The Politics of Eyebrows

Although some may like to think all white people look alike, there are types and tribes just as every other band in humanity's spectrum.

Those familiar with the Celtic clans will recognize the wiry brows and particular temple structure of Susan Boyle. The oxygen deprivation at birth and 47 years of harassment from insensitives also give her expression and eyes a distinctive attitude.

What I noticed more than anything watching her; was struck by almost as much as her voice, was her posture. She held herself up and stood tall in the face of that overwhelming onstage moment, like a warrior of old Scotland eying foe across the moor.

Now, I would rather see her groomed visually and vocally to suit herself. I would rather see her wiry brows unmolested and non-generic. No one would dare mess with her backbone. They can pluck every hair and paint her blue and it won't matter.

The voice is the thing and she knows it. She honored her family and her own dream by going onstage at middle age. She shook her hips when Simon Scowl patronized her.

And then she ROCKED.

LostinVA is so excited that she thread title is being duplicated two years after she posted that.

a, dare I say? stalkeresque copycat?

Nah. What am I thinking?

Could someone please reverse direction on the Lounge WormHole Stalking device? Thank you.

:toast:

It's my impeccable body hair grooming.

Too bad I'm taken.

:rofl:

And, for the record, I don't do it at the same time.

Duh.

:evilgrin: :spray: and for the record, NO.

Duh.

:evilgrin:

:evilgrin:

:spray:

A gifted amateur. Not really a big fan of Les Mis anymore, but it was not bad.

We're allowed to have our opinions. In mine, her eyes would be easier to discern and it would brighten up her face. I hope this thread doesn't degenerate into the same old plastic surgery, porn standard, let her have hairy legs and pits shouting match the others did.

I certainly don't want to make her over. She's wonderful. I just don't think a little pluck would be as severe a makover as the silicone, peroxide and anorexia fearing naysayers seem to suggest.

:evilgrin:

If you "hope this thread doesn't degenerate into the same old" don't drag that shit in here, eh?

The OP has point, maybe you missed it.

Thank you for your opinion on "a little pluck."

She HAS pluck, she don't need it. :toast:

I find your choice of words very interesting.

:wow:

I am sure she learned early on that the way to take the power away from those that ridicule you was to own the laughter. So you take something you would be teased for and you make it your own joke. Yes, it was funny, and I laughed WITH her. But it was obviously a manner of coping, and it made me a bit sad to think about what she had gone through in her past.

As far as her grooming goes, yes, I think she would be more attractive with tamed eyebrows and styled hair. However, she should only do it if she wants to, not because anyone thinks she should. If it doesn't matter to HER if anyone thinks she would look better, then she doesn't need any changes.

I love her story. I love her voice. I love her strength of spirit. I too was a caregiver for my mom, though not for nearly as long, and I have an amazing respect for Susan for making the sacrifice of her own desires to devote herself to her mother.

I hope she will be successful, but most importantly I hope she will be happy.

:grouphug:

and your insight. You're right, absolutely.

"I am sure she learned early on that the way to take the power away from those that ridicule you was to own the laughter. So you take something you would be teased for and you make it your own joke. Yes, it was funny, and I laughed WITH her. But it was obviously a manner of coping, and it made me a bit sad to think about what she had gone through in her past."

for posting an angle I had not thought of. I am quite a typical American mutt, and my mom's side had the Scott and Irish genes. I can see her wiry eyebrows in your description :pals:

:pals:

"There are types and tribes...in humanity's spectrum." That's a profoundly racist statement, reaching back to 19th century attitudes about "races" being identifiable by certain characteristics. It begins with descriptions of physiognomy and leads very quickly to statements about people's intelligence and mental stability. This is the root of the eugenics movement, which began in the United States and led to forced institutionalization and sterilization of people who were deemed "unworthy" to procreate. It was also used as justification for slavery and later, Jim Crow laws. It's still alive with present-day "research" into the supposed racial differences between people based on their "tribes." See The Bell Curve, for instance.

Many white supremacist groups use so-called "pagan" identities to reinforce their attitudes about the superiority of the white, Germanic and/or Anglo "races." Norse gods and mythology are very popular among younger white supremacist groups, for instance. It's notable that the Nazis also used these Germanic myths and traditions to reinforce their message. They also adopted eugenics from the U.S. and took it to a very great extreme. Genocides and "ethnic cleansings" are all based on this ideology.

Susan Boyle has a beautiful voice, and I admired the way she stood up for herself in the face of ridicule. I don't think it's a good idea to imply that her ethnic heritage is superior to anyone else's, though. Susan Boyle did this herself, as an individual, not because she's the descendant of a superior "race."

Your reply is thoughtful and did not directly attack of accuse me of this. However, it is disconcerting to have such an elaborate projection misdirected in this way. You have shown the dangers of even bringing this up at all and the reason people mostly don't. You may not realize that you have superimposed the imagery of that racist heritage over what I was trying to describe.

Nowhere did I "imply that her ethnic heritage is superior to anyone else's."

Nowhere did I suggest that her accomplishment is "because she's the descendant of a superior "race." "

The only "race" mentioned -- quite consciously -- is the only and one Human race.


"Although some may like to think all white people look alike, there are types and tribes just as every other band in humanity's spectrum."

Yes, I realize how difficult that is to bring up. We don't talk about it and insane world leaders and rabid racists can take a lot of credit for that. However, they and their demented following do not own the human cultural pool which they tried to poison (for all time) with their sick worship.

In a piece with the politics of eyebrows in the title, I support non-airbrushed feminine beauty and respectfully describe disctinctive features based on birth (parents) which were impacted by oxygen deptrivation AT birth.

In the context of your comments, a child such as Susan Boyle would be considered damaged and imperfect, not "superior." Nowhere in the OP was I holding up descendants of one corner of the world as the masters of all.

Quite the opposite.

"They can pluck every hair and paint her blue and it won't matter."

A reference to the Scots warrior and the intergalactic diva in the OP illustration.

IMHO Susan Boyle's voice and performance transcended all our false divisions amongst humanity.


"And then she ROCKED."