I participated in the march on Denver on January 21, 2017. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people were walking for democracy in Denver; we joined several million men, women, and children around the world who are standing up and fighting back for our rights and for our democracy. Here are three pictures I took while in Denver for the March.
Joanne Tosti-Vasey is ready to march in Denver on January 21, 2017.
Parental support for gay rights: Message to Donald Trump
Ray, Alex, and Marian Bradley (wearing the red “pussy’ hats) marching in the Denver Women’s March on January 21, 2017
And here’s another perspective on the Women’s Marches around the world from a fellow blogger.
I couldn’t stop laughing! A poll shows that Republican males believe that their lives are harder than those of women. Men make more money for the same work, have a far less chance of rape, don’t have their reproductive rights attacked, and do far more housework than men while holding a full-time job, but white men are the “low people on the totem pole” and “everybody else is above the white man,” according to an 81-year-old retired police captain. He complained that “everything in general is in favor of a woman. No matter what happens in life, it seems like the man’s always at fault.”
In this survey taken after the election, only 41 percent of GOP men think now is a good time to be a man. Although one-third of women feel unsafe because of their gender, only 20 percent of men understand that women feel this way. Thirty percent of women…
Democracy is Dissent. A statement declaring that we have a 1st Amendment constitutional right “of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress.”
Some cabinet-level hearings have started. Several others are scheduled over the next two weeks before the presidential inauguration. Most are problematic. Here’s what Nel has to say about these next two weeks.
Check out my other blogs (click here and here) to find the Senate Committee chairs’ phone numbers where you can call to raise your opposition to the problematic cabinet-level nominations.
Meanwhile, here’s what Nel has to say about these next two weeks.
Writing about the timing for Senate confirmation hearings—at least accurately!—has become almost impossible. A few days, I was bemoaning how Cabinet members are being rushed through without deliberation, but every hour seems to change the GOP game plan. Originally, six Cabinet-level confirmations were scheduled on the same day that the chamber works on the budget (that one that grows the deficit by $10 trillion in the next decade) and Donald Trump (DT) gives his first press conference in six months to divert attention from his nominees. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said, “There is a whole lot of: ‘Don’t watch what we’re doing here.” Watchers now, however, can see how the GOP is failing at its job.
The inability of Betsy DeVos (Department of Education) put off her hearing until next Tuesday in the hopes that she can finished her required ethics paperwork. Her investment in a for-profit charter school would…
Originally published in Moyers & Co., Neal Gable calls upon the media to bear true witness to what is happening since the election of Donald Trump on November 8, 2016, and the consequences that result:
“…[T]he disempowered media may have one more role to fill: They must bear witness. Many years from now, future generations will need to know what happened to us and how it happened. They will need to know how disgruntled white Americans, full of self-righteous indignation, found a way to take back a country they felt they were entitled to and which they believed had been lost. They will need to know about the ugliness and evil that destroyed us as a nation after great men like Lincoln and Roosevelt guided us through previous crises and kept our values intact. They will need to know, and they will need a vigorous, engaged, moral media to tell them. They will also need us.
We are not living for ourselves anymore in this country. Now we are living for history.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, here’s something you can do.
Yesterday, the Washington Post released a 2005 video of Donald Trump. In this video and news article, Trump, using lewd language where he essentially brags about sexually assaulting women.
Video Courtesy of the Washington Post (Trigger Warning: Crude, lewd language)
A few hours after the video was released, Trump released a classic non-apology in a statement, saying “I apologize if anyone was offended.” What he said was that he was sorry for others being offended by his language and behavior condoning sexual assault. Not that he was personally sorry for his offensive behavior.
A few hours after that, he released a short video again “apologizing” saying, “I said it. I was wrong and I apologize.” I put apologizing in quotes because he then immediately segued into blaming the Clinton’s for abuse of women saying that they both abused women but he only used bad language.
Video Courtesy of USA TV.
His “apology,” stated:
“I’ve said some foolish things. But there’s a difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary [no last name mentioned as he consistently does with men] has bullied, attacked, shamed, and intimidated his victim”
Trump saying he hasn’t abused women???!!! His words in the 2005 video speak otherwise:
“I did try and f— her. She was married.”
“I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married”
“You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.”
Grab them by the p—y. You can do anything.”
All of these statements meet the definition of sexual assault as defined by the FBI:
Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape.
In 2013, I wrote a blog about the climate of indifference related to sexual assault on college campuses. This is no different. Trump’s indifference towards women and his misogynistic and possibly criminal behavior is unacceptable and disgusting. As Bridgette Stumpf, co-executive director of Network for Victim Recovery of D.C. told the Washington Post:
“That’s nothing less than someone talking about committing sexual violence — the kissing, the grabbing. He’s talking about women as if they’re objects, as if they don’t have a right to consent to the way someone touches them. This is how sexual violence becomes accepted in our culture.”
Only your first name will be used to protect your privacy. This letter calls upon…
“ALL Republican leaders, candidates, and elected officials to take a stand against sexual assault and abuse–and take a stand against your own nominee for President. You must not only denounce Trump’s words, but clearly and unequivocally denounce his candidacy and do all in your power to make sure that this sexual predator never sets foot in the White House. And we urge you to support strong policies that will end the epidemic of sexual assault in this country and support survivors of abuse.”
Vote Local. In my case, from top to bottom, this year it’s mostly women!
The idea of having a man who, at minimum, disparages women and people of color, in his campaign for the White House is discombobulating. And dangerous to our society. I am one of many (in all likelihood the majority of voters) who will not be voting or supporting Donald Trump in November.
Why? I don’t want a racist and sexist despot in the White House.
In a blog on Nel’s New Day called Trump Loses with Blacks, Women; Nel points out some of the inner workings of Trump— the man, his campaign, and the “can of worms” that his potential leadership of this country could bring forth.
What particularly strikes me in this expose is Donald Trump’s retrograde idea of parenting and women’s “place” in life. Among these is his idea that parenting is solely the responsibility of women. His parental leave policy not only is discriminatory towards men, it’s minimalist in its depth and would result in an expanding economic disparity between educated white men and just about everyone else.
As Rebecca Traister reports in her 2015 article in the New Republic, a lack of federal policies supporting paid parental leave for both men and women hurts individual families as well as our society. She also points out that sexist maternity leave policies result in increasing disparity among our citizenry. She says:
“The United States and its corporate structures were built with one kind of worker—frankly, with one kind of citizen—in mind. That citizen wage-earner was a white man. That this weakness is being addressed by employers faster than it is being addressed by Congress contributes to the widening of the class chasm. Policies that account for the fact that women now give birth and earn wages on which their families depend—and, for that matter, that men now earn wages and provide childcare on which their families depend—should not be crafted by individual bosses or corporations on a piecemeal basis that inevitably favors already privileged populations. They should be available to every American. But until we see a large-scale, national refashioning of family leave, the economic fates of childbearers will be left in the hands of the private entities that employ them.”
Definitely not Trump’s view of America. But it is mine.
We need a person in the White House and people in Congress who believe in a compassionate and caring family-friendly workplace and community. We need people who will craft a strong and national egalitarian family leave policy for all. For women. For men. For LGBTQIA people. For single as well as married parents and adult caregivers. And for people regardless of color or source and amount of income.
So in November, I will vote for people running for policy-making positions who can fit this bill. Here in PA, they are all women – a first for me. That’s Hilary Rodham Clinton for President, Katie McGinty for the US Senate, and Kerith Strano Taylor for Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District. And at the state level, it’s Melody Fleck for the 171st PA House District (the same seat I ran for in 2008 when I was the only woman on my ballot that year).
Our son heads off to college next year. Which is what perked my interest in this blog.
The concerns about excessive student debt affect not only the millennials as described her. It also affects the millennial’s entire family. And if this debt burden isn’t brought under control, more and more millennials will decide to forgo higher education which in the long run will hurt our society.
However I do think the #MillionStudentMarch was a march for many issues of concern to youth. Yes, student debt. But there is also “the racial discrimination, faculty income inequality, and violence” affecting colleges and universities that is mentioned and linked to in this article that is causing this student unrest.
Debt is often higher for students of color.
Violence disproportionately affects women students and students of color.
And faculty (most often in the STEM fields) can negotiate much higher salaries outside academia. This creates a dearth of highly qualified teachers of our young as these professionals either decide at the outset or later leave academia for a more lucrative career.
It’s a hearing, sweetie. And we need to talk about something important.
What do you notice about the people asking questions?
Yes, they seem mad. Really mad. What else?
That’s right. They’re almost all boys. Usually when boys grow up we should call them men.
Now what about the person getting yelled at?
Yes, she’s not a boy.
So this is not fair, but it’s true: There are a lot of boys who grew up thinking they were better than girls.
Why?
People were mean and they were wrong in the old days. They thought only boys could be strong, and only girls should take care of other people. I know, that’s not at all like your friends! Now boys play with dolls, and girls are great at running and jumping and playing baseball.
Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard for people to let go of things they learned when they were little, even when those things…
We call our warships “she.” The earth is commonly named “Mother Earth” because of its ability to both create and destroy. Women are routinely compared to black widows, vipers, lionesses and tigresses. Pick any female comic book character, and you will see the innate power of the names given to these women. They are called Black Widow, Poison Ivy, Asp, Black Mamba, Queen Bee, Cheetah, and Fatality. All of these comparisons show the raging strength and power of women. Why, then, are we expected to hold back in the “real world?”
There is an interesting double standard for men and women when it comes to showing rage and aggression. When men break their cool facade in an explosion of anger, we naturally assume his feelings are valid and deserved. We listen when a man is angry because we respect that anger. When women become angry and project their feelings outward…
DIY Resource for those wishing to have their Italian citizenship recognized through Italy's "jure sanguinis" birthright citizenship & “Jure matrimonii” by marriage
Progressive commentary from Gainesville, Florida, once called the Berkeley of the South. Potano was the chief of and the only known name of the Native American tribe inhabiting the area around what is now Gainesville at the time the Europeans arrived.
“It takes no compromise to give people their rights…it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” – Harvey Milk
a feminist habit. thinking broadly about life and art. at peak. sometimes broadspoken. not a translation program. crushing the doublespeak. seeking free speech.
The views depicted here are my own, do not represent the views of anyone/anything else, and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without my express written consent.
Learn more about the state laws being introduced and passed around the U.S. that is limiting Women's rights. Did you know that the Women's Equal Right Amendment from 1983 still needs to be ratified by 3 more states before it goes into effect?
Joanne Tosti-Vasey is ready to march in Denver on January 21, 2017.
Parental support for gay rights: Message to Donald Trump
Ray, Alex, and Marian Bradley (wearing the red “pussy’ hats) marching in the Denver Women’s March on January 21, 2017
Civil Rights Advocacy 