Is freedom free?

So I've been pretty closely following the uprising in Egypt the last couple of days.  It may not surprise you that I love a good protest and power to the people and all that - though I worry about what will happen and particularly about more people getting hurt or killed.

Today I was watching a news story about some Egyptians using social media to organize.  Though they can't currently get online and cell phone service is shut off, apparently cell service has been working intermittently and some people can use apps to access social media.  It's hard to not feel stupid using facebook to announce my annoyance with classes or my excitement to see a friend when people in Egypt are using it to organize resistance to the government. 

Last night I was out with some friends, listening to a cover band at a local bar.  We all had a good time, but the one song I couldn't make myself dance to was Superman that Ho.  I support the Egyptian people in their quest for free speech and all, but some of the assanine shit that people come up with in the US thanks to our free speech just astounds me.  At some point it occurred to me that the dance floor was crowded with 20-somethings lewdly dancing to a song that frankly is not so covert in its message about subjecting women to the sexual dominance of men while thousands of miles away, Egyptians are sneaking onto facebook and twitter to build solidarity and support in their movement for a better country and government.

"Do you think our lives are trivial?" I asked Jenn
"Yes." She responded immediately.

I'm feeling a little torn on the issue of free speech because I've heard too many people rationalizing sexism or blatantly singing about the sexual objectification and domination of women to be able to detach myself from it this week.  I think usually it's so easy for all of us to become desensitized to inequitable power dynamics that are so much a part of our every day lives, but sometimes, it's just all you can see.  And do I think people should have the freedom to perpetuate messages that are racist, sexist, homophobic, and so on?  I guess, because if they couldn't then the rest of us couldn't spread our messages opposing white capitalist patriarchy (thanks for that language, bell hooks).

People in Egypt are using their freedom to speak out against the government, calling for combatting poverty and joblessness, as well as demanding rights to free speech and access to methods of communication.  And what are we doing?  Using our free speech to Superman that Ho.

Custom made vinyl pants

The only way I can keep a straight face right now is by documenting this, so that I am distracted with a task that does not involve laughing at/with the conversation I'm overhearing right now.  Ok, overhearing might be less accurate than eavesdropping on, as I have headphones in and am listening to nothing to make it look like I am not eavesdropping.

"Have you met Molly?"
"I think so.  Was she at the flogging thing?"
"When was that - right before Christmas?"
"No, no, the flogging party was right after Christmas."

I have gathered that the people sitting at the table next to me in the coffeeshop are swingers, or some other label one might use to describe people who are sexually open and attend various types of fetish and sex parties.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not judging.  In fact, I kind of admire their ability to meet up at a coffeeshop and discuss their sexcapades, fetishes, and comfort levels with different sexual practices in not so hushed tones.

I've gathered so far that the man next to me is comfortable with topping, and that the woman admires vinyl pants - which are sexier and more comfortable than leather.  I've also gathered that both of them are impressed with someone's penis, which "was a big hit" at a recent party.  I think the nice penis belonged to the person who wore custom-made vinyl pants, but I can't be sure.  It's all I can do right now to not actually pick up my chair and move a little closer, or to start asking them personal questions about their sex lives - which I find much more interesting than writing a case study for class.  It's not every day I get to hear this sort of conversation in a coffee shop, and I'm finding it much more entertaining than the racist situation I witnessed earlier (see http://safaristeph.tumblr.com/).   I haven't heard talks this good since I worked for a fairly radical nonprofit that worked to affirm sexual freedom.  So - I guess it's refreshing that these people feel safe enough to have this sort of conversation in a public space.