Thursday, December 11, 2008
Politics / Woods On Chip Forrester and Female Circumcision
Posted by Jeff Woods on Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 12:31 PM
While Republicans are raising boatloads of money from their new best friends in the lobbying corps, Democrats are chewing up each other in the fight over who should become the party's next chairman. Not surprisingly, it's getting a little goofy.
An email, sent anonymously from some bogus hotmail account to Democrats this morning, raises questions about Chip Forrester and female circumcision. How's that for weird? The email contains a 1999 Tennessean story about Nashville salons and the following graphs are underlined:
One local salon that has withstood an evolving membership and the passage of time is The Balloon Society, started around seven years ago by Chip Forrester and a few friends. ...
Somewhere between 20-40 attend each month. Past topics have included the legalization of drugs, female circumcision, religion in the marketplace and public vs. private schools.
There are two basic rules, Forrester says: a strict timetable is followed (6 p.m. arrival, 9 p.m. departure); and "we encourage and allow vigorous debate, but it's never to get personal." Only one person has ever been asked not to return.
"I don't know of any other place where I can go and hear really intriguing and different kinds of ideas," says Forrester. "People who do the speaking really have thought about their idea. I always expand my own thinking."
At the top of the email, the sender asks: "Debating 'female circumcision'? Really?" The header asks: "Is this the guy we want as party chair?"
Still wondering why the Democrats lost the legislature?
Update: See Forrester's response in the comments to this post.
Comments (19)
Showing 1-19 of 19
That not why the Democrats lost the legislature. They lost the Tennessee legislature for the same reasons that Tennessee is rank as one of the five fattest and unhealthiest states, and one of the top two in credit card debt.
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That not why the Democrats lost the legislature. They lost the Tennessee legislature for the same reasons that Tennessee is rank as one of the five fattest and unhealthiest states, and one of the top two in credit card debt.
democrats lost because tennesseeans like to use their credit cards at burger king?
So I guess the Democratic agenda to reclaim the state should be to institute a tax on fast food and use it to build free gyms across the state.
I kinda remember female circumcision being a big human rights topic a few years back ... it certainly was on enough "Oprah" segments for it to hit my radar. I have no problem with a Democratic Party state chair who wants to know about human rights issues around the world.
I'm totally not getting why this is an issue???
If this is the best Forrester can do, we Republicans should pray he become Democrat Party chair. Let's hold "salon" sessions to discuss the latest topic from Oprah while real Tennesseans are fighting to pay their mortgages. I'm sure there was plenty of arugula and white wine spritzers on those potluck tables.
First off, GOP Glee, I'll take arugula and white wine spritzers over a 64-oz. Big Gulp and a Whopper any day of the week, Mr. Reverse-Elitist.
And the fact that people would want to discuss one of the most disturbing and egregious human rights issues in recent memory is hardly cause for alarm. I'd be much more wary of someone who had no concern for the suffering of others.
I'm fighting to pay my mortgage and, according to my driver's license anyway, I'm a real Tennessean. But I'm not immune to the suffering of people around the world.
Another name for arugula is rocket. It's actually the most badass of salad greens.
Jack, exactly my point. Pointyheaded, urban Democrats like Forrester (and it sounds like you) will sit around and "salon" over lettuce and something happening halfway around the globe, but you look down on your fellow Tennesseans in Bell Buckle and Winchester. You could care less about them.
Actually taking some action scares the shit out of you. You'd rather "salon" about it until the cows come home.
Female circumcision is an egregious practice conducted in Third World countries on minor girls resulting in mutilation, permanent scarring and in some cases death. This horrible practice has migrated to some immigrant communities in the US and a Balloon society member chose to make that the topic of her talk at one of our gatherings. Her intent was to raise awareness and consciences about this egregious practice citing horrifying numbers as she made her case about what is happening in the US.
Balloon Society (which no longer meets) was founded by Avon Williams III (deceased), John Spence, Lisa Chapman, Charlie Sell and myself to provide a forum to discuss ideas of the day on a monthly basis. We were a broad mix of Democrats, Republicans and independents brought together over home cooked food with an interest in hearing ideas about our community and world.
What relevance this topic has to my race for Tennessee Democratic Party chair is beyond me but I at least wanted to clarify this for the record.
Chip Forrester
Treasurer
Tennessee Democratic Party
Jack, exactly my point. Pointyheaded, urban Democrats like Forrester (and it sounds like you) will sit around and "salon" over lettuce and something happening halfway around the globe...
You sure it's not happening here, with the large numbers of immigrants coming to our area? Oh wait, lookie here, a case in Atlanta, right in our backyard. Imagine that.
If myopia is the best the GOP can offer, I'll stick with the Democrats, thank you ...
By definition, a "salon" implies robust debate and discussion. Or, as Chairman Chip described in his Tennessean article, "intriguing and different kinds of ideas." So was this a session to just bash female circumcision, which has been derided by the World Health Organization among many other global interests. Or was this a meeting that provided a forum for the so-called "upside" of this issue. Did Chairman Chip entertain pro-female circumcision perspectives in this salon? Or was it strictly anti-mutilation? Do tell Chip?
GOP Glee, you know nothing about me. I don't look down on people in Bell Buckle or Winchester, and you have no reason to assume I do.
I have no fear of taking action, and I've never been to a salon.
Which begs the question (that I think many on here are wondering about): What the f@%k are you talking about?
I'd be curious to know whether anyone brought up male circumcision in that meeting. Female Circumcision isn't a big problem in Tennessee. Male circumcision is. You've got a fine healthy newborn boy, and you wanna do what? to his what? At least drop it from the covered procedures in TeenCare. Does TennCare cover any other cosmetic surgery?
Seriously, why were these people chatting over dinner about clipping anyone's genitalia? Didn't they have anything more productive to do? And then making snarky remarks about Big Gulps and Whoppers shows what elitists they really are. If these are the people Democrats put in charge, they can kiss Tennessee good bye for a long time.
