Monday, April 30, 2007
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1 - addendum
Addendum to this post:
This is absolutely fascinating! It's like legislation against robberies that makes no mention of... robberies!
My not-being-a-lawyer guess is that if the legal text and rationale had been construed upon the term and concept of "hate," they would probably not be able to prove it, except in very, very rare occasions.
Thus, even in law discourses, the fake-hate-stake is burning bright.
Second point, in most cases of domestic abuse, we do find a lot of hatred from the perpetrator to the victim, such as from one spouse to other, from parent to abused child, etc. And it is interesting that regarding these types of violence dynamics, there is no one making grand speeches about "hate," "hate-based violence," etc. Have you ever heard anyone say, "hate-based domestic violence?" Never.
As Jacobs and Potter point out, the statutory definitions of "hate crime" in fact make no mention of hatred. Instead, these statutes, in effect, define "hate crime" as "criminal conduct motivated by prejudice" (p. 11).
This is absolutely fascinating! It's like legislation against robberies that makes no mention of... robberies!
My not-being-a-lawyer guess is that if the legal text and rationale had been construed upon the term and concept of "hate," they would probably not be able to prove it, except in very, very rare occasions.
Thus, even in law discourses, the fake-hate-stake is burning bright.
Second point, in most cases of domestic abuse, we do find a lot of hatred from the perpetrator to the victim, such as from one spouse to other, from parent to abused child, etc. And it is interesting that regarding these types of violence dynamics, there is no one making grand speeches about "hate," "hate-based violence," etc. Have you ever heard anyone say, "hate-based domestic violence?" Never.
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1
(I am going to try to get a hold of Jacobs and Potter's book and write about it. For now, a few musings on "hate crime" ideology. Given my blogging text limits, I will post the text separated in different parts, and cut into the usual tiny posts.)
The quotes below come from a review of the book by a guy with a homosexual dysfunction. Ralph Wedgwood, formerly an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is now a Lecturer in Philosophy at Oxford University and a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. He is the author of "The Fundamental Argument for Same-Sex Marriage," Journal of Political Philosophy (1999),
The quotes below come from a review of the book by a guy with a homosexual dysfunction. Ralph Wedgwood, formerly an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is now a Lecturer in Philosophy at Oxford University and a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. He is the author of "The Fundamental Argument for Same-Sex Marriage," Journal of Political Philosophy (1999),
In Chapter 6, Jacobs and Potter criticize the justifications that are most frequently offered for hate crime laws. First, they consider the claim that "more severe penalties for criminals motivated by prejudice are justified because such offenders are morally worse--more culpable--than criminals who engage in the same conduct, but for reasons other than prejudice" (pp. 79-80). They dismiss this claim with the following objection (p. 80): "A con artist may defraud widows out of their life savings in order to lead a life of luxury. An ideologue may assassinate a political leader in order to dramatize his cause or to coerce decision makers into changing national policy. Are these criminals less morally reprehensible than a gay basher or a black rioter who beats an Asian storeowner? Of course not."
Labels: hate crime, homosexuality, law, liberals
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1
The sheer irrelevance of this objection is staggering. Jacobs and Potter are objecting to the claim that crimes motivated by prejudice are more culpable than crimes that involve the same conduct but different motivation. However exactly the philosophically tricky notion of 'the same conduct' is to be understood, it is indisputable that defrauding widows out of their life savings is not "the same conduct" as gay bashing. The question that Jacobs and Potter should have asked is this: Suppose that a gang of young men beat someone up just because they feel bored. Is this act less morally reprehensible than if they had beaten him up just because they believed that he was gay? Both acts are seriously morally wrong, but it is far from obvious, at least to me, that the second act is not more reprehensible than the first.
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1
Wedgwood argues that one must apply the notion of “the same conduct” to judge if two crimes are equal from a moral perspective. This is already a tricky assertion, because crime is not and should not be defined or evaluated on the basis of the type of the perpetrator's motive or conduct alone. But more on this later.
First of all, regarding what the proponents of hate crime categories construe, what is the problem with the example offered that beating up someone because of alleged boredom is less worse than beating up someone because of some prejudice against homosexuality? It starts with the ultra-simplification of the motive, a reductionism that only serves to muddle and completely obfuscate the real complex set of motives. Boredom does not cause assault crimes. A complex set of aggregated motives need to be present to make someone who is bored commit a crime of battery.
First of all, regarding what the proponents of hate crime categories construe, what is the problem with the example offered that beating up someone because of alleged boredom is less worse than beating up someone because of some prejudice against homosexuality? It starts with the ultra-simplification of the motive, a reductionism that only serves to muddle and completely obfuscate the real complex set of motives. Boredom does not cause assault crimes. A complex set of aggregated motives need to be present to make someone who is bored commit a crime of battery.
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1
In such a situation we would find a series of other psycho-social dysfunctions that together could lead some people to commit a crime. The perpetrators could even allege that they committed a crime “because they were bored,” but this would be a reductionist, ignorant version of the facts. They necessarily must have other issues to commit a crime and allege it was solely out of boredom. So the first problem with the comparison given and its "motive" starts there.
Next, we can also raise several issues regarding the question of a gang beating someone up because they believed he was a homosexual. Firstly, the majority of people who oppose the legitimation of homosexuality do not beat up homosexuals, therefore an opposition to the normalization of homosexuality itself does not produce violent behavior towards homosexuals, nor is it correct to say this is some form of prejudice, since opposing the normalization of homosexuality requires knowledge, not prejudice. Secondly, if the gang members had a certain hostility towards homosexuals, and this could possibly be qualified as prejudice, they would need to have some other set of ideas regarding their own social behavior (i.e. believe that they had a need to beat him up to actually do it).
Next, we can also raise several issues regarding the question of a gang beating someone up because they believed he was a homosexual. Firstly, the majority of people who oppose the legitimation of homosexuality do not beat up homosexuals, therefore an opposition to the normalization of homosexuality itself does not produce violent behavior towards homosexuals, nor is it correct to say this is some form of prejudice, since opposing the normalization of homosexuality requires knowledge, not prejudice. Secondly, if the gang members had a certain hostility towards homosexuals, and this could possibly be qualified as prejudice, they would need to have some other set of ideas regarding their own social behavior (i.e. believe that they had a need to beat him up to actually do it).
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1
Thirdly, and even more poignantly, the number of homosexuals who are pro-homosexuality zealots and who batter other homosexuals is thousands of times higher than the beatings from heterosexuals with problems.
Returning to the question of motive, we can conclude that simply stating that “prejudice produces a crime” is also not correct, just as saying that “boredom produces crimes” is also not correct.
But even if we consider a variety of crimes where the conduct was the same, and even if the motive in all of them included some kind of "prejudice," there are a vast number of examples that will show why "hate crime" concepts/categories are invalid. What if the gang beat up another guy because he refused to be part of a gang? Or because he voted for a politician the gang didn't like? Or because he was old and weak? Or because he was homeless? Or because he was fat? Or because he was wearing a new suit? Or because he studied hard to pass exams at school and they hated that he was a “nerd?”
Returning to the question of motive, we can conclude that simply stating that “prejudice produces a crime” is also not correct, just as saying that “boredom produces crimes” is also not correct.
But even if we consider a variety of crimes where the conduct was the same, and even if the motive in all of them included some kind of "prejudice," there are a vast number of examples that will show why "hate crime" concepts/categories are invalid. What if the gang beat up another guy because he refused to be part of a gang? Or because he voted for a politician the gang didn't like? Or because he was old and weak? Or because he was homeless? Or because he was fat? Or because he was wearing a new suit? Or because he studied hard to pass exams at school and they hated that he was a “nerd?”
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1
Why is only the beating related to the homosexual victim enormously more morally wrong than every one of the above examples and so many more that we could conjure? Why does this case justify an abnormally privileged category?
The truth is that it is absurd to rob the other victims of their equiponderation of the harm of the crime they suffered or from the perspective of degree of evil of the crime that was perpetrated. All of the above examples would require a set of problematic attitudes from the part of the gang that would cause them to perpetrate the beating, and in all of the cases these sets of attitudes are equally bad. Furthermore, labeling the motive a mere “prejudice” is oversimplifying it.
But the most fundamental problem is that there is no moral ground to make the distinction that the prejudice against the homosexual is worse than any of the others, it is clearly the result of an “Animal Farm” logic, a distinction based on power privileges, discourse inequality, and profound injustice.
The truth is that it is absurd to rob the other victims of their equiponderation of the harm of the crime they suffered or from the perspective of degree of evil of the crime that was perpetrated. All of the above examples would require a set of problematic attitudes from the part of the gang that would cause them to perpetrate the beating, and in all of the cases these sets of attitudes are equally bad. Furthermore, labeling the motive a mere “prejudice” is oversimplifying it.
But the most fundamental problem is that there is no moral ground to make the distinction that the prejudice against the homosexual is worse than any of the others, it is clearly the result of an “Animal Farm” logic, a distinction based on power privileges, discourse inequality, and profound injustice.
Hate Crime Philosophy - A Praxis of Injustice and Inequality - Part 1
To note: depending on the “hate crime” legislation and what it defines as victim categories, some of the examples above could also be categorized as “hate crimes.” Wedgwood quotes an example: "Alabama law defines a hate crime as 'a Class A felony that was motivated by the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability.'" Even then, if we include the beating of the homeless and the old man in hate crimes categories, why are they any worse than the beating of the guy who didn't want to join a gang? On what moral ground does one assert that half of the above examples are worse than the remaining half?
How can one assert that the guy who was beaten because he didn't want to join a gang or the other victim who been battered because he had studied hard suffered less or were assaulted less than the guy who was beaten because of his homosexual dysfunction? There is absolutely no moral grounds for the claim. This is one aspect that makes so-called “hate crime” categories highly immoral from a philosophical pespective.
How can one assert that the guy who was beaten because he didn't want to join a gang or the other victim who been battered because he had studied hard suffered less or were assaulted less than the guy who was beaten because of his homosexual dysfunction? There is absolutely no moral grounds for the claim. This is one aspect that makes so-called “hate crime” categories highly immoral from a philosophical pespective.
Where is the epidemic of hate crimes again? 2004 statistics
There were a total of 1,367,009 violent crimes against persons in 2004, of which 774 were allegedly motivated by “hate.”
The FBI reported 16,137 murders in 2004, of which 5 were allegedly “hate” crimes; it reported 94,635 forcible rapes, of which 4 were allegedly “hate” crimes; and it reported 854,911 aggravated assaults, of which 765 were allegedly “hate” crimes.
Overall, the FBI reported that 15.6% of hate crimes were motivated by the sexual orientation of the victim.
[ 16% of 765 = 122 is the total reported enormous epidemic of alleged aggravated assault "hate crimes" regarding sexual orientation. If we take into account the evidence of several faked hate crimes, we know that the figure is smaller.]
[And if you will remember another post on the subject of crimes stats, the FBI does not consider male rape, "rape," as it defines rape only if there is vaginal intercourse. Forced sodomy, therefore, does not even appear in FBI crime statistics. What does this tell us about American society and how much it wants to deal with homosexual violence? ]
650,000 gay men are annually battered in the US alone
The disparity between 650,000 and 122 is nothing short of monumental.
The FBI reported 16,137 murders in 2004, of which 5 were allegedly “hate” crimes; it reported 94,635 forcible rapes, of which 4 were allegedly “hate” crimes; and it reported 854,911 aggravated assaults, of which 765 were allegedly “hate” crimes.
Overall, the FBI reported that 15.6% of hate crimes were motivated by the sexual orientation of the victim.
[ 16% of 765 = 122 is the total reported enormous epidemic of alleged aggravated assault "hate crimes" regarding sexual orientation. If we take into account the evidence of several faked hate crimes, we know that the figure is smaller.]
[And if you will remember another post on the subject of crimes stats, the FBI does not consider male rape, "rape," as it defines rape only if there is vaginal intercourse. Forced sodomy, therefore, does not even appear in FBI crime statistics. What does this tell us about American society and how much it wants to deal with homosexual violence? ]
650,000 gay men are annually battered in the US alone
The disparity between 650,000 and 122 is nothing short of monumental.
Labels: hate crime, homosexuality, law, violence
Book: Hate Crimes - Criminal Law and Identity Politics - James B. Jacobs and Kimberly Potter
Hate Crimes -
Criminal Law and Identity Politics
by James B. Jacobs and Kimberly Potter
This book places in socio-legal perspective both the hate crime problem and society's response to it.
From the outset, Jacobs and Potter adopt a skeptical if not critical stance. They argue that hate crime is a hopelessly muddled concept and that legal definitions of the term are riddled with ambiguity and subjectivity. Moreover, no matter how hate crime is defined, the authors find no evidence to support the claim that the US is experiencing a hate crime epidemic--nor that the number or rate of hate crimes is at an historic zenith. Furthermore, assert the authors, the federal effort to establish a hate crime accounting system has been a failure.
The underlying conduct that hate crime law prohibits is already subject to criminal punishment. Jacobs and Potter maintain that there is no persuasive rationale for saying that hate crimes are "worse" or "more serious" than similar crimes attributable to other anti-social motivations.
Criminal Law and Identity Politics
by James B. Jacobs and Kimberly Potter
This book places in socio-legal perspective both the hate crime problem and society's response to it.
From the outset, Jacobs and Potter adopt a skeptical if not critical stance. They argue that hate crime is a hopelessly muddled concept and that legal definitions of the term are riddled with ambiguity and subjectivity. Moreover, no matter how hate crime is defined, the authors find no evidence to support the claim that the US is experiencing a hate crime epidemic--nor that the number or rate of hate crimes is at an historic zenith. Furthermore, assert the authors, the federal effort to establish a hate crime accounting system has been a failure.
The underlying conduct that hate crime law prohibits is already subject to criminal punishment. Jacobs and Potter maintain that there is no persuasive rationale for saying that hate crimes are "worse" or "more serious" than similar crimes attributable to other anti-social motivations.
Book: Hate Crimes - Criminal Law and Identity Politics - James B. Jacobs and Kimberly Potter
Also, they argue that the effort to single out hate crime for greater punishment, in effect, is an effort to punish some offenders more seriously because of their bad beliefs, opinions, or values, thus implicating the First Amendment.
Jabobs and Potter show that the recriminalization of hate crime has little (if any) value with respect to law enforcement or criminal justice. Indeed, enforcement of such laws may in fact exacerbate intergroup tensions rather than eradicate prejudice.
I haven't read the above book, but everything in the summary review says what I also see happening in society and encompassing the legal theoretical and political criticisms I put forth regarding hate crime legislation.
Jabobs and Potter show that the recriminalization of hate crime has little (if any) value with respect to law enforcement or criminal justice. Indeed, enforcement of such laws may in fact exacerbate intergroup tensions rather than eradicate prejudice.
I haven't read the above book, but everything in the summary review says what I also see happening in society and encompassing the legal theoretical and political criticisms I put forth regarding hate crime legislation.
Hate Crime Law - an X-Ray of Power Hierarchies
Below is a textual excerpt that delineates part of the problem that I was referring to here: (All violent crimes are not "hate crimes," because I would argue the definition of "hate crime" is selectively myopic and it enforces unequal protection and status under the law. I would even go further and argue that the concept of a hate crime is completely senseless, like saying pigs can fly, because it's flawed in its fundament. )
Engendering Hate Crime Policy: Gender, the “Dilemma of Difference,” and
the Creation of Legal Subjects - Valerie Jenness - Dr. Valerie Jenness is Chair and Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at the University of California, Irvine.
http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/againsthate/Journal2/GHS101.PDF
“Who should be represented in hate crime law? Why? On what grounds?”
To emphasize the political, rather than legal nature of this question, Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard University, informed lawmakers that the question of which status provisions to include in hate crime law presents no constitutional problem. As he explained in U.S.
Congressional hearings on hate crime:
If, as Tribe suggests, legislators had considerable latitude, how did they proceed to demarcate status provisions in hate crime law?
Engendering Hate Crime Policy: Gender, the “Dilemma of Difference,” and
the Creation of Legal Subjects - Valerie Jenness - Dr. Valerie Jenness is Chair and Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at the University of California, Irvine.
http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/againsthate/Journal2/GHS101.PDF
“Who should be represented in hate crime law? Why? On what grounds?”
To emphasize the political, rather than legal nature of this question, Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard University, informed lawmakers that the question of which status provisions to include in hate crime law presents no constitutional problem. As he explained in U.S.
Congressional hearings on hate crime:
Nothing in the U.S. Constitution prevents the Government from penalizing with added severity those crimes directed against people or their property because of their race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, and nothing in the Constitution requires that this list be infinitely expanded.34
If, as Tribe suggests, legislators had considerable latitude, how did they proceed to demarcate status provisions in hate crime law?
My Days
In reading JJ's sister's blog, which has various passages just pulsating with life, I found this:
Even though the context where this phrase was found is not a poem, I found that the phrase alone is extremely poetical.
I am robbed, robbed of my days and I hate it. And every day I curse it, and pray that someday I can have a day that will be mine.
My days are mine
Even though the context where this phrase was found is not a poem, I found that the phrase alone is extremely poetical.
I am robbed, robbed of my days and I hate it. And every day I curse it, and pray that someday I can have a day that will be mine.
Friday, April 27, 2007
What the discussion on same-sex marriage serves to cover up
This excerpt from comments generated at a discussion of same-sex marriage at Justin Katz's. (I can't find the link to Justin's original post).
My comment (where I copied some text from my previous post on the subject of homosexual violence):
Regarding the discussion on whether to normalize first, and consequently legalize, homosexual marriage:
Estimate for homosexual male domestic violence: 650,000 gay men are annually battered in the US alone
Is it a surprise that modern American society concentrates its energy in Pride Parades and normalizing homosexual marriage instead of looking at how enormously violent homosexuals are?
My comment (where I copied some text from my previous post on the subject of homosexual violence):
Regarding the discussion on whether to normalize first, and consequently legalize, homosexual marriage:
Estimate for homosexual male domestic violence: 650,000 gay men are annually battered in the US alone
Is it a surprise that modern American society concentrates its energy in Pride Parades and normalizing homosexual marriage instead of looking at how enormously violent homosexuals are?
Labels: denial, homosexuality, marriage, violence
What the discussion on same-sex marriage serves to cover up
The day same-sex marriage activists spend even 10% of the same-sex marriage propaganda energy on disseminating info on how violent homosexuals are, they will show that even the most ignorant, dubious people can rise above the gutter.
(Domestic violence in gay male relationships is the third largest health problem for gay men in America today.)
Domestic violence is also prevalent in the gay and lesbian communities, occurring with the same or even greater frequency than in heterosexual communities (Barnes, 1998; Friess, 1997; Island, 1991; Renzetti, 1992). The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that 25% to 33% of all same-sex relationships include domestic violence.
And if they all batter so much, it is clear that homo and bisexuals have very high rates of sexual harassment behavior, including towards heterosexuals. It's all part of the same web of sexual violence towards others.
(Domestic violence in gay male relationships is the third largest health problem for gay men in America today.)
Domestic violence is also prevalent in the gay and lesbian communities, occurring with the same or even greater frequency than in heterosexual communities (Barnes, 1998; Friess, 1997; Island, 1991; Renzetti, 1992). The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that 25% to 33% of all same-sex relationships include domestic violence.
And if they all batter so much, it is clear that homo and bisexuals have very high rates of sexual harassment behavior, including towards heterosexuals. It's all part of the same web of sexual violence towards others.
What the discussion on same-sex marriage serves to cover up
p.s.: This book came out more than 15 years ago. From which we conclude: a society that is intent on homosexual propaganda has a profound closet, with an enormous quantity of statistics skeletons therein. You call young black female athletes some normalized denigrating hip-hop term and you hit the scandal circuit. You publish data about how criminal and diseased the minds of homosexuals are and the entire media becomes suddenly deaf and dumb, not for a week, but for decades.
I will clarify my point: I am not discussing in this comment why same-sex marriage is unequal to heterosexual marriage. I am pointing out that there is a concerted effort to censor and dismiss discussion about how violent homo and bisexuals are at the same time that there is enormous talk of the subject of homosexual marriage.
In other words, we see that topics about violence make people uncomfortable, since it disrupts their idealized stereotypes and simplistic accounts of social "reality," therefore a continuous dismissal and resistance is found regarding these very topics, which are nevertheless key to understanding society at a more realistic and responsible level.
I will clarify my point: I am not discussing in this comment why same-sex marriage is unequal to heterosexual marriage. I am pointing out that there is a concerted effort to censor and dismiss discussion about how violent homo and bisexuals are at the same time that there is enormous talk of the subject of homosexual marriage.
In other words, we see that topics about violence make people uncomfortable, since it disrupts their idealized stereotypes and simplistic accounts of social "reality," therefore a continuous dismissal and resistance is found regarding these very topics, which are nevertheless key to understanding society at a more realistic and responsible level.
What the discussion on same-sex marriage serves to cover up
alessandra:
I don't know what book you got those numbers from, if from a bigot's, or from some liberal activist who (being a liberal) exagerates problems so as to have something to fix, the kind of liberal who also finds that over half of women get "raped" in their lifetime. The truth is just the opposite of what you say. Gays are typically less violent individuals than straights. Everyone knows that. It is, actually, for their less aggressive natures that more "manly" men hold them in contempt.
Posted by arturo fernandez at April 25, 2007 12:45 AM
I don't know what book you got those numbers from, if from a bigot's, or from some liberal activist who (being a liberal) exagerates problems so as to have something to fix, the kind of liberal who also finds that over half of women get "raped" in their lifetime. The truth is just the opposite of what you say. Gays are typically less violent individuals than straights. Everyone knows that. It is, actually, for their less aggressive natures that more "manly" men hold them in contempt.
Posted by arturo fernandez at April 25, 2007 12:45 AM
What the discussion on same-sex marriage serves to cover up
Alessandra, domestic violence is a serious problem in both heterosexual and homosexual communities.
So?
I know straight folks who have been battering victims, and gay folks who have been.
Why should that prevent anyone who does not assault someone from marrying?
Posted by DRettmann at April 21, 2007 6:23 AM
============================
That's not the question. The question is why so many people lie about how violent homosexuals are or keep silent about it.
Is it because if you don't lie so much about how violent homosexuals are, you won't achieve your homosexual normalization quest?
(Domestic violence in gay male relationships is the third largest health problem for gay men in America today.)
Why are such a huge number of homosexuals so violent?
Why are you not debating how to make homosexuals a less brutal and violent group of people?
I think it is a higher priority for society to have less epidemic levels of violence than any same-sex marriage.
If you had two homo neighboring couples, one couldn't get a marriage license, and in the other, there were constant episodes of brutal violence - which one would you think deserved a priority of attention? Of regulation? Of media spotlight?
Anyone who turns a blind eye to the violent couple and effuses concern about the marriage issue shows how disgusting their system of values is. And voilà 95% of our society!
Posted by alessandra at April 27, 2007 2:35 PM
So?
I know straight folks who have been battering victims, and gay folks who have been.
Why should that prevent anyone who does not assault someone from marrying?
Posted by DRettmann at April 21, 2007 6:23 AM
============================
That's not the question. The question is why so many people lie about how violent homosexuals are or keep silent about it.
Is it because if you don't lie so much about how violent homosexuals are, you won't achieve your homosexual normalization quest?
(Domestic violence in gay male relationships is the third largest health problem for gay men in America today.)
Why are such a huge number of homosexuals so violent?
Why are you not debating how to make homosexuals a less brutal and violent group of people?
I think it is a higher priority for society to have less epidemic levels of violence than any same-sex marriage.
If you had two homo neighboring couples, one couldn't get a marriage license, and in the other, there were constant episodes of brutal violence - which one would you think deserved a priority of attention? Of regulation? Of media spotlight?
Anyone who turns a blind eye to the violent couple and effuses concern about the marriage issue shows how disgusting their system of values is. And voilà 95% of our society!
Posted by alessandra at April 27, 2007 2:35 PM
What the discussion on same-sex marriage serves to cover up
oh look, a troll!
======================
alessandra:
I don't know what book you got those numbers from,
[you can click on the link and find out]
if from a bigot's,
[what is your definition of a bigot?]
or from some liberal activist who (being a liberal) exagerates problems so as to have something to fix, the kind of liberal who also finds that over half of women get "raped" in their lifetime. The truth is just the opposite of what you say.
[Arturo on his soapbox is here to tell us the truth, the whole truth, and...]
Gays are typically less violent individuals than straights. Everyone knows that.
[Or so you like to fool yourself. ]
It is, actually, for their less aggressive natures that more "manly" men hold them in contempt.
[So you are saying that being a homosexual and perpetrating domestic violence are two things that are biologically determined? What about bank robberies? White collar crime? Are you saying heterosexual men just can't help battering women because it's in their nature? Did you know 50 years ago people denied heterosexual domestic violence just like you deny homosexual violence? Same sweeping statements as you like to use, "EVERYONE knows that domestic violence is very rare..." Isn't it interesting that people like you don't like to face how violent homosexuals are? What about bisexuals? Are they half as violent as heterosexuals or not?]
Posted by arturo fernandez at April 25, 2007 12:45 AM
What the discussion on same-sex marriage serves to cover up
=========================
The fake hate stake
This excerpt from an old drawn-out discussion. I'm posting because I gave a nice example that contradicts the claim that the only possible motive for expressing disagreement with a liberal sexual ideology is hate. "K" thinks all Christians hate homosexuals, and in looking a particular statement from a church, she offers this as proof of how much these Christians "hate!" (Read on to be shocked regarding vileness! Depravity! Brutality!)
My reply:
There is no hate above. Religion, in this case, is not a cover for anything [e.g. hate], it is already bared. It stipulates sex should be reserved for within marriage. Saying they hate homosexuals is the same falsity as saying they hate heterosexuals (unmarried ones who are sexually active, that is).
Only someone who refuses to read would say they hate.
Just a cheap distortion to defame them because they understand human behavior should be based on different values and rules. You´ve construed a fake hate stake for you to burn them at.
“We believe the Bible is clear; the intimacy of sex is reserved for a man and woman who make a life-long commitment together in the sacrament of marriage""K" then adds: "I love the part about hating gays in love (in a loving way, that is, not hating "gays in love"). It's against the will of god, and damaging, but gosh darn it, we love you! And won't you come break bagels with us?"
My reply:
There is no hate above. Religion, in this case, is not a cover for anything [e.g. hate], it is already bared. It stipulates sex should be reserved for within marriage. Saying they hate homosexuals is the same falsity as saying they hate heterosexuals (unmarried ones who are sexually active, that is).
Only someone who refuses to read would say they hate.
Just a cheap distortion to defame them because they understand human behavior should be based on different values and rules. You´ve construed a fake hate stake for you to burn them at.
Labels: hate crime, law, religion
Violent Crime in 2004 in the U.S. - hate crime issue
In context, the violent crimes against persons allegedly because of “hate” pales in comparison to the over-all figures.10 There were a total of 1,367,009 violent crimes against persons in 2004, of which 774 were allegedly motivated by “hate.”
The FBI reported 16,137 murders in 2004, of which 5 were allegedly “hate” crimes; it reported 94,635 forcible rapes, of which 4 were allegedly “hate” crimes; and it reported 854,911 aggravated assaults, of which 765 were allegedly “hate” crimes.
Overall, the FBI reported that 53.8% of “hate” crimes were motivated by the race of the victim, 16.4% were motivated by the religion of the victim, 15.6% were motivated by the sexual orientation of the victim, and 13.3% were motivated by the ethnicity of the victim.
The FBI reported 16,137 murders in 2004, of which 5 were allegedly “hate” crimes; it reported 94,635 forcible rapes, of which 4 were allegedly “hate” crimes; and it reported 854,911 aggravated assaults, of which 765 were allegedly “hate” crimes.
Overall, the FBI reported that 53.8% of “hate” crimes were motivated by the race of the victim, 16.4% were motivated by the religion of the victim, 15.6% were motivated by the sexual orientation of the victim, and 13.3% were motivated by the ethnicity of the victim.
Labels: hate crime, law
Violent Crime in 2004 in the U.S. - hate crime issue
It is noteworthy that the numbers reported 9 represent alleged hate crimes, not proven hate crimes. That means the statistics include crimes like the murder of Matthew Shepard, which according to a 2004 ABC 20/20 Report, was related not to his sexual orientation, but to the perpetrators’ interest in money and drugs. “New Details Emerge in Matthew Shepard Murder,” ABC News, November 26, 2004 (see http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=277685).
The 2007 statistics will likely include the recent natural death of Andrew Anthos, an elderly man in Michigan. Mr. Anthos’ death was initially reported to be the result of a hate crime, but was later determined by the medical examiner that conducted his autopsy to be the result of natural causes. “Medical Examiner: Spinal Disease Killed Andrew Anthos,” Detroit News, March 30, 2007 (see http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070330/METRO/703300308/1003). “Hate” crime advocates refuse to accept the physical evidence that there was no crime.
The 2007 statistics will likely include the recent natural death of Andrew Anthos, an elderly man in Michigan. Mr. Anthos’ death was initially reported to be the result of a hate crime, but was later determined by the medical examiner that conducted his autopsy to be the result of natural causes. “Medical Examiner: Spinal Disease Killed Andrew Anthos,” Detroit News, March 30, 2007 (see http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070330/METRO/703300308/1003). “Hate” crime advocates refuse to accept the physical evidence that there was no crime.
The very fascinating hate law criteria
by prejudice based on race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of state, local or tribal hate crime laws.
I wonder how the bright light bulbs who came up with the H.R. 1592 Bill consider a case where a black man offends a black woman (saying "ho"), than she calls him a "good-for-nothing nigger." Do we have two hate crimes here? Or do they think if some one commits a hate crime, then you can commit a hate crime back and it's OK? You noticed, in my example, she didn't simply call him "trash" (so blasé) or another non-victim-group-based insult, she went for the horrible, the denigrating and racially based term "nigger," that is, a HATE crime word.
Then you have a situation where a homo rubs against someone in a purposeful harassment action, and the victim says, "You homo shit!" The homo will sue for hate crime, evidently.
You have a heterosexual guy call a woman a "bitch," and she calls him back "a sexist pig," then we have two hate crimes ( they are both insults based on gender!)
I find the topic of "hate crimes" so amazingly fascinating, nothing, NOTHING could be more Orwellian in an Animal Farm way (and that goes for many countries, the U.S. being one of many foremost examples).
I wonder how the bright light bulbs who came up with the H.R. 1592 Bill consider a case where a black man offends a black woman (saying "ho"), than she calls him a "good-for-nothing nigger." Do we have two hate crimes here? Or do they think if some one commits a hate crime, then you can commit a hate crime back and it's OK? You noticed, in my example, she didn't simply call him "trash" (so blasé) or another non-victim-group-based insult, she went for the horrible, the denigrating and racially based term "nigger," that is, a HATE crime word.
Then you have a situation where a homo rubs against someone in a purposeful harassment action, and the victim says, "You homo shit!" The homo will sue for hate crime, evidently.
You have a heterosexual guy call a woman a "bitch," and she calls him back "a sexist pig," then we have two hate crimes ( they are both insults based on gender!)
I find the topic of "hate crimes" so amazingly fascinating, nothing, NOTHING could be more Orwellian in an Animal Farm way (and that goes for many countries, the U.S. being one of many foremost examples).
Labels: hate crime, law, liberals
The very fascinating hate law criteria
'Austria and Belgium both have laws criminalizing holocaust denial, as does France whose law extends to criminalization of the denial of crimes against humanity “as tried at Nuremberg”.'
What is interesting in our world is that it has become a crime to lie about the data regarding the violence committed in the Holocaust, but it is not a crime to lie about enormous chunks of violence that are going on currently, i.e., the epidemic levels of violence perpetrated by homosexuals, nor about many other types of violence that get consistently hidden from public view. (Usually accompanied by lack of studies, doctored up statistics and all that).
This is why so-called "hate crime" laws are fascinating, they provide us with an X-ray of who has power in society. People in power are always shaping the system to guarantee impunity for their wrong-doing and to prosecute to the full extent of all applicable laws anyone that does anything they don't like (specially if it relates to them).
What is interesting in our world is that it has become a crime to lie about the data regarding the violence committed in the Holocaust, but it is not a crime to lie about enormous chunks of violence that are going on currently, i.e., the epidemic levels of violence perpetrated by homosexuals, nor about many other types of violence that get consistently hidden from public view. (Usually accompanied by lack of studies, doctored up statistics and all that).
This is why so-called "hate crime" laws are fascinating, they provide us with an X-ray of who has power in society. People in power are always shaping the system to guarantee impunity for their wrong-doing and to prosecute to the full extent of all applicable laws anyone that does anything they don't like (specially if it relates to them).
The very fascinating hate law criteria
This clarification and example from the Alliance Defense Fund's Report on the H.R. 1592 Bill.
Despite the limitation of the new federal offenses to violent crimes against persons, H.R. 1592 could be construed not to limit federal prosecution to violent “hate” crimes. Although not the most likely construction, section 4 of the Act could arguably authorize the Attorney General to prosecute violations of non-violent state or local “hate” crime laws at the request of local officials.3
That would be extremely problematic because some existing state and local “hate” crime laws make “simple assault” or “intimidation” prosecutable offenses.
The very fascinating hate law criteria
For example, New Jersey law makes it a “hate crime” to communicate in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm. N.J.S.A. §§ 2C:16-1(a), 2C:33-4.
Washington law makes it a crime to “Threaten[] a specific person or group of persons and place[] that person . . . in reasonable fear of harm to person or property. . . . For purposes of this section, a ‘reasonable person’ is a reasonable person who is a member of the victim’s [category].”
R.C.W.A. 9A.36.080(1)(c).
One would not expect a reasonable person to feel threatened or feel fear of harm as the result of an innocuous communication. Nevertheless, the entire faculty at Ohio State University’s Mansfield campus apparently agreed that university librarian Scott Savage was guilty of threatening behavior for a simple statement in 2006.
His “threat”? Recommending four books for freshman reading in his role as a member of OSU Mansfield’s First Year Reading Experience Committee. The four books were The Marketing of Evil by David Kupelian, The Professors by David Horowitz,
Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis by Bat Ye’or, and It Takes a Family by Senator Rick Santorum.
Three Mansfield professors filed complaints with OSU’s Office of Human Resources asserting that the suggested reading list made them feel “unsafe” on the campus. The Mansfield faculty voted without dissent to file charges of sex discrimination and harassment against Mr. Savage because they believed the recommendations constituted “anti-gay hate mongering.” The charges were not dismissed until the Alliance Defense Fund came to Mr. Savage’s defense.
The very fascinating hate law criteria
If the faculty at OSU Mansfield are reasonable people, Mr. Savage’s mere suggestion that freshmen read conservative books would qualify as a “hate” crime under Washington law, and perhaps under New Jersey law. And if H.R. 1592 were to be construed to permit federal prosecution of non-violent state or local “hate” crimes, he could be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney General for suggesting the reading list in Washington or New Jersey.
Criminalizing thought - pure and simple.
For example, New Jersey law makes it a “hate crime” to communicate in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm.
Annoyance? In what way, exactly? I don't feel like looking up the law or existing cases, if there are any. But annoyance?
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
CWA: 'Hate Crimes' -- Unequal Protection Under the Law
WASHINGTON, April 26 /Christian Newswire/ --
WASHINGTON, April 26 /Christian Newswire/ --
"Hate crimes" bill H.R. 1592, which is on the fast track to passage in Congress, will officially give homosexuals and cross dressers special elevated status in society based upon their chosen sexual behaviors and/or wardrobe. Under H.R. 1592, the victims at Virginia Tech would officially be considered less valuable to society than homosexuals and cross dressers who are the targets of insults, intimidation, simple assault or other "violent acts."
The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees "equal protection under the law" for all citizens -- regardless of their sexual preference. "Hate crimes" legislation flies in the face of the 14th Amendment. Such legislation would require the government to invest more resources in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against homosexuals than it would the victims at Virginia Tech. It is an irrefutable fact that H.R. 1592 would treat certain citizens unequally from others.
Labels: abuse, Cho, hate crime, homosexuality, law
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
Concerned Women for America (CWA) asks Congress to grant equal government resources, concern and respect to the victims at Virginia Tech and their families as they do to the demands of liberal homosexual activists by reaffirming the precepts of the 14th Amendment and voting NO on this dangerous and discriminatory piece of legislation.
"If Seung-Hui Cho's horrific actions were not an act of 'hate,' then what where they?" asked Matt Barber, Policy Director for Cultural Issues with CWA. "All violent crimes are 'hate crimes.' By H.R. 1592's definition, Cho's actions would have constituted a 'hate crime' except for the fact that he targeted his victims with the wrong kind of bias. In this case, Cho 'perceived' his victims to be 'rich kids.' However, under H.R. 1592, 'rich kids' are not a specially protected class like homosexuals, so Cho’s crime is second tier and would be considered less egregious.
"The FBI's latest statistics show that there were zero 'hate crimes' murders committed against homosexuals or those perceived to be homosexual in 2005; yet we already know of thirty-two so-called 'hate crimes' murders committed against perceived 'rich kids' in a single day. But under H.R. 1592, those 'rich kids' would be denied the same protections and justice as homosexuals. The whole 'hate crimes' concept really places logic and reason on its head," concluded Barber.
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
"If Seung-Hui Cho's horrific actions were not an act of 'hate,' then what where they?"
"All violent crimes are 'hate crimes.'"
First a word on mischaracterizing Cho's outburst as a hate crime: I disagree. I think Cho's mental state simply deteriorated more and more into mental illness over the years, reaching an inordinate mixture of despair, loneliness, hurt, powerlessness, and possibly incapacity in correctly deciphering various aspects of people and reality around him from a psycho-emotional perspective. He displayed severe introspection and a huge defensive by withdrawal behavior. Several of his recorded statements express enormous, profound hurt and despair, and abandonment. And then there is the gigantic anger and frustration that is the product of all this, which turns into a volcano of rage. To me, Cho's rampage was more an expression of his own desolateness, his own suffering, his own despair, his own reaching a point where he saw no light, no way out, nothing. At a point like that, he could have decided he was going to end it all, but he felt he wanted to take out part of his anger at a blind target on the way.
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
All violent crimes are not "hate crimes," because I would argue the definition of "hate crime" is selectively myopic and it enforces unequal protection and status under the law. I would even go further and argue that the concept of a hate crime is completely senseless, like saying pigs can fly, because it's flawed in its fundament. (more on this later)
“In this case, Cho 'perceived' his victims to be 'rich kids.' However, under H.R. 1592, 'rich kids' are not a specially protected class like homosexuals, so Cho’s crime is second tier and would be considered less egregious.”
This is in itself one of the horrible injustices of having a “hate crime” law, but it also points to how the idea of privileging so-called “hate victim” categories is conceptually at fault from a law philosophy and legal rights standpoint.
“In this case, Cho 'perceived' his victims to be 'rich kids.' However, under H.R. 1592, 'rich kids' are not a specially protected class like homosexuals, so Cho’s crime is second tier and would be considered less egregious.”
This is in itself one of the horrible injustices of having a “hate crime” law, but it also points to how the idea of privileging so-called “hate victim” categories is conceptually at fault from a law philosophy and legal rights standpoint.
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
But this is where the bill gets horrid:
Under the bill, the United States Attorney General could provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or any other form of assistance if an incident constitutes a crime of violence, constitutes a felony under state, local, or tribal laws, or is motivated by prejudice based on race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of state, local or tribal hate crime laws.
The bill provides for penalties from 10 years to life imprisonment, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, such as whether or not bodily injury or death was caused, or sexual abuse, or kidnapping occurred.
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
Remember this?
So, if this H.R. 1592 bill passes, basically what we will have is a country in which we will continue to have an epidemic of child abuse, where the majority of such victims DO NOT get any support, technical, forensic, prosecutorial or any other form of assistance, and where the overwhelming majority of criminals roam around scott-free, because they aren't even prosecuted, much less convicted. Why? Because children have no worth or voice in a society obsessed by homosexuality. A crime of torturing a child clearly merits secondary importance compared to the so-called “hate victims” groups.
The Associated Press story showing that of 1,115 people convicted of sexually abusing children in New York City between 1993 and 1995, only 44 percent went to jail. More than 30 percent received probation and 20 percent received conditional discharges.
So, if this H.R. 1592 bill passes, basically what we will have is a country in which we will continue to have an epidemic of child abuse, where the majority of such victims DO NOT get any support, technical, forensic, prosecutorial or any other form of assistance, and where the overwhelming majority of criminals roam around scott-free, because they aren't even prosecuted, much less convicted. Why? Because children have no worth or voice in a society obsessed by homosexuality. A crime of torturing a child clearly merits secondary importance compared to the so-called “hate victims” groups.
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
or is motivated by prejudice based on race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of state, local or tribal hate crime laws.
So let's take the following hypothetical example:
So let's take the following hypothetical example:
A couple sexually abuses their child, the child gets little or no assistance, nothing happens. Later as an adult, wants to sue parents, gets no government support, technical, forensic, prosecutorial or any other form of assistance.
A homosexual sexually harasses and carries out predatory behavior towards male adolescents. Victims get no government help in any way. Homo predator enters luxury rehab center and nothing happens.
A lesbian professor sexually harasses a student. Student wants to sue, but gets no government support, technical, forensic, prosecutorial or any other form of assistance.
Now a law-abiding person who has never committed a crime, who disagrees with normalizing homosexuality, expresses their views against the liberal conception of equating homosexuality to heterosexuality, and public money and energy will be used up to prosecute this person.
Hate crime bill - Unequal valuation, protection, assistance, and access to justice under the law
Take this other example:
All things being equal, it means that if a 5-foot-2-inch grandmother is violently attacked on the street (such as the highly publicized incident videotaped in New York earlier this month where a 101 year old woman was brutally assaulted) she is less worthy of justice than a 6-foot-4-inch homosexual man who is attacked by the same assailant while leaving a 'gay' bar.
Unequal valuation under the law
Unequal measure of worthiness
Unequal protection
Unequal assistance
Unequal access to justice
It.Is.Barbaric.
See this ancient post for more on hate crime conceptual problems.
http://alessandrab.blogspot.com/2004/08/barbaric-societys-idea-of-hate.html
What happens to homosexual ephebophile predators in the Republican party?
They go into alcohol rehab at 5-star luxury resorts disguised as treatment facilities, they wait awhile until the media radar for scandal and sensationalism passes, then they return to their leisure life of cruising for underage male teens. In the meantime, they also sack the coffers of their leftover campaign cash to pay expensive law firms to try to avert the justice system for condemning them.
Florida authorities are considering whether to charge Mark Foley as an Internet sex predator as a result of lurid online messages he sent a male teenager from a hotel room in Pensacola, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.
Foley, then 52, was campaigning for a Senate seat in 2003 when he sent the high school student and former congressional page a string of online messages describing sexual acts, a clear violation of Florida's law on Internet sex predators.
"This type of activity would fall under Florida law's criminal statute," said Maureen Horkan, the director of the Child Predator Cybercrime Unit in the Florida Attorney General's office. The law states that "any person who knowingly utilizes a computer online service or Internet service to seduce, solicit, lure, entice or attempt to seduce a child" would be committing a third degree felony and could receive a jail sentence of up to five years.
Florida authorities are considering whether to charge Mark Foley as an Internet sex predator as a result of lurid online messages he sent a male teenager from a hotel room in Pensacola, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.
Foley, then 52, was campaigning for a Senate seat in 2003 when he sent the high school student and former congressional page a string of online messages describing sexual acts, a clear violation of Florida's law on Internet sex predators.
"This type of activity would fall under Florida law's criminal statute," said Maureen Horkan, the director of the Child Predator Cybercrime Unit in the Florida Attorney General's office. The law states that "any person who knowingly utilizes a computer online service or Internet service to seduce, solicit, lure, entice or attempt to seduce a child" would be committing a third degree felony and could receive a jail sentence of up to five years.
Labels: foley
What happens to homosexual ephebophile predators in the Republican party?
ABC's The Blotter says Foley has begun to "re-emerge publicly" in Palm Beach: "He was seen last week bicycling along South Ocean Boulevard wearing a helmet and bike racing outfit."
Some of the senior House Republicans who were witnesses during the various inquiries into former Florida representative Mark Foley's inappropriate contact with young House pages also reported hefty legal bills.
Former House speaker J. Dennis Hastert, who still represents an Illinois district though he is no longer in leadership, reported paying his lawyers nearly $70,000, and carrying over $20,000 in unpaid bills. Foley, who resigned from Congress last year, reported more than $200,000 in legal fees.
Some of the senior House Republicans who were witnesses during the various inquiries into former Florida representative Mark Foley's inappropriate contact with young House pages also reported hefty legal bills.
Former House speaker J. Dennis Hastert, who still represents an Illinois district though he is no longer in leadership, reported paying his lawyers nearly $70,000, and carrying over $20,000 in unpaid bills. Foley, who resigned from Congress last year, reported more than $200,000 in legal fees.
Labels: foley
What happens to homosexual ephebophile predators in the Republican party?
Disgraced congressman using campaign cash to pay bills
Former congressman Mark Foley is using leftover campaign cash to pay for the huge legal bills he's racking up defending himself in the congressional page scandal that led to his resignation.
Foley spent $206,000 in campaign cash on attorneys from November to January, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. That left about $1.7 million in the Florida Republican's campaign account March 31, even after he returned more than $110,000 from donors.
Former congressman Mark Foley is using leftover campaign cash to pay for the huge legal bills he's racking up defending himself in the congressional page scandal that led to his resignation.
Foley spent $206,000 in campaign cash on attorneys from November to January, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. That left about $1.7 million in the Florida Republican's campaign account March 31, even after he returned more than $110,000 from donors.
Labels: foley
Come clap at the "lesbian with a chain saw" pride parade
In South Dakota, lesbian Daphne Wright, who killed Darlene VanderGiesen and chopped up her body with a chain saw, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, according to Advocate.com. According to prosecuting attorneys, Wright was jealous of Darlene VanderGiesen, 42, and her friendship with Wright’s former paramour, Sallie Collins. Wright reportedly smiled after the verdict was read.
When homo activists drum up their "Gay Safe Zone in schools" circus, they nicely forget just in how many cases homos are the perpetrators of violence and harassment, not the other way around.
Bring them out in the public light, it's what I say.
Labels: homosexuality, violence
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Shell Corporation and porn: If you are guilty of wrong-doing, just give it a nice, PR label to hide the fact.
From WND:
Shell Oil Co. has determined "Playboy" and "Penthouse" no longer are pornography, but instead are "adult sophisticates," according to a company statement.
The issue arose when the Florida Family Association contacted Shell about the sale of such explicit magazines at convenience stores owned by Circle K in southeastern parts of the United States.
David Caton, executive director of the pro-family organization, said his group asked Shell to require Shell-branded Circle K Stores to stop selling the pornography, as it has done in the past with other retailers.
Shell Corporation and porn: If you are guilty of wrong-doing, just give it a nice, PR label to hide the fact.
The request, Caton told WND, has been made to more than a dozen major oil companies supplying fuel to nearly 150,000 outlets in the United States. And until now, Caton said, there has been virtually a 100 percent positive response.
"However, Shell Oil Company has decided instead to change their definition of pornography, unlike all other major oil companies, to exclude Penthouse and Playboy magazines which are sold by Circle K Stores," he said.
The confirmation came in an e-mail from Otto O. Meyers III, a Shell executive, who told the Florida Family Association those stores selling "Penthouse" are not selling pornography.
"In regard to your inquiry about specific Circle K locations, our investigation has concluded that these stores are not selling pornography as one would think the general public defines it, but rather 'adult sophisticate' magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse," Meyers wrote.
Caton said that puts Shell in a crowd of one among companies who "no longer consider the hardcore content of Penthouse and explicit nudity in Playboy to be pornographic. No other major oil company has taken this position."
Shell Corporation and porn: If you are guilty of wrong-doing, just give it a nice, PR label to hide the fact.
Following Scott Ott's style- this just released to the media :-)
Following Shell Corporation's pronouncement last week that it no longer considered the hardcore content of Penthouse and explicit nudity in Playboy to be pornographic, Shell executive Otto O. Meyers III today gave a similar rebuttal when questioned about Shell stores selling crack. "Our stores don't sell 'crack,' but 'stimulating-candy-sophisticates'. Our serious investigation in the matter has concluded these stores are not selling what the general public usually defines as a destructive, viciously addictive illegal drug."
The issue arose when police, emergency doctors, and a long line of politicians complained to Shell about the sale of the illegal, lethal drug at convenience stores owned by Circle Xtasy in southeastern parts of the United States. In just one week of its candy sophisticate sales, crime exploded in the region, when dissatisfied candy-sophisticate customers returned to Shell outlets for more and found the stores had sold out. Sgt. Boyles, of the Atlanta police department, confirmed the total of 50 armed robberies, 37 shoot-outs, and 3 arson fires that took place, leaving 84 people dead, including 5 passer-by children.
Shell Corporation and porn: If you are guilty of wrong-doing, just give it a nice, PR label to hide the fact.
"To say that crack is a destructive and vicious illegal drug is a retrograde definition of crack, largely held by the general 'uninformed and not Shell-sophisticate' public," said Mr. Meyers. He further added that the oil giant would be among companies who "no longer consider the brain-damaging power of crack and laws against its distribution as anything close to qualify it as a destructive, illegal drug."
Until the present time, no other major oil company has taken this position. When criticized for their lonely position on the matter, Mr. Meyers argued, "someone has to take the lead in championing our customer's demands. Although our competitors lag behind us, several of the world's greatest drug lords concur with our decision and have applauded our initiative."
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Sexual Harassment and Abuse on Campus and in Schools
The AAUW Educational Foundation released its research report, "Drawing the Line: Sexual Harassment on Campus," on Jan. 24, 2006. According to them, "This report presents the most comprehensive findings to date on sexual harassment on college campuses." A little over-rated in my opinion. Anyways the whole report is not available for free. Here are some interesting report findings:
There is no mention about comparing rates of harassment perpetration from non-heterosexuals to heterosexuals. Plus the fact there is also no mention of any investigation or study control measure to see how many people had perpetrated harassment and were not admitting it in the study. I wonder what the stats for that would be.
Nearly one-third of students (35 percent of female students and 29 percent of male students) say they have experienced physical harassment, such as being touched, grabbed, or pinched in a sexual way.
Most students don't report sexual harassment to a college employee, and many tell no one.
The most common rationale for harassment (59 percent) is "I thought it was funny." Less than one-fifth (17 percent) of those who admit to harassing others say they did so because they wanted a date with the person.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students are more likely than heterosexual students to be sexually harassed.
There is no mention about comparing rates of harassment perpetration from non-heterosexuals to heterosexuals. Plus the fact there is also no mention of any investigation or study control measure to see how many people had perpetrated harassment and were not admitting it in the study. I wonder what the stats for that would be.
Sexual Harassment and Abuse on Campus and in Schools
March 10, 2004 - Sexual Abuse by Educators Is Scrutinized
By Caroline Hendrie
By Caroline Hendrie
A draft report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education concludes that far too little is known about the prevalence of sexual misconduct by teachers or other school employees, but estimates that millions of children are being affected by it during their school-age years.
Written in response to a requirement in the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the report by a university-based expert on schoolhouse sexual misconduct concludes that the issue "is woefully understudied" and that solid national data on its prevalence are sorely needed.
Yet despite the limitations of the existing research base, the scope of the problem appears to far exceed the priest abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church, said Charol Shakeshaft, the Hofstra University scholar who prepared the report.
The best data available suggest that nearly 10 percent of American students are targets of unwanted sexual attention by public school employees—ranging from sexual comments to rape—at some point during their school-age years, Ms. Shakeshaft said.
Sexual Harassment and Abuse on Campus and in Schools
Law Required Study
The Education Department contracted with Ms. Shakeshaft to examine what is known about the prevalence of sexual misconduct against students by school employees. The agency was responding to a provision in the No Child Left Behind Act.
The little-noticed provision required a "study regarding the prevalence of sexual abuse in schools, including recommendations and legislative remedies for addressing the problem of sexual abuse in schools." The provision went on to set a completion date of "not later than 18 months" after the enactment of the law, which was signed by President Bush in January 2002.
Ms. Shakeshaft said her initial understanding from the department was that she was to conduct a review of the existing research to set the stage for a broad national study. She said the department had interpreted the statute's reference to "sexual abuse in schools" as meaning misconduct by school employees against students, and not by students against their peers.
Sexual Harassment and Abuse on Campus and in Schools
She said that after she turned in a draft of the report last May, she received feedback from the department that led her to believe that the literature review was no longer intended to lay the groundwork for a future study. In a letter stating that the Education Department "has not made plans to conduct further work on a national study on sexual abuse in schools," Ms. Shakeshaft was asked to change the original subtitle of her report, which was "A Synthesis of Existing Literature in Connection With the Design of a National Analysis."
Carlin Mertz, an Education Department spokesman, indicated that the department did not intend a full-blown study of the issue at the present time.
"That's all we're going to do right now," said Mr. Mertz.
You would think that youngsters' serious safety issues would be at least in the top five highest priority problems for educators, if not the top priority. What good is a school if you are going to get raped in it?
From which we conclude: Sexual abuse of youngsters is certainly not an issue for liberals, specially if the perpetrators are largely liberal as well. Now if they are Catholic priests...
What would such a study reveal, I wonder? Just how ugly is the picture?
People don't stop killers, people with guns do. - the Instapundit (read Instaretard).
Glenn Reynolds' editorial advocating the above.
On some guy's blog:
The idea is that if one of the Virginia Tech students had had a gun with him, he could have come to the rescue like Dick Dauntless, and shot the Korean.
Well that’s true. But what if 300 students had guns, and they were all on the look-out for a student with a gun? I’m failing to see the genius of this plan, though no doubt I’ve overlooked something obvious.
comment:
On some guy's blog:
The idea is that if one of the Virginia Tech students had had a gun with him, he could have come to the rescue like Dick Dauntless, and shot the Korean.
Well that’s true. But what if 300 students had guns, and they were all on the look-out for a student with a gun? I’m failing to see the genius of this plan, though no doubt I’ve overlooked something obvious.
comment:
All college students should be equipped with live nuclear warheads armed to go off at a moment's notice. We're trying to maintain a civilization here, after all.Rusty Shackleford | 18.04.07 - 3:50 pm | #
Arm up students with guns? Have they met students? It's barely within their abilities to competently turn up to a 9am lecture, let alone strip, reassemble, load and fire a weapon effectively.Spirit of 1976 | Homepage | 18.04.07 - 5:38 pm | #
People don't stop killers, people with guns do.
Gad. In the olden days, when i was at University, the most threatening thing that happened was some prematurely balding fool yelling disjointed Marxist theory from the library steps. Why, oh why, did we not have the temerity to shoot the bastard? Those were simple times, and indeed we were simple people.blockguard | 19.04.07 - 3:02 am | #
I was at university with Gordon Brown.Dancing in the Streets | Homepage | 19.04.07 - 11:59 pm | #
I must apologies for not taking early action, but Harp lager was only 10p per pint.
However it's not too late. He purports to support Dancing in the Streets FC. If I ever see the bastard I make amends for my lack of action in the 70s.
Free, Online, Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Highbrow, Erudite Phrases in Academic Papers and Theses
The following list of phrases and their definitions will aid you in understanding the meaning of mysterious, erudite terms used in hallowed halls.
“IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN”… I didn’t look up the original reference.
“A DEFINITE TREND IS EVIDENT”… These data are practically meaningless.
“WHILE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE DEFINITE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS”… An unsuccessful experiment, but I still hope to get it published.
“THREE OF THE SAMPLES WERE CHOSEN FOR DETAILED STUDY”… The other results didn’t make any sense.
“TYPICAL RESULTS ARE SHOWN”… This is the prettiest graph.
Free, Online, Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Highbrow, Erudite Phrases in Academic Papers and Theses
“IN MY EXPERIENCE”… Once
“IN CASE AFTER CASE”… Twice
“IN A SERIES OF CASES”… Thrice
“IT IS BELIEVED THAT”… I think.
“IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED THAT”… A couple of others think so, too.
Free, Online, Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Highbrow, Erudite Phrases in Academic Papers and Theses
“CORRECT WITHIN AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE”… Wrong.
“ACCORDING TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS”… Rumor has it.
“A STATISTICALLY-ORIENTED PROJECTION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE FINDINGS”… A wild guess.
“A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF OBTAINABLE DATA”… Three pages of notes were obliterated when I knocked over a glass of soda.
“IT IS CLEAR THAT MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PHENOMENON OCCURS”…I don’t understand it.
“AFTER ADDITIONAL STUDY BY MY COLLEAGUES”… They don’t understand it either.
“A HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR EXPLORATORY STUDY”… A totally useless topic selected by my committee.
Film: The Killer Within - Parallels, parallels with Cho and so many other cases
Craig D. Lindsey, Staff Writer:
When Macky Alston screened his latest film, "The Killer Within" at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival on April 14, it couldn't have gone better. Alston was not only honored to screen his film at the festival, but also ecstatic to be back in his childhood home, Durham.
But then two days later, on April 16, college student Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech. Then he killed himself. After that, Alston's film began to resonate more with people who saw it, mainly because the movie deals with another campus shooting.
"Within" tells the story of Bob Bechtel, a University of Arizona psychology professor who decides to come clean to his family, his friends and his students about a 50-year-old secret. Back at Swarthmore College, he murdered fellow student Francis Strozier, with a .22-caliber rifle bullet to the head.
Even more shocking was Bechtel's original plan: He was going to kill all 250 people in the dormitory. If he hadn't stopped at Strozier and immediately turned himself in, it might have become the most murderous rampage in U.S history.
When Macky Alston screened his latest film, "The Killer Within" at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival on April 14, it couldn't have gone better. Alston was not only honored to screen his film at the festival, but also ecstatic to be back in his childhood home, Durham.
But then two days later, on April 16, college student Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people at Virginia Tech. Then he killed himself. After that, Alston's film began to resonate more with people who saw it, mainly because the movie deals with another campus shooting.
"Within" tells the story of Bob Bechtel, a University of Arizona psychology professor who decides to come clean to his family, his friends and his students about a 50-year-old secret. Back at Swarthmore College, he murdered fellow student Francis Strozier, with a .22-caliber rifle bullet to the head.
Even more shocking was Bechtel's original plan: He was going to kill all 250 people in the dormitory. If he hadn't stopped at Strozier and immediately turned himself in, it might have become the most murderous rampage in U.S history.
Film: The Killer Within - Parallels, parallels with Cho and so many other cases
At the suggestion of Bechtel's young daughter Carrah, Alston made a movie about Bechtel's confession as well as the aftermath. In the movie, some students empathize but others call him an outright killer. While Bechtel and his family come to terms with his announcement, the movie also delves into what caused him to commit such an act. Bechtel, who says he had been bullied and abused since age 4, explains that he was bullied by Strozier and other students (an explanation Strozier's brother and other Swarthmore alumni find questionable).
The movie also points out Bechtel's history with mental illness. Before the murder, he was hospitalized for psychotic episodes. That's what led Bechtel to be found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder, and later sent to a state hospital.
The movie also points out Bechtel's history with mental illness. Before the murder, he was hospitalized for psychotic episodes. That's what led Bechtel to be found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder, and later sent to a state hospital.
Film: The Killer Within - Parallels, parallels with Cho and so many other cases
"I think that the school shooter is a specific category of criminal," he says. "And I think we can do a lot to reduce the number of school shootings that happen, to see it coming. And, at the same time, I think that the problem with school shootings is that they're very hard to predict."
"Within," distributed by the film division of the Discovery Channel's parent company, is being shown at film festivals in Atlanta and Boston this week. It will also have a college tour -- a decision made before the Virginia Tech murders -- in hopes that the film will make people aware of what can happen, and what can be avoided.
Unfortunately, as all the books and articles on the decrepit state of mental health in the U.S. and elsewhere attest, you can bet that 99% of the forthcoming efforts will be geared to detect who is mentally ill and a potential murderer, and to lock them up with no treatment.
"Within," distributed by the film division of the Discovery Channel's parent company, is being shown at film festivals in Atlanta and Boston this week. It will also have a college tour -- a decision made before the Virginia Tech murders -- in hopes that the film will make people aware of what can happen, and what can be avoided.
Unfortunately, as all the books and articles on the decrepit state of mental health in the U.S. and elsewhere attest, you can bet that 99% of the forthcoming efforts will be geared to detect who is mentally ill and a potential murderer, and to lock them up with no treatment.
Film: The Killer Within - Parallels, parallels with Cho and so many other cases
Dr. Steven Sharfstein, past president of the American Psychiatric Association, said the problems are both financial and legal.
"What was a red flag for me is that he was seen in a mental health facility and held for one day. That is a symptom of the dysfunction of our mental health system," said Sharfstein, who is president of Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore.
"If someone isn't readily seen as imminently dangerous, there is no time and money set aside to do a more in-depth and effective diagnosis. He may have been hiding a paranoid psychosis that with a few days of observation might have come out."
The National Alliance on Mental Illness in a 2006 report gave the U.S. mental health system the below-average grade of "D".
"Untreated mental health is the nation's No. 1 public health crisis," Michael Fitzpatrick, the group's executive director, said in a telephone interview.
"In recent years, states like the Commonwealth of Virginia have systematically reduced their funding for mental health services," he added.
"The reality is that in many communities, it is impossible to get mental health services unless you have been arrested," Fitzpatrick said.
Even if treatment is available, patients often are too sick to believe they need treatment. And unless a patient presents an imminent threat, many states prohibit involuntary treatment.
Film: The Killer Within - Parallels, parallels with Cho and so many other cases
"Unfortunately, we live in a society that says as long as you are not a danger to yourself or someone else you can be as psychotic as you want to be," Taylor said.
Exceptions include states such as New York, which allow court-ordered treatment called assisted outpatient treatment for patients who cannot recognize their own need for care.
New York's law is named in memory of Kendra Webdale, a 32-year-old Buffalo woman pushed to her death in front of a subway train in 1999 by a man with severe mental illness who had a history of avoiding treatment.
Mental health advocates fear the shooting might produce a backlash against people with mental illness.
"Studies have shown that it is incredibly rare for someone with a mental illness to commit gross acts of violence, especially on such a scale as the Virginia Tech shootings," the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association said in a statement.
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
Excerpts of some of my most important comments/replies at La Shawn Barber's Blog regarding Cho and mental illness and child abuse issues.
Alessandra wrote:
In fact, student after student said that they reached out to this guy who rebuffed every person in his path. Plenty of folks acknowledged his existence, but it appears that HE is the one who failed to acknowledge the rest of humanity.
Comment by jb — 04.18.07 @ 9:28 pm
=================================
JB - your comment shows an extreme amount of ignorance. Firstly, there is evidence that Cho was victimized in school before he got to college. There is evidence that by the time he got to college, he was mentally ill. He was so diagnosed, even if not labeled a threat. For your info, depending on the kind of disturbances in this guy’s mind, he would be partly or totally incapable of connecting or responding in the normal way an ignorant person like you expects.
Alessandra wrote:
“Until these kids pick a gun, and go on a rampage, that is, because apparently this is the only way anyone then bothers to realize they exist.”That’s a crock of unsubstantiated conjecture!
In fact, student after student said that they reached out to this guy who rebuffed every person in his path. Plenty of folks acknowledged his existence, but it appears that HE is the one who failed to acknowledge the rest of humanity.
Comment by jb — 04.18.07 @ 9:28 pm
=================================
JB - your comment shows an extreme amount of ignorance. Firstly, there is evidence that Cho was victimized in school before he got to college. There is evidence that by the time he got to college, he was mentally ill. He was so diagnosed, even if not labeled a threat. For your info, depending on the kind of disturbances in this guy’s mind, he would be partly or totally incapable of connecting or responding in the normal way an ignorant person like you expects.
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
This is what certain mental illnesses do to a person’s mind, they impair healthy functioning.
Why do you think it takes 6, 8, 10 years of professional training for a therapist or psychiatrist to begin to have the competencies required to help someone who is severely mentally ill? Because their mind is not functioning like yours. Your version of Cho as petulantly bad is ridiculous. Some mentally ill people cannot distinguish between friendly and unfriendly behavior, they may be paranoid, delusional, they may be capable of connecting and functioning in some ways, but not in others. Stupid, ignorant people like yourself cannot even begin to understand what is going on inside the mind of someone mentally ill.
Why do you think it takes 6, 8, 10 years of professional training for a therapist or psychiatrist to begin to have the competencies required to help someone who is severely mentally ill? Because their mind is not functioning like yours. Your version of Cho as petulantly bad is ridiculous. Some mentally ill people cannot distinguish between friendly and unfriendly behavior, they may be paranoid, delusional, they may be capable of connecting and functioning in some ways, but not in others. Stupid, ignorant people like yourself cannot even begin to understand what is going on inside the mind of someone mentally ill.
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
Your ignorance is evil, because you cannot understand this. You will only misunderstand disturbed people, blame them for things they cannot control (and I am talking about the illnesses in their minds, not their criminal activities). If we put you next to a mentally ill kid, you will only do harm to them, that is for sure. And shame on you. And shame on the media for not educating people like you on the subject sooner.
Comment by alessandra — 04.21.07 @ 3:50 am
Comment by alessandra — 04.21.07 @ 3:50 am
alessandra~
Why do you call the 32 victims “ultra-privileged”? Virginia Tech is not a private school. You really know NOTHING about the lives these people lived. What about Professor Librescu, who survived the Holocaust? I wouldn’t call that “ultra-privileged”? You don’t know how many of the ones he murdered in cold blood were paying their way through school? Especially the grad students. At least two of the student victims were from other countries - Indonesia and Peru, I believe. Those are poor countries. Were those students “ultra-privileged”? Cho was a psychotic murderer, and NOTHING that happened to him in his past can justify what it was that he did.
Comment by Miss Ladybug — 04.20.07 @ 5:46 pm
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
===============================
I called them ultra-privileged because, I agree with you, with the exception of the Holocaust survivor, how many were tortured out of their minds? None that we know of. Privilege comes in many shapes and forms, money is but one pedestal.
“Cho was a psychotic murderer, and NOTHING that happened to him in his past can justify what it was that he did.”
You misunderstand the point. No one is trying to justify killing innocent people. What people like you don’t like to ask yourselves, however, is the following: take a 4 year-old child and start raping and battering them. What is this going to do to this innocent child, to their entire psychological structure, to their minds? Do you know, Ms. Ladybug? Do you care?
Then you heap on a life of isolation and trauma that develops into mental illness, until one day it gets so bad that the now adolescent or adult blows up people in their way.
I called them ultra-privileged because, I agree with you, with the exception of the Holocaust survivor, how many were tortured out of their minds? None that we know of. Privilege comes in many shapes and forms, money is but one pedestal.
“Cho was a psychotic murderer, and NOTHING that happened to him in his past can justify what it was that he did.”
You misunderstand the point. No one is trying to justify killing innocent people. What people like you don’t like to ask yourselves, however, is the following: take a 4 year-old child and start raping and battering them. What is this going to do to this innocent child, to their entire psychological structure, to their minds? Do you know, Ms. Ladybug? Do you care?
Then you heap on a life of isolation and trauma that develops into mental illness, until one day it gets so bad that the now adolescent or adult blows up people in their way.
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
Then people like you come out with the psychotic killer monster framing. Are you happy, are you proud of yourself? Do you know how many cases of child abuse are never discovered? How many truths are buried out of public knowledge because people like you don’t want to know what happened? Are you an authority on Cho’s entire life? Can you affirm what he went through 24-7? Every single article on the news says there were problems from the start. Why? Were you there? Do you know how easy it is for an adult to abuse the child and conceal the fact, and blame the child? What happened to Cho?
I don’t think you want to know. I am not affirming I know anything about Cho’s entire life either. But that it does match other children that I know that were tortured, it does. And I know how vicious people like you are to abused children, specially if they become mentally ill.
Cho did commit murder, there is nothing to excuse, justify, or dismiss there. However, the point is, as long as society will not help people who are quite disturbed, society will act in neglectful, irresponsible ways. And this is what you don’t want to face. No one is trying to justify anything, the objective is education, intervention, treatment - these three things are effective in preventing tragedies. Your diatribe about what a monster Cho is will do nothing to prevent anything in the future.
Comment by alessandra — 04.21.07 @ 4:14 am
I don’t think you want to know. I am not affirming I know anything about Cho’s entire life either. But that it does match other children that I know that were tortured, it does. And I know how vicious people like you are to abused children, specially if they become mentally ill.
Cho did commit murder, there is nothing to excuse, justify, or dismiss there. However, the point is, as long as society will not help people who are quite disturbed, society will act in neglectful, irresponsible ways. And this is what you don’t want to face. No one is trying to justify anything, the objective is education, intervention, treatment - these three things are effective in preventing tragedies. Your diatribe about what a monster Cho is will do nothing to prevent anything in the future.
Comment by alessandra — 04.21.07 @ 4:14 am
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
Alessandra, re: “I know a few cases of children who were severely abused and all grew up to either be condemned to a life of mental illness (read unspeakable suffering), and or they also became drug/alcohol addicted, or they committed suicide.”========================================
Lest we forget, let us ALSO remember those abused children and rape victims who become some of the world’s best victim advocates. While we remember the few who go bad, let us not forget the millions who learn and become better people for their bad experiences, who instead of spending their lives casting blame at society in general instead choose to use their attackers as a good example of a bad example.
Do not cry for the weak, champion the winners :).
Alessandra, it is EXACTLY the kind of misplaced sympathy you’re displaying that is eroding the common sense in this country.
Comment by mamapajamas
Take my example again – how many times do you need to rape and batter a toddler before they become mentally ill? Is this your example of a child “gone bad?” A “rotten apple?” Do you think a child being tortured chooses to become mentally ill?
Show me a single case of a child that was tortured to death where society was not negligent. I bet you can’t find one.
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
In your disgustingly privileged framing, children are to be abandoned to torture because “society” has nothing to do with protecting children. And then, who cares about giving them the help they need, without which, so often, they are simply condemned. Your view is execrable.
“ let us not forget the millions who learn and become better people for their bad experiences “
Let us not forget that it is only in a highly violent, negligent, and irresponsible society that we can have a production of millions of child abuse victims in the first place. Let us not forget that without treatment, just as with so many other physical diseases, the seriously mentally ill patient is condemned.
I don’t think that having sympathy towards children who were abused is misplaced. I don’t think having knowledge about how mental illness impairs and destroys someone’s mind is ignorance. And I really don’t like the fact that you are so eager for celebrating, when the overwhelming majority of child abusers are never brought to trial, and consequently, never serve any time in prison, nor do they have to do any reparative actions. I’m sure you will find some way to blame the victims that don’t make it for that as well.
“ let us not forget the millions who learn and become better people for their bad experiences “
Let us not forget that it is only in a highly violent, negligent, and irresponsible society that we can have a production of millions of child abuse victims in the first place. Let us not forget that without treatment, just as with so many other physical diseases, the seriously mentally ill patient is condemned.
“Alessandra, it is EXACTLY the kind of misplaced sympathy you’re displaying that is eroding the common sense in this country.
Comment by mamapajamas”
I don’t think that having sympathy towards children who were abused is misplaced. I don’t think having knowledge about how mental illness impairs and destroys someone’s mind is ignorance. And I really don’t like the fact that you are so eager for celebrating, when the overwhelming majority of child abusers are never brought to trial, and consequently, never serve any time in prison, nor do they have to do any reparative actions. I’m sure you will find some way to blame the victims that don’t make it for that as well.
My Comments/Replies at La Shawn's Blog Regarding Cho - Mental Illness and Child Abuse Issues
I do agree that Cho is responsible for the murders, though, even if we take into account his mental illness. However, this means that the logic inside his mind was different than a happy, normal person going on a shooting spree because they are bored.
Lastly, I don’t agree with how you are weaving your celebration quest into the argument, but I would like to join you in celebrating all those who did overcome grotesquely brutal violence to lead constructive lives, and all the fine examples of victim advocates. They are truly beautiful.
The fact that you are framing the ones who succeed as good people and the ones who don’t as bad people is what is really ignorant and unfair.
Comment by alessandra — 04.21.07 @ 5:25 am
Lastly, I don’t agree with how you are weaving your celebration quest into the argument, but I would like to join you in celebrating all those who did overcome grotesquely brutal violence to lead constructive lives, and all the fine examples of victim advocates. They are truly beautiful.
The fact that you are framing the ones who succeed as good people and the ones who don’t as bad people is what is really ignorant and unfair.
Comment by alessandra — 04.21.07 @ 5:25 am
Monday, April 23, 2007
He couldn't resist
Amusing entry to some guy's new blog:
"Not Dr. Phil"! [I can't stop laughing]
You know what's funny (as in curious), there are so many bloggers who expressed exactly the same feeling; they didn't want to write on the Cho drama, but at some point, they just couldn't keep silent anymore. Certainly the tragedy, that intersects with so many emotionally complex issues, touched a lot of nerves and/or deep-felt emotions in many people, not only in the U.S., but across the world.
I swore I would not do this. Ok, I caved. I'm going to add my small voice to the millions who have hit the e-waves in the wake of America's latest tragedy.
We need to get past this. It's not the first, and it won't be the last. Nobody. Not Dr. Phil. NOBODY could have accurately predicted that this deranged kid would resort to this bloodshed.
"Not Dr. Phil"! [I can't stop laughing]
You know what's funny (as in curious), there are so many bloggers who expressed exactly the same feeling; they didn't want to write on the Cho drama, but at some point, they just couldn't keep silent anymore. Certainly the tragedy, that intersects with so many emotionally complex issues, touched a lot of nerves and/or deep-felt emotions in many people, not only in the U.S., but across the world.
Ah... aren't those teachers and school administrators wonderful?
Great statement/question:
Ain't it one of the best questions one can ask/critique about society following the Cho tragedy?
I would be interested to know if there is more bullying in conservative or liberal school environments, or the same? I wouldn't be surprised with any of these 3 outcomes. (I'll try to find a previous post on the hypocrisy of creating homo-"safe" zones and leaving the rest of the kids in a brutal environment - something only liberals could achieve!)
What I can't understand is why "bullying" is an accepted form of behavior.
Ain't it one of the best questions one can ask/critique about society following the Cho tragedy?
I would be interested to know if there is more bullying in conservative or liberal school environments, or the same? I wouldn't be surprised with any of these 3 outcomes. (I'll try to find a previous post on the hypocrisy of creating homo-"safe" zones and leaving the rest of the kids in a brutal environment - something only liberals could achieve!)
Horrid examples of bullying and what you can do in your little corner of the world - good article - proactive!
Margot Russell:
Bullying is an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide. Case studies of the shooting at Colombine High School and other U.S. schools have suggested that bullying was a factor in many of the incidents. Recent statistics show that 1 out of 4 kids is bullied. Some are afraid to go to school, and 8% of them stay home out of fear.
The art of bullying is older than the tin pencil boxes we used to take to school, and the dismal failure of new awareness campaigns points to its continued strong hold in our classrooms and in our rather heartless society. We've come to accept bullying as a rite of passage in childhood. When gauging how enlightened a society is, one need only look at the way it treats its members. We live in a world that refuses to respect the differences amongst its peoples, where being "different" is punishable.
Bullying is an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide. Case studies of the shooting at Colombine High School and other U.S. schools have suggested that bullying was a factor in many of the incidents. Recent statistics show that 1 out of 4 kids is bullied. Some are afraid to go to school, and 8% of them stay home out of fear.
The art of bullying is older than the tin pencil boxes we used to take to school, and the dismal failure of new awareness campaigns points to its continued strong hold in our classrooms and in our rather heartless society. We've come to accept bullying as a rite of passage in childhood. When gauging how enlightened a society is, one need only look at the way it treats its members. We live in a world that refuses to respect the differences amongst its peoples, where being "different" is punishable.
Horrid examples of bullying and what you can do in your little corner of the world - good article - proactive!
Here's one of the many ways I taught my own children to be tolerant: When they'd come home from play or school and tell me that someone was being bullied, I'd invited that child to dinner. Simple act. Huge lessons. We made cookies for a neighbor child who'd had a bad day. One time, I woke up to hear a child crying at the bus stop across the street, and I got up and drove him to school. We had a nice talk on the way there and I told him he was special before he got out of the car. Simple act. Huge consequences. Learning tolerance, developing empathy, accepting differences---these things are first studied at home.
I was bullied in fourth grade. There was a kid in my grade school who never liked me. He told me I looked like a monkey. He formed a club against me---an entire club that met in the coatroom. This kid came from an extremely successful family in terms of material comforts, but apparently empathy wasn't on the family resume. This kid actually went on to become a big wig. He went to Brown, became the right hand man for a huge media mogul and hung out with John F. Kennedy Jr. back in the day.
The bullying went on well into the 6th grade when I finally punched him in the nose and made him bleed. It had been two years of hell and I couldn't take it anymore. He went home and told on me and his mother called mine. I was punished--it was only right--but secretly I wondered if my mother felt I had been justified.
I was bullied in fourth grade. There was a kid in my grade school who never liked me. He told me I looked like a monkey. He formed a club against me---an entire club that met in the coatroom. This kid came from an extremely successful family in terms of material comforts, but apparently empathy wasn't on the family resume. This kid actually went on to become a big wig. He went to Brown, became the right hand man for a huge media mogul and hung out with John F. Kennedy Jr. back in the day.
The bullying went on well into the 6th grade when I finally punched him in the nose and made him bleed. It had been two years of hell and I couldn't take it anymore. He went home and told on me and his mother called mine. I was punished--it was only right--but secretly I wondered if my mother felt I had been justified.
Horrid examples of bullying and what you can do in your little corner of the world - good article - proactive!
The sort of bullying I endured was peanuts compared to what other kids go through. Consider this:
In April 1998, Brian Franklish died while trying to escape the children bullying him.
Twelve-year-old Debbie Shaw agrees to a challenge by other girls to end her bullying and victimization by fighting the school bully. She died of her injuries.
Thirteen-year-old Roger Hillyard found dead near his home after a lifetime of bullying.
Sisters Samantha and Michaela Kendal are so taunted and bullied about their being overweight that they went on a hunger strike ... both died.
Fifteen-year-old choirboy Darren Steele is found hanged in his bedroom after a life of bullying and victimization at school.
Twelve-year-old schoolboy Stephen Woodhall hanged himself with his brother's school tie rather than face bullying for another day. "He must have been going through hell," his father, Ken, said. Later, forty-seven-year-old Kenneth Woodhall also hanged himself. He had never got over the hanging suicide five years earlier of his son Stephen.
Really. Do an Internet search. The horrid examples go on and on.
In April 1998, Brian Franklish died while trying to escape the children bullying him.
Twelve-year-old Debbie Shaw agrees to a challenge by other girls to end her bullying and victimization by fighting the school bully. She died of her injuries.
Thirteen-year-old Roger Hillyard found dead near his home after a lifetime of bullying.
Sisters Samantha and Michaela Kendal are so taunted and bullied about their being overweight that they went on a hunger strike ... both died.
Fifteen-year-old choirboy Darren Steele is found hanged in his bedroom after a life of bullying and victimization at school.
Twelve-year-old schoolboy Stephen Woodhall hanged himself with his brother's school tie rather than face bullying for another day. "He must have been going through hell," his father, Ken, said. Later, forty-seven-year-old Kenneth Woodhall also hanged himself. He had never got over the hanging suicide five years earlier of his son Stephen.
Really. Do an Internet search. The horrid examples go on and on.
Horrid examples of bullying and what you can do in your little corner of the world - good article - proactive!
Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech shooter was picked on. He was tormented and bullied throughout his life. There's no excuse for his retribution. But if we don't learn something by his actions, then history is doomed to repeat itself.
I was always taught that change begins with me. We're not tiny people in a vast world. They way we conduct ourselves, the way we treat others, the things we teach our children can create enormous change in the world. I can't help but wonder if we are all at fault for such horrific events. We don't live in a vacuum.
We eagerly participate in the world and what we do, what we think---it matters, plain and simple.
That's fantastic advice for nice moms to put into practice to help kids in need of support. Imagine if 5 moms did that for a kid that experienced a bullying incident in a school! You could form support networks and really be kind to kids who sometimes have no one at all in the world.
Great idea. Really inspiring.
And I have to add, this idea is something we need to start a national non-profit to promote. Or channel the idea in existing organizations. It merits serious work and promotion. If school personnel are often complicit and repugnantly inactive about bullying problems, there's a lot other people can do to remedy the situation while the entire educational system doesn't change. And we know how quickly that will happen.
I was always taught that change begins with me. We're not tiny people in a vast world. They way we conduct ourselves, the way we treat others, the things we teach our children can create enormous change in the world. I can't help but wonder if we are all at fault for such horrific events. We don't live in a vacuum.
We eagerly participate in the world and what we do, what we think---it matters, plain and simple.
That's fantastic advice for nice moms to put into practice to help kids in need of support. Imagine if 5 moms did that for a kid that experienced a bullying incident in a school! You could form support networks and really be kind to kids who sometimes have no one at all in the world.
Great idea. Really inspiring.
And I have to add, this idea is something we need to start a national non-profit to promote. Or channel the idea in existing organizations. It merits serious work and promotion. If school personnel are often complicit and repugnantly inactive about bullying problems, there's a lot other people can do to remedy the situation while the entire educational system doesn't change. And we know how quickly that will happen.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
And another can of worms
In a era of information overload, it is the media's judgment of just how important an issue is that makes the critical difference to how seriously average Americans will take it and what action they will be willing to support - especially if the action involves inconvenience, discomfort, or pain in the pocketbook. - Daniel Yankelovich
Television this week has used the Virginia Tech tragedy to launch a round-the-clock drive for ratings, while unseen Americans suffer and die each day from inadequate health care.
Someone should light candles in their memory, too.
[...]
We live in the only industrialized nation in the world that allows insurance companies to treat mental health as less "real" than so-called physical disorders and therefore restrict or deny coverage for mental health treatment.
Insurers are able to take advantage of our society's Puritanical belief that mental illness is a 'failure of will,' or that it's 'all in your imagination.' That's a false duality.
Labels: Cho, mental health
VaTech tragedy: A wake up call for America’s mental health
Each year, less than half of the 26 percent of all American adults with mental health problems receive the treatment they require to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
The effects of this national failure can be felt throughout schools, the workplace, family life and the criminal justice system, said Allen. Without a comprehensive mental health system focused on mental wellness and prevention, America faces increased numbers of people with untreated mental illnesses, at an even greater cost to society as a whole, she said.
The effects of this national failure can be felt throughout schools, the workplace, family life and the criminal justice system, said Allen. Without a comprehensive mental health system focused on mental wellness and prevention, America faces increased numbers of people with untreated mental illnesses, at an even greater cost to society as a whole, she said.
Labels: Cho, mental health
VaTech tragedy: A wake up call for America’s mental health
Goshen -- The unfortunate events of the Virginia Tech tragedy, are an important reminder that our nation has a long way to go in ensuring that individuals who are mentally ill receive the mental health services they need to live productive lives at home and in their communities, according to Nadia Allen, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Orange County, Inc.
MHA urges local, state and federal decision-makers to take a leading role in rectifying this by investing in an integrated, prevention-focused mental health service system for all.
“Unfortunately, the perpetrator of the Virginia Tech tragedy, is just one of millions of Americans who do not receive much-needed mental health services each year,” said Allen. “It is time that our elected officials make mental health a priority. In addition, each of us must take personal responsibility for promoting mental wellness in schools, workplaces and neighborhoods throughout our community.”
MHA urges local, state and federal decision-makers to take a leading role in rectifying this by investing in an integrated, prevention-focused mental health service system for all.
“Unfortunately, the perpetrator of the Virginia Tech tragedy, is just one of millions of Americans who do not receive much-needed mental health services each year,” said Allen. “It is time that our elected officials make mental health a priority. In addition, each of us must take personal responsibility for promoting mental wellness in schools, workplaces and neighborhoods throughout our community.”
Fleetwood - Bullying
Too often, American schools foster a culture of cliques and teasing isolation that torments millions of bullied children who have no place to turn. This culture of bullying peer conformity has led to a record number of suicides, murders, and psychological scars that never heal.
Since 1960, suicides among American teenagers have more than doubled. Today, more than 2,000 teens kill themselves each year. 250,000 attempt suicide.
In a recent survey by Bolt Media of more than 4,000 teenagers, 47% answered, "Yes" to the question "Could one of your classmates be a killer?" This large number indicates that teens themselves are aware of their peers' inability to cope. But educators are not recognizing the cancer that is crippling and killing so many of our youth. The American Medical Association found that 1 in 10 boys have been kicked in the groin by age 16. Twenty-five percent of these kicks resulted in an injury and, most tellingly, a quarter of the injured boys exhibited signs of depression a year after the injury. National statistics show that 30-35% of students are either bullies or victims of a bully.
Since 1960, suicides among American teenagers have more than doubled. Today, more than 2,000 teens kill themselves each year. 250,000 attempt suicide.
In a recent survey by Bolt Media of more than 4,000 teenagers, 47% answered, "Yes" to the question "Could one of your classmates be a killer?" This large number indicates that teens themselves are aware of their peers' inability to cope. But educators are not recognizing the cancer that is crippling and killing so many of our youth. The American Medical Association found that 1 in 10 boys have been kicked in the groin by age 16. Twenty-five percent of these kicks resulted in an injury and, most tellingly, a quarter of the injured boys exhibited signs of depression a year after the injury. National statistics show that 30-35% of students are either bullies or victims of a bully.
Fleetwood - Bullying
American educators operate on the premise of "benign neglect" - that students have to work out their social problems by themselves and that teachers should not interfere with this childhood "rite of passage."
But there is another way. A growing movement from abroad in Sweden and Canada has begun to challenge these premises. A book on mobbing by Dan Olweus shows that this culture of cliques, social torture, and cruelty can be changed by concerned educators.
"Bully Beware" programs have been successful in dozens of schools around the world. Unfortunately, few of these schools are in the U.S. and these anti-bullying notions are not being accepted by traditional American educators. After the Santee, California shooting in 2001, the Washington State Senate passed legislation aimed at cracking down on bullying, but not without opposition. Some of the Republicans questioned whether a law could fix the problems of bullies.
One study of pediatric leukemia patients showed that they associated their worst pain not with chemotherapy, surgery, or spinal taps but with "going back to school and being teased."
Consider what might have happened if any of the schools had been attentive to such problems. At Columbine, students, being aware of such problems, would have told a teacher that "the trenchcoat mafia" was acting strange. The teacher would have asked what the "trenchcoat mafia" meant. They would have been told that it was a reference to a dream scene in the 1995 film -- The Basketball Diaries -- in which Leonardo DiCaprio fanaticizes about wiping out his classmates. A professional would have quickly seen that such behavior represents a potentially dangerous alienation. And the ultimate shooting of 25 might have been prevented.
But there is another way. A growing movement from abroad in Sweden and Canada has begun to challenge these premises. A book on mobbing by Dan Olweus shows that this culture of cliques, social torture, and cruelty can be changed by concerned educators.
"Bully Beware" programs have been successful in dozens of schools around the world. Unfortunately, few of these schools are in the U.S. and these anti-bullying notions are not being accepted by traditional American educators. After the Santee, California shooting in 2001, the Washington State Senate passed legislation aimed at cracking down on bullying, but not without opposition. Some of the Republicans questioned whether a law could fix the problems of bullies.
One study of pediatric leukemia patients showed that they associated their worst pain not with chemotherapy, surgery, or spinal taps but with "going back to school and being teased."
Consider what might have happened if any of the schools had been attentive to such problems. At Columbine, students, being aware of such problems, would have told a teacher that "the trenchcoat mafia" was acting strange. The teacher would have asked what the "trenchcoat mafia" meant. They would have been told that it was a reference to a dream scene in the 1995 film -- The Basketball Diaries -- in which Leonardo DiCaprio fanaticizes about wiping out his classmates. A professional would have quickly seen that such behavior represents a potentially dangerous alienation. And the ultimate shooting of 25 might have been prevented.
Fleetwood - Bullying
In Santee, Ca., when his threats were ignored, an angry 15 year old boy brought a gun to school and killed two classmates. The troubled youth gave off many signs that were clearly obvious to his schoolmates and teachers, but no one was trained to be sensitive to such problems and the possible implications of traditional teenage cruelty.
At Westfield High, there were many signs that Cho was deeply disturbed, dangerously alienated and horribly tormented. Teachers and school officials should have noticed and taken actionfor his undiagnosed autism and alienation.. A guidance counselor should have talked to Cho and his parents. Educators could/should have consulted with his teachers - who all saw the problems - and gotten help for this tormented child.
The problems of bullying are everywhere, in every school, town, and city in America. If nothing changes, the consequences and mayhem will continue to traumatize the entire nation, again and again.
Around the corner from me at an elite private school in Manhattan, a 13 year old boy has eaten lunch alone for the last three years, because it has become a game among the other students to get up and leave the table when he comes to sit. I wrote a letter to the headmaster, but never got an answer. I was told the administrators don't want to interfere, because, "It is an age-old problem."
At Westfield High, there were many signs that Cho was deeply disturbed, dangerously alienated and horribly tormented. Teachers and school officials should have noticed and taken actionfor his undiagnosed autism and alienation.. A guidance counselor should have talked to Cho and his parents. Educators could/should have consulted with his teachers - who all saw the problems - and gotten help for this tormented child.
The problems of bullying are everywhere, in every school, town, and city in America. If nothing changes, the consequences and mayhem will continue to traumatize the entire nation, again and again.
Around the corner from me at an elite private school in Manhattan, a 13 year old boy has eaten lunch alone for the last three years, because it has become a game among the other students to get up and leave the table when he comes to sit. I wrote a letter to the headmaster, but never got an answer. I was told the administrators don't want to interfere, because, "It is an age-old problem."
The can of worms is open
Comment:
School administrators are scared of parents suing them and the school. I know of an instance where a student struck a teacher and the administrator called the police. She was disciplined for allowing it get as far as a police report. She was told that such matters are settled in-house without any publicity. Her boss sent her home and found her another job where she could no longer harm the school system's reputation over a student behaving violently towards a teacher. This caused problems later when a DD student was raped and the police were not called but the video of the rape got out onto the net. I suppose a dead body might be cause to call in the police but then again, it might embarrass the system so lets just bury the matter 6 feet under.
By: nyboomer on April 21, 2007 at 04:15pm
School administrators are scared of parents suing them and the school. I know of an instance where a student struck a teacher and the administrator called the police. She was disciplined for allowing it get as far as a police report. She was told that such matters are settled in-house without any publicity. Her boss sent her home and found her another job where she could no longer harm the school system's reputation over a student behaving violently towards a teacher. This caused problems later when a DD student was raped and the police were not called but the video of the rape got out onto the net. I suppose a dead body might be cause to call in the police but then again, it might embarrass the system so lets just bury the matter 6 feet under.
By: nyboomer on April 21, 2007 at 04:15pm
What happened at Cho's high and middle school?
The Whole Class Started Laughing and Saying, "Go Back to China" - Blake Fleetwood
I am finding it so eery and suspicious that we don't have volumes of articles and information from Cho's high school and middle school experience. Why didn't anyone do anything before? How negligent were they? Because of the dearth of information so far, it just seems to me like the picture was ugly all along.
At Westfield High, there were many signs that Cho was deeply disturbed, dangerously alienated and horribly tormented. Teachers and school officials should have noticed and taken action for his undiagnosed autism and alienation. A guidance counselor should have talked to Cho and his parents. Educators could/should have consulted with his teachers - who all saw the problems - and gotten help for this tormented child.
I am finding it so eery and suspicious that we don't have volumes of articles and information from Cho's high school and middle school experience. Why didn't anyone do anything before? How negligent were they? Because of the dearth of information so far, it just seems to me like the picture was ugly all along.
Labels: Cho
Kevin Jennings - When Will We Learn? The call for anti-bullying laws and policies
A further insight into Cho's background comes from high school classmates in suburban Washington who say he was bullied and laughed at over his Korean accent and shyness. When called on in class, they say, he would hang his head in silence. -MSNBC report
Leave it to a cabbie to single out an important facet of the Virginia Tech tragedy and other school shootings that has been largely overlooked.
During my cab on the way to my partner's 46th birthday party last night, Friday, April 20th, the driver turned to me and asked, "Why do you think that boy killed all those people?"
A bit surprised to be engaged on the topic, I replied, "Well, for starters, I think the fact that he could just walk into a store in Virginia and walk out with a gun has something to do with it."
"NO!" the cabbie thundered back, making me jump a bit. "It is because of all the others. The ones filled with hate. The ones who mocked him and filled him with hate. They are the murderers."
The cabbie had zeroed in on something about the school shootings tragedy that has been rarely mentioned in the wall-to-wall coverage that has dominated the airwaves this week: the fact that nearly every one of these tragedies has been perpetrated by boys who have been bullied and harassed.
Leave it to a cabbie to single out an important facet of the Virginia Tech tragedy and other school shootings that has been largely overlooked.
During my cab on the way to my partner's 46th birthday party last night, Friday, April 20th, the driver turned to me and asked, "Why do you think that boy killed all those people?"
A bit surprised to be engaged on the topic, I replied, "Well, for starters, I think the fact that he could just walk into a store in Virginia and walk out with a gun has something to do with it."
"NO!" the cabbie thundered back, making me jump a bit. "It is because of all the others. The ones filled with hate. The ones who mocked him and filled him with hate. They are the murderers."
The cabbie had zeroed in on something about the school shootings tragedy that has been rarely mentioned in the wall-to-wall coverage that has dominated the airwaves this week: the fact that nearly every one of these tragedies has been perpetrated by boys who have been bullied and harassed.
Kevin Jennings - When Will We Learn? The call for anti-bullying laws and policies
From Columbine (which happened on April 20, 1999) until Virginia Tech (which happened almost exactly 8 years later, on April 17, 2007), virtually every school shooting has been carried out by alienated, abused boys filled with rage and anger at a world which they see as having rejected them. Yet 40 states still lack comprehensive anti-bullying laws and little has been done to address bullying, which the Harris polling organization found in the 2005 report From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America has been experienced by 65% of all high school students. As an old coach of mine once said, "You keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting."
Obviously young men like Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, and Cho Seung-Hui who perpetrate tragedies like Columbine and Virginia Tech are deeply troubled individuals. Most students who get bullied don't go berserk and gun down their classmates. Usually they simply drift away from school, eventually dropping out, or turn their anger and rage inward, where it manifests as depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviors. By hurting only themselves, they allow us to ignore the problem - at least until the next spasm of murderous rage like the one we saw at Virginia Tech this week.
Obviously young men like Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, and Cho Seung-Hui who perpetrate tragedies like Columbine and Virginia Tech are deeply troubled individuals. Most students who get bullied don't go berserk and gun down their classmates. Usually they simply drift away from school, eventually dropping out, or turn their anger and rage inward, where it manifests as depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviors. By hurting only themselves, they allow us to ignore the problem - at least until the next spasm of murderous rage like the one we saw at Virginia Tech this week.
Kevin Jennings - When Will We Learn? The call for anti-bullying laws and policies
In the wake of the so-called "No Child Left Behind" law passed in 2001, the focus in schools has shifted almost entirely to standardized test outcomes, leaving little time to address issues like bullying and harassment. We continue to ignore this crisis at our own peril. Sooner or later another alienated young boy will act out his rage and our screens will be filled once again with horrific images and the lives of countless families and loved ones will be irrevocably altered by tragedy. As Cho Seung-Hui wrote, "You have vandalized my heart, raped my soul and torched my conscience. You thought it was one pathetic boy's life you were extinguishing." Sadly, the acts of the bullies who drove Cho over the edge led to the extinguishing of more than 30 lives. Yet no one in the education world has stepped forward and said it is time for meaningful national action to end bullying in our schools. When will we learn?
The clock is ticking on a time bomb of a boy who is just waiting to explode on another campus somewhere right now. If we don't do something meaningful about bullying soon, that boy is going to go off and we'll keep getting what we've been getting. Please: don't make me say "I told you so." Insist that Congress pass an anti-bullying law now.
The clock is ticking on a time bomb of a boy who is just waiting to explode on another campus somewhere right now. If we don't do something meaningful about bullying soon, that boy is going to go off and we'll keep getting what we've been getting. Please: don't make me say "I told you so." Insist that Congress pass an anti-bullying law now.
Kevin Jennings - When Will We Learn? The call for anti-bullying laws and policies
I don't know what is proposed in such laws, but anti-bullying education can ameliorate a series of problems. One thing that needs to be included in any anti-bullying law worth its salt is to hold responsible any teacher who consistently condones bullying behavior. Teachers are often in-the-know about students being bullied, even in severe cases, and like Germans in nazi Germany, they turn their heads the other way in so many cases.
The other thing I find disturbing in the media coverage is that I didn't see any interviews or investigation of Cho's teachers when he was a child or adolescent. It was some ex-classmates that volunteered the information that he was bullied. What were his previous teachers like, I wonder?
The other thing I find disturbing in the media coverage is that I didn't see any interviews or investigation of Cho's teachers when he was a child or adolescent. It was some ex-classmates that volunteered the information that he was bullied. What were his previous teachers like, I wonder?
Mental Illness Strains School Counselors
From Red Orbit
Across America, college counseling centers are strained by rising numbers of mentally ill students and surging demand for mental health services - a challenging trend as campus officials try to identify potential threats like the unstable Virginia Tech gunman.
And even when serious emotional problems are detected, university officials often feel constrained in how they respond due to an array of laws and policies protecting students' rights and privacy.
"The number of people coming to colleges who've had psychiatric treatment has increased tremendously," said Dr. Gerald Kay, a psychiatry professor at Wright State University and chair of the American Psychiatric Association committee on college mental health.
"Now they're able to come to college - that would not have been the case earlier," Kay said. "You've got a very large number of people who may have some vulnerabilities. It has stressed the availability of resources."
Reasons for the surge include the Americans with Disabilities Act, which gives mentally ill students the right to be at college, and increasingly sophisticated medications which enable them to function better than in the past.
[...]
"We have to provide services to students with mental illness - it's not grounds to exclude them from our property," Flynn said. "We cannot discriminate against the mentally ill, nor do we want to."
[...]
Across America, college counseling centers are strained by rising numbers of mentally ill students and surging demand for mental health services - a challenging trend as campus officials try to identify potential threats like the unstable Virginia Tech gunman.
And even when serious emotional problems are detected, university officials often feel constrained in how they respond due to an array of laws and policies protecting students' rights and privacy.
"The number of people coming to colleges who've had psychiatric treatment has increased tremendously," said Dr. Gerald Kay, a psychiatry professor at Wright State University and chair of the American Psychiatric Association committee on college mental health.
"Now they're able to come to college - that would not have been the case earlier," Kay said. "You've got a very large number of people who may have some vulnerabilities. It has stressed the availability of resources."
Reasons for the surge include the Americans with Disabilities Act, which gives mentally ill students the right to be at college, and increasingly sophisticated medications which enable them to function better than in the past.
[...]
"We have to provide services to students with mental illness - it's not grounds to exclude them from our property," Flynn said. "We cannot discriminate against the mentally ill, nor do we want to."
[...]
Labels: Cho, mental health
Mental Illness Strains School Counselors
Psychologist Sherry Benton, assistant director of counseling services at Kansas State University, has conducted research concluding that students' mental health problems are more complex and severe than 20 years ago.
"We're well aware that problems are getting worse, but what hasn't happened is increasing funding for mental health services," she said. "Most centers are now overwhelmed. Business has gone up and up, but budgets have remained the same or been cut, and that's a huge problem."
One factor, Benton said, is that mental health services are usually not among the categories assessed during colleges' periodic accreditation reviews. If schools needed good services to remain accredited, they might invest more, she said.
Benton views the rising demand for campus mental health services as a good news-bad news development.
"We do get a lot more students into college who have mental illness but are no problem whatsoever," she said. "They do need support and use medication; they go on to lead full, productive lives."
On the downside, she and her colleagues see stress levels among students far higher than a generation ago due to increased workloads and financial strains, often coupled with lack of healthy lifestyles.
[...]
"We're well aware that problems are getting worse, but what hasn't happened is increasing funding for mental health services," she said. "Most centers are now overwhelmed. Business has gone up and up, but budgets have remained the same or been cut, and that's a huge problem."
One factor, Benton said, is that mental health services are usually not among the categories assessed during colleges' periodic accreditation reviews. If schools needed good services to remain accredited, they might invest more, she said.
Benton views the rising demand for campus mental health services as a good news-bad news development.
"We do get a lot more students into college who have mental illness but are no problem whatsoever," she said. "They do need support and use medication; they go on to lead full, productive lives."
On the downside, she and her colleagues see stress levels among students far higher than a generation ago due to increased workloads and financial strains, often coupled with lack of healthy lifestyles.
[...]
Mental Illness Strains School Counselors
Nonetheless, officials on many campuses have set up committees to pool information about students with emotional or behavioral problems so patterns can be detected in what might otherwise be seen as isolated incidents. The trick, officials say, is to find the proper balance between respecting a student's rights and protecting the university.
"That's the tightrope administrators have to walk," said Wright State's Gerald Kay.
"The issue in most instances is how do you bring these people into some sort of treatment."
Benton said any student who issues threats should be dealt with forcefully, regardless of privacy guidelines.
"Safety trumps confidentiality every time," she said. "If someone is a danger to themselves or others, then confidentiality is out the window and you notify who you need to notify to ensure the safety of them and those around them."
Peter Lake, a law professor at Stetson University, contends that officials on many campuses have been too deferential to privacy concerns, at the risk of safety at their schools.
"There's a false consciousness of privacy in higher education - as an institution, we don't like to share information," he said.
"Now, you're going to be seeing a greater emphasis on a management team or a safety czar - someone whose job it is to look at students' overall profiles," Lake said. "It's not only a good idea - it's an idea we can't live without."
"That's the tightrope administrators have to walk," said Wright State's Gerald Kay.
"The issue in most instances is how do you bring these people into some sort of treatment."
Benton said any student who issues threats should be dealt with forcefully, regardless of privacy guidelines.
"Safety trumps confidentiality every time," she said. "If someone is a danger to themselves or others, then confidentiality is out the window and you notify who you need to notify to ensure the safety of them and those around them."
Peter Lake, a law professor at Stetson University, contends that officials on many campuses have been too deferential to privacy concerns, at the risk of safety at their schools.
"There's a false consciousness of privacy in higher education - as an institution, we don't like to share information," he said.
"Now, you're going to be seeing a greater emphasis on a management team or a safety czar - someone whose job it is to look at students' overall profiles," Lake said. "It's not only a good idea - it's an idea we can't live without."
As much as you hate reading books, Arturo, you would be better off reading them, instead of relying on gossip for your information on personal violence issues.
Posted by alessandra at April 27, 2007 2:59 PM==========================
Arturo our latest most precise example.
Posted by alessandra at April 27, 2007