Dr. Susan Block

In the Chatroom

33 Comments

  1. Bromeo
    06 · 9 · 10 @ 10:53 am

    “Miss and Mrs. oh and Ms.” Pageants have always been about the swimsuit competition anyway. Was the pageant not first created by men to convince girls to show us their stuff….of course it was. Talent was just a way to mask the objective….objectifying the women and turning on the men. It still is. WHO CARES ABOUT THE talents. I never look at the “Sports Illustrated” swimsuit edition to see whats on her mind. She’s in a frikin bikini, we’re looking for any signs of a nipple slip or a camel toe….RIGHT? cuz that would be hot. Come on ppl, Miss USA is a woman, a sexual creature, and has by all rights the ability to do with her body anything she wants … as defined by the term FREEDOM. WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TO JUDGE HER you stuck up pricks who think she personifies anything negative about women or country or society. SHE IS A WOMAN and SEXY, leave her alone and go jerk off about it in your own way, since you too have FREEDOM.

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  2. Missy Beattie
    06 · 3 · 10 @ 8:10 pm

    I LOVE your writing, its content and style. You always make me think and laugh, two requirements for celebrating life. Thanks from a fellow CP contributor.

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  3. michael g.b.
    05 · 26 · 10 @ 2:55 pm

    she’s got MY pole dancing. :)

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  4. michael g.b.
    05 · 26 · 10 @ 11:44 am

    “bikini power”!!! . . . “thong power”!!! . . . and it proves that we solve our differences . . . at the poles! (the stripper poles!). :)

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  5. michael g.b.
    05 · 26 · 10 @ 11:42 am

    i always used to say and still say: “make love not war” . . . Rima, dance on! (pole or no pole). :)

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  6. Imtiaz Waris
    05 · 24 · 10 @ 3:57 pm

    I had a chance Saturday night to personally meet Dr. Susan Block in Los Angeles, and this particular subject of islamic emancipation of the gentler sex was discussed. I am horrified that someone wrote that just as Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, Susan is writing and promoting metaphorically something identical. Having had various discussions Saturday night,I want to inform my islamic brothers and sisters worldwide that Dr. Block though of the Jewish faith, is a very secular person and very open. In fact, I found her to be spiritually-based and someone who would be a great ally for muslim women worldwide.

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  7. Josh Ginsburg
    05 · 24 · 10 @ 3:38 pm

    I had no idea there were so many bikini-wearing women parading around Lebanon. But if your Muslim readers are right, I must include Lebanon in my travel plans (ha-IF they let me in, which they won’t since I’m Jewish)

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  8. David in Nashville
    05 · 24 · 10 @ 3:33 pm

    Great piece on Rima, Dr. Suzy. Thank you for so eloquently defending our vivacious and beautiful Ms USA from haters on the Right and Left

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  9. Rasha almahroos
    05 · 23 · 10 @ 11:25 am

    I have copied and pasted my email to Counterpunch concerning your article. I just read the article “Something About Rima” by Dr. Susan Block in Counterpunch published in the Weekend Edition May 21-23. I am shocked at the level of ignorance displayed by Dr. Bock and even more shocked at Counterpunch’s decision to publish such a poorly researched article. Lets get one thing straight. Rima Fakih has made it clear that she is not religious and not a Hezbollah supporter. That being said, it is ridiculous for Dr. Bock to assume that bikini-wearing women would not be a supporter of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah has many supporters in Lebanon among liberals (and by liberals here I am referring to those who are liberal in their dress and not in their political values), secularists and Christians due to its stance against Israel. Julia Butros, a popular Christian and liberal singer in Lebanon is a supporter of Hezbollah. In fact, she even sang a song praising Nasrallah. Michel Aon, one of Lebanon’s strongest Christian leaders is part of the Hezbollah-Amal coalition. Many of his supporters are bikini-wearing women. If Magnus Ranstorp’s, the supposed “world leading expert” on Hezbollah does not know this, then the West really has problems when it comes to expertise on Hezbollah. Also, anyone who claims that a liberally dressed woman would be flogged if she were to appear in a Hezbollah neighborhood in Beirut clearly has never been to Lebanon. First of all, Hezbollah does not waste its time flogging anyone. It’s a political party after all and has other “more important” issues on its agenda. It considers itself a resistance movement and is focused on Lebanese-Israeli issues. People wear what they wear in Lebanon whether the neighborhood is dominated by Hezbollah supporters or not (By the way, there is no such thing as a Hezbollah controlled neighborhood). I urge Magnus Ranstrop to walk around in Beirut before making such inaccurate statements.

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  10. Doglive
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 6:44 pm

    Dear people,
    All your religions are very nice and you are all guilty of murder and mayhem in the name of some god you made up in order to create your flocks and build your empires. Problem is you didn’t listen to the universe which is perfect in its’ anarchy therefore you and your children will suffer bloodshed and mother nature will snuff you out and to dust you will return. LOL In other words you all missed the boat.
    DOGLIVE

    Reply

  11. Casey Periwinkle
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 6:30 pm

    fyi google Mozhgan Savabieasfahani – go to google image and u will see why some women should wear veils

    Reply

  12. Morgan Mayfair
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 6:03 pm

    Thank you for your article on Rima, Dr. Block, your humor and good common sense is a breath of fresh air in a field (beauty) where people often take themselves way too seriously and have no sense whatsoever.

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  13. Mozhgan Savabieasfahani
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 5:33 pm

    If I had a penny for every time a Zio-peacnick told me how they care about Palestine and Human Rights, I would have enough funding for a real science projects that could wipe out what is left of U.S. and Israeli bogus claims of humanity, democracy, and decency. Zio-peacnicks like you, while masquerading as human rights lovers, continue to actively sabotage any real action to stop the deadly Israeli/U.S. death machine. For example, Zio-peacnicks stand firmly against any boycott Israel efforts. Boycott is the one action that can put an end to Israeli butchery and theft and war mongering in the middle east.

    I/we know you and your kind too too well Dr. Block.

    But the “progressive” support, the repeated chances to publish on counterpunch etc… goes to you and your views not to us. The friend who sent me your article is a highly educated Arab woman who herself had a thing or two to say about Ms. USA, and she send her article to counterpunch too. But they opted to print your article and not her’s. How odd, wouldn’t you say? Obviously the voice of a Zio-peacnick sex therapist is more valuable than an Arab woman critical of the charade that is called sexual freedom and women rights in America. The American “Ms. this and that” industry can speak for itself. If you chose to continue your support for such abuses of women in the name of sexual freedoms, it is up to you. It is plain as the day light that Ms. America and contest like it, are part of the thriving sex industry in America, period. No matter how much lipstick you put on this pig, it is still a pig. Further, I only skimmed through your article. It is not worth my time and I had no intentions of writing to you. The note I wrote, I wrote to sent to my Arab woman friend who’s article was dismissed in favor of yours by counterpunch.

    She knows me and my name. That was why I only wrote my initial. You can google me and my articles (in the few places that would publish them) by using my name (mozhgan Savabieasfahnai and Tlaxcala or Palestine think tank). You will also see a photo of me which will allow you to see how racist you really are; and how I hide nothing under your dreaded “headscarf”. I know why you despise headscarfs, it has nothing to do with freedom of women; it has everything to do with genuine resistance to U.S. and Israel, in your little head. Rotten despicably violent and criminal societies (like U.S. and Israel) promote the likes of you before they gives me, or voices like mine, a chance. In fact they systematically eliminate voices like mine. Your hanna (a popular middle eastern plant hair dye) has no color any more (a famous Iranian saying to indicate “we know you too well your deceptive words are no longer effective”).

    Rima, and the likes of you, can go ahead and “enjoy” your bodies all you like. I am convinced there are more women interested in real freedom and decency and that WE will prevail. There is no doubt in my mind that you and Rima will end up in the trash bin of history, if you are not already there.

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  14. Saja
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 5:19 pm

    Dr. Block, (copy to Counterpunch)

    I found your piece in Counterpunch thoroughly disgusting. While you are right to defend Rima Fakih against accusations of terrorism affiliations, you did so by ridiculing the religion and culture she came from. As an Arab woman, I consider your politics every bit as threatening as the WMDs you criticized. How dare you condescend my culture? From where do you get your audacity to peddle old, tired stereotypes about Islam? Your concern for Arab women’s liberation rings as hollow as your government’s desire to bring “democracy” to Muslims by bombardment. Before you dismiss me as the “strict Muslim” woman you so ignorantly pitied, know that I’m not religious. I don’t even pray five times a day. But I have the ability to oppose imperialism as well as patriarchy without a helping hand from western feminists (if you can at all fathom that). I believe I speak for many Arab women when I say we’re sick of your attempts to “liberate” us by colonizing us through your racist form of feminism. I recommend you read Haifa Zangana’s writings on how much your brand of feminism has harmed Arab and Muslim women. Google her to learn how hypocritically your types show little to no concern for women under occupation, and how Iraq, for example, had female poets and teachers and women in prominent government positions at the same time American women were still struggling for the right to vote. My genuine pity for you outweighs your ill-informed pity for us.

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  15. Butros Dahu
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 5:16 pm

    After reading your article, I found some of your points are misconceptions. To be honest many Palestinian women were well known to be sexually active particuarly college age. Furthermore there are more women in college than men in Palestine. Sadly this misconception derives itself from biased media and people who visit places but don’t stay long enough to know the hidden and thriving underworld side of Arab culture. To Arabs do something bad is okay as long as it is not made public. That’s something the west misses noticing at first glance. The other point I find debatable is why we need to promote “western values”. Why is the West so obsessed at stuffing their values down everybody’s elses throats? What makes Western values so special in the first place? I’m not anti-Western, just believing that the west addiction to influence makes them believe Western values must be promoted. It’s not the values but the influence that matters to the West.

    I don’t know why religion affects people so much. People go crazy over Tim Tebow because he is religious. In your statement you hope that she is stays non-religious. In other words you hope she is whtat you want her to be. I rather want her to be what she wants to be. True freedom is not determined by what the end result is but whether you are allowed the means to choose the result you like. Choice is more important than the end product. I rather live in a society that has women who choose to wear the burqa even if they don’t have than live in one like France which restricts wearing the burqa. Freedom is more with the former. Furthermore, most Muslims don’t kill themselves for virgins. That’s a saying that is really for American audiences because it fits well with American belief system about sex. I’ve only heard of one incident of a person mentioning the virgin things and the issue wasn’t really discussed. Also it is debatable whether the Quron really meant 72 virgins or something else. IT was never mentioned in the Quron but more less a vague interpretation of a few verses. Second, your kind of imply that Muslim don’t get to see their womeen. Like I said earlier there is a lot more that you don’t see. Keep in mind is an Arab tradition that is even still done in weddings. Furthermore the burqa isn’t universly worn. I’ve often seen the burqa worn as a sign of marriage than of piety. I’ve often seen people were a hijab with really tight clothing. It’s weird but quite common. In other words many give lip service to the clothing concept. Many men sit on the streets in Palestine and check out women all day long. Pretty perveted if you ask me. I’ve even seen one woman call out to a younger woman in the middle of downtown Ram Allah by saying “Hey you with the pretty curves!” Believe it or not being fat in Palestine for women is a no-no. Beauty is valued. Also I’ve heard in Jordan the in-laws wait outside the hotel room of newly weds and listen in on the hotel waiting to hear the moaning of sex as if it’s some accomplishment. Although I’m not sure about this, I’ve seen an Egyptian film that has a host of people waiting outside and then cheering and congratulating each other when they hear newly weds having sex. Guess there is more to Muslims and Arabs than the Taliban.

    BTW I’m a Palestianian Christian born in Arkansas. I had thoughts about Arabs until I lived there for six years. I’ve learn a lot from how people live over there and relize they are not as moral as people make them out to be. I’d argue the Arab men and women in America are more moral than what I saw in Palestine.

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  16. MAXATNITE
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 12:29 pm

    Dear Dr. M,

    I think that we all agree that all these religious wars that are going on Suck-A-Big One. The killing in the name of religion and endless profit shames all of us.

    I don’t think Dr. Block wants to cozy up to Arab women, or American women. I think she wants to support and help liberate those women/men that feel oppressed by their past at the hands ego maniacs that run the world. I believe she is reaching out to all individuals who feel shamed and exploited in the name of selfish philosophies that degrade human life.

    As a researcher you should also know that white American trash like me is the minority in this world. Heck, I’m even a minority in Los Angeles… So please don’t blame all white folk and Jews for the killing machines that thrive in this world. Look at the color of your own skin, read your own history please and as an individual stop throwing stones at others.

    Yes, what beasts we are not to be able to get along. And yes what angels we are for supporting all women, all men to resist the dictatorship of any political or religious violence and terror.

    Stop throwing stones, good Dr. M. Help stop these wars and this terror that you and I allow to take place because we are too busy living our lives, and support all women who want change in their own life.

    Hopefully we’ll see you in the next Medical Journal sans your scrubs.

    Peace to you…
    Max

    Reply

  17. Jim Koy
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 12:26 pm

    Great piece in defense of our sexy “Miss USA”, Rima Fakih, though please realize that the “tea parties” you flippantly disparage started-out being formed by pro-sexual-freedom, libertarian-minded citizens (e.g., the “Ron Paul”-kind) who merely want government out of our lives as much as possible whereby we can each pursue happiness without interference from anyone–Left or Right. While it’s true that religious-fanatic conservative-Republicans are now trying to co-opt the libertarian “tea party”-movement, it’s also true that Dr. Susan Block (and her fans) have many natural-allies within that movement (which includes this writer)…

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  18. Scout Thomas
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 4:11 am

    Best article on the Ms. USA uproar I’ve read. Poor girl is being attacked on all sides. Thanks for defending her, Dr. Susan

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  19. Janet Goodyear
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 3:58 am

    Of course there are moderate Muslims. I’ve known several of them in college. It seems every Muslim you meet would like to see Israel done away with, so by “moderate” you can take that with a grain of salt. Myself, I’d like to see Congress done away with half the time, so we all have our gripes. But not every Muslim is a terrorist, and God, I sure hope we’re over that by now.

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  20. Anna Murphy
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 3:20 am

    Excellent post Imtiaz, excellent article Doc ! Thanks to you both.

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  21. Imtiaz Waris
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 2:58 am

    Susan, Earlier today during friday prayers, the muslim clergy gave a Fatwa against Rima Fakih in a Detroit mosque alleging that she had committed a grave sin by exposing herself, and that the west is using these tactics now to shame muslim women. And that is another Jewish conspiracy against Islam. What a bunch of looney tunes.

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  22. Shireen Hussain
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 2:53 am

    Great article Doc Susan, thanks

    Reply

  23. alfred zakhour
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 2:43 am

    “The idea is “ludicrous,” said Magnus Ranstorp, a Swedish political scientist and one of the world’s leading experts on Hezbollah. “[Rima] would be flogged if she showed up in any of Hezbollah’s neighborhoods in Beirut.” It is obvious that this “expert” has never been in Southern Beirut or any of the villages in South lebanon where it is “under Hizbollah control”. Any person who goes there will find that half of the young woman do not wear any hijab and you will see alcoholic bars and few miles away women in bikini’s. It does not matter if Hizbollah does not approve of that because hizbollah is more tolerant than the ignorant politrical science proffesor .

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  24. M
    05 · 22 · 10 @ 2:11 am

    Dear Dr. Block

    I am — by your yard stick– a Muslim woman, an atheist, a doctor, a researcher and all the while sick and tired of White America —- watching as their beloved democratic government butchers women and children all over the middle east; while pretending they are peace-loving and most interested in freedom and decency especially for women of the middle east especially Arab women.

    I was forwarded your article by a precious friend. I feel I need to share with you what it invoked in me.

    Here it is:

    It is indeed very sad to see this much attention given to a contest that is at its core degrading to all women all over the world.

    Especially when it is so hard to get the world to notice: Each year, over a thousand—yes a thousand—malformed children are born in one hospital in Fallujah. This does not include babies that are born dead or those that die as a result of miscarriage. And this is in just one hospital in Iraq. Who knows what else is going on elsewhere thanks to USA war machine.

    It is sickening to hear this kind of gibberish at a time like this.

    The U.S. has implemented means of ethnic annihilation and is planing for more of the same in the region, and all people (and sex therapists) want to talk about is how whoring in America pays and how we should all strive to make it in the land of Theft and Butchery.

    What Beasts!!!!!

    But on the bright side, it seems we have a SEX therapist on our side (I will not be surprises if she is a Zio-peacnick who thinks “standing up” for Ms. USA is a progressive act of solidarity with Arab Women.

    What fucking obscenity.

    So sorry for the bad language…I am so fed up.

    M
    Boycott Israel-Hands off Iran

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  25. Imtiaz Waris
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 4:14 pm

    I think it was about time a Muslim woman won a contest of this sort. Our clergy have historically condemned any thing which relates to aesthetics, hedonism or is oriented towards pleasure or sexuality. Yet if one looks at the history of the Arabs and even the Mughals who ruled India for several hundred years, polygamy, slave girls and concubines were all an integral part of that society. As a matter of fact women were considered chattel for many centuries. What is even more ironic is the fact that Rima is of Lebanese extract and Beirut in its heyday was the Paris of the Middle East and the playground of rich Arabs and other Muslims from around the world. I give Rima kudos for having the strength to run in a beauty contest considering her background. I hope in the future other Muslim women do the same. Lets drop the hypocrisy and accept the reality of who we are and what God put for us to enjoy and revel in.

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  26. Nori
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 3:58 pm

    Why the stink? Why raise so much attention over something so minor? I think humanizing these types of events is a step in the right direction. It seems like through out the history of these pageants we’ve only used them as a platform to degrade winners as a way of making us feel better about our own insecurities <--- selfish. Its foolish, the pageants goals seemingly aim towards deifying some special mortal woman but secretly we use it as a forum to bash these beauties, only to mask our own irritation with ourselves. So nay sayers who are siding with this "Miss Hezbollah" crap. Take a real good look at yourself and both fact and character of the parties and situation. It really is a sad day Debbie, when you use your clout to point fingers and slander individuals not based on facts but sheer will and want to use this woman as a political scape goat, only to further your not so well hidden tea-party agenda. Shame on you for being so selfish. The whole thing is nonsensical, and a farce. Maybe I'm just being naive here, but it's a "beauty" pageant right? When did we twist it into being our past experience. I can understand the inner beauty portion of the argument so I'll let it pass... -ish, but why does an individuals past need be measured if beauty is the pursuit. I hope I'm not alone in this but its about beauty and who that person is, right? Examine the present situation, without bias and see what you get. Is it not logical to state that we are greatly influenced by our experiences and environment? So does that not shape our inner beauty? Isn't that what makes us who we are? If we're going to examine it that closely is it really about beauty anymore are are we making it into something else? So ask yourself what are we changing these pageants into? ... BAH!!! Ok, sorry I'm getting off my soap box but for some reason this just irritates me. I wish I could put a finger on why. Time to call the doctor.

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  27. Jeffrey St Clair
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 12:39 pm

    Merci!

    Reply

  28. Michael Donnelly
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 11:32 am

    Excellent analysis. I couldn’t believe it when I first read about the new Miss USA. Usually I don’t even pay attention to such stuff – I can only name Vanessa Williams when I think of past such pageant winners. This time the underlying content is so revolutionary…in all the ways you cite. One of my friends has a pole in her home mini-dance hall. I tried it. I gained respect for the athleticism required. I think it should be a part of the competition in future pageants!

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  29. Brandillio
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 6:05 am

    hot damn she’s sexy! i’d like to crotch-bomb her fertile crescent! yea…

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  30. Casey Periwinkle
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 2:00 am

    wow what a knockout! i’m usually not into beauty queens but rima is hot. i will celebrate masturbation month thinking about her tonite. thanks for bringing her to my attention, doc.

    Reply

  31. Marcus Jay
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 1:40 am

    Is it me or are the beauty queens looking more like Victoria Secret models? Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But they don’t really have a lingerie competition now, do they?

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  32. maxartcore
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 1:18 am

    I had a beautiful assistant when I was in France, she was from Morocco, her name was Iman. She was beautiful, smart and very, very sexy. But she represented thousands of Arab women who have thrown away their veils for a new life of freedom, as have many Catholic women and other oppressed religious and political victims.

    No we don’t stone our libertine women in this country, we kill them in movies, attack them in dark alleys, beat them in the privacy of our own homes and deride them in our churches and attack them on TV by the neo-con cracked tea pots who fill this country with hate and violence.

    Bless her soul for her revolutionary actions that will inspire millions of women around the world to break away from the past.

    Nice piece, Doc. I love you.

    Reply

  33. CeeBee
    05 · 21 · 10 @ 12:11 am

    Great article Dr. Suzy. Once again you are the voice of reason and hot sex.

    Reply

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