In this week’s episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate Trump’s first 100 days, the history of Hawaii, and the rise of female genital mutilation in the United States.
Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- April 29 marked the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency. Although Trump has downplayed the 100 day marker after previously vowing he’d deliver many campaign promises within such a time, Neil pointed out that the Trump White House has a website promoting his accomplishments in the first 100 days, including a rash of executive orders. (We discussed the history of executive orders on Episode 68.) Niki discussed some of the best and worst first 100 days presidents have had, something she has written about for Vox. Niki argued, however, that 100 days provided no useful metric for assessing a presidency, recommending instead we evaluate a president’s first year, something the Miller Center does with its First Year Project.
- In the wake of Jeff Sessions’s calling dismissal of Hawai’i as an “island in the Pacific,” we discuss the long history of Hawai’i and how mainland Americans have exoticized it through the years.
- Four people have bene arrested for cases of female genital mutilation in the U.S. We discussed the global history of female genital mutilation, including its past in Victorian England and twentieth-century America. Natalia commented on the controversy over the decision by a New York Times editor to use the term “genital cutting” for the procedure because “female genital mutilation” was deemed “culturally loaded.”
In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:
- Natalia talked about the HBO series, Big Little Lies.
- Neil discussed the upsurge of Democrats announcing they are running for public office in response to the Trump presidency.
- Niki commented on the first round of the French presidential election.
Your discussion of FGC was formulaic, hysterical and ill-informed. I wonder if you understand how your conversation reproduces racism and epistemic violence. “This FMG thing comes on the table…” “cutting little girls genitals…..no brainer feminist course…..” “fundamentally misguided”…… Ayan Hirsi Ali…..really? I am truly shocked at the level of discussion here. At least the historian referred to the repressed history, thankfully. BUT BUT BUT. “the feeling this invokes in me…..” “thank heavens we have figured that out and moved to a brighter future……” We will RESCUE the others…… Oh my have you learned nothing from the history of your nation….. Cultural Imperialism yes……indeed. Stop, Breathe and consider that. This issue is used here as a PLATFORM…..it is awful. Uncaring. The women and communities involved are not referenced here at all. Are they considered unworthy of a voice here? You know better than them? Do you you feel the need to know any more about this, or do you think you know everything there is to know. “tentative about engaging in full-throated…..” oh my!!! I am so disappointed at the level of this discussion here. It reminds me of all the critiques of the British discussion and outrage about Sati. I am new to Public Seminar, so not sure where you’re all coming from. But, this discussion does not correspond well with the other thoughtful material I have just read here.