By Buffalo Bloviator, Staff Religion Reporter
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Buffalo musician Ani DiFranco, a major benefactor of “The Churchâ€, joined an annual emancipation pilgrimage to our state capitol on Friday. The National Organization Of Women awarded Ms. DiFranco a civilian commendation for courage.
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The venerable organization NOW, now celebrating 40 years in the business, has quietly withheld details of the specific acts of courage, although the assumption is that this individual placed herself in harm’s way while fighting for the female condition. A few years ago, the organization and its members were widely recognized for taking bold actions in support of women suffering under the tyranny of Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Under those repressive regimes, women have few legal rights and are still considered property. Women are beaten or killed for offenses concerning appearance and chastity.
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The recipient delighted the assembly with the announcement that she will be having releases soon; an album, “Reprieve,†and a child, both produced by Mike Napolitano, of the New Orleans Napolitanos.
What is with Ani DiFranco getting NOW’s award for courageous woman of the year? Exactly what did this woman do that was brave? Here in Buffalo, we don’t begrudge her her success – certainly she has made a very good buck, and we respect her for that. Also we’re grateful that she helped save the Asbury Methodist Church. (Though don’t forget, our tax dollars went toward that, too.)
But what did she do that was brave?
Did she volunteer, like that woman we read about in The Buffalo News a while ago, to work at Abu Ghraib? Did she hold down three jobs while trying to raise a couple kids on Buffalo’s East Side? No. Did she perhaps lead a block club to try to eradicate crack houses from her neighborhood? No, no. no!
She’s a celebrity, is what she did.
Tell me what’s so courageous about expressing a pro-choice viewpoint. Doesn’t everyone in Buffalo express that viewpoint? If you’re talking about being brave, it’s braver to express the opposite point of view. No one does that.
Ani DiFranco just echoed the hip viewpoint of all the people who went on to vote to give her this stupid award. NOW has lost all credibility and respect. Just a few years ago, the group used to call for action to be taken against the Taliban, which oppressed – and continues to oppress – women. It’s funny how ever since the Iraq war began, we don’t hear much more from NOW about the Taliban.
This is an organization with a political agenda and a pretty stupid one at that.
And tell me, finally, what there is to respect about a woman who gets up and announces she’s pregnant by the producer of her new album? How sleazy. And how damaging to put up as a role model a celebrity who can afford all kinds of nannies and au pairs. NOW can call it courage. We certainly don’t.