This bit from Brian Beutler is not only applicable to women's groups, but to most all non-profit organizations, activists, bloggers, etc. "Not every group," he writes, "can be everything to all causes. I personally would like it if endangered species activists would rededicate themselves to combating climate change, but, as it turns out, those people care about what they care about, and that's just how it is." It's not necessarily illegitimate to try and influence the focus of major non-profits, but it really shouldn't be the focus of so many columns, e-mails, etc. Rather than using her Washington Post column to scold NOW for not doing enough for oppressed women in Saudi Arabia, for instance, she could be promoting the work of the Women's Edge Coalition, which does exactly what she's looking for. On the other hand, promoting the work of good groups makes you look virtuous, but it doesn't offer quite the same glow of moral superiority that condemning seemingly-good non-profits does.
