“Some feminist critics debate whether we take our meaning and sense of self from language and in that process become phallocentric ourselves, or if there is a use of language that is, or can be, feminine. Some, like myself, think that language is itself neither male nor female; it is creatively expansive enough to be of use to those who have the wit and art to wrest from it their own significance. Even the dread patriarchs have not found a way to 'own' language any more than they have found a way to 'own' earth (though many seem to believe that both are possible).” IfsThinkingWayBelieveArtSelfEnoughUseSeemsEarthFoundLanguageProcessFemaleCriticsMalesFeministWitDebateSignificanceFeminineDreadSense Of SelfUse Of Language Book:Off the Reservation: Reflections on Boundary-busting Border-crossing Loose Canons Source: Off the Reservation: Reflections on Boundary-busting Border-crossing Loose Canons
“Truth, acceptance of the truth, is a shattering experience. It shatters the binding shroud of culture trance. It rips apart smugness, arrogance, superiority, and self-importance. It requires acknowledgment of responsibility for the nature and quality of each of our own lives, our own inner lives as well as the life of the world. Truth, inwardly accepted, humbling truth, makes one vulnerable. You can't be right, self-righteous, and truthful at the same time.” WorldWellsSelfTruthCultureQualityResponsibilityAcceptanceTruth IsImportanceAcceptedVulnerableArroganceRighteousTruthfulSuperiorityRipInner LifeBindingHumblingSelf RighteousTranceAcknowledgmentSelf-importanceShatteringShroudsSmugness Book:Off the Reservation: Reflections on Boundary-busting Border-crossing Loose Canons Source: Off the Reservation: Reflections on Boundary-busting Border-crossing Loose Canons
“Healing the self means committing ourselves to a wholehearted willingness to be what and how we are-beings frail and fragile, strong and passionate, neurotic and balanced, diseased and whole, partial and complete, stingy and generous, twisted and straight, storm-tossed and quiescent, bound and free.” MeanSelfWholeStrongHealingCompassionBoundsPassionateStormGenerousWillingnessFragileBalancedTwistedNeuroticFrailDiseasedStingy Author:Paula Gunn Allen
“In the Native American tradition... a man, if he's a mature adult, nurtures life. He does rituals that will help things grow, he helps raise the kids, and he protects the people. His entire life is toward balance and cooperativeness. The ideal of manhood is the same as the ideal of womanhood. You are autonomous, self-directing, and responsible for the spiritual, social and material life of all those with whom you live.” PeopleIfsMenDoeSelfHelpingKidsSpiritualLife IsSocialGrowsMaterialsBalanceProtectAdultsIdealsTraditionResponsibleRaisesNativeMatureRitualNative AmericanNurtureWomanhoodManhoodAutonomousAmerican Tradition Author:Paula Gunn Allen
