Oct

30

All I Want for Christmas

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Filed Under Uncategorized | By Wende Hilsenrod | 4 Comments

“What do you want for Christmas?” I witnessed a grandmother ask her grandchild the other day. The child smiled and immediately rattled off at least 10 items. “You are so greedy!” Grandma replied, as she looked at me and shrugged. I saw the child’s face fall.

Uncomfortable silence filled the space and  I felt the tug of “I am not going to collude with you, either by silence or words,” versus “I do not want to offend anyone.”  My overriding thought was for the child – what did they just learn about their wants, expressing those wants,  their grandmother and their self identity? More importantly, is this one more bit of evidence the child will use to lower their self- expectations and self-esteem?

Self-talk. Some people call it “the Greek chorus,” “the shitty committee,” “my mother’s voice,” or some other term that has a negative connotation for them. Are interactions like the Christmas list incident where this type of negative self-talk starts?

“Internalized oppression is not the cause of our mistreatment, it is the result of our mistreatment.” – Micheline Mason

I believe mistreatment starts with the words we hear.  What we say matters. A lot.

I looked at the grandmother and grandchild and smiled at them both. “I think it is good to know what you want, and to say so when you are asked.”

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Oct

28

You Can’t Get There from Here

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Filed Under Uncategorized | By Morgan J Curtis | Leave a Comment

A post at elephantjournal yesterday has got me thinking. The post is short and to the point, ultimately summed up in the title “Do PETA’s Ends justify their Means?” Now, I’ve been grumbling  about PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for a long time because of what I believe to be a never-ending series of misogynistic ads. However, looking beyond the misogyny itself for a minute (it’s difficult but go with me), this begs the broader question of which tactics we are willing to use to bring about the change we want to see.

I do see all oppression as linked and am therefore opposed to throwing one group under the bus for the sake of gains in one area (ahem, ENDA). Here’s the thing… we can’t create the world we want to see by consistently engaging in tactics that are inconsistent with our vision for the world, no matter how much attention those tactics may bring to our cause. Maybe objectification of women really isn’t inconsistent with the world PETA is trying to create. (You kind of have to wonder at this point, right?) I’d like to think that most of us would hold ourselves, and the causes we champion, to a higher standard than that.

Sure, maybe we don’t get as much attention as PETA. Maybe we don’t garner as much publicity and therefore get as many donations. Maybe we make smaller, more incremental changes – one person or small group at a time. To me, that is preferable to using outlandish and ultimately harmful tactics to get attention and make a point. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for outlandish as long as it’s outlandish in a way that is consistent with my ultimate vision for the world. And, it seems to me that if the attention paid PETA’s tactics were really reflective of their effectiveness then everyone would be a vegetarian by now.

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Oct

2

Update on Funding Medical Exams for Sexual Assault Victims

Filed Under News | By   | 2 Comments

The  Office of the Attorney General of Texas recently released this law enforcement update that we felt was important to share.

Recovering from a sexual assault is an intensely personal ordeal that is different for each survivor. Initially, some victims will justifiably react with shock, disbelief and fear. Everyday activities may be disrupted, including eating and sleeping. Victims may feel the need to change their address, job or lifestyle in order to regain their sense of security. With so much difficulty to overcome, victims should not also face financial hardship, which is why the Texas Legislature created the Texas Compensation for Victims of Crime (CVC) Fund. Recently, the Office of the Attorney General, which administers this vitally important fund, reached a significant milestone: $1 billion in payments to crime victims.

Last year alone, the CVC Fund provided reimbursement for more than 8,500 sexual assault exams and sexual assault examination kits. A sexual assault examination is not medical treatment, but rather a part of the criminal investigation. The exam is performed by medical personnel, who carefully collect and preserve crucial evidence that law enforcement uses to identify sexual assault perpetrators. Immediate medical needs and referrals for follow-up care also will be addressed at the time of a victim’s hospital visit.

Sexual assault victims are not charged for a forensic sexual assault exam. The kits are paid for by local law enforcement agencies, which seek reimbursement from the CVC Fund. For years the Fund has covered, and will continue to cover, the costs of sexual assault forensic examinations and kits.

Sexual assault victims decide for themselves whether to report the crime to law enforcement. Victims are more comfortable seeking medical help than they are reporting a crime. Those victims are helped by a new law that became effective June 19. Under House Bill 2626, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) pays for sexual assault examinations when victims have not reported the assault to law enforcement at the time of treatment. DPS then seeks reimbursement from the CVC Fund. Read more

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