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Bulletin, Progressive, Record, Reporter Wednesday, April 20, 2011 11B
4
COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE
WHERE I STAND sponse to yet another depress- The Times Public Editor But for those of us who ity and race of those involved, explanation for their sexist vi-
......... "-PREVENI:/COIq"NE'CI:.(~RG .......... ing reminder of how far weArthur Brisbane agreed with work to end men's violencesome people will predictably olence?
CAUFORNIA COALITION AGAINST still have to come. Consider much of the criticism of the against women, this incident attribute this atrocity to the It seems to us that while
SEXUAL ASSAULT this: Reaction to the victim- piece: "My assessment," he is less about the specific de- effects of poverty and father- questions of class and race are
blaming in a recent New York wrote just a few days later, "is tails of one horrific act of rape lessness, which is a coded ref- germane in this and many oth-
In the struggle to stop rape Times story about a brutalthat the outrage is under- in a distressed community in erence to family dysfunction er cases, they are far less rele-
and all forms of men's vio- gang rape in East Texas has standable. The story dealt Texas, and more about the in communities of color. But vant than questions of gender.
lence against women, it is been fast and furious. Over with a hideous crime but ad- broader themes of power, gang rapes and the attitudes In particular, unless we be-
time for men to leave the side- the past several weeks, colum- dressed concerns about the ru- privilege, misogyny, class and behind them are perpetrated lieve that males across the
lines and get in the game. One nists, bloggers, victim advo- ined lives of the perpetrators race that the act itself-- and by vealthy and middle-class board are born genetically de-
important step we can take is cates and anti-rape activists without acknowledging the the coverage it generated so white men and boys, too, in- ficient, we need to ask some
to raise our voices and insist -- women and men-- have obvious: concern for the vic- poignantly exemplify, ctuding boys from "intact"fundamental questions, i.e.,
that the spotlight in media criticized the March 8 Times tim." (The Times front-page We have to ask some diffi-families with present fathers. How do we socialize our boys?
coverage of rape turns away story for the way its use of se- follow-up story March 28 did cult questions: why would a Just last October at Yale How do we assign certain atti-
from a fixation on victims and lective quotes suggested that a lot better, offering an ex- group of men and boys sexual- University, DKE pledges tudes and behaviors as "nor-
their behavior and instead fo- an ll-year-old girl in effect tended portrait of the girl, ly violate a vulnerable 11- marched on Old Campus mal"? And, ultimately: What
cuses on abusive men and contributed to the assaultwhom they described as hav- year-old girl? What does this home to the majority of Yale's does it mean to be a man in
boys and the culture that against her by "wearing ing been "an honor roll stu- say not only about them or the first-year female students21st century America?
produces and makes excuses make-up and fashions more dent, brimming with enthusi- small community where theychanting "No means yes" For too many young men,
for them. We make this de- appropriate to a woman in her asm.") live, but about the society along with graphic sexual communal rituals of sexism
mand not only as concerned twenties." In addition, critics This tragic case will provide our society that raised slurs that both demeaned perpetuate negative notions of
citizens and responsible mem- have responded to the percep- lessons for future news writ- them? "What are we teaching women and glorified sexualmanhood. Most of us are right-
bers of our communities tion conveyed in the article ing classes and journalistic men and boys about their atti- violence. White men with ly horrified when we read
but as men from virtually that among the residents of ethics seminars. Clearly, news tudes and behavior towardsprivilege routinely perpetrate about gang rape. But group
every cultural/racial/ethnic/ Cleveland, Texas, there isoperations need guidance girls?" And even further.., unspeakable sexual crimes sexual assault is best under-
religious background, greater concern for the 19 men about how to cover sex crimes "What are we teaching men against women in their ownstood as being at the extreme
There is some progress to and boys facing allegations of without perpetuating misogy- and boys about themselves?" families, as well as other
report, albeit progress in re- rape than for the young girl. nous cultural attitudes. Because of the class, ethnic- women and girls. What's the See Men, page 12B
N
h
N
I]
WHERE I STAND "connect" us like never be-
fore. But like many things
DON DAILEY sexy and cheap, there's a
RETIRED SCIENCE TEACHER downside.
So often technological ig-
"Western society has ac- norance and the advertising
cepted as unquestionable, a impact of our culture sur-
technological imperative rounding a major in-
that's quite as arbitrary as vention require us to be-
the most primitive taboo;come so focused on the bene-
not merely the duty to foster fits of a product that we
invention and constant nov- overlook the often slower
elties, but equally the duty . acting and less visible effects
to surrender to those novel- they may have on our health
ties unconditionally, just be- or the environment. The po-
cause they are offered, with- tential for making huge prof-
out respect to their human its often causes manufactur-
consequences." ers to deny and cover up the
--Lewis Mumford eventual, deadly effects of
their products.
We've seen it before, from
perhaps q gx.e th#n the smoking cover-up to the
o~ftei: tecl4~gy/' Wi~eles:s .......... ' .......
dental of the adverse effects
communication is [ncredi- of thalidomide, DDT use and
bly seductive and increas-climate change. Millions of
ingly cheap. We can yak on dollars are spent to spread
our cellphones for hours, denial and misinformation
keep up with our email to maintain profitable indus-
from almost anywhere on tries.
our BlackBerries and Wi-Fi For example, the wireless
our way around the planet, association (CTIA) recently
free. These technologies had a full-page ad in the San
Francisco Chronicle which levels, known as specific ab- DNA -- potentially damag- the energy with greater bio-
featured a woman dressed as sorption rates (SARs), areing the blueprint of life it- logical effects.
a doctor, with a stethoscope Published by tee FCC. self. : As early as the year 2000,
draped around her neck, a Cell phone manufacturers The wireless industry's there was concern about
huge smile on her face and are very scared, and for good denial takes us back to the cellphone radiation. Patholo-
holding a cellphone to her reason. They don't want you days when the tobacco in- gist and lawyer George Car-
ear. to know that there actually dustry was able to hold off lo, director of the Wireless
In bold print are the words are many long- and short-regulations for decades byTechnology Research Pro-
"What do the experts say term studies that indicate a claiming there was no con-gram, a project funded by
about cell phone safety?" connection between heavy clusive evidence that ciga- the wireless industry itself,
Highlighted in large blue let- and long-term use of cellrette smoking causes lung broke ranks and stated,
ters throughout the ad are phones and serious healthcancer. Cindy Sage, a Call- "There is enough evidence
phrases like "no adverse problems, fornia electromagnetic fields to raise some serious ques-
health effects," "is a safe Researchers around the (EMFs) expert, says: "It'stions about the safety of cell
phone," "results of this world are reporting that cell just like any other argument phones." And studies by the
study did not show that cell- phone radiation can affect about a potential carcino-World Health Organization
phones cause brain cancer," everything from the electri- gen. The question is, do we of 12,000 people showed a 40
and "no new data have ap- cal activity of the brain to take reasonable precautions percent higher incidence of
peared that indicate any oth- cell function. There are now or do we wait 30 yearsglioma and meningioma tu-
er effects on human health." strong associations, report- until the industry has to ad- mors for the heaviest users.
They then suggest that you ed by scientists in othermit there is proof and we've For teens and children that
"tell your supervisor to vote countries, between ~r~dio fre-.. ,lp~t a generation or two of is especially meaningful~on-
no on the (San Francisco) quency (RF) radiation and apeople?" ,~ ~,~ :,-. : ,~= -sidering their:hea,vy, use i~ind
Cell Phone Labeling Ordi- host of human ailments, in- Cellphones and other the fact that young people
nance" as "It's unnecessary cluding headache, fatigue,wireless technologms use have thinner skulls and de-
and will mislead con- learning and memory prob- higher radio frequencies veloping brains.
sumers." lems. sleep disturbances, on the electromagnetic In 2007, the American
The ordinance would re- disruption of immune and spectrum including the Journal of Epidemiology
quire cell phone retailers to hormonal systems, and microwave band. The higher published data from Israel
label the amount of radia- brain tumors. Animal stud-the frequency, the shorter
tion emitted by cell phones ies have found that RF canthe wavelength, and the
during use. These emission actually break strands of more easily the body absorbs See Dark, page 12B
L E T T E R S t > i i E D I T O R
Guidelines for Letters
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dress and a phone number.
We publish only one letter per
week, per person and only
one letter per person, per
month regarding the same
subject. We do not publish
third-party, anonymous, or
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words. The editor will cut any
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The deadline is Friday at 3
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due to holidays.) Letters may
be taken to any of Feather
Publishing's offices, sent via
fax to 283-3952, or e-mailed to
mail@plumasnews.com.
Snake Tree
The Snake Tree means a lot
to different people. For 30 years
my family would visit the tree
when we went camping.
An elderly patient told me
that when he was a child his
grandpa would take him to
see the Snake Tree. He said
his grandpa said that the
Tree was always there.
Whatever happened to the
Snake Tree's remains?
John Bergstrand
Quincy
Editor's note: Despite lots of
talk, no one has come forward
so far with a plan for the tree's
remains. As far as we know,
the tree lies where it felL
Don't dose
As an alternative healer and
trained classical homeopath I
have been asked many times in
the last few weeks what people
can do to protect themselves
against r diation leaking into
the atmosphere from Japan's
nuclear power plant. My stan-
dard answer is to watch less of
the media coverage, keep
things in perspective, eat less Certified ClassicalHomeopath Prosperity? this is repealing the Bush tax always votes for the candi-
processed and more organic Quincy At the llth hour, President cuts for the rich, but also in- dates who promise the most
foods, especially leafy greens Obama, Speaker Boehner, cludes eliminating itemized benefits from the public trea-
and vegetables, and consume Leader Reid and, yes, corpo-deductions for the wealthiest2 sury, with the result that
seaweeds and miso. I do not Enough is enough rate lobbyists avoided a gov- percent and reforming'the cor- every democracy will finally
recommend daily or weekly City of Portola, enough is ernment shutdown. Tea Party porate tax code. collapse due to loose fiscal pol-
doses of any supplement (ex° enough! Republicans held women's Both proposals lack details, icy, which is always followed
cept the basic vitamin and I prote~t in the strongest health (Planned Parenthood),and neither will pass in total, by a dictatorship." --Alexan.
minerals) or homeopathic terms the proposed rate in- clean air (EPA) and Pell The important question nowderTytler, 1787
remedies at this point, crease in both water and sew- grants (education) hostage. In is which proposal represents "An economy hampered by
Taking potassium iodide on er rates, the end, these programs wereyour morality? Do you believe restrictive tax rates will never
a daily basis can actually push Portola residents had a wa- mostly spared and $38 billion in an America for all Ameri- produce enough revenue to
one into a hyper-thyroid state ter rate increase last year was cut. Consider this the pre- cans or just thewealthy Amer- balance the budget, just as it
and taking homeopathic reme- alongwith a 9 percent garbage lude to the debate in raising icans? will never produce enough
dies as a possible preventative increase. With the proposed the debt ceiling and the up- MarkMihevc jobs or enough profitS." --
is an awful idea. I hear of peo- rate hike, bills will increase coming fiscal 2012 budget. Graeagle John F. Kennedy
ple taking homeopathic Kali- 100- 150 percent in five years. It has been said that the "For a nation to try to tax it-
iodatum (iodide of potassium) A proposed increase of this budget reflects the moralityTaxes self into prosperity is like a
or radium bromatum (radium magnitude should be on a city and vision of our country. If you feel the wealthy owe man standing in a bucket and
bromide) daily or weekly as a ballot, not left up to city man- Congressman Ryan presented you more than they are "cur- trying to lift himself up by the
preventative. Taking remedies agement, the Tea Party Republicans' rently" paying for your enti- handle."--Winston Churchill
on a daily/weekly basis when There is a 25 - 30 percent 2012 "Path to Prosperity." tlements and welfare checks, Personally, I favor a flat tax
there is no indication that the residential vacancy rate not Their budget cuts 70 percentbelow are the people that dis- ... 15 percent on earnings, no
remedy is currently needed counting many businesses as in clean energy, 25 percent in agree with you. The New York deductions for any class of in-
and continuing to take those well, I am sure the city of Por- education and 30 percent in Times stated, "47 percent of come. Seniors over 75 pay
remedies without cause can tola will use this to their ad- transportation. It effectively Americans pay no taxes be-"no" tax on Social Security
push one into a "proving" Of vantage, ends Medicare, repeals Oba- cause some households re- checks and "no" personal
the substance. There are classi- I have yet to see the city of macare and guts Medicaid, ceive enough of a tax credit to property taxes, When they die,
cal homeopaths in Japan and Portola cut back, it's business food stamps and low-income wipe out their federal income their property (home) reverts
around the world watching as usual spend, spend andhousing. The result is $4.3 tril- tax liability." "Poor families totaxable again.
and studying and if the need tax the hard-pressed residents lion in program cuts. But get generally pay more in payroll Dr. Trent Saxton
arises the best indicated reme- of Portola. I am paying for the this it gives $4.2 trillion in taxes than they receive Lake Davis
dy or remedies will be revealed landfill closure, something I tax cuts to the rich and busi- through benefits like the
and will be available locally. If have never used and per the nesses. The corporatized news Earned Income Tax Credit."A piece of the Pie
you would like a good article to city will never be paid off. We media calls the plan "serious" Large corporations like Presi- Attorney Mary K. Shelters
reassure yourself please check are in a recession/depression! and "courageous." Really? For dent Obama's General Electric mixes metaphors of "free en-
out the National Center for Stopthe increase, whom is this path to prosperi- Corporation made billions terprise" and communism in
Homeopathy website and read I have been coming to this ty? this past year and paid no tax- an April 6 article ("Is the
the article by internationally area for over 40 years and fi- President Obama gave his es. 'American Dream' slipping
known homeopath Miranda nally moved here in 2007 and 2012 fiscal policy speech last "When the people find thataway?"). The article recites
Castro. purchased a modest home Wednesday. Obama proposes they can vote themselves mort- data about income and wealth
Remember, most illness is (thank God). I am employed by cutting $4 trillion in 12 years, ey; that will herald the end of disparity in America and
caused by stress and fear, and a local company and because His first step calls for keeping the republic." --Benjamin wrongly assumes "how little
your TV is most willing to of the downturn in the econo- the draconian budget cuts al- Franklin of the American Pie was left to
supply that on a minute-to- myI am just gettingby, ready passed. His second step "A democracy is always compete for."
minute basis. Shut it off and If this rate increase passes I is to cut the war department's temporary in nature; it simply Our economic pie grows
take a walk, watch a comedy, could lose my home. In hind- budget. The third step is to re- cannot exist as a permanent with participation, and ambi-
play with a child, throw a ball sight I wish I had purchased a duce the cost of health careform of government. A democ- tion usually earns new pieces
for a dog do anything that home outside the city. " by reducing wasteful subsi- racy will continue to exist up of that Pie. Free enterprise re-
makes you happy and you will Portola property owners, dies and erroneous payments until the time that voters dis- wards productivity; socialism
be doing the best proactive please write the city and tell and bargain for lower cover that they can vote them- rewards shirking and welfare
health preventative you can themenough isenough Medicare prescription prices, selves generous gifts from the handouts. Wikipedia: "The
imagine. ChesterA. Paselk The final step is "reduce public treasury. From that
RoseBuzzetta, CCH Portola spending in the tax code." Yes, moment on, the majority See Letters, page 128
]