The last post complains, “Why does the above picture, intended as an emblem of womyn's empowerment, show her wearing EAR RINGS! Self-mutilation for the decorative enjoyment of MEN is the lowest form of degradation…�

As a man I have never promoted earrings, nor have I promoted patriarchy, imperialist war, or class oppression. Yet I must come to the defense of the artist.

Perhaps the cartoon woman pierced her ears to look good (or what she perceives to look good) for a lesbian partner instead of a man. Does it really make any difference? Piercing ears is hardly the foot binding that was banned in China, nor the genital mutilation of baby girls that goes on in Africa, nor the genital mutilation that goes on against baby boys in America for that matter either.

I like the cartoon and think the artist, whether a man or a woman, did a good job.

On another subject I would like to caution the author of the original post against quoting the FBI on telling us what terrorism is. The FBI is itself the ultimate terrorist organization in this land. The FBI orchestrated the murders of 40 Black Panther members and the frame-ups of many others as well as having targeted Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and others in other movements for peace, socialism and social justice.

The FBI are America’s police of terror for political repression. They are not friends of the women’s movement.