I think it’s worth noting that Dianne Feinstein asked both James Comey and Terry Crews the same question at both their hearings and pointed out the hypocrisy of victim-blaming. Long post under the cut:
I think it’s important to note why she asked them both the same question regarding their size and strength–physical and moral:
A person testifying cannot talk about why they did or did not do something unless they’re specifically asked about a subject.
It gave them both the opportunity to shut down a victim-blaming line of questioning right away because she is asking to show how wrong it is to ask someone those kinds of question, where someone else on the senate panel would ask them as their real questions.
It gave her the opportunity to highlight the ridiculousness and offensiveness of those kinds of questions, which she pointed out on her twitter:
In Terry Crews’ case, the issue of victim-blaming questioning is obviously wrong because he’s an actual sexual assault victim. In Comey’s case, the tones in his questions where present too–and not just from Feinstein, who had a point and purpose to her questions–which the media picked up on, too. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)Â
James Comey is not a sexual assault victim, but he was a victim–of sorts–of a known sexual predator, a man known for abusing his power over people he sees as “below” him. I think it’s incredibly important what Dianne Feinstein does in these hearings with these questions. Here is what she achieves with that question:
She is showing that abuse of power happens everywhere–in Hollywood and in government, in an office, at a school, anywhere that a someone abusive is in power.
Men experiences various forms of assault, abuse, and harassment too!
Being “big” or “tall” or “strong” does not mean people with those characteristics won’t be assaulted or harassed.
Every victim’s story needs and deserves to be heard, and the abuser must face consequences for their actions.
People with the power to make changes and to protect people–like senators!–need to stop shaming and blaming victims.
HOLD PEOPLE IN POWER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS!!!
“Of course, the white men and women who consider her approach taking the “low road” care little about the death threats directed at her because they are not the subjects of Trump’s hateful rhetoric, his xenophobic immigration policies, or his penchant for viewing black people with opinions as property rather than as free human beings. The majority of white journalists condemning Waters refuse to confess that their whiteness inoculates them from his bigotry and that it compels them to prioritize the humanity of the abuser over the discomfort of the victims who face Trump’s abuse. There is no “both sides” debate between a black woman who is using her mouth to resist hate and a white supremacist who can write racist policy. But the dissent against Waters has little to do with so-called civil discourse. Waters is an easy target because she is a black woman. She is loud outspoken, angry passionate and divisive candid. She is also the most disrespected and unprotected woman in America, as Malcolm X proclaimed about black women. That fact explains why much of white America—journalists and all—sympathizes with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a white woman who functions as a modern-day Joseph Goebbels, over Waters, a black woman who is challenging the fascism that Trump is normalizing on a daily basis. It tells us that no matter how high black women ascend in the power structure of America, their standing will always take second place to white women, their racism be damned.”
Ontario has a new environment minister with a background in gambling, an energy minister who has taken on Indigenous affairs and no one in cabinet whose main job will be tackling immigration.
These are among some of the details of the first cabinet in Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford’s new government.
Ford eliminated or altered some of the ministries of the former Liberal government, reducing the size of cabinet to 21 from 29 and signalling some changed priorities by renaming and merging some responsibilities. One example is the elimination of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.
The changes signal the initial steps the Ford government is taking to reduce the cost and size of government, as the Tories promised to do in the last election.
Opposition parties were less than enthusiastic about the government’s new look, criticizing the premier for merging Indigenous affairs with energy, mines and northern affairs; adding Francophone affairs to the attorney general’s portfolio; and replacing the Ministry of the Status of Women with “women’s issues” responsibilities in another portfolio.
Rod Phillips was named minister of the environment, conservation and parks. He is the former chair of Postmedia and former president and CEO of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. His new position is also includes a subtle change that removes the words “climate change” from its title.
He merged Indigenous affairs with natural resource extraction. That’s not even tone-deaf; it’s just a forthright declaration of intent.
Together with his multiple campaign contributions from overseas fascists, it’s starting to look like Doug Ford might be a little like Trump in more ways than one.
“You don’t have to do everything. If something drains you or leaves you feeling hopeless, find some other way to contribute. Every time a progressive-minded person can’t sleep because of the trauma they’re surrounded by, that person becomes a little less effective the next day. And the far right becomes a little stronger.”
Local Man thinks women can only be pretty or smart; gets roasted alive by smart, pretty woman.
SonderKommandos were forced laborers who would burn the bodies in concentration camps if anyone is curious. Most of them also died because the Nazis didnt want people alive who could tell the world the truth about what was happening. The Grey Zone refers to the moral conflict of being complicit in killing others but also being threatened with death yourself if you didnt comply. It comes from scientist and Holocaust survivor Primo Levi.
Contact Minister Hussen and your local MP and tell them to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement.
Minister Ahmed Hussen (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) says that they are monitoring the situation to see the impact that it’s having, which is a meaningless excuse for their inaction and lack of condemnation. Justin Trudeau is saying it’s not his job to get political about this issue. We need to let them know that it is unacceptable that Canada has not formally condemned the US’s actions, and that our government can and must take meaningful steps to make Canada a safe refuge for those who are facing persecution in the States. You can read more on the Safe Third Country Agreement here.
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