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Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
hmm Mothers day is coming up.
I remember watching him on You Tube, and I can't wait to read his book. What an amazing kid!
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Corespondent's dinner
This is always one of the funnest things always during the political year. Enjoy
Saturday, April 28, 2012
What the Wha???
So I just found this clip...
Really, Really, REALLY... Do these people think that women are animals? That women are less than animals? I understand why people might be on either side of the issue, but comparing women to animals. Telling a women that her child is dead and that she will still have to carry it to term knowing everyday that the thing inside of her, the child inside of her is dead sounds to me like torture, inhumane torture. What really bothers me is how easy it is for this guy to compare women to animals, to dehumanise us. Nothing good ever comes from dehumanising a group of people. Women are people. It seems obvious, but after watching this, seeing some of the laws coming out, and listening to other law makers (I'm talking to you my beloved WI) I feel it is necessary to point out. Women are humans, fully functioning, thinking, intelligent, feeling humans.
Really, Really, REALLY... Do these people think that women are animals? That women are less than animals? I understand why people might be on either side of the issue, but comparing women to animals. Telling a women that her child is dead and that she will still have to carry it to term knowing everyday that the thing inside of her, the child inside of her is dead sounds to me like torture, inhumane torture. What really bothers me is how easy it is for this guy to compare women to animals, to dehumanise us. Nothing good ever comes from dehumanising a group of people. Women are people. It seems obvious, but after watching this, seeing some of the laws coming out, and listening to other law makers (I'm talking to you my beloved WI) I feel it is necessary to point out. Women are humans, fully functioning, thinking, intelligent, feeling humans.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
How I eventually got MassHealth
This story like many others I have come across is one of getting MassHealth sucks, but once you have it, it's amazing.
As you may have read in a previous post I have found myself currently without work and with out the ability to afford health care. Thank goodness I live in Massachusetts! I thus qualify for MassHealth. Getting it though has been a bit of a problem... I went to one of their virtual gateways, filled out my form, read it over, signed it and was told that since I currently have no income, am not married, and have no children this will be easy. I depressing view of my current life, but at least it helps me get healthcare?
Anyway, ~4 weeks later I got a letter stating that I was declined because I am not a resident, but I am... So I tried calling many a help number given to me and was continually asked if I resided in another state at any point in time and did I receive benefits there. Yes I have lived in other states, but not currently, and no I have never received benefits before. Being asked this questions continually I started to become worried that perhaps some one had stolen my identity, but they would not tell me what state they thought I lived in or what benefits they thought I might be collecting.
I was told that I needed to file an appeal (I think, but some told me that I'd have to do this and others told me that I shouldn't) and that I should send a rental lease (which I don't have because I'm staying with friends), a utilities bill in my name (again staying with friends, not on any of the utilities, and also their rent covers all utilities anyway), or a notarised affidavit but they didn't say from whom.
In the mean time my friend was asking around to see if any one els had encountered these problems and how they got through it. Eventually he found Health care for everyone and called 1-800-272-4232. They were incredibly helpful and told him that since I was staying with him for the foreseeable future he should write an affidavit for me and then I should take it to 300 Ocean Ave, Revere, MA 02151, I believe this is the closest regional centre.
That day he went to the bank and got the affidavit notarised and the next day I took the hour plus train ride out to Ocean Ave. Once there I got a cranky women who asked me once again did I live in another state, and was I receiving benefits. I handed her the affidavit and she baulked at it saying that they couldn't accept on from a roommate, it had to be a land lord. I explained that I was told this would be acceptable and she reiterated it had to be from a landlord and added condescendingly that I should have known better then to think that they would accept one from my roommate. I then stated that in order to bring her the correct documents I needed to be told then what those correct documents where and not given false information. Was there something that I could give her then and there that would be acceptable? I had my Massachusetts drivers license, I had my US passport, and I had my voter registration papers. She then proceeded to tell me that she had no idea why they stated that I wasn't a resident and no it did not say that I was or am a resident in any other state or receiving benefits from another state (thank goodness no identity fraud). She finally went and asked if my roommates affidavit would be acceptable and they said yes, took it away, she came back in a huff and said that I now had health care and I needed to call this phone number the next day, oh and I would need to provide a primary care giver good bye. And that was it according to her. I asked her where I might find a list of primary care givers and she almost exploded "I don't know call some one else". So I left. I did get some good photos though.
Since the MassHealth help lines hadn't been helpful I called the Health Care for everyone to ask where I might find a list of primary care givers. I've never had to do this before as I've been in school for my entire adult life and didn't get a choice, you just got who they gave you. I was then told that I should know better and call my private insurance plan. As far as I knew I didn't have a private insurance plan as I was now in one of the MassHealth programs, but didn't know which one. The lady then lectured me that I should get my organisations right. She did finally give me a number and informed me that I was on MassHealth Essentials, I didn't know that was one of the possible programs let alone the one that I was on. By this time I was in tears, but at least I had a bit more info.
I then called the Customer Service at 1800- 841- 2900. Now that I had an Id number (not that I knew that I had one or what it was) the help was much better. I found out what my options were for the different groups I could go with and where to find a list of primary care givers. This I found out was a bit of a fluke, but how to play the system. Apparently one just has to keep calling, just call the same number and the same extensions over and over again until you find someone who is helpful. I thanked the girl profusely and told her how grateful I was that someone was finally willing to talk me through the entire process. I am new to the state, I didn't expect to find myself in this situation, I have never had to receive benefits before and the process was new and is very convoluted. Even though I have advanced degrees I was made to feel stupid and incompetent throughout the entire process. I don't think it was me, and I understand that the people working in the system are overworked, underpaid, and understaffed. However if you find yourself in a similar situation don't worry you are not stupid, you are not a bad person for needing this help no matter what any one implies or out right says.
My story it ends up is quiet common. According to the Health Care for Everyone employee that my friend talked to, many people are wrongly marked as not a resident. I hope that by reading this you've found some useful info and phone numbers or at least solace in knowing that you are not the only one out there experiencing this.
As you may have read in a previous post I have found myself currently without work and with out the ability to afford health care. Thank goodness I live in Massachusetts! I thus qualify for MassHealth. Getting it though has been a bit of a problem... I went to one of their virtual gateways, filled out my form, read it over, signed it and was told that since I currently have no income, am not married, and have no children this will be easy. I depressing view of my current life, but at least it helps me get healthcare?
Anyway, ~4 weeks later I got a letter stating that I was declined because I am not a resident, but I am... So I tried calling many a help number given to me and was continually asked if I resided in another state at any point in time and did I receive benefits there. Yes I have lived in other states, but not currently, and no I have never received benefits before. Being asked this questions continually I started to become worried that perhaps some one had stolen my identity, but they would not tell me what state they thought I lived in or what benefits they thought I might be collecting.
I was told that I needed to file an appeal (I think, but some told me that I'd have to do this and others told me that I shouldn't) and that I should send a rental lease (which I don't have because I'm staying with friends), a utilities bill in my name (again staying with friends, not on any of the utilities, and also their rent covers all utilities anyway), or a notarised affidavit but they didn't say from whom.
In the mean time my friend was asking around to see if any one els had encountered these problems and how they got through it. Eventually he found Health care for everyone and called 1-800-272-4232. They were incredibly helpful and told him that since I was staying with him for the foreseeable future he should write an affidavit for me and then I should take it to 300 Ocean Ave, Revere, MA 02151, I believe this is the closest regional centre.
That day he went to the bank and got the affidavit notarised and the next day I took the hour plus train ride out to Ocean Ave. Once there I got a cranky women who asked me once again did I live in another state, and was I receiving benefits. I handed her the affidavit and she baulked at it saying that they couldn't accept on from a roommate, it had to be a land lord. I explained that I was told this would be acceptable and she reiterated it had to be from a landlord and added condescendingly that I should have known better then to think that they would accept one from my roommate. I then stated that in order to bring her the correct documents I needed to be told then what those correct documents where and not given false information. Was there something that I could give her then and there that would be acceptable? I had my Massachusetts drivers license, I had my US passport, and I had my voter registration papers. She then proceeded to tell me that she had no idea why they stated that I wasn't a resident and no it did not say that I was or am a resident in any other state or receiving benefits from another state (thank goodness no identity fraud). She finally went and asked if my roommates affidavit would be acceptable and they said yes, took it away, she came back in a huff and said that I now had health care and I needed to call this phone number the next day, oh and I would need to provide a primary care giver good bye. And that was it according to her. I asked her where I might find a list of primary care givers and she almost exploded "I don't know call some one else". So I left. I did get some good photos though.
Since the MassHealth help lines hadn't been helpful I called the Health Care for everyone to ask where I might find a list of primary care givers. I've never had to do this before as I've been in school for my entire adult life and didn't get a choice, you just got who they gave you. I was then told that I should know better and call my private insurance plan. As far as I knew I didn't have a private insurance plan as I was now in one of the MassHealth programs, but didn't know which one. The lady then lectured me that I should get my organisations right. She did finally give me a number and informed me that I was on MassHealth Essentials, I didn't know that was one of the possible programs let alone the one that I was on. By this time I was in tears, but at least I had a bit more info.
I then called the Customer Service at 1800- 841- 2900. Now that I had an Id number (not that I knew that I had one or what it was) the help was much better. I found out what my options were for the different groups I could go with and where to find a list of primary care givers. This I found out was a bit of a fluke, but how to play the system. Apparently one just has to keep calling, just call the same number and the same extensions over and over again until you find someone who is helpful. I thanked the girl profusely and told her how grateful I was that someone was finally willing to talk me through the entire process. I am new to the state, I didn't expect to find myself in this situation, I have never had to receive benefits before and the process was new and is very convoluted. Even though I have advanced degrees I was made to feel stupid and incompetent throughout the entire process. I don't think it was me, and I understand that the people working in the system are overworked, underpaid, and understaffed. However if you find yourself in a similar situation don't worry you are not stupid, you are not a bad person for needing this help no matter what any one implies or out right says.
My story it ends up is quiet common. According to the Health Care for Everyone employee that my friend talked to, many people are wrongly marked as not a resident. I hope that by reading this you've found some useful info and phone numbers or at least solace in knowing that you are not the only one out there experiencing this.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The rest from the weekend at Occupy Boston
These are the last Pics from this weekends trip to Occupy Boston. My partner was sure that all he would want to do is go down there, drop off our donations, walk around and then leave and have a pint of beer at the bar. Instead what happened was that we became captivated by the speakers at the rally, and then we went and got a pint. When we were down there a group from (I thought it was militarysuiside.org or com but I'm having trouble finding their web site) were talking. Anyway, this guy talked for quiet a while about post traumatic stress disorder and military suicides. He reminded everyone that there is no way that any of us can know or fully understand what our soldiers went through, saw, or had to do while deployed. He asked us to make sure that we don't let our friends and family who are returning from war push us away. If they are quiet, if they are sullen, if they are "changed", just accept them, love them, include them, and try to help or get help for them.
After his talk a mother and father of a kid (he was about 22) who committed suicide spoke. That's when I started to tear up. This is what I remember of their shared experience. They talked about how their son had been "aggressively recruited". This was pre-Iraq war. They talked about how he and his troop were one of the first deployed to Iraq and about the first time they felt a bomb go off close to their camp at night. They read from his letters home where he tried to spare them all the pain and misery, but would allude to other letters he had written that they would read if he died. They talked about when he returned home, about how he at first seemed just like their son prior to the war. He changed. After a while they started to notice that he was depressed, they tried to get him to the VA, but he was worried about what the military would think. I believe that they finally got him to go, but one day his son asked him if he could sit in his lap and be rocked. Later that night he killed himself. He was younger than my little brother who is about to become a father for the first time. It is sad to think that this kid, who was willing to go to war for us, and willing to give his life for our country will never be able to experience the life of freedoms that he fought for.
I understand that we need to have a military, and I understand that our military does do many great deeds overseas that we never really hear about. I once got to talk to a guy who while in the military received a PhD in Civil Eng. He was part of the crew who first went into Bosnia after the war to start rebuilding the towns. He was also part of the crew who got to hand over the keys to the town once the building was complete. I was blessed to hear his story and get to talk to him. Stories like this are uplifting and show how much potential for good our military has. However I do feel at times, to be honest at many times, that we and our representatives forget that our military is made up of people, and many young people at that. Asking them to go to war, to see people die, to kill people, is a huge request and one that I feel is many times taken too lightly. During my lifetime I have never been for a war that we were in. That said I am so thankful for those who choose to enlist and fight in the name of our country. I could not. So thank you to those who do, try to stay safe and if you need anything, just ask.
More from Last weekend at Occupy Boston
Some more photos from Occupy Boston, Keep up the good work!
It is amazing to me how so many in this nation are willing to speak up for the rights of corporations and the right for people to make an obscene profit on the backs of others, neither of which are in the constitution, but are happy to turn a blind eye when the right to the freedom of assembly is being ignored and trampled on right in front of our eyes. Sure this is the second to last freedom mentioned, but it is in the first amendment to our constitution. It was viewed as one of the most important freedoms we the people of this country have. It is not used often, but when used, it has a great impact.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - The First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
MassHealth
Since moving back to the States in the Boston area, I've applied for MassHealth (well really commonwealth care, but they all go through MassHealth or so I'm told). I'm lucky in a sense to be living in a state with something akin to a socialised health care system. I'm still a PhD student, but my funding has run out so I'm no longer getting paid (thus one of the reasons I moved back) and have been looking for work in the area (My partner lives and works here). Since my student loans are about to become due, all my savings is going into paying them off as quickly as possible while still being able to pay for my living expenses... which means that I can't afford health care. Up steps Massachusetts and offers state funding health care, I say "Yes Please". So I've filled out the forms, sent in the application, wait about 4 weeks and get a letter stating that they have refused my application because I'm not a resident. Wait a min... I just voted in this last Tuesday's election, in order to vote you must be a resident. My name was on the ballot roll and all. In order to be a resident, you must live in MA, they sent me the letter to my apartment in (drum roll please) MA?!?!? I have a MA drivers license, I pay taxes in MA, one of the big reasons I need this health care is because I could be fined for living in MA without health care. I guess though that if they think that I'm not a resident, then maybe they'll let that fine slide?
Yesterday I tried to call them and spent from 1:40pm - 5:15pm oscillating from being on hold to having the computer kick me off because they were having a large call volume. So I'm now up early and on the phone with them again. I tried at 8:30 and found out that the call centre doesn't start until 8:45am, so I called at 8:45am. The line was busy, busy as in a busy tone. I called back immediately. Apparently even though it's 8:47am "all agents are busy" because they already have a high call volume.
The next step for me (after I get off of hold) assuming that they can't help me is to call a lawyer with the community legal services. I have 30 days where I can file for an appeal and ask for a "fair hearing" and explain that I think the reasons why I was declined was false. I'm not sure how to show that I'm even more of a resident than I already have. I produced my driver's licence, my pass port, my check book with the address of my current apartment, and I even had some mail with me to also prove my address. I'm not sure what else to do.
I've been on hold now for over 12 mins.
Yesterday I tried to call them and spent from 1:40pm - 5:15pm oscillating from being on hold to having the computer kick me off because they were having a large call volume. So I'm now up early and on the phone with them again. I tried at 8:30 and found out that the call centre doesn't start until 8:45am, so I called at 8:45am. The line was busy, busy as in a busy tone. I called back immediately. Apparently even though it's 8:47am "all agents are busy" because they already have a high call volume.
The next step for me (after I get off of hold) assuming that they can't help me is to call a lawyer with the community legal services. I have 30 days where I can file for an appeal and ask for a "fair hearing" and explain that I think the reasons why I was declined was false. I'm not sure how to show that I'm even more of a resident than I already have. I produced my driver's licence, my pass port, my check book with the address of my current apartment, and I even had some mail with me to also prove my address. I'm not sure what else to do.
I've been on hold now for over 12 mins.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Occupy Boston
On the way down to Occupy Boston, got this photo of south station and then a few photos from across the street. The camp was larger than I expected and much more densely packed. I was surprised to see the police by the entrances to the camp. Not sure why I was surprised, but I think I figured that they wouldn't be so visible or even there. It was also a lot quieter than I expected. No one shouting, people all acting very respectfully. It was a great experience and I hope that they can make use of the old winter clothes and sheets that we were able to bring down and donate.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Occupy Harvard
I really think that Harvard is overreacting. If they want to keep the size of the tent community down for the safety of their students, then they should be able to do that, but keeping everyone without a Harvard ID out is a bit of a overreaction. There was a group of high school students who had come up for the weekend who wanted to see Harvard and were refused access. Partners, friends and family members of Harvard students, staff, and faculty are refused entrance. The normal busy Harvard lawn was quiet and empty. They don't seem to want to kick the protesters out, but instead have refused to let anyone in, I personally think that this will make Harvard look worse for wear.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Women, War, and Peace
By virtue of living abroad you tend to miss many of the things that go on in your own country, and months after returning I feel like I am still catching up and learning once again where to look for interesting shows and news. This is a look behind the making of this great series Women, War, and Peace shown on PBS.
It is odd to think that sexual violence during wars has only recently been prosecuted as a crime against humanity. Women make up half of humanity. How has it taken so long for us as a spices to recognise that this is not okay, that this is torture, that this is dehumanising?
It is odd to think that sexual violence during wars has only recently been prosecuted as a crime against humanity. Women make up half of humanity. How has it taken so long for us as a spices to recognise that this is not okay, that this is torture, that this is dehumanising?
Watch Matt Damon: Why Should Men Care? on PBS. See more from WOMEN WAR AND PEACE.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Election Results!
So in my local elections all but one of my choices got in, so not too bad, but I'm sure not too many people care about the small town politics. But there were some interesting results outside of MA, Ohio overturned the union stripping bill and Mississippi rejected the "personhood"amendment. Main also re-instated the right to register to vote on election day. Not bad over all! Now just a year until the big election, I can't wait.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Yeah, I voted today!
That is all... Here are a few photos from the experience. I hope you had a great day voting as well!
Don't forget to Vote today!
I know for most people this is an uninteresting election, and they are looking towards next year's instead, but the people and referendums that you vote on today are about what is going on locally. I'm hoping to vote in people who will help expand public transport in my city and who have an invested interest in keeping it a thriving and safe community as they have businesses and families who live here.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Voting this Tuesday!
I'm so excited to be able to once again vote in person! Growing up I remember in my civics classes always being told that your most important job as a citizen was to vote, and was something I missed the most while living abroad. Sure I was able to and did vote for elections back in the US, but I wasn't able to vote in elections where I was living, and on measures that had more of a daily impact of my life, like the fact that international students were not allowed student concessions on busses because ya know we were foreigners. I understand why I couldn't vote, and that by moving there I had agreed to it, but I didn't like it. I once complained that I felt like a second class citizen and was reminded that I wasn't a citizen first, second or any class. This next week I once again get to use this liberty. I've read the bios of the aldermen at large and have chosen those whom I wish to vote for (all the other races only have one choice)
Bill White - whom was once a Republican, but is now a democrat endorsed by the progressive democrats and added a T-station to the orange line in Somerville.
Dennis Sullivan - Also endorsed by the progressive democrats and who according to the Somerville Journal
and Jack Connolly - who has supported the expansion of the t-lines throughout Sommerville.
Yea voting! Yea democratic process! Yea America!
Bill White - whom was once a Republican, but is now a democrat endorsed by the progressive democrats and added a T-station to the orange line in Somerville.
Dennis Sullivan - Also endorsed by the progressive democrats and who according to the Somerville Journal
asked city lawyers to draft a domestic violence policy at City Hall, booting offenders from city jobs and giving employees who have been victimized time to go to court. After a year of inaction from City Hall, Sullivan once again called for a policy to be written at the last aldermen meeting.Sean Fitzgerald - who supports gay marriage and a state wide progressive income tax
and Jack Connolly - who has supported the expansion of the t-lines throughout Sommerville.
Yea voting! Yea democratic process! Yea America!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Really, are we still having this discussion on women clothing?
Once again I was stumbling around the web and happened upon Ta-nehisi's blog where one of the stories on the front page was a response to an article written about how stupid women are... Turns out this was an article in the Washington Post by Charlotte Allen from 2008. Why it was still up as a top story I don't know. Anyway, this led me to google her and see what she has done more recently and led me to an article on Jezzabell about Halloween costumes. Turns out this Charlotte Allen thinks that women who are raped, or at least some of them, are asking for it by dressing "Sluty". I agree that there are steps one can take to reduce your chances of being mugged, but I also think that we should not give into the terrorist or rapist and change the way we dress and live in fear that someone might find what I'm wearing provocative. When I first posted on women's rights I really didn't think that there were too many out there who were against women's rights. Then I guess I started looking, not even looking, just paying attention.
Of course there are the crazies like Pat Buchanan who think that women aren't as capable as men and if you google anti feminist you come up with a bunch of site agreeing with Pat. I think it's the number of these sites, and the comments on these sites that frustrate me. I would hate to bring any more traffic to them, and I'm sure you are capable of googling them yourselves if you so desire, so instead I am going to post links that have a more positive view on feminist.
Democracy Now has a great interview with Nobel Laureate Tawakkul Karman
Slate.com has a great post on the evolution (or intelligent design) of the anti-feminist
There is always the wonderful skepchick
An interesting piece in the Gaurdian about the state oaf feminism in the UK
And I'll end with this piece from Snow White Doesn't Live Here Any More on Psychology Today. Dr. Barreca has a great bit about what she first thought of the word feminist.
I use to not call myself a feminist, in fact now that I think about it, I know more men whom are willing and proud to call themselves feminist than women. It seems that, and I may be wrong, for a man to call himself a feminist he is showing that he is supportive, understanding, progressive and fair. For a women to call herself a feminist, well normally she is thought of as angry, a b*@$t, and asking for too much or for double standards. Granted, I've been told I'm all those things for pointing out that I was better qualified for a job and completely passed over, that I didn't appreciate being told that I probably spent my pay check on shoes and bags, angry at being told that since they were going to take photos the next day I might want to put on make up and do my hair... I guess I might as well embrace calling myself a feminist since I already live with the stigma it brings.
Of course there are the crazies like Pat Buchanan who think that women aren't as capable as men and if you google anti feminist you come up with a bunch of site agreeing with Pat. I think it's the number of these sites, and the comments on these sites that frustrate me. I would hate to bring any more traffic to them, and I'm sure you are capable of googling them yourselves if you so desire, so instead I am going to post links that have a more positive view on feminist.
Democracy Now has a great interview with Nobel Laureate Tawakkul Karman
Slate.com has a great post on the evolution (or intelligent design) of the anti-feminist
There is always the wonderful skepchick
An interesting piece in the Gaurdian about the state oaf feminism in the UK
And I'll end with this piece from Snow White Doesn't Live Here Any More on Psychology Today. Dr. Barreca has a great bit about what she first thought of the word feminist.
But even understanding that the world identified me first as a woman and only secondly as anything else didn't stop me from being horrified the first time somebody called me a "feminist." I thought being a feminist meant I couldn't wear lipstick or crave men with small behinds. I thought that "feminist" meant I couldn't send "Peanuts" cards to guys who I was afraid wouldn't call back, or buy stockings with seams. I thought "feminist" meant no more steamy flirtations or prolonged shopping trips. I thought it meant braided hair and short nails, maybe mandatory tofu. I certainly associated feminism with humorless, dour, and--worst of all--unblinkingly earnest women. That was because I was accepting the male version of things, which was sort of like believing the mouse's version of the cat, since it entailed being given access to a vision that could see nothing besides teeth and claws.
I use to not call myself a feminist, in fact now that I think about it, I know more men whom are willing and proud to call themselves feminist than women. It seems that, and I may be wrong, for a man to call himself a feminist he is showing that he is supportive, understanding, progressive and fair. For a women to call herself a feminist, well normally she is thought of as angry, a b*@$t, and asking for too much or for double standards. Granted, I've been told I'm all those things for pointing out that I was better qualified for a job and completely passed over, that I didn't appreciate being told that I probably spent my pay check on shoes and bags, angry at being told that since they were going to take photos the next day I might want to put on make up and do my hair... I guess I might as well embrace calling myself a feminist since I already live with the stigma it brings.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Some thoughts on Mississippi - No on 26.
A few posts ago I rambled on a bit about Mitt Romney and how he stated that he would have endorsed a bill on personhood (as defined as starting at conception) if it had been brought to him while gov. in Mass. This seemed inconceivable to me, and what I thought would have been science fiction not even 5 years ago, but the unthinkable my happen in a little over a week in Mississippi. I know this clip is a bit long, but it is well worth watching. Towards the beginning of the interview with Cristen Hemmins she states that it appears that since Mississippi teaches mostly abstinence only in their school systems, people do not understand how babies are made, and how contraception works. Perhaps an unintended consequence of abstinence only eduction. I've always wondered where those against sex ed class expect people to learn about contraception if not in school, but that's another topic.
What I think this video does is show how easy it is for an ill thought out law to take away rights of others. Here we have a proposal written with good intentions to try to help children (although I don't agree that a fertilised egg is a child as I stated in a previous post) but has damning ramifications for women and their health. This is what happens when people with good intentions but with little knowledge about how the body works try to write laws affecting medical conditions. This is an example of why we need better science education/appreciation. This would allow us as the general public better understand these laws that we are asked to vote on.
What I think this video does is show how easy it is for an ill thought out law to take away rights of others. Here we have a proposal written with good intentions to try to help children (although I don't agree that a fertilised egg is a child as I stated in a previous post) but has damning ramifications for women and their health. This is what happens when people with good intentions but with little knowledge about how the body works try to write laws affecting medical conditions. This is an example of why we need better science education/appreciation. This would allow us as the general public better understand these laws that we are asked to vote on.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
White House Encourages Women in Science
This morning I woke up to a great e-mail sending me to the White House website where they had posted a video titled Advice for Young Women Interested in the Sciences
This topic, women in science and women's rights, seems to be following me around lately. I suppose when you get to be of a certain age and a certain education status people start asking you these questions. Or maybe it's a snowball effect, one person asked, then I asked someone else, then I started noticing it in the news, then someone thought I might find this interesting.... Either way it' been on my mind a bit.
If someone were to ask me what advice I would give to girls wanting to go into science I'm not sure what I would say. I would suggest working on having thick skin, learn how to not be intimidated by aggressive body posturing (the guys don't mean to do it, but when they think they are right they sometimes just fall into it), become confident in what you know, and don't let anyone tell you differently. Really I think it comes down to confidence, you will be continuously tested, Profs, colleagues, and students will always question your handle on the subject matter and you have to stay strong. You won't always be right, but that does't mean you are not capable, it just means that you had a hole in your knowledge base which is now filled. Everyone has holes in their knowledge even if they don't want to admit it. If you go into Physics or engineering and many of the mathematic fields you will be one of the few if not only women in your class. This can sometimes be hard and lonely, but know that there are others of us out there cheering you on. Just look, the President of the United States of America is encouraging you!
This topic, women in science and women's rights, seems to be following me around lately. I suppose when you get to be of a certain age and a certain education status people start asking you these questions. Or maybe it's a snowball effect, one person asked, then I asked someone else, then I started noticing it in the news, then someone thought I might find this interesting.... Either way it' been on my mind a bit.
If someone were to ask me what advice I would give to girls wanting to go into science I'm not sure what I would say. I would suggest working on having thick skin, learn how to not be intimidated by aggressive body posturing (the guys don't mean to do it, but when they think they are right they sometimes just fall into it), become confident in what you know, and don't let anyone tell you differently. Really I think it comes down to confidence, you will be continuously tested, Profs, colleagues, and students will always question your handle on the subject matter and you have to stay strong. You won't always be right, but that does't mean you are not capable, it just means that you had a hole in your knowledge base which is now filled. Everyone has holes in their knowledge even if they don't want to admit it. If you go into Physics or engineering and many of the mathematic fields you will be one of the few if not only women in your class. This can sometimes be hard and lonely, but know that there are others of us out there cheering you on. Just look, the President of the United States of America is encouraging you!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Are women's rights eroding in the US
So after yesterday's post I decided to look up women's rights in google News and see what came up. I was astonished to see this article from the New York Times about how on a bus which goes through a Jewish neighbourhood women were not allowed to sit in the front of the bus, in some instances such as if the bus was crowded they were asked to pay the driver then enter the bus through the back door. I understand that some of this stems from the religious ideals of some in that community, but they are forcing their religious views on other patrons. To some extent I want to say we should respect others' religious freedoms, but at what point do we allow religious freedoms inhibit others personal rights? For me it's when they start to inhibit others rights. For example any one should be able to wear what ever religious dress they like as this guy won the right to, but if it allows you to force me to have to wear your religious dress then you've gone too far. You can eat what ever you want, or don't want, but I'll have my bacon and lobsters and cheese burgers thank you. Where I can sit on a bus, that I think has gone too far as well.
I found another blog post on Mitt Romney's misunderstanding of how the pill works on Jezzabel. The comments are awesome. I love how they point out that at conception yes there is life, but the egg and sperm cells as all cells are alive as well, so if life is equivalent to personhood, washing your hands is murder because you are killing bacterial cells. I realise that this argument is a bit sensational, but I don't think many who take this position actually understand what is happening at this point in the process of the making of a baby. I understand the whole religious nature of their argument, but I think that they have sensationalised this to the extreme as well. Do they really think that God would want to punish a women who needed an abortion to save her life? Maybe they do, maybe they really believe that the women's life isn't worth as much as the unborn child's. At what point does the zygote become a person? Personally I think I would define it as either when it can feel pain, or more probably, when it can survive outside of the mother, then it is an individual human. Then after this is decided, when the rights of the women and the child clash, how does one choose whose rights should prevail, especially if each of their lives are at stake? Not easy questions, and I'm sure there will always be conflict with any answers given, but I think the more important question is do we as a country want politicians to make hard and fast laws on topics that a) they might not understand completely, and b) on topics that are incredibly personal and the answers probably vary based on your religious beliefs.
I found another blog post on Mitt Romney's misunderstanding of how the pill works on Jezzabel. The comments are awesome. I love how they point out that at conception yes there is life, but the egg and sperm cells as all cells are alive as well, so if life is equivalent to personhood, washing your hands is murder because you are killing bacterial cells. I realise that this argument is a bit sensational, but I don't think many who take this position actually understand what is happening at this point in the process of the making of a baby. I understand the whole religious nature of their argument, but I think that they have sensationalised this to the extreme as well. Do they really think that God would want to punish a women who needed an abortion to save her life? Maybe they do, maybe they really believe that the women's life isn't worth as much as the unborn child's. At what point does the zygote become a person? Personally I think I would define it as either when it can feel pain, or more probably, when it can survive outside of the mother, then it is an individual human. Then after this is decided, when the rights of the women and the child clash, how does one choose whose rights should prevail, especially if each of their lives are at stake? Not easy questions, and I'm sure there will always be conflict with any answers given, but I think the more important question is do we as a country want politicians to make hard and fast laws on topics that a) they might not understand completely, and b) on topics that are incredibly personal and the answers probably vary based on your religious beliefs.
Friday, October 21, 2011
I can't believe Mitt.
I've been fairly quiet as to my long therapeutic (at least for me) posts on politics and my world views, but Mitt has just really gotten my goat. Well many on the GOP side of things have, but he might actually have a chance at winning the presidency and to have this extreme view on women's rights is just scary. When I was living in Oz I saw how horrible it was to live in a country where women are considered to be fairly equal, but less so than what I've experienced here in the US. Now many might disagree with that last statement, but that's purely based on my and my friends experiences, completely personal experience, yours might be different. Now some in the US government are suggesting that we as a country push women's rights even further back than what they are in Oz or any other first world country. Mitt has stated that he wants to ban all abortions (what about when the mother's life is in danger?) and would support an amendment that defines life as starting at conception, not implantation, but conception. So not only is he denying the mother's right to choose and right to life in some cases, but he would also be banning many forms of birth control. Rachel Maddow did a wonderful piece on this in her "virtual man-cave" explaining how a baby is made, and how many forms of the pill and other methods of birth control work.
Many political commentators against defining life at conception state that it's then a slippery slope where a miscarriage could then be stated as man slaughter, maybe a bit dramatic, but who in my generation would ever think the pill might be banned someday? However, according to Wikipedia... I know it's wikipedia but they got the figures from a school in London... only about 40 -70% of fertilised eggs will ever make it to implantation and of those about 25% will be lost within the first 6 weeks. So would those 40 - 70% which naturally wouldn't get to the implantation stage also be considered to be aborted? This doesn't even then look at miscarriages. From everything I've read and heard about miscarriages they are more common than we generally think and absolutely horrible to go through, I can't imagine then adding the pressure a law state that by having a miscarriage you have committed murder when all you wanted to do was to be a mother and have just lost this potential child. Not just lost this child, but according to the law murdered it. What sick people would want to do that to someone. I'm sure that Mitt or the other supporters wouldn't, at least I hope that they wouldn't, but I don't think that they are really thinking through their actions.
Besides the world is already becoming overpopulated, we do not need to increase the population by accidental births because we don't support women being able to use the pill, one of the safest and most effective forms of birth control. I know that many of the conservatives teach that one should wait until marriage to have sex, and fair enough if that is their believe, but what about after one is married? Are they really expecting that a married couple will only want to have sex to reproduce? I don't think they should be forcing their religious believes on others by saying that we should all wait for marriage, but what about after that? Is the women suppose to live in fear that every time she and her husband make love, there is the potential for a love child? I can't even fathom a marriage without sex, but without birth control how is the women ever going to be able to plan her career, or is it just a given to them that after she is married she is not suppose to work? Michelle Bachmann insinuated as much when she stated that women were loosing their homes because their husbands were loosing their jobs, but that's a whole other issue....
Okay I've probably ranted enough, but it's something that I think should be ranted more about. In undergrad I once had a feminist tell me that I needed to be more of a feminist because at any moment the government could vote on bills and pass them saying that I had to stay at home and be married, that work was only for men. I told her that I thought that was a load of baloney and that there was no way the women's movement could be taken back that far... I now think that maybe she was right. It won't happen in one vote, not even this one would do that, but it will and is happening over a series of votes. It's happening by letting people like Mitt and Michelle say these anti-women's rights and some times down right anti-women statements without crying out against them, or at least making them laughing stocks for wanting to go back to their rosy coloured view of history.
Many political commentators against defining life at conception state that it's then a slippery slope where a miscarriage could then be stated as man slaughter, maybe a bit dramatic, but who in my generation would ever think the pill might be banned someday? However, according to Wikipedia... I know it's wikipedia but they got the figures from a school in London... only about 40 -70% of fertilised eggs will ever make it to implantation and of those about 25% will be lost within the first 6 weeks. So would those 40 - 70% which naturally wouldn't get to the implantation stage also be considered to be aborted? This doesn't even then look at miscarriages. From everything I've read and heard about miscarriages they are more common than we generally think and absolutely horrible to go through, I can't imagine then adding the pressure a law state that by having a miscarriage you have committed murder when all you wanted to do was to be a mother and have just lost this potential child. Not just lost this child, but according to the law murdered it. What sick people would want to do that to someone. I'm sure that Mitt or the other supporters wouldn't, at least I hope that they wouldn't, but I don't think that they are really thinking through their actions.
Besides the world is already becoming overpopulated, we do not need to increase the population by accidental births because we don't support women being able to use the pill, one of the safest and most effective forms of birth control. I know that many of the conservatives teach that one should wait until marriage to have sex, and fair enough if that is their believe, but what about after one is married? Are they really expecting that a married couple will only want to have sex to reproduce? I don't think they should be forcing their religious believes on others by saying that we should all wait for marriage, but what about after that? Is the women suppose to live in fear that every time she and her husband make love, there is the potential for a love child? I can't even fathom a marriage without sex, but without birth control how is the women ever going to be able to plan her career, or is it just a given to them that after she is married she is not suppose to work? Michelle Bachmann insinuated as much when she stated that women were loosing their homes because their husbands were loosing their jobs, but that's a whole other issue....
Okay I've probably ranted enough, but it's something that I think should be ranted more about. In undergrad I once had a feminist tell me that I needed to be more of a feminist because at any moment the government could vote on bills and pass them saying that I had to stay at home and be married, that work was only for men. I told her that I thought that was a load of baloney and that there was no way the women's movement could be taken back that far... I now think that maybe she was right. It won't happen in one vote, not even this one would do that, but it will and is happening over a series of votes. It's happening by letting people like Mitt and Michelle say these anti-women's rights and some times down right anti-women statements without crying out against them, or at least making them laughing stocks for wanting to go back to their rosy coloured view of history.
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