I've been laid up with the flu for 2 days. Just got myself out of bed for a second to check in. My DH grew up with antisemitism - was called a "Christ Killer" etc. and it left some deep wounds. Even here in rural NYS we had someone who wrote a letter to the editor saying the the Holacost never happened, that it was made-up by the jews for sympathy. This infuriated my DH and he wrote a very pointed letter back about ignorance etc. Wish I still had a copy. I do think prejudice comes from fear. Speaking of prejudice against women, I think men often see that we women are just as strong, intelligent and able to lead just as well and it scares them. I must say, however, that the company I work for (J&J) has dispensed with this prejudice. The site manager here in Rochester is a woman and they have some very smart and effective women on their board of directors. I think it has made them a stronger more competitive corporation. So maybe it is changing.

I too had trouble reading the parts of the book about the camps. I'm amazed that anyone survived. I think that by the end of the book Jacquiline became my favorite character - she was one heck of a strong woman.

With that I'm going back to my bed for more tea and sleep.

Lyn

Hi Zoe,

I was just wondering whether I was leading the discussion into "controversy." Then, I wondered what constitutes "controversy" among like-minded people. Probably just too much of my philosophy classes.

Lynn

Hi Lyn,

Sorry to hear you're not feeling good.

I agree with you on both points -
1) How did anyone survive - physically or psychologically? There is a man in my condo who was in a concentration camp during WW II. He is suffering from severe depression. Was OK for years after the war, started getting depressed about 8 years ago.

2) Yes, Jacqueline was my favorite also. What courage and tenacity!

Feel better,

Lynn

About the "Sexuality" and "Fate" issues -

I was an adolescent in the 60's. I had always thought that people became more sexually active (outside of marriage) during the 60's. The book seemed to me to be saying that WW II was the catalyst for this. What do you think about this one?

I kind of liked how Piercy accounted for fate in her book. Some things were planned out by the characters, but some things just happened to them. People just kind of ran into each other's lives. I have always been interested in the role of "fate" in our lives. I'm pretty much of a "control freak," but so many things in my life just happened. As I was reading, I kept thinking of that song in a play - I think it was Camelot - "It's lucky to be smart, but it's smarter to be lucky."

Lynn