Memories In Paraphrase

Simply put, not everything has to be about you. Yes, sometimes men’s involvement in discussions of oppression is relevant, even vital. But when the focus is on women’s oppression, men don’t need a token mention. Why? Because men, as a group, aren’t oppressed. Men don’t have to deal nearly as often (or at all) with cat-calling, victim blaming, unequal pay, objectification, rape culture, and so on. If, as occasionally happens, men are relevant to the conversation, it all leads back to one thing: Patriarchy is bad for men as well. But what are you, as a men’s rights activist, promoting? Patriarchy.

You want to send me to jail? Fine, you go right ahead. I’ve been in jail for 400 years. I could be there for 4 or 5 more, but I ain’t going no 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I want to die, I’ll die right here, right now, fightin’ you, if I want to die. You my enemy, not no Chinese, no Vietcong, no Japanese. You my opposer when I want freedom. You my opposer when I want justice. You my opposer when I want equality. Want me to go somewhere and fight for you? You won’t even stand up for me right here in America, for my rights and my religious beliefs. You won’t even stand up for my right here at home.