Laila Lalami

“In the nineteenth century, women in this country had a great deal to be angry about. They could not vote, it was difficult for them to divorce, they had few rights over their children and married women had no control over their property. (…) To say things have improved since those dark days is a pretty big understatement. So why are the contributors to The Bitch in the House, a contemporary look at women’s lives and pre-occupations, so angry? I don’t mean mildly cross or a bit miffed, but absolutely boiling with rage and fury. ”
Read the Guardian‘s review of Cathi Hanauer’s The Bitch in the House and Melanie Phillips’s The Ascent of Woman.

Peace sign lapels were ubiquitous on celebrities at the Oscars yesterday, perhaps making not wearing one a statement in itself. The show was off to a good start when Chris Cooper finally won his oscar. His speech included something like “in light of all the trouble in the world, I wish us all peace.” Applause.
Native Texan Matthew McConaughey wore three flowers on his lapel: red, white and blue, as he introduced something. Can’t remember what. Was too preoccuppied by trying to figure out which flowers he used.
Mexico’s Gael Garcia Bernal (of Y Tu Mama Tambien fame) was very composed as he introduced the Oscar-nominated song for the film Frida. He then quoted la Kahlo “I don’t paint my dreams, I paint my reality, ” and used to that to segue into, “The necessity for peace in the world is not a dream, it’s a reality. We are not alone. If Frida was alive, she’d be on our side — against war.”
It was probably worth it to tune in just to see Barbra Streisand squeal with delight as she read Eminem’s name as the winner for Best Original Song. Didn’t know she listened to rap.
Michael Moore received a standing ovation for his win for Bowling for Columbine. He proceeded to give (a very slightly modified version of) the same speech he had delivered the night before at the Spirit Awards. “We live in fictitious times, when we have fictitious election results that elect a fictitious president, when we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. We are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you.. And anytime you have the Dixie Chicks and the Pope against you, your time is up.” Or something like that. At the Spirit awards Moore was applauded, but last night he was greeted with loud boos, which had the effect of getting the orchestra started, then more cheers, then again more boos. What a difference a day makes.
I was thrilled by Adrien Brody’s surprise (but more than well-deserved) win for The Pianist because I had absolutely loved that movie, and loved Brody in it. He gave a great acceptance speech, and just as they tried to cut him off with the music, he waved to Bill Conti to stop and said, “[This award] fills me with great joy, but I’m also filled with a lot of sadness tonight because I’m accepting an award at such a strange time. You know my experiences in making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanization of people at times of war and the repercussions of war. Whether you believe in God or Allah, may he watch over you and let’s pray for a peaceful and swift resolution.”

I received an email from Morocco today which included this bit: “We’re been watching the war coverage. We have at least 5 live news channels, and then the other channels also run commentary. It’s useful to compare so we can decode the real news from the fake (not everything that is said by the American channels is true and the same for the Iraqi/Arab ones).”

“Believe it or not, Philippe Besson’s In the Absence of Men, a short novel in the terse style of the late Marguerite Duras, has Marcel Proust as the father of an illegitimate son born to a prostitute in the first year of the 20th century. The son, now a French soldier on a short leave from fighting in World War I, is passionately in love with the narrator, a 16-year-old boy named Vincent, who returns the soldier’s lust and then, after a very sexy week, believes him to be the love of his life.” Read Rick Whitaker’s review of In the Absence of Men in the Washington Post. Hint: He didn’t like it.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that tell the story….

“10:05 pm. CBS News anchor Dan Rather declares “Good morning Baghdad” as the bombing begins.” Daily Press War Watch Summary (3/20)

“Later, Marines briefly raised an American flag over the city [Umm Qasr] before they were ordered by superiors to take it down, in accordance with Bush’s statements that this is a war of liberation, not conquest.”
Shock and Awe (Newsday, 3/22)

“U.S. tanks rolled through the town [of Safwan] with messages painted on their turrets. “Got oil?” read one.”
US Launches Huge Airstrike on Baghdad (AP, 3/21)

General Tommy Franks–whom I kind of like…there’s something about men with graying hair, wearing fatigues… er…never mind–Franks had his news conference today from Qatar. This interesting tidbit from the Washington Post/AP article:
“The news conference was attended by a mix of U.S. and international journalists, one of whom pressed Franks a second time about whether Saddam was alive. There have been unconfirmed reports that the Iraqi president was wounded or killed on the opening night of the war.
“Actually, I don’t know if he’s alive or not,” Franks said. “But interestingly, the way we’re undertaking this military operation” would not change regardless of what happens to Saddam.”
So, those of us who were naive enough to think that targeting Saddam would save the civilians can let go of our illusions.

I just finished drafts of two new stories, and for once I don’t feel like just leaving them in my drawer for another round of revisions. Feedback has been positive, so I’m planning on sending them out to literary journals. I had taken a break from submitting because I wanted to focus on writing, but now I feel the time is right. So we shall see.

“Political courage is usually in short supply, but there was a lot of it on display at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 6.
Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, and three other members of Congress had the nerve to be the first to call for changes in a law called the USA Patriot Act. They announced the introduction of H.R. 1157, the Freedom to Read Protection Act.”
The article also has links that show you how to contact your congressperson to ask for support.
Link via Bookslut.

Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dennis Lehane, and Wally Lamb are the signatories of another “Earth to Bush” letter, this one a full-page ad in the New York Times.
But you know the Administration’s position on this. Bush “appreciates societies in which people can express their opinion.” So long as he doesn’t have to actually listen.

Link via MobyLives.

Yesterday, I received two emails from journalists asking me whether I thought Salam Pax was a real person and whether he was truly blogging from Baghdad. My answer: Depends on my mood. Right now (and for the last few days), I think he’s real. Ask me again some other day. Apparently, Diane received similar emails, and here’s her response.