Daughter of No Comment -- January 2007

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Daughter had hoped to start the new year off on a light, bright note but recent events have frustrated that goal yet again. An unusual twist to the average serial rape story is the news out of Texas where a young man has struck at least 5 times and his victims are young men who he has stalked and then attacks at gunpoint or knife-point near their houses. He may have more victims who are too ashamed to come forward, police say. The U.S. Justice Department says one in 33 men in the United States has been a victim of rape or attempted rape compared with ONE IN SIX WOMEN. Daughter wonders if this includes prison statistics? Authorities say men are far less likely to report a rape because of being perceived as weak or they see the attack as an assault on their masculinity. When are men going to understand that it is in everyone's interest to stop rape, period. Columnist Kathleen Parker is bleating about the plight of children whose mothers are in combat during their voluntary military service. She writes "the military has become the final frontier for radical feminists, for whom equality won't be complete until the chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff has breasts." This amazed daughter who had no idea that men didn't have breasts. She goes on, "In the distorted logic of feminist gender theorists, getting women killed in combat is viewed as "proof" that they are suitable for combat...." Daughter is thinking back to 9/11 and if that event using planes as weapons wasn't combat what was it? Women are not safe in general. Walking the streets can be dangerous to one's safety and today, the old school thinking that there is a front line has been overtaken by the reality that really bad things can happen anywhere. Even in an Amish school. As for children's safety... national 2004 (latest available) statistics show that an estimated 1.490 children died of abuse or neglect. Since many child deaths are not reviewed, an estimate is the best we can get. Most of these cases involved domestic violence, drugs and in many the non-offending caregiver had filed for an injunction for protection which actually offers little in the way of protection since it is so often violated or dissolved. Perhaps Ms. Parker could concern herself with this horror and leave the women who choose to join the military to their calling. Catherine Pollard, 88, who became the Boy Scouts of America' first female U.S. scoutmaster after a long legal fight, has died. In the mid- seventies her application for a leadership position, when no men volunteered, was denied when the Boy Scouts said a woman was not a good role model for young boys in the scouts. The Conn. Human Rights Comm. sided with her but the State Supreme Court upheld a ruling that boys needed the guidance of men. In 1988 the BSA did away with all gender restrictions on volunteer positions. A new way to look at a bra. Do you wear it for support? to look perky? or for protection? On New Year's Eve a .45-caliber bullet struck Debbie Bingham, 45, after someone fired a gun into the air about 20 minutes before midnight. Although she still needed stitches the wound would have been much worse if the bra strap hadn't slowed the bullet according to police spokesman, George Kajtsa. Daughter is always in favor of anything that multi-tasks. Daughter is confused and would like some of the experts out there to help her understand some Kansas legalese. Kansas law permits abortions of viable fetuses only if the woman's life is in danger or if two doctors certify that continuing the pregnancy would cause "a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function." How can some man or non involved person decide what is a substantial loss to someone and why should the concept of substantial loss even be valid. And who knows what is reversible until after the loss has occurred. If it should turn out that the loss isn't reversible, what then? Too bad? Tough luck? This legislative crap shoot with women's rights and bodies is a travesty of equal treatment under the law. OK experts, what don't I get. The service organization, The Exchangettes (no reason for name given) is looking for men members but so far no men have joined. Member Linda Leet says "Men don't like the idea of meeting once a month....." Daughter suspects men and a lot of prospective women members don't like the way too cute name.