Hey Robin! :-) ... I still think L looks perfectly fine in the first pic, which I personally find the more interesting photo, but that's just me...

".....Where I come from, Los Angeles, the term "chick" was in use long before hippies came along. The Beats used it freely as well. It was only when women started to be vocal about not wanting to be called "broad", "chick" "girl" that we learned it was considered to be offensive to many women. ......"

....."Laurie, if I am not mistaken, you have just extended the conversation regarding an aspect of Alvin's personal life. In addition, you appear to be implying that other pictures of this lovely woman are less than 'interesting'!
Just kidding, Laurie." Eeek, I hope you're just kidding. I'm not implying any such thing, in any case. I did also say "but that's just me". And I extended the conversation about "chick" issues, not Alvin's personal life per se, to try to clarify some things in reply to additional posts from others. "It shouldn't have to be such a minefield to communicate on a board where everyone here appears to be of goodwill and united by our common appreciation of Alvin Lee. Notice I said 'our'. I already feel part of this lovely community."
I agree, but I don't think it's a minefield. Not compared to some of the stuff I've heard about and seen others get into online! In any group that's more than tepid tea or garden party chat, there will be some tensions or misunderstandings at times. Toni herself remarked on here a day or two ago that she thought we were doing pretty well most of the time. But then, she actually enjoys my quirky and sometimes contentious posts! She recently professed to find it boring if things get too uncontroversial! So...perhaps I do still have some worth around here.
"As for the relations between men and women -- (non-romantic, non-sexual), I don't differentiate between men who are jerks, or insensitive, or bullies and women who exhibit the same characteristics." I don't ever condone any women who behave badly. But societally there have been more men behaving badly toward women than the reverse. Way more. It's just a fact. "Yes, many men resent taking advice, instruction, or orders from women, but those men are ignorant." Agreed, sista! "Plenty of women have difficulty taking criticism or suggestions from authority as well." Nobody likes criticism, man or woman. I wasn't so much meaning it as an authority issue, although it can be. I personally tend to chafe under authority figures myself, free spirit that I be. All the same, men often can't take forthrightness from a woman that they would from a man. It's a fair observation. Many women have experienced this, not just me.

"Of course, I understand that men have dominated the power structure of our lives to the detriment of women throughout the ages, but I don't let that color my dealings with men as individuals."
I don't either, as I've written on here before. I love men as individuals!
"I feel very strongly that we women have to give men the benefit of the doubt and the same respect we wish them to show to us."
We're constantly giving men the benefit of the doubt, most of us. All the time. Nobody's above reasoned criticism, but all persons deserve fundamental respect. With a handful of exceptions, such as Hitler, Ghaddafi, and their ilk. Just let me at 'em!!

".... I think men know which words are offensive to a particular group of women and have decided that they are not going to be told what they can and cannot say." You know, the word "chick" isn't that big a deal to me most of the time. I'm not crazy about it, but neither do I feel like marching around the neighborhood with signs over it, tee hee. I never tell a man what he "can" or "cannot" say. *I* can say what I like or dislike, and why, however. That shouldn't cause the sky to fall. The men I've been close to as lovers and friends haven't been jerks about such things, in any case. I would have a hard time being close to them if they were. I didn't care for the "chick" stuff yesterday, but I'm not rigid about it. I'll live. "This is a controversial subject and I respect your point of view and the point of view of women who feel the way you do. I also recognize that my personal ambivalence can be taken as a betrayal of 'the cause'."
Oh, I would never be that silly. Women have many causes, not just one. I'm too much of an individualist not to understand that in others. I'm not a formula feminist. I'm not a formula anything, believe me.
"I hope you know that I am merely adding a different perspective to the conversation and not advocating that we let men continue to walk all over us!" Of course! I *never* got such an impression from you, sister. Peace, love, and light to you!