In states with these draconian abortion laws, pregnant people are already facing possible death, even more so if they are a person of color. For non medical people to make law regulating pregnancy, which is a medical condition nearly ensures life threatening situations.
I hope the Supreme Court does it's duty upholding the 14th Amendment (thanks to CO for pressing the issue) and tells Mr. Trump you are disqualified. That makes it even more imperative that Democrats make abortion rights be codified into law, despite Alito and Thomas and Gorscisch.
I’m looking for the ad that shows a pregnant woman in a cocktail party navigating through vapid well-wishers. It ends by her saying, “My baby ... isn’t going to make it.”
I read this newsletter to find out a press release I wrote actually got published. I even enjoyed the ‘you can’t be a Christian if you support abortion’ email I got from someone in West Texas, so much that I said, “Hold my communion wine...”
A stunning and unprecedented decision, the Colorado Supreme Court removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot, ruling that he isn’t an eligible presidential candidate because of the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban.”
The ruling was 4-3.
The ruling will be placed on hold pending appeal until January 4.
Reading the comments, on a day with a LOT in the newsletter, my takeaway is we have to change the men. We have to get the men to change, by whatever means. There are more than plenty of women collaborators, but conservatism and its traditional gender roles are there for the benefit of men. Women's increased ability, relative to the past, to make their own decisions about their lives, threatens this system. Because you cannot persuade women to go back - and it would be insane to think you could, although as we've seen plenty are still trying to - the only tool left is force. And that is why we are seeing the rise of authoritarianism, fascism, whatever we want to call it; it's the only way left they can win. Either men accept freedom for women, and everything that goes with it, or they exercise brute force against it; those are ultimately the only two options. We are where we are because men are still on the fence about it, not really liking either option. We need men to make the right choice, or our entire civilization is in peril. (And it's worth noting that the other side agrees with that premise, of civilization in peril, and just disagrees with which option is the right one to choose. It's quite grave.)
Progress of women as a workforce, as thinking individuals has definitely helped the US the economic powerhouse it has become. They want to turn that back because they don’t have that or don’t want that in their lives. It’s a struggle- like an Indian friend's once said of present generation Indian women wanting equal partners but the men still wanting wives. Equality is a hard concept for some. Some of us are lucky to have found it even when it was not fashionable. My first speech for a toastmasters ages ago was about role reversal as in house husbands. But how many women accept a house husband or men want to be that? Even DH Lawrence had to make the gameskeeper an intellectual. The one thing some European countries have done is to provide services to women that helps them care for children and also make meaningful progress in career. But they pay high taxes which will not happen here with Republican mfers.
Yes. Men need to believe that a world in which women make their own decisions is a better world - for everyone, not just for women. Zero sum thinking works against that, and zero sum thinking is a problem for more than just conservatives. It's not wrong to make the case to men for why they also benefit from free, strong, independent women, as much as we'd like them to come along just because it's the right thing to do. Your point about husbands - "how many women accept a house husband or men want to be that?" - is interesting. House husband doesn't sound so bad to me; it depends on finding interesting things to do with your free time. But I can't speak to what women want. I probably believe more in evolutionary psychology than I should, but I never want to criticize a woman for what she does or does not find attractive in a man, because I feel like a lot of that is subconscious for all of us. I think it's helpful for women to guide men as to what they want from us, and then we need to listen. I suppose deep down many (most?) men are afraid that if women have all their options, they won't want or need anything from us anymore. But we can't take that and turn it into a need to keep women subjugated; that's just evil. All that said, feminism would probably, ironically, benefit from focusing a lot more on men, because we are the problem that feminism seeks to solve. For it to get better, we have to show men the path to evolve and grow.
Thank you for your work as always. I just donated to Brittany Watts and I hope others do too. It's not the amount (she already has more than what was asked for), but the NUMBER of people showing support. In addition, I wrote an intelligent but scathing letter to the guy prosecuting her telling him to drop the charges. You can send him an email here: prosecutor@co.trumbull.oh.us
I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “These restrictions on free movement are fascist.” Fascists never restrict free movement for everyone at once. They whittle it down a group at a time until no one can travel. This has happened over and over throughout recorded history. I’m glad more people are finally paying attention to these horror stories, but we still have such a long way to enough caring people.
And make no mistake: fully restricting everyone is their intent.
Reading these day after day is dizzying - I can’t imagine what it’s like to do all the research that goes into them. As always, thanks for keeping us informed, Jessica and Grace. Hope you both will give yourself at least a bit of time this holiday season to take a break from the onslaught.
Honestly, it feels like we, as women , are already living under authoritarian rule. The feeling of a noose being tied around the neck of so many has begun and each day, each story, the rope seems tighter. So much regression is going on around me, as a woman, I truly almost can't breath.
Smart thinking on your part! IUDs worked for me all through my child bearing years. The ones I had here were like $600 out of pocket but they last for 10-12 years, called progesterone or something. I didn’t have any bad side effects either.
I feel for you. It is hard being a woman in her childbearing years. So much to deal with. Fortunately I am past menopause now but my heart breaks for younger woman. No one, no one has the right to make such an important, private, intimate decision for someone else,'especially a creepy politician.
As another postmenopausal woman, I completely agree. Women of my age have seen Roe come and go. But I am willing to fight to the hilt for the younger generation.
In states with these draconian abortion laws, pregnant people are already facing possible death, even more so if they are a person of color. For non medical people to make law regulating pregnancy, which is a medical condition nearly ensures life threatening situations.
I hope the Supreme Court does it's duty upholding the 14th Amendment (thanks to CO for pressing the issue) and tells Mr. Trump you are disqualified. That makes it even more imperative that Democrats make abortion rights be codified into law, despite Alito and Thomas and Gorscisch.
I’m looking for the ad that shows a pregnant woman in a cocktail party navigating through vapid well-wishers. It ends by her saying, “My baby ... isn’t going to make it.”
And add, "And neither will I."
I read this newsletter to find out a press release I wrote actually got published. I even enjoyed the ‘you can’t be a Christian if you support abortion’ email I got from someone in West Texas, so much that I said, “Hold my communion wine...”
I wondered if the TX Christians mention was you, Kim. Congratulations.
Something good.🤗 just in.
A stunning and unprecedented decision, the Colorado Supreme Court removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot, ruling that he isn’t an eligible presidential candidate because of the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban.”
The ruling was 4-3.
The ruling will be placed on hold pending appeal until January 4.
🎉🎉🎉
contempt for women carries on...
Reading the comments, on a day with a LOT in the newsletter, my takeaway is we have to change the men. We have to get the men to change, by whatever means. There are more than plenty of women collaborators, but conservatism and its traditional gender roles are there for the benefit of men. Women's increased ability, relative to the past, to make their own decisions about their lives, threatens this system. Because you cannot persuade women to go back - and it would be insane to think you could, although as we've seen plenty are still trying to - the only tool left is force. And that is why we are seeing the rise of authoritarianism, fascism, whatever we want to call it; it's the only way left they can win. Either men accept freedom for women, and everything that goes with it, or they exercise brute force against it; those are ultimately the only two options. We are where we are because men are still on the fence about it, not really liking either option. We need men to make the right choice, or our entire civilization is in peril. (And it's worth noting that the other side agrees with that premise, of civilization in peril, and just disagrees with which option is the right one to choose. It's quite grave.)
👏👏👏
Progress of women as a workforce, as thinking individuals has definitely helped the US the economic powerhouse it has become. They want to turn that back because they don’t have that or don’t want that in their lives. It’s a struggle- like an Indian friend's once said of present generation Indian women wanting equal partners but the men still wanting wives. Equality is a hard concept for some. Some of us are lucky to have found it even when it was not fashionable. My first speech for a toastmasters ages ago was about role reversal as in house husbands. But how many women accept a house husband or men want to be that? Even DH Lawrence had to make the gameskeeper an intellectual. The one thing some European countries have done is to provide services to women that helps them care for children and also make meaningful progress in career. But they pay high taxes which will not happen here with Republican mfers.
🎯
Yes. Men need to believe that a world in which women make their own decisions is a better world - for everyone, not just for women. Zero sum thinking works against that, and zero sum thinking is a problem for more than just conservatives. It's not wrong to make the case to men for why they also benefit from free, strong, independent women, as much as we'd like them to come along just because it's the right thing to do. Your point about husbands - "how many women accept a house husband or men want to be that?" - is interesting. House husband doesn't sound so bad to me; it depends on finding interesting things to do with your free time. But I can't speak to what women want. I probably believe more in evolutionary psychology than I should, but I never want to criticize a woman for what she does or does not find attractive in a man, because I feel like a lot of that is subconscious for all of us. I think it's helpful for women to guide men as to what they want from us, and then we need to listen. I suppose deep down many (most?) men are afraid that if women have all their options, they won't want or need anything from us anymore. But we can't take that and turn it into a need to keep women subjugated; that's just evil. All that said, feminism would probably, ironically, benefit from focusing a lot more on men, because we are the problem that feminism seeks to solve. For it to get better, we have to show men the path to evolve and grow.
Thank you for your work as always. I just donated to Brittany Watts and I hope others do too. It's not the amount (she already has more than what was asked for), but the NUMBER of people showing support. In addition, I wrote an intelligent but scathing letter to the guy prosecuting her telling him to drop the charges. You can send him an email here: prosecutor@co.trumbull.oh.us
I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “These restrictions on free movement are fascist.” Fascists never restrict free movement for everyone at once. They whittle it down a group at a time until no one can travel. This has happened over and over throughout recorded history. I’m glad more people are finally paying attention to these horror stories, but we still have such a long way to enough caring people.
And make no mistake: fully restricting everyone is their intent.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
Hey! Now thats a pastor I can agree with.
Reading these day after day is dizzying - I can’t imagine what it’s like to do all the research that goes into them. As always, thanks for keeping us informed, Jessica and Grace. Hope you both will give yourself at least a bit of time this holiday season to take a break from the onslaught.
I echo you, Natalie. I hope Grace and Jessica give themselves some strong soul food this season.
💖 😻.
Honestly, it feels like we, as women , are already living under authoritarian rule. The feeling of a noose being tied around the neck of so many has begun and each day, each story, the rope seems tighter. So much regression is going on around me, as a woman, I truly almost can't breath.
Yes, that is exactly how it feels. It is hard to believe we are experiencing this in the 21st century.
I feel likewise, Kathleen. You’re not alone.
Smart thinking on your part! IUDs worked for me all through my child bearing years. The ones I had here were like $600 out of pocket but they last for 10-12 years, called progesterone or something. I didn’t have any bad side effects either.
I feel for you. It is hard being a woman in her childbearing years. So much to deal with. Fortunately I am past menopause now but my heart breaks for younger woman. No one, no one has the right to make such an important, private, intimate decision for someone else,'especially a creepy politician.
As another postmenopausal woman, I completely agree. Women of my age have seen Roe come and go. But I am willing to fight to the hilt for the younger generation.