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again. Her "world vision" has apparently
narrowed her view and expanded her intolerance.
Thinking feminists have the right to
explore and test varying perspectives without
being trashed, as we were in our early history,
for not falling into step with ideologues
and agendas that are not in our best interests.
Like Diogenes with his lantern, Ms.
Heller searches my words and finds, not
pain, but heresy. It would have been closer
to the mark if she had noticed an honest
attempt to analyze and present alternative
views, including her own. Eleanor Pam
TOYS 'R' US
Ellen J. Reiner's article, "Time Warp in
the Toy Store" (Fall 1994) was right on
target. My partner and I are raising our
four-year-old daughter. She loves her
dolls, dishes, and stuffed animals; she also
loves the Power Rangers, hot wheels,
trains, dinosaurs, bugs and pretend
power tools. We do not gender-limit
what she plays with or wears. We make
a point of telling her how great she
looks no matter what she is wearing, as
long as it is clean and matching. We
roughhouse with her, as well as cuddle.
Many adults and other kids call her a
boy (although her hair is not short in
the back and she wears earrings), but
she quickly sets them straight. Amazingly,
at her new school, instead of
other kids influencing her, she is influencing
them with her "gender doesn't
matter" ideas.
I think a good point was made about
some parents being afraid of "influencing"
a child to be gay. Since my partner
and I are lesbians, that fear does not
concern us. We simply want to raise a
happy, healthy child who is comfortable
with herself.
Unfortunately, for many young girls
and boys, most parents still buy into the
"girl versus boy" thing. At least some of
us are working to change old attitudes
and eventually these old ideas may be
no more. Thanks for an excellent article
and, as usual, a wonderfully, informative
magazine.
Lindsey Holzapple
Wasco, CA
DANGEROUS ALLIANCES
I pride myself on being one of the few
people in this tabloid-lobotomized age
who is aware of the threat that radical
Islamic fundamentalism represents to
Western civilization. Therefore, I
thought that nothing you could show
me regarding Iran could greatly shock
me ("Sexual Apartheid in Iran," Fall
1994). Was I ever wrong!
These are people who call us decadent
and immoral—who say they will
cleanse the world of our evil. So far as I
know, however, no religious leader in
America (with the exception of the late
David Koresh) writes "revelations"
allowing for the sodomizing of children.
We are in more danger from the radical
Islamic world today than at anytime
since Ayatollah Khomeini was still
alive.
Even the [Roman] Catholic Church
has had a moral lapse dealing with the
radical Islamic threat. In order to
oppose any language about abortion at
the UN. Population and Development
Conference in Cairo, the Church
reached out for help to all Islamic
nations. Both Iran and Libya were soon
trumpeting their triumph over the Vatican
coming to them seeking their help.
Libya said that the Vatican would plead
their case in regards to Libya's implication
in the Pan Am flight 103 bombing,
which the Vatican immediately denied.
Not surprisingly, Patrick Buchanan
defends the Church's blunder.
Trying to end Iran's evil against its
women is an admirable goal, but the
threat here at home is just as real and
just as imminent.
Wallington Simpson, Jr.
Montebello, NY
CONTACTING
CAMP SISTER SPIRIT
Thank you for a superb women's magazine.
In the Fall 1994 issue I found the
article on women's status in Iran horrifying.
Here in our country those brave
women in Ovett, Mississippi face the
same kind of mindset that creates such
existence for women not only in Iran
but around the globe ("Mississippi
Feminists Under Attack").
I wish you had given us some address
for sending whatever means of support
those of us out here feel inclined to
give. The women of Camp Sister Spirit
are creating a vital space for women—
we must continue to empower them
with our words, our wishes, and donations.
Keep us informed and please tell
us how to help our sister Amazons.
Chart Agiza
El Paso, TX
EDITORS NOTE: Readers can write to:
Camp Sister Spirit, P.O. Box 12,
Ovett, MS 39464
OVARIAN CANCER SCARE
In the otherwise valuable article by
Beverly Zakarian ("Hidden Ovarian
Cancer, Buried Issues," Fall 1994) there
is an ambiguity that may needlessly
panic readers. Zakarian describes ascites
as a "fluid that accumulates from the
metabolism of a rapidly growing
tumor."
In my own experience, ascites are
associated with ovarian cancer, so
when I had ascites I also underwent
numerous tests (blood tests, CAT scans,
ultrasound...) that came up positive for
ovarian cancer. But when I agreed to
try a potent diuretic and the ascites disappeared
rapidly, the blood tests came
up negative for ovarian cancer. More
than a year has passed with no return
of the cancer scare.
I know that one experience does not
disprove a statement that has been
carefully researched, but perhaps I am
not alone in this experience. I would
amend Zakarian's statement to read:
"ascites, a fluid that accumulates in the
body and may indicate metabolism of a
rapidly growing tumor"—or something
else that would indicate the
(continued on page 58)
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