I just want to observe how the outrage being publicly expressed over the disregard shown by the male (undoubtedly white) FBI agents that enabled that sexually psychopathic doctor to abuse an endless supply of prey says so much about the hard-fought battle for recognition that women have heroically demanded from the male-dominated society that has viewed women as chattel and servants. If it weren't for the bravery of women to stand against the abuse that men have historically been willing to tolerate, if not commit, women wouldn't even be able to voice objection that we are NOT returning to coat hangers in dark and dirty rooms. Someone (sadly a dutiful woman) may try to erase Ruth Bader Ginsburg's written opinions in the SCOTUS library, but the misogyny that still resides inside the male-dominated power structure will not silence women. Those four gymnasts were appropriately received only because of the unrelenting suffering of women of courage, like RBG, may they rest in peace.
Hi, Janet. Agree completely. I will be writing about the US gymnast sexual abuse scandal. It is sickening and demonstrates both a complete disregard for the rights and dignity of women and a broken culture at the FBI. And you are right, the view that the abuse of young women was unimportant emerges from the same place that says white men can tell women what medical and reproductive decisions they are allowed to make.
Another good letter. I guess I should be most stunned by the 1 in 500 stat. But honestly, I am beyond surprised about the needless deaths from Covid. I am dulled by the many months of insane behavior surrounding Covid. I would never have predicted that Republicans could get away with what is in essence manslaughter and still survive politically. It's sick. It's sci-fi. But it is real.
What upsets me the most is the lack of participation in one of the most important "elections" in California's history. Every voter received a ballot in the mail. No effort required. Something close to half of those voters did not check a box and drop the ballot in the mail. No effort required. If this isn't the very definition of apathy, what is? Are they so caught up in the basics of their lives that they aren't paying attention. Or is it the more frightening answer: "it doesn't matter whether Newsom or a crazy liar is governor"? This stat should terrify us.
Hi, Bill. The low participation rate is what bothers me the most, especially among young voters. Their futures will be affected the most by decisions made today, and yet it is older voters who are controlling the outcome of elections. One reader suggested that younger voters may feel like their votes don't count when Diane Feinstein remains in office year-after-year, doing nothing, having no impact other than displacing someone who could make a difference. Feinstein was missing in action during the recall. That says all we need to know.
Good observation. Thanks. Perhaps it is just the human condition that we participate when we are personally affected. Renters get politically involved when rents are raised. Taxpayers get riled up when taxes go up. Young people get concerned when they might lose something?
I have been politically fired up since I was a kid. But what really kicked it into high gear for me was the idea that I might be drafted to fight a jungle war that I viewed as insane. It caused my politics to move left - the threat of useless death was a real motivator.
Unfortunately our disappointment in a lot of things continue. My disappointment in Merrick garland is at the top of my list in contention with my disappointment of the United States Olympic committee, the FBI, and all of the rest of the organizations that left these poor young girls and women in the cold. They treated them as they treat every other female who reports a sexual attack Of any kind. I can’t believe the majority of the interviews were conducted without female FBI investigators in the room. That’s disgusting and abhorrent. The FBI dropped the ball numerous times and it’s frightening and disgusting.
But I see the huge change in our society's reaction to this revelation of a widespread disregard of the physical and emotional safety of young women. The brave testimony of those four gymnasts really highlighted the systemic nature of the wrongdoing of all those "public" organizations and the people who worked for them. The same thing is happening throughout our legal system. The ABA model of organizational operation was developed in the mid-1800's, when the legal profession was completely run by white men. The ABA runs everything as though those white men were still in power. Never mind that women hold a lot of positions within the ABA; part of the systemic manifestation of male domination in American society (of the 21st century, no less) is what appears to me to be the "women's movement's" acquiescence to unequal power in the professional world in exchange for apparent equality. As I see the legal profession, women have gained positional power, but not equal power.
I think it's important to observe that the outrage expressed (which you capture so well in your comment) is not only from women, but with fair-minded men like Robert and his followers. Women needed, and received, the heartfelt support of men who have broken from the systemic misogyny that is obviously present among us. The important thing, I think, is that we are publicly outraged, which will (as with the George Floyd murder convictions) cause the new generation of men to be substantially different than the past ones. All I can say is, thank God for the vocal leadership of women and the men that support them.
“If John Durham is allowed to indict Sussman over this picayune inconsistency, it will be with Merrick Garland’s blessing. In the meantime, there is absolutely no evidence that Garland is investigating Trump for his criminal conduct extorting Ukraine or inciting a insurrection. It is a maddening situation.”
Me: And today we see in the news that this is unfolding.
Here and there the rationale seems to be offered that Merrick Garland has no will, and thus no plan, to look to the past to pursue investigations and prosecutions, but methodically deals with the present and going forward.
Allowing this, picayune even (great word!), reaching back to 2016, versus addressing the issues of January 6, 2021… It’s beginning to feel partisan. Can that be?
I just want to observe how the outrage being publicly expressed over the disregard shown by the male (undoubtedly white) FBI agents that enabled that sexually psychopathic doctor to abuse an endless supply of prey says so much about the hard-fought battle for recognition that women have heroically demanded from the male-dominated society that has viewed women as chattel and servants. If it weren't for the bravery of women to stand against the abuse that men have historically been willing to tolerate, if not commit, women wouldn't even be able to voice objection that we are NOT returning to coat hangers in dark and dirty rooms. Someone (sadly a dutiful woman) may try to erase Ruth Bader Ginsburg's written opinions in the SCOTUS library, but the misogyny that still resides inside the male-dominated power structure will not silence women. Those four gymnasts were appropriately received only because of the unrelenting suffering of women of courage, like RBG, may they rest in peace.
Hi, Janet. Agree completely. I will be writing about the US gymnast sexual abuse scandal. It is sickening and demonstrates both a complete disregard for the rights and dignity of women and a broken culture at the FBI. And you are right, the view that the abuse of young women was unimportant emerges from the same place that says white men can tell women what medical and reproductive decisions they are allowed to make.
Another good letter. I guess I should be most stunned by the 1 in 500 stat. But honestly, I am beyond surprised about the needless deaths from Covid. I am dulled by the many months of insane behavior surrounding Covid. I would never have predicted that Republicans could get away with what is in essence manslaughter and still survive politically. It's sick. It's sci-fi. But it is real.
What upsets me the most is the lack of participation in one of the most important "elections" in California's history. Every voter received a ballot in the mail. No effort required. Something close to half of those voters did not check a box and drop the ballot in the mail. No effort required. If this isn't the very definition of apathy, what is? Are they so caught up in the basics of their lives that they aren't paying attention. Or is it the more frightening answer: "it doesn't matter whether Newsom or a crazy liar is governor"? This stat should terrify us.
Hi, Bill. The low participation rate is what bothers me the most, especially among young voters. Their futures will be affected the most by decisions made today, and yet it is older voters who are controlling the outcome of elections. One reader suggested that younger voters may feel like their votes don't count when Diane Feinstein remains in office year-after-year, doing nothing, having no impact other than displacing someone who could make a difference. Feinstein was missing in action during the recall. That says all we need to know.
Good observation. Thanks. Perhaps it is just the human condition that we participate when we are personally affected. Renters get politically involved when rents are raised. Taxpayers get riled up when taxes go up. Young people get concerned when they might lose something?
I have been politically fired up since I was a kid. But what really kicked it into high gear for me was the idea that I might be drafted to fight a jungle war that I viewed as insane. It caused my politics to move left - the threat of useless death was a real motivator.
Unfortunately our disappointment in a lot of things continue. My disappointment in Merrick garland is at the top of my list in contention with my disappointment of the United States Olympic committee, the FBI, and all of the rest of the organizations that left these poor young girls and women in the cold. They treated them as they treat every other female who reports a sexual attack Of any kind. I can’t believe the majority of the interviews were conducted without female FBI investigators in the room. That’s disgusting and abhorrent. The FBI dropped the ball numerous times and it’s frightening and disgusting.
But I see the huge change in our society's reaction to this revelation of a widespread disregard of the physical and emotional safety of young women. The brave testimony of those four gymnasts really highlighted the systemic nature of the wrongdoing of all those "public" organizations and the people who worked for them. The same thing is happening throughout our legal system. The ABA model of organizational operation was developed in the mid-1800's, when the legal profession was completely run by white men. The ABA runs everything as though those white men were still in power. Never mind that women hold a lot of positions within the ABA; part of the systemic manifestation of male domination in American society (of the 21st century, no less) is what appears to me to be the "women's movement's" acquiescence to unequal power in the professional world in exchange for apparent equality. As I see the legal profession, women have gained positional power, but not equal power.
I think it's important to observe that the outrage expressed (which you capture so well in your comment) is not only from women, but with fair-minded men like Robert and his followers. Women needed, and received, the heartfelt support of men who have broken from the systemic misogyny that is obviously present among us. The important thing, I think, is that we are publicly outraged, which will (as with the George Floyd murder convictions) cause the new generation of men to be substantially different than the past ones. All I can say is, thank God for the vocal leadership of women and the men that support them.
And this is 2021, not 1956.
Rob, you write:
“If John Durham is allowed to indict Sussman over this picayune inconsistency, it will be with Merrick Garland’s blessing. In the meantime, there is absolutely no evidence that Garland is investigating Trump for his criminal conduct extorting Ukraine or inciting a insurrection. It is a maddening situation.”
Me: And today we see in the news that this is unfolding.
Here and there the rationale seems to be offered that Merrick Garland has no will, and thus no plan, to look to the past to pursue investigations and prosecutions, but methodically deals with the present and going forward.
Allowing this, picayune even (great word!), reaching back to 2016, versus addressing the issues of January 6, 2021… It’s beginning to feel partisan. Can that be?