Sexism roundup
Today I read a collection of articles addressing the issue of sexism.
I’m drawing attention to them in case you missed these in the flood of media we face these days!
The first was a letter by a father to his daughter on Fathers’ Day – not the Australian Fathers’ Day, the one everywhere else in the world!
We tell girls that they can succeed if they work hard and be themselves. So why is it that a woman in business or politics is seen as cold and harsh if she doesn’t show emotion — but seen as “emotional” or manipulative if she does?
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/16/to_my_daughter_on_fathers_day_sorry_i_used_to_be_a_sexist/
The second was by our own John Birmingham. John’s article is a wonderful summation of “the week that was” from the male perspective. John did make a bit of noise about his dick, which seemed to upset some of the audience who said as much in the comments. However one reader, Jessica of Brisbane at 8:10 am, very eloquently but such back in their box.
Second: to the men commenting here who are taking this personally and getting upset because they’re not like the men described. Please start ranting too. In public. At work. In the pub. To the ABC.
It’s not enough to tell the readers here that “I’m not one of them”. You have to tell “them”. In public, to their faces, to the editors, the CEOs, the senior managers. Call “them” out on their sexism. If you don’t, they (and we) think you are one of “them” and for all your good intentions, you may as well be.
We are your mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, daughters, friends, bosses, staff members, doctors, nurses, teachers. We are half the population and we need your support. Not your denial.Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/blogs/blunt-instrument/a-shameful-week-to-be-a-man-20130617-2oemq.html
A little spotted dick, anyone?
I’m swimming against the tide here, but I have a feeling the Liberal Party may very well find itself in the same position as the USA GOP during the presidential election. A sure thing to win, if I recall, according to most of the media. Then the women of the USA got a little pissed off over some of the stupidity exhibited by many of the GOP candidates. Suddenly the sure win evaporated.
I said to an acquaintance this morning that in my opinion Julia Gillard had been ill-advised to “play the gender card”. That was until I saw the menu. Yes, you know – THAT menu, the one speaking about red boxes and small breasts.
Menu
Happy Anniversary to us but what of Ranjini
Today is our third wedding anniversary. As it is mid-week and we have things like footy team photos and a student free day at Miss O 1′s school, we aren’t out celebrating. However WE are TOGETHER.
I was reminded today of another couple who are not together. Ranjini and her husband. I have written about Ranjini several times before, just use the site search if you wish to read past articles.
Today though, let us look at the latest updates in this case, provided by Letters for Ranjini.
* * * * * * * *
Ranjini’s case has now been heard by Margaret Stone, the independent reviewer charged with looking over ASIO’s evidence. We, along with the Commonwealth ombudsman, have concerns regarding the lack of clarity regarding what happens next. What we do know is that the Stone review’s findings will be received by ASIO and the Minister for Immigration, and we hope that they will come to a common sense decision.
There is still some remarkable holes in the Government’s policy here – and we are yet to hear anyone from the Government explain why indefinite detention is the only option here. A point that has been echoed many times in the media this month.
A letter from the Office of the Prime Minister
I am sure the Prime Minister will not mind me sharing the letter I received today from her office. For security reasons, I have blocked out my address and the name of the staff member who signed the letter.
Letter from the Office of the Prime Minister
As readers know, I am, at the moment, one of those swinging voters. I am pleased to see, despite it being budget week last week, we have a Prime Minister who does communicate with the electorate. While Julia has not read Love versus Goliath, it seems obvious from the letter that someone in her office has read enough of it to personalise the letter. This is an entirely different approach to that taken by another politician when communicating with me. I draw the comparison merely as something for fellow Australians to think about.
I am very pleased to have Love versus Goliath acknowledged by the Prime Minister of Australia. I wrote this book to draw attention to what happens and the trauma that results. I hope others in senior positions will also see merit in my words.
Thank you, Prime Minister.
Funny thing about Nicolle Flint and I
This is, to me, REALLY weird!
In November last year I analysed an article by Nicolle Flint. My article was read, but nothing out of the ordinary for this website.
Earlier this month I was intrigued about public reaction to live exports versus asylum seekers and wrote about it. Again, the article was read in the normal range of numbers for this website.
Out of the blue I started seeing a number of hits on the old November 2012 article. I discovered Nicolle Flint had written an article about live exports and the ABC’s (alleged) lack of balance, publish on May 9, 2013.
SO MANY people were interested in this article of Nicolle’s I have been getting totally unrelated hits ever since!
Nicolle Flint related hits
Book Depository now offering Love versus Goliath
I know many overseas readers have been waiting as the postage from Australia was a little high!
Book Depository have the paperback with free shipping worldwide! Of course, also no GST.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Love-Versus-Goliath-Robyn-Oyeniyi/9780987483027
Book Depository
Asylum seeker roundup
Nauru Island from the Air (Photo credit: ARM Climate Research Facility)
Roundup of articles on the topic, that is.
There have, thankfully, been a few great articles about asylum seekers this week which has been wonderful to see. Not so wonderful was Tony Abbott’s politically motivated billboard. Using people as a political football is not the sort of action I expect from a leader. Malcolm Fraser was a leader. Abbott is not. Not my leader.
It isn’t just Abbott who uses the word “illegals”, I know this. Today I saw mention of journalists not challenging Abbott’s use because that would be a free kick given they’d then have to challenge the Labor politicians who had done the same thing. And there it is – the political football. Why are we using innocent, vulnerable people to get free kicks?
The first article I read was Daniel Flitton’s Escape to a fair deal? Not in this country! published in The Age.
Incarceration without hope of facing an accuser, prisoners forbidden to know the evidence arrayed against them, a deployment of endless bureaucratic process to act as a disguise for fairness. No day in court. No trial. No appeal. This is not North Korea, but a brutal reality for 55 people in Australia right now.
Andrew Zammit then alerted me to another article, Guantanamo lawyer to defend Nauru 10 by Bianca Hall. Bianca is fast becoming a journalist I follow regularly.
“They’re almost incommunicado,” Mr Mori said. “They’ve charged 10 people, but there’s not 10 lawyers on Nauru. There’s no defence lawyers to handle the cases, so how are people supposed to get access to lawyers to advise them?”
The asylum seekers are detained under Nauru law. Under Nauru’s Constitution, people who are detained are entitled to consult their lawyer wherever they are being held.
