
You watched enthralled as the mushrooms
twirled to it in Fantasia; now see this Christmas
classic recreated by the Austin Civic Ballet, with
music by the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
December 13 Municipal Auditorium
O
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CO
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8
SELF-DEFENSE FOR WOMEN BLIND GEORGE MeLAINE
Fear no persont The Austin Rape Crisis One of Austin's more original talents, Blind
Center sponsors this six-week course in George's kinetic keyboarding has livened dance
self-defense beginning December 13th at 1234 halls all over this part of the state. His
N. Lamar. Cost of the class is $5; for more appearance is always welcomed by the usually
information, dial 472-RAPE. well-hbricated Split Rail clientele.
December 13 Soryu Karate Institute December 13 Split Rail
