Republicans of MN! (I know you're on here) What do you think about Gilead?

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

For those not familiar, Gilead is the futuristic society depicted in The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

The main thing that characterises Gilead is that it's really big on Law and Order. Crime rates are very low, and a lot of offences are punished by the death penalty, including abortion (that's the other thing - they're very, very pro-life).

As a society they're all about Christian values, leaning more towards the Old Testament. Education is structured around the bible, and it underpins their whole way of life.

Another thing about Gilead is that it championed a return to traditional gender roles, with women as homemakers and primary childcarers. Definitely no feminism! The man is the head of the household, and his word is law. A number of the women in Gilead were in favour of this change and played a strong part in bringing any naysayers up to speed, arguing that the pressure on modern women to 'have it all' (career, children, the vote etc) was actually quite damaging.

What else. Well, hard borders, probably the hardest of any country in the world. Little or no immigration, certainly. Really strong economy - the best!

As with any society, there are downsides to Gilead, although they only really affect those who don't play ball, or don't make any effort to fit in. Basically, if you adhere to Christian values, and are loyal to Gilead's leaders, you'll be fine.

So, what are your thoughts on all this? I ask because, what with all the Trump threads, I'm learning a lot about how his supporters think and I'm genuinely interested to know how deeply you hold these beliefs and values.

YABU = I'm a proud Republican and I'd certainly give it a go!
YANBU = Call me a snowflake, but something about this sounds iffy.

(The rest of you fuckers BEHAVE, OK? Don't scare them off. I'm genuinely trying to learn a bit more about what's going on over there.)

I'm a republican, but that just means I want to behead the Queen (I mean, pensioning her off would be fine but I'm a traditionalist). Why would that mean I like Gilead?

@BiBabbles that is really helpful, thank you (not being sarcastic for once )

I think (hope) that the majority of republicans would agree with you. I do wonder, though, how many of them would sign up to the Gilead I'm selling in my OP.

@raddledoldmisanthropist I think - not 100% sure but I think - beheading the Queen is OK in Gilead. I will find out and get back to you.

I think - not 100% sure but I think - beheading the Queen is OK in Gilead. I will find out and get back to you.

Oh good, I'm in. I mean, how bad could the rest of it be?

American Republicans. Very different to Irish republicans or others.

@raddledoldmisanthropist OK yeah, she missed church TWICE this year and Olivia Colman recently DENOUNCED her as 'the ultimate feminist' in an exclusive interview. So there's your answer.

I do like the teal the Wives wear. We do need more teal in our lives, I think. So that’s a plus?

@RuggerHug yeah, I screwed up there

Easy to forget sometimes there's a while world beyond America, and I say that as someone who doesn't even live there

*whole

@Thepilotlightsgoneout it is! There is literally nobody out there who doesn't look good in teal.

Praise Be.

(NOT).

I'm still traumatised after watching it on tell a year ago.

.... and the world just gets worse.....

Sounds like Saudi Arabia or Iran!

@monstermancs on a serious aside - yep. Margaret Atwood has said that everything in the Handmaid's Tale has happened to women somewhere, at one time or another

This article has more info - but just be aware it opens with a fairly upsetting photo of a child in an orphanage.

I've read it and am currently watching it for the first time. For the record, I too am a British Republican but my views bear no relation to American republicanism.

Although it's pretty harrowing, I'm surprised to find myself a bit cheered by it in the sense that it's having the unexpected effect of not making me think "That's too close to the truth - looking at how the world/America is right now, that could really happen". I think people of every political spectrum are too used to their rights and autonomy to willingly renounce them, even including many of the richer and more powerful people who might stand to benefit from aspects of the regime. It's the suddenness of the imposing of the regime which is the least convincing thing about the Handmaid's Tale, I think.

Just to point out in the books, Gilead is also a white supremacist society that commits mass genocide towards the children of Ham (Black people) and the Jews. As well as liquidating older women, LGBT communities, quakers etc. Much like the Nazis

@lazylinguist re your last point, I agree. I think if she'd described a regime that started out as a democracy and boiled the frog by degrees, it would be more realistic AND a lot more people right now would be having chills.

Though I've always loved this quote:

That was when they suspended the Constitution. They said it would be temporary. There wasn't even any rioting in the streets. People stayed home at night, watching television, looking for some direction. There wasn't even an enemy you could put your finger on.

If it is true that refugee women have had forced hysterectomies, I don’t think 2020 US is that far away from Gilead (although I would imagine that such a waste of fertility would be frowned on).

I do suspect that the more extreme right of the Republican Party would quietly, behind closed doors, endorse most of the Gilead policies. I think a worrying number of Republican women would be ok with it.

Great thread!

@Hobbesmanc there were rumours, but the sources of those rumours were swiftly located and publicly admitted to spreading misinformation. They expressed remorse and pledged allegiance to the regime before they received justice. The reality is that the Children of Ham and others were allowed to leave Gilead peacefully swiftly, in the middle of the night, without collecting their belongings.

@Thepilotlightsgoneout

I do like the teal the Wives wear. We do need more teal in our lives, I think. So that’s a plus?

It reminds me too much of Aer Lingus cabin crew uniforms.

People think that there is a line, that once crossed, will cause outrage and things will change. It doesn't work like that. They constantly move the line forward bit by bit and before we know it, we're wearing red.

I think if she'd described a regime that started out as a democracy and boiled the frog by degrees, it would be more realistic AND a lot more people right now would be having chills.

That's how I felt, but then a little voice in my head says:

'That's what they said in: Periclean Athens, Republican Rome, pre-revolutionary Iran and Weimar Germany.

@LongPauseNoAnswer true. No regime ever, anywhere, was sold on the strength of its flaws.

ChazP But, what colour were the women? It's only a waste (in their eyes) if they're good white stock.

I thought you were talking about the Dark Tower series backs slowly out of thread

But you're here now.