There’s been some hubbub in Reformed circles recently about how you’re supposed to tell your feelings to “shut up” because presumably Jesus wants you to. Ultimately it doesn’t matter if you’ve been following the back-and-forth; it’s something that tends to crop up a lot in those theological circles. Here’s what I think about that: asideContinue reading “On the need for emotion”
Author Archives: Katie Botkin
The 19 Individuals who are Ruining Burning Man for the Tech Bros
The Honeypot: attractive girl paid to stand in front of steampunk leatherwear or wallet-busting, all-inclusive camps. Like everyone else, dressed in a few wisps of bespoke spandex; a fair-trade body chain; forehead crystals; and thigh-high boots to ward off the chemical burns of the toxic alkali Black Rock desert. Looks sexier in this costume thanContinue reading “The 19 Individuals who are Ruining Burning Man for the Tech Bros”
The power of gossip
Some of the women who were harassed by Harvey Weinstein mentioned a kind of code: whispered information passed between women about who to avoid, who was a creep. This code was even the source of a joke in an SNL skit from last Saturday; “the code was ‘he raped me.’ That way, if any menContinue reading “The power of gossip”
For the not-all-men
My little brother once carried an unconscious woman to her friend’s house so that the man who had roofied her, whoever he was and nobody seemed to know, would be far away; so she would wake up in a familiar and comfortable place. This is for all the men who have chosen to use theirContinue reading “For the not-all-men”
Ode to Jael
He thinks that you, a woman will give him all that he desires: warm welcome, the work of your body, a pillow to repose upon and sleep. So when he speaks, he uses his own language; the glint of his armor and the dried blood on his sword will do the translating for him. HeContinue reading “Ode to Jael”
Erasing history
A couple of days ago, my boyfriend brought in a flier he’d found on the ground in the neighborhood. One of our friends who lives a few blocks away — a warm woman who teaches children for a living — had gotten one tossed into her yard, so he was on the lookout. The flierContinue reading “Erasing history”
Hipster Yuppie First World Problems
1. Never been to Burning Man. 2. Whole Foods Kombucha selection not local enough. 3. My spa-day anti-aging intravenous vitamin drip is making my arm burn a little bit. 4. Have to keep hitting “connect” every 30 minutes for the free wifi at the airport. 5. Bartender is out of smoked hibiscus salt. 6. GoogleContinue reading “Hipster Yuppie First World Problems”
On tribes
I recently visited a woman in an assisted living home in Texas, near Fort Worth. I remembered how, as a child, I visited my great-grandmother and her twin sister at their shared home in Fort Worth, how I tentatively touched the folded skin of her ancient hands and throat and how small, even then, theirContinue reading “On tribes”
Tamar, 1% temptress
Dear friends, This is Jonadab, Prince Amnon’s confidant. I am happy to report that Amnon is repentant and has accepted the gospel. Ammon really nailed himself over this stuff to me, so please accept him back into the fold and remember: I’m still a great guy even though I’m friends with men like Ammon. Why?Continue reading “Tamar, 1% temptress”
Depressing diatribe on date-rape
Maybe it’s the mid-January slump where people are most likely statistically to commit suicide, but in the past six days, I’ve learned that five of my friends have been date-raped and that a sixth friend, whom I already knew was raped years ago, had been raped again recently. Nobody reported any of it. Additional women voicedContinue reading “Depressing diatribe on date-rape”
Botkin Creative 