Still planning on doing random posts...I've got a couple of ideas bubbling in my head...but I saw this and couldn't resist the idea of trying. We'll see how far I get. (I suck at these!)

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Day #1 - Your Favorite Character



Mulan

There are the obvious reasons, of course. She's a kick-ass heroine who almost single-handed saves the Empire of China after overcoming the male-dominated culture. Nice, no two ways about it.

However I find the story goes a bit deeper than that. She does all of it...without disparaging or seeking to radically change the world around her. Mulan does all of this while remaining respectful of her people's history, culture, and traditions...she simply wishes to be allowed to express her own sense of being within its framework. She isn't the radical marching in the streets with banners or signs demanding this or that. She simply steps up and does what has to be done regardless of the stigma she will gain from it. The world changes its views...not because she forced the change down their throats by wild frenzied threats, but because she did everything from her own personal sense of honor - a child's love and duty to care for her father...even to the point of his disapproval. Like the slow drip of water that erodes a great canyon, she creates change simply by being herself within the tradition...see how ready she is to accept punishment at the hands of the emperor...see how much she desires her family's approval...and also, at the end, she remains loyal to her vision of herself. While Grandma is ready to invite Shang to stay forever, Mulan sensibly sticks with dinner.

Mulan - if explained properly - is the type of feminist heroine I can easily endorse. Strong and gentle...respectful and firm...none of the firebrand rhetoric with empty promises...just a girl who becomes a woman by doing what is right.

Dear Flist,

Halloween is coming!!!

Comment "trick-or-treat" to this post and I'll reply with a treat! Treats can be anything that strikes my fancy (pics of fave actors or pairings, one sentence fics, graphics, a few words why I'm glad to have you on my flist, etc. etc.). The more "houses" to visit the more fun it'll be, so go ahead, open your journal and help spread the fun!


**If you leave me a list of fandoms you're into (or two or three fandoms, at least), that would be very helpful! Thanks!