Words to Remember

I find that my mood swings toward nostalgia and melancholy on the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's death. Kennedy was a pivotal character during my youth, and I am compelled, on this day each year, to reflect on the turbulent decade of the1960s—the formative years that shaped me into the woman I am today.

The Sixties were rife with violence; punctuated with protests, riots, and assassinations, most of the bloodshed related to the Civil Rights Movement. Raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a city with a predominantly white population, I had no first-hand experience with racism, but I listened, read, and watched as President Kennedy, Attorney General Kennedy, and Martin Luther King fought this battle and I knew they were the good guys and I was on their side. It was President Kennedy's administration that instilled my unwavering belief in human rights.

The assassinations of these leaders marred my innocence. I became acutely aware that evil existed and it lurked within our government. I have always believed there was a conspiracy, not only with the assassination of President Kennedy, but also Senator Kennedy and Martin Luther King. I think most people believe that there was a conspiracy behind the killing of President Kenned; the "magic-bullet" theory was just too preposterous for most rational Americans.

President Kennedy has always been revered for being a strong supporter of civil rights, but few remember that he was passionate about the environment. After reading Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, he appointed a Science committee to investigate the impact of pesticides on health and the environment. The findings criticized the chemical pesticide industry and called for stricter government policy. This was a bold move against Velsicol Chemical LLC, a multi-billion dollar corporation. Kennedy's investigation helped catapult the establishment of the EPA and present-day environmental protection laws.

 
In 1961, he provided the first government loan under the Public Housing Administration to build 150 homes for the Oglala Sioux on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

Source: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, American Indian Chicago Conference, 8/15/62

Kennedy also appointed a Commission on the Status of Women before approving the Equal Pay Act of 1963. In a press release on the signing of the Equal Pay Act, he remarked, "I believe we must expand day-care centers and provide other assistance which I have recommended to the Congress. At present, the total facilities of all the licensed day-care centers in the Nation can take care of only 185,000 children. Nearly 500,000 children under 12 must take care of themselves while their mothers work. This, it seems to me, is a formula for disaster." 

In 1967, Hallmark published a small book, John F. Kennedy: Words to Remember. The book sold for $2.50.  Robert Kennedy wrote the foreword: 

The story of history is properly more than a succession of dates and events, of crisis and controversy. It is illuminated, at its best, by the acts and words of its participants.

I am pleased, therefore, that Hallmark is publishing this small volume. In these words of President Kennedy, we share once again the events – here and abroad – of his administration. Here are the tones of those struggles – for peace, for civil rights, for a better life for our people – whose echoes move us still, and shall always remain our concern.

Although this day saddens me, it is the echo of John F. Kennedy that motivates me. His convictions inspire me to continue fighting for human rights, women's rights, and for the environment. His words, uttered fifty years ago still ring true today. “The earth, the sea and the air are the concerns of every nation. And science, technology and education can be the ally of every nation.”

Shatter the Silence

General elections will be held on November 4th, and campaign slogans stating Take Back our Country/State/ Senate are plastered everywhere, but there is another "take back" I am addressing right now. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Take Back the Night is an organization that brings awareness to domestic and sexual violence. Originating in Europe, it crossed over to the United States in the late 1960s. The organization empowers victims and survivors of domestic violence by providing them with a platform and a voice to protest violence. Take Back the Night has a definitive concise slogan on their website: Shatter the Silence. Stop the Violence. I understand all too well the reason for silence. Your first thought may be that it is fear, which is true if you are still living with your abuser, but why silence years later when you are no longer in the abusive relationship?

In 2011, I participated in the production of a video for Working Against Violence, Inc. (WAVI). It was the first time I spoke publicly about being a survivor of physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. After the filming, I was in a state of unease. I felt exposed; embarrassed to know that personal acquaintances, and even strangers that I would never meet, would be aware of the secret I had been concealing. Over thirty years had passed, and I found myself confronted with a surprising realization – the years, and counseling, had not erased the humiliation and shame. These buried emotions resurfaced, although not as raw, they were definitely palpable. I told myself that not many people would recognize me, or perhaps my scene would end up on the cutting room floor. In the video, I talk about the emotional scarring, and true to my words, here I was, feeling ashamed all over again, wishing I had kept silent when my sole purpose for coming forward was to break the silence. 

This is what abuse does to its victims. It penetrates us, filling us with shame. It confuses us. It makes us feel responsible. We believe we are somehow guilty or it would not have happened. Abusers are skilled at transferring their guilt and shifting the blame to the victim – effective tactics that linger long after the abuse has ended. I thought I had moved on, but discovered that the residue of abuse is difficult to remove.

Abused women will be reluctant to open up and talk, both during and after the abuse, but if you suspect someone is in an abusive relationship, reach out to them, approach them non-judgmentally, and encourage them to seek help. Law enforcement officers now receive specialized training in handling domestic violence and work hand-in-hand with crisis centers and shelters.

My abuse occurred between the years 1972 – 1979. Organizations to help battered women were rare and shelters were almost nonexistent. Husbands and boyfriends did not face criminal charges for raping or assaulting their wives or girlfriends; domestic violence was considered a civil matter and law enforcement agencies were hesitant to become involved. It was in the 1970s that Women’s Rights organizations, most notably National Organization for Women (NOW), brought domestic violence to the forefront by making it a political issue. Feminists were the fearless warriors who battled sexist national and local legislators. These women were the backbone responsible for successful lobbying, creation of task forces, passing new legislation and stricter laws, and requesting monies to fund crisis centers, shelters, and hot lines. They were the key players behind reform; reshaping indifference toward a “family quarrel” into what it truly was – a criminal offense.

Before you go to the polls on November 4^th, look at the candidate’s previous voting record on legislation regarding women’s issues, particularly the recent Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). 

Additional websites if you are seeking information or help:

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/help-for-abused-and-battered-women.htm

https://www.rainn.org/

http://www.vday.org/

* The majority of safe houses and shelters are non-profit agencies funded through grants and gifts. Donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated.

Limbaugh Rushes to Revile Robin Williams

ABC7 News

"He had everything; everything that you would think would make you happy. But it didn't. Now, what is the left's worldview in general? What is it? If you had to attach not a philosophy but an attitude to a leftist worldview, it's one of pessimism and darkness, sadness. They're never happy, are they? They're always angry about something. No matter what they get, they're always angry." Direct quote from Rush Limbaugh Tuesday radio show in reference to Robin William’s suicide.

Yes, we leftists do get angry. Angry with pivotal issues that generate from the denial of human and civil rights, genocide, starvation, sex slavery, disease, and poverty. Annoyed with trivial issues like racist, chauvinistic, homophobic, white supremacist radio talk show hosts who net multi-millions bashing blacks, women, gays, and environmentalists. Generally speaking, Rush Limbaugh broadcasts hate. His latest attack on the death of Robin Williams is so far below the belt that he should be called the Andrew Golota of radio talk show hosts. Only Limbaugh would use a personal tragedy to further his hatred of liberalism.

Depression is an insidious, debilitating illness. There is no room for jabs, jokes, or condescending remarks regarding this condition. 80% of those suffering from clinical depression are not receiving treatment. Research shows a strong link between suicide and depression, with 90% of the people who die by suicide having an existing mental illness.

My aunt suffered in silence with depression. She was close to, and loved, by her children and family, yet her suicide blind-sided us all. She never spoke of depression or her inability to cope with life, not everyone will “cry for help.” Depression is an all-consuming disorder that many are embarrassed to talk about or confront. It does not display physical symptoms like cancer or heart disease and is often a burden shouldered solely by the sufferer. Their mental distress is so painful that, if left untreated, suicide appears to be the only viable option for relief.

I know I should disregard Limbaugh’s remarks as those coming from a caustic bloated gasbag, but when he viciously maligns a person after death, equates suicide to a political viewpoint, and mocks a serious health concern to raise his ratings, it does anger this leftist. It is ignorant comments like his that fuel misconceptions surrounding mental illness. Fame and fortune do not prevent or cure depression and to suggest that a person who has it all has no right to be depressed is exactly the stigma that discourages some people from seeking help.

Depression and despair go hand-in-hand. Suicide statistics on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation are staggering – more than twice the national rate, with teen suicide 4 times higher than the national average for this age group. These teens have not had a chance to form political opinions or align themselves with conservatism or liberalism. They receive substandard medical care provided by overworked, underfunded, and minimally staffed medical facilities. The infant mortality rate is the highest on the continent, diabetes and tuberculosis are both 800% higher than the national average, and more than half the reservation’s residents suffer from alcoholism. With these diseases taking precedence, little is done to diagnose and treat depression.

But Rush Limbaugh is not concerned about diseases on the reservations. He wrote in his book, “I don't give a hoot if he (Columbus) gave some Indians a disease that they didn't have an immunity against."

This man has no filter, no sensitivity monitor, and sadly, no human decency. His comments on Williams death are malicious and cruel to all who battle depression and to the families who have lost a loved one to suicide.

As the character, Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams, Williams said, "You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome. "

A War on American Soil

On this day, we remember the brave men and women who died while serving in active duty in the US Military. A well-deserved holiday, these war heroes should be held reverently in our minds and hearts for sacrificing their lives to protect our freedom. One-time civilians, they took an oath solemnly swearing to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...” Once under the care of the Department of Defense, they were issued clothing and weapons, trained in combat, and eventually deployed, with no guarantee for a safe return. The inherent risk shared by all soldiers is that they can perish in a foreign country.

I do not want to take away from the remembrance of fallen soldiers, but another mass murder in California on Friday night has caused me to ruminate about killings unrelated to war. Today, I am also thinking of the innocent who have fallen in our own country, killed in streets and buildings in our cities and towns; never anticipating an attack from the enemy, not sworn to defend the Constitution against all enemies, in fact, completely unaware that they even had an enemy. I am thinking of American citizens – residing in a country that is at peace, going about their daily tasks while living under the protection of the Constitution of the United States – who became victims of mass killings committed in our own country.

We are so concerned about sustaining the Second Amendment right of the people to keep and bear arms that we are denying blameless citizens their overall constitutional right to justice and domestic tranquility.

In 1995, J. Neil Schulman published SELF CONTROL, Not Gun Control. His pro-NRA rhetoric is evident on every page and he writes, “Most journalists today write as if the NRA--usually lumped in with the Tobacco Institute--represents only the commercial interests of "merchants of death" who don't care how many lives are lost--particularly the lives of our young people--just so long as they get to keep selling their product.” He accuses the media of “editing TV footage to misrepresent the accuracy and firepower of “assault weapons"--to make them look more deadly than they actually are.” Check out this four-minute video and judge for yourself the accuracy and firepower of assault rifles.

 

Why shouldn’t everyone be allowed to own one of these fine weapons for hunting, target practicing, or as Wild Bill explains to us liberals with disabilities in “Who Needs an Assault Rifle?” – they are necessary to protect our families from gang invasions, or on camping excursions when we accidentally pitch our tent on a drug dealers territory, or even more terrifying, when we find ourselves in a natural disaster and a violent mob tries to steal our food and water. 

Schulman cites these statistics from a survey performed by Gary Kleck, Ph.D., professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University.  

An American gun owner uses a privately owned firearm 2.45 million times each year in an actual defense against a criminal.

Every 13 seconds, an American gun owner uses his or her firearm in defense against a criminal.

Women use handguns 416 times each day in defense against rapists.

In 1995, the population of the United States was 266 million; so these statistics relate to roughly 1 out of every 108 people in the US used a gun in self-defense. Using common sense, relying on extensive research on victims of violent crime and abuse, and judging from the hundreds of people that I know, I find these statistics hard to believe. What I do find palatable are statistics compiled by academic researchers, legislative aides, and law enforcement officials that state: ten times as many people are shot and killed in arguments with someone they know than the number of strangers who are shot by someone defending their home. Women are six times more likely to be shot by their husband, boyfriend, and ex-partner than by a male stranger. For every time a gun is used in self-defense in the home, it is used in 7 murders, 11 suicides or attempts, and 4 fatal accidents. And to rebut good ole’ paranoid Wild Bill – how many mass shootings have been stopped by an armed civilian in the past 30 years? Zero.

Between 1995 and 2013, there were 388 people killed in mass murders. However, the FBI definition of mass murder is “four or more people murdered in one event.” It does not take into account mass shootings where people are shot and wounded, but not killed. Likewise, mainstream news does not typically report on mass shootings, only mass murders. You can be mutilated, paralyzed, and suffer severe life-altering physical and mental injuries as the result of a mass shooting, but statistically, you do not count. The majority of mass shootings are covered only in local news. Only seven mass shootings out of the forty-eight that actually occurred between 1995 and 2013 received major national coverage. These seven mass murders included: 1999 Columbine School Massacre - 15 dead, 24 injured; 2007 Virginia Tech Massacre - 33 dead, 23 injured; 2009 Ft. Hood Massacre - 13 dead, 30 injured; 2011 Tucson Shooting - 6 dead, 13 injured; 2012 Aurora Theater Shooting – 12 dead, 58 injured; 2012 Newtown School Shooting – 28 dead, 2 injured; and 2013 Washington Navy Yard Shooting – 13 dead, 8 injured. The numbers from these well-known mass murders account for only a third of those who were killed and half of those who were injured in mass shootings.

Legislation to extend background checks for gun sales, ban assault weapons, and limit magazine capacities did not pass the Senate in April 2013, and gun-rights advocates seem to have the misguided notion that they are heroes for protecting the Second Amendment. The NRA loves to criticize the media for its hysterical coverage of mass killings and has blamed news coverage for encouraging copycat killings, but the truth is that mass killings are under-reported in the US.

We do what we can to save the lives of those in our armed forces in enemy territory, but unfortunately, war is hell and soldiers die. We need to fight harder for the war being carried on in our own streets on American soil. We can lobby for tighter gun control. The irony is that gun advocates swear they love their country and fellow compatriots, but their insistence on their right to bear arms is based on fear. They are afraid of their government, afraid of others with guns, and afraid to admit that gun control could possibly work. I do not advocate taking guns away from sane citizens, but I believe that stricter regulation is necessary to stop senseless killings. I believe that I have a right to walk down the street without fear of being slaughtered by a mentally ill person with an assault rifle. I think the legislation proposed in 2013 was a good start and we should continue on this path.