Say What Now Fallout of the Day

It's been a week since since the Michigan Legislature declared war on the word "vagina," and the two sides are nowhere near a ceasefire.

In case you missed it -- State Rep. Lisa Brown accidentally created her own Vagina Monologue when she dared speak the offensive word during a debate on anti-abortion legislation in the statehouse:

Finally Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but "no" means "no."

Banned the next day from further debate, Brown's supporters promptly took up her cause, defending her decision -- and right -- to use the word "vagina."

Hundreds rallied this week at the Michigan Capitol as lawmakers staged a mini-performance of The Vagina Monologues, and women especially are defending Brown in a show of solidarity. And of course, there's a Michigan Vagina T-shirt for sale to commemorate the controversy.

Brown penned an op-ed this week that lambastes the decision to censor the v-word:

In the aftermath of this, Rep. Jim Stamas, whose job it was to issue the edict against me, said he "honestly had no idea it would become such an issue." I find it amazing that a fellow legislator wouldn't understand why it's outrageous not to just silence me, but my 90,000 constituents.

Still, the question remains: What on earth should Brown have said instead?

[thanks, heidi!]