So I’m watching one of those cheesy movies I love, while I’m reading the news, and I hear Father Lawyer screech to his 18-year old Journalist Daughter, ‘I’m not sure you know how to handle the story.’ And the article I’m reading – Catholic Universities are divided on whether to allow students to mount a production of The Vagina Monologues. For the unfamiliar, TVM, which is now a Valentine’s Day ritual, is based on these amazing discussions playwright Eve Ensler had with over 200 girls and women about their vaginas. Some of these women talk about homosexuality, rape, degradation. It’s deep.
I can handle this story.
Free speech. DON’T MESS WITH ME. Universities? Must be bastions of academic freedom. But schools based on specific tenets, such as Catholicism, have to obey their rules also. It’s a delicate balance.
Notre Dame decided it will perform the play in a classroom and ban ticket sales. I don’t get how giving it away free will keep Catholics pure?
Hmmm.
Providence College decided to ban the play. Its president, Rev. Brian Shanley, told USA Today, “the play has little redeeming value.”
He’s wrong, I called my sistah girls to discuss vaginas. Some screamed, ‘that’s nasty.’
We need to redeem some truths.
“THIS PARTICULAR WOMAN WAS 72 YEARS OLD,
AND SHE HAD NEVER SEEN HER VAGINA …
AND SHE’D NEVER HAD AN ORGASM.
AND SHE WORKED WITH A WONDERFUL THERAPIST,
AND SHE TOLD ME IT TOOK HER OVER AN HOUR
BECAUSE SHE WAS ARTHRITIC,
BUT WHEN SHE FINALLY FOUND HER CLITORIS,
SHE SAID SHE CRIED.” 1
As Eve notes, “the clitoris, which is the only male or female organ designed solely for pleasure, has the highest concentration of and twice the number of nerve fibers than the penis.”
If I were a man, this could make me feel insignficant. But a good man is secure in his manhood.
Shanley, redemption is also emancipation.
THE HEART IS CAPABLE OF SACRIFICE.
THE HEART IS ABLE TO FORGIVE AND REPAIR.
IT CAN CHANGE ITS SHAPE TO LET US IN.
IT CAN EXPAND TO LET US OUT.
IT CAN ACHE FOR US AND STRETCH FOR US,
AND DIE FOR US.
AND BLEED US INTO THIS DIFFICULT WONDROUS WORLD.
SO CAN THE VAGINA. 1
That’s neither nasty, nor gross, sistahs. It’s wonderful.
And keep in mind a man will respect you only as high as you respect all of yourself.
If a man or woman can’t get that, it’s not the story that’s not worth redeeming.
And that’s the handle of this.
1 The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler (1997)
