“Welcome to the wetlands of New Orleans the vagina of America. And if you want to know how some folks feel about vaginas just look at New Orleans since the storm. We are nourished and sustained by her generous wet fertility but don’t hesitate to rape her, defile her, assault her, shave and mutilate the marsh grasses and trees which protect her. We call her sultry and sexy when we crave her, but after when we want to demean her and dismiss her we call her swampy and soiled. We brag about her music, the way she moves, we beg to get inside her, but shown her later when she has needs. We use her to entertain us and excuse us, and then jealous of her power and embarrassed by our awe, we make her a whore. We take holidays and get lost and happy in her embrace, we eat her, we love the fishy taste, we love her spices. But when she is hurting, when she is waving for help, we ignore her and let her drown. New Orleans is the vagina of America if we honor her, if we heal her, if we praise her; we change history and the story of women.”—Eve Ensler writer of the vagina monologues
Thus started the vagina monologues presented by students from Bloomsburg University on March 1st, 2008. On sale at the door were pins bearing the same emblem as shown above or various other sayings like the vagina warriors, chocolate covered condoms, and chocolate vagina lollipops. It was a little embarrassing especially seeing a few gentlemen in the audience but then comforting to know that men were brave enough to be men. The proceeds were split between Columbia Montour Home Health, Beyond Violence in Berwick, as well as Columbia Montour Women’s Shelter.
An invitation was extended directly from Eve to all the supported that had attended tonight’s performance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the vagina monologues. On April 10th thru the 12th, 2008 the vagina warriors will be celebrating in New Orleans where they will change the history of women and girls against years of domestic violence once and for all. Eve is requesting that you come and celebrate your town and soul from all over the world where we will plant marsh grass, dance in the streets, turn the super-dome into super love, hear stories, honor the earth and women’s bodies, fight for racial justice, demand equitable housing and healthcare, support men in being vulnerable, eat great food, and conjure revolution.
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