Omg 😭 I’m not sure how I haven’t read abt Ida before. Changing that now! Between even just she and Ralph Ginzburg, what they suffered because of Comstock, and now, today, oh my blood is boiling 😕🤬
Our society treatment of women has improved greatly since gave them the vote in the 1920s. In my lifetime, I have observed that women were definitely not treated equally in banking or in other fields. They had low paying jobs. Etc.
And now our president may well be a black woman . Yay!!! Billserle.com
Thanks, Greg, for this incredible story about "the wedding night!" While I do not wish to undermine its importance, my focus lies here where I discovered a new-to-me story linked by Timothy Snyder’s “Thinking About…” substack. My thought is that you and your readers would appreciate what the Ukrainian literary world has and had been doing to safeguard their literature after having it obliterated many years ago.
Apologies if this is “old news” to many, but thought I would offer it to the some who would be reading it for the first time, and would appreciate these sheroes and heroes of literature who are in a country ravaged by war.
I did not need to subscribe to the New Yorker to read it; I trust others will have no difficulty either:
"Kharkiv’s cultural life is intense and incredibly interesting, despite constant bombing. A new amazing project “In the name of the city” was recently launched by Kharkiv Literature Museum, jointly with such wonderful artists as Kostiantyn Zorkin and others."
And in case you are interested, here is Professor Snyder’s newsletter where he talks about the irony of launching his new book “On Freedom” amidst the launching of Russian missiles into Ukraine.
Yes. It's the hypocrisy that's the worst thing. I don't care what these people do in the privacy of their own homes, as long as it's consensual and legal. But don't lord over the rest of us!
Why haven't we found a better, more all-encompassing word for people like Comstock and our current crop of Comstockians than "hypocrite?" I'm also a little shocked that although we still invoke Benedict Arnold's name when speaking of traitors (which should rightfully be replaced by Donald Trump's), people have all but forgotten the sick, little man, Anthony Comstock. His name should have lived in infamy and yet, other than this book by Amy Sohn, which I'm now about halfway through, it hasn't. And we now have people trying to use the Comstock Act against their opponents to stop mail order Mifepristone because thus far we've been neglectful enough since 1873 to leave the cursed thing on the books! Ida C Craddock was a hero! I understand it, but it's a shame of biblical proportions that she took her own life because of the unjust actions of Comstock and Judge Thomas (history DOES repeat). They should have been charged with her murder.
I blame Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake for what's happening now. Well, I don't blame them specifically, but it WAS after the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, when Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson's nipple shield to the viewing public, that all hell broke loose, and I don't think we've ever recovered. People were INSANE about it, people in fact, called it the equivalent of, “obscene, lewd, lascivious, and dirty.” There was wailing and gnashing of teeth that FAMILIES watched the Super Bowl together and youngsters were exposed to that! I'm not a football fan and don't watch the Super Bowl, but even I heard ALL about it. And then, George W Bush went on to win a second term that he should not have won. Coincidence? I think not. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVIII_halftime_show_controversy
And here we are. Men STILL trying to control women's bodies, forcing birth, outlawing even life-saving medical procedures. I really can't decide if I have ANY sympathy for doctors in Georgia who refused to perform a D&C on Amber Nicole Thurman for FEAR they'd be jailed. I'm going to guess, with no evidence at all except my hunch, that the doctors who let Ms. Thurman die were male doctors because women doctors would have said, "Fuck it! This woman will die if we don't do a D&C," and got the job done in time, instead of wringing their well-washed hands for twenty fucking hours. Is there no Hippocratic Oath anymore? Do no harm?
Make no mistake. Project 2025 is the Comstock Act on steroids. They will outlaw abortion (a MEDICAL procedure) nationwide, then all forms of contraception will go, and more than likely, so-called pornography will be next, and all of its various delivery systems. Wherever will Mark Robinson go to get his "tranny porn" fix? Be careful what you wish for, Black Nazi!
We not only have to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, but EVERY Democrat for House and Senate. This is no time to play at divided government, which I've never really understood anyway. The partisanship now will stop ANYTHING good from being passed into law unless the entire government is controlled by Democrats. Republicans have had their time in the sun, and they chose Donald Trump every single time they could have left him in the dust. They ALL need to go! Register and/or CHECK that you're registered and VOTE! I also heard that Trump's campaign has sued Illinois, one of many states, about mail-in voting. After filling out my mail-in ballot, I'm taking it to a drop box instead of mailing it back using DeJoy's USPS. I trust NO ONE connected to Republicans anymore. You shouldn't either.
I wish I could agree with the idea of all women doctors being on women's side. Not all women will vote against Trump. Add the power and potential arrogance of "MD " to the mix, and tragically, no, not all women doctors support women. The Comstock legacy has corrupted even a few of the vile man's intended victims. All the more reaaon to relegate him and his despicable influence to history's dumpster.
There are plenty of women who are MAGA, and who want to preserve the patriarchal status quo, sad but true. I'm hoping enough Republican women vote for Kamala and lie to their MAGA husbands about it...
That's an interesting choice for the tipping point, but you may well be right. The societal message there: brutality and violent sport are ok, but not women's bodies. Ridiculous.
Comstock is such a perfect name for this unctuous sexual hypocrite. Although you're right, there should be a better term. Maybe "comstock" is that term?
Judge Edward Beers Thomas graduated from Yale Law School as did Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito. I wonder if they all took a minor in "Hatred of All Things Women"?
Another very informative Sunday column, thanks Greg.
Shared w my daughter; we both share a love of Victorian literature & woman’s rights. At first, I blushed as I read her rapturous account of the virginal wedding night. Then, my emotion turned to rage than, to sadness. The far rightwing male, who is deprived of any adoring eye from the opposite sex, has wielded their powers against women’s in the the must cynical & sadistic way. In affect, that they are trying to ban midwifery even.
Thank you, Greg, for this in-depth article on Ms Craddock. I learned something today. It made me furious and sad. In my seven decades of life I’ve seen it all play out. Right now - it’s sickening.
It’s up to the Women of this country now to outperform at the voting booth. I hope they feel the call, feel the mission, feel the need to do their part… if they want to regain their freedoms.
It’s heartbreaking and rage inducing that a near equivalent to an actual witch trial is a part of our recent history and that Comstock’s hatreds are still legally expressed. I also know too well that the more things change the more they stay the same, so much so that I didn’t even have to look it up, and I’ve never studied French.
Why would anyone have wanted to repress Craddock’s pamphlet other than to squelch any expectation of mutual respect, affection, and pleasure? I cringe.
Bet they haven’t thought this through: if medication abortion can be restricted by the Comstock act, then Viagara and any similar aid or treatment must also be. Just wait for the squealing when the greasy old pricks can’t get their needs met, so I can tell them exactly what they can’t do with their feelings.
>>Just wait for the squealing when the greasy old pricks can’t get their needs met, so I can tell them exactly what they can’t do with their feelings.<<
Oh, wow, that's a REALLY good smackdown. Well done, Teri.
What a sad story—on several different levels. She was clearly ahead of her time, as was, say, Tesla. She was a woman in a patriarchal society, sharing a fate in some ways with victims of the Salem witch trials. The sexual and reproductive aspects of her work and the Comstock reaction have obvious parallels with the reprehensible intentions of the current far right. I also see parallels to recent campaigns to totally destroy the reputation of someone whose success cannot be tolerated; Marie Yovanovitch comes to mind as just one example. I guess the good news is that our views on sexual mores have evolved to the point where those of us in the majority—we who will not go back—can clearly see that she had good intentions and actually in the end made a positive difference.
Thanks for pointing this out. I have. And I knew that about Vance. He's a creepy fascist, but fortunately is a vacuum of personality so won't be able to be a dictator, I don't think.
I interviewed Gareth Gore for my podcast this weekend...he wrote the new book about Opus Dei...it drops on Oct 4.
All I see is Trump saying "they need to be punished" when asked about women who have abortions.
Abuse of power. That's what Trump and Comstock see as their version of sex, and Ida knew their type. I never knew this history, although I was aware of Comstock. Thank you.
"Gentlemen of the jury," yes. So much for jury of peers. But it seems like they wanted to acquit her but could not based on the judge's framing of the case. Horrific.
Omg 😭 I’m not sure how I haven’t read abt Ida before. Changing that now! Between even just she and Ralph Ginzburg, what they suffered because of Comstock, and now, today, oh my blood is boiling 😕🤬
I hadn't heard of her either, before I read Amy's book. Sad story, and remarkable woman.
Our society treatment of women has improved greatly since gave them the vote in the 1920s. In my lifetime, I have observed that women were definitely not treated equally in banking or in other fields. They had low paying jobs. Etc.
And now our president may well be a black woman . Yay!!! Billserle.com
May well, will take all of us
I hope she wins, and I hope she does as much as she can to redress the many problems of inequality and unfairness that still exist.
Thanks, Greg, for this incredible story about "the wedding night!" While I do not wish to undermine its importance, my focus lies here where I discovered a new-to-me story linked by Timothy Snyder’s “Thinking About…” substack. My thought is that you and your readers would appreciate what the Ukrainian literary world has and had been doing to safeguard their literature after having it obliterated many years ago.
Apologies if this is “old news” to many, but thought I would offer it to the some who would be reading it for the first time, and would appreciate these sheroes and heroes of literature who are in a country ravaged by war.
I did not need to subscribe to the New Yorker to read it; I trust others will have no difficulty either:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/the-museum-director-who-stayed-behind-to-defend-ukrainian-literature
This Xitter feed shows a partly new interactive exhibition of the museum (approx. 2minutes):
https://x.com/ukraine_world/status/1795783330937360613?prefetchTimestamp=1726496420243
"Kharkiv’s cultural life is intense and incredibly interesting, despite constant bombing. A new amazing project “In the name of the city” was recently launched by Kharkiv Literature Museum, jointly with such wonderful artists as Kostiantyn Zorkin and others."
And in case you are interested, here is Professor Snyder’s newsletter where he talks about the irony of launching his new book “On Freedom” amidst the launching of Russian missiles into Ukraine.
https://snyder.substack.com/p/launches-in-ukraine
Thanks for all of this, Lynell! Much appreciated!
Wow. Fascinating stuff. Horrifying stuff.
I’m laughing about how Clarence Thomas also has a porn hound history. These hypocrites.
Yes. It's the hypocrisy that's the worst thing. I don't care what these people do in the privacy of their own homes, as long as it's consensual and legal. But don't lord over the rest of us!
Excellent
Thanks, Cal.
Why haven't we found a better, more all-encompassing word for people like Comstock and our current crop of Comstockians than "hypocrite?" I'm also a little shocked that although we still invoke Benedict Arnold's name when speaking of traitors (which should rightfully be replaced by Donald Trump's), people have all but forgotten the sick, little man, Anthony Comstock. His name should have lived in infamy and yet, other than this book by Amy Sohn, which I'm now about halfway through, it hasn't. And we now have people trying to use the Comstock Act against their opponents to stop mail order Mifepristone because thus far we've been neglectful enough since 1873 to leave the cursed thing on the books! Ida C Craddock was a hero! I understand it, but it's a shame of biblical proportions that she took her own life because of the unjust actions of Comstock and Judge Thomas (history DOES repeat). They should have been charged with her murder.
I blame Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake for what's happening now. Well, I don't blame them specifically, but it WAS after the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, when Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson's nipple shield to the viewing public, that all hell broke loose, and I don't think we've ever recovered. People were INSANE about it, people in fact, called it the equivalent of, “obscene, lewd, lascivious, and dirty.” There was wailing and gnashing of teeth that FAMILIES watched the Super Bowl together and youngsters were exposed to that! I'm not a football fan and don't watch the Super Bowl, but even I heard ALL about it. And then, George W Bush went on to win a second term that he should not have won. Coincidence? I think not. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXVIII_halftime_show_controversy
And here we are. Men STILL trying to control women's bodies, forcing birth, outlawing even life-saving medical procedures. I really can't decide if I have ANY sympathy for doctors in Georgia who refused to perform a D&C on Amber Nicole Thurman for FEAR they'd be jailed. I'm going to guess, with no evidence at all except my hunch, that the doctors who let Ms. Thurman die were male doctors because women doctors would have said, "Fuck it! This woman will die if we don't do a D&C," and got the job done in time, instead of wringing their well-washed hands for twenty fucking hours. Is there no Hippocratic Oath anymore? Do no harm?
Make no mistake. Project 2025 is the Comstock Act on steroids. They will outlaw abortion (a MEDICAL procedure) nationwide, then all forms of contraception will go, and more than likely, so-called pornography will be next, and all of its various delivery systems. Wherever will Mark Robinson go to get his "tranny porn" fix? Be careful what you wish for, Black Nazi!
We not only have to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, but EVERY Democrat for House and Senate. This is no time to play at divided government, which I've never really understood anyway. The partisanship now will stop ANYTHING good from being passed into law unless the entire government is controlled by Democrats. Republicans have had their time in the sun, and they chose Donald Trump every single time they could have left him in the dust. They ALL need to go! Register and/or CHECK that you're registered and VOTE! I also heard that Trump's campaign has sued Illinois, one of many states, about mail-in voting. After filling out my mail-in ballot, I'm taking it to a drop box instead of mailing it back using DeJoy's USPS. I trust NO ONE connected to Republicans anymore. You shouldn't either.
I wish I could agree with the idea of all women doctors being on women's side. Not all women will vote against Trump. Add the power and potential arrogance of "MD " to the mix, and tragically, no, not all women doctors support women. The Comstock legacy has corrupted even a few of the vile man's intended victims. All the more reaaon to relegate him and his despicable influence to history's dumpster.
There are plenty of women who are MAGA, and who want to preserve the patriarchal status quo, sad but true. I'm hoping enough Republican women vote for Kamala and lie to their MAGA husbands about it...
I haven’t for a very long time. I hope DeJoy gets replaced before it is too late
He's so awful.
That's an interesting choice for the tipping point, but you may well be right. The societal message there: brutality and violent sport are ok, but not women's bodies. Ridiculous.
Comstock is such a perfect name for this unctuous sexual hypocrite. Although you're right, there should be a better term. Maybe "comstock" is that term?
Apparently the 3-way with God was just too hot for Comstock and Judge Thomas.
A+ comment, Rick. (And it shows you read the source material!)
Judge Edward Beers Thomas graduated from Yale Law School as did Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito. I wonder if they all took a minor in "Hatred of All Things Women"?
Another very informative Sunday column, thanks Greg.
I'm all for dragging Yale. Thanks, Old Man!
The Giants actually won a game!
Great column. Thank you for this astute rendering of what women are suffering in America.
Thanks so much, Claudia!
Shared w my daughter; we both share a love of Victorian literature & woman’s rights. At first, I blushed as I read her rapturous account of the virginal wedding night. Then, my emotion turned to rage than, to sadness. The far rightwing male, who is deprived of any adoring eye from the opposite sex, has wielded their powers against women’s in the the must cynical & sadistic way. In affect, that they are trying to ban midwifery even.
Her little book is strange but full of passion and certainly not harmful.
The American Medical Association was formed in this period mostly so (male) doctors could put midwives out of business. Disgraceful.
Thank you, Greg, for this in-depth article on Ms Craddock. I learned something today. It made me furious and sad. In my seven decades of life I’ve seen it all play out. Right now - it’s sickening.
It’s up to the Women of this country now to outperform at the voting booth. I hope they feel the call, feel the mission, feel the need to do their part… if they want to regain their freedoms.
Thanks, Gundy. Much appreciated.
Women, yes, but men have to step up, too! No excuses! : )
It’s heartbreaking and rage inducing that a near equivalent to an actual witch trial is a part of our recent history and that Comstock’s hatreds are still legally expressed. I also know too well that the more things change the more they stay the same, so much so that I didn’t even have to look it up, and I’ve never studied French.
Why would anyone have wanted to repress Craddock’s pamphlet other than to squelch any expectation of mutual respect, affection, and pleasure? I cringe.
Bet they haven’t thought this through: if medication abortion can be restricted by the Comstock act, then Viagara and any similar aid or treatment must also be. Just wait for the squealing when the greasy old pricks can’t get their needs met, so I can tell them exactly what they can’t do with their feelings.
>>Just wait for the squealing when the greasy old pricks can’t get their needs met, so I can tell them exactly what they can’t do with their feelings.<<
Oh, wow, that's a REALLY good smackdown. Well done, Teri.
Thanks. Feel free to reuse and recycle it.
What a sad story—on several different levels. She was clearly ahead of her time, as was, say, Tesla. She was a woman in a patriarchal society, sharing a fate in some ways with victims of the Salem witch trials. The sexual and reproductive aspects of her work and the Comstock reaction have obvious parallels with the reprehensible intentions of the current far right. I also see parallels to recent campaigns to totally destroy the reputation of someone whose success cannot be tolerated; Marie Yovanovitch comes to mind as just one example. I guess the good news is that our views on sexual mores have evolved to the point where those of us in the majority—we who will not go back—can clearly see that she had good intentions and actually in the end made a positive difference.
As Ida believed in the astral plane enough to have taken a ghost husband, I like to think that she's playing the long game, and knows that she's won.
Another subject: Mr. Olear, have you seen the two articles in NYMagazine’s Intelligencer about Opus Dei and Vance as a post -liberal Catholic?
Is corporate media, at long last, paying attention to this story? Maybe they have noticed (or used) your work on the subject?
Thanks for pointing this out. I have. And I knew that about Vance. He's a creepy fascist, but fortunately is a vacuum of personality so won't be able to be a dictator, I don't think.
I interviewed Gareth Gore for my podcast this weekend...he wrote the new book about Opus Dei...it drops on Oct 4.
All I see is Trump saying "they need to be punished" when asked about women who have abortions.
Abuse of power. That's what Trump and Comstock see as their version of sex, and Ida knew their type. I never knew this history, although I was aware of Comstock. Thank you.
and "the gentlemen of the jury," shivers.
"Gentlemen of the jury," yes. So much for jury of peers. But it seems like they wanted to acquit her but could not based on the judge's framing of the case. Horrific.