Happy Pi Day!
Today, March 14th, is Pi Day. (Get it? Third month, fourteenth day; pi=3.14…) While the first Pi Day was celebrated back in 1988 with staff of the San Francisco Exploratorium marching around one of its circular spaces and eating fruit pies, it took until March 12, 2009 for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a non-binding resolution recognizing March 14th at National Pi Day.
So now that it is an “official” holiday and all that, I thought I’d pop in here to tell you all to have a great day, or night as it is now, and also give you three great reminders of what 3.1415926535… has brought to the pop culture world.
First, there’s the mathematical thriller Pi from Darren Aronofsky about a paranoid mathematician who searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature.
Second, there’s the always absolutely amazing Kate Bush and her song, Pi.
And lastly, there’s The Net, the cyberthriller where Sandra Bullock is thrown into a web of computer espionage after clicking on a mysterious pi symbol found at the bottom of her computer screen after loading a program sent to her to de-bug.
I would also like to add that you should most definitely be eating some pie, specifically a pi pie, while you break out the movie Pi tonight.
Let’s Talk About Kevin Smith and Southwest Airlines Just a Little More
Yes, I know that most, if not all, of you out there have heard quite a bit already about the whole Southwest Airlines telling Kevin Smith he’s too fat to fly thing. I also know that you all have also seen and participated in discussions on the real issue behind this one incident and have also probably gone off on those who had picked up their close-minded asshole cards declaring that all every fat person in the world has to do is go on a diet and their lives will instantly be awesome–because it’s just that simple, of course. I had originally posted about Kevin Smith being deemed too fat to fly by Southwest Airlines on another website, before I saw his original SModcast go up (#106), which he recorded after returning home from the flight from Southwest Hell, before every media outlet opened discussion on Kevin Smith’s level of fatness and before Larry King asked him to go on his show (which, just for the record, he did not–he opted to record videos and post them to his YouTube account instead because he is just that awesome.)
I have watched this entire incident turned media circus turned fat shaming brigade unfold throughout the past few days and regardless of what platform is being used to discuss this topic or how seemingly open-minded you are used to a discussion being on a particular website, including very well-known progressive websites, the discussion always, always, always comes back to one thing–fat shaming and blaming.
If you have yet to hear about this incident, here is the Reader’s Digest version.
Kevin Smith boarded a Southwest Airlines flight last night from Oakland to Burbank, California. After his bag was up and he was seated (with the arm rests down), he was deemed a “safety risk” and thrown off the flight–as about 200 people who had already boarded the same flight had IDed him as “Silent Bob” and after he had explained to the flight attendant that he could indeed put the arm rests on both sides of his seat down and could also buckle his seatbelt, basically pleading the flight attendant to let him stay on the flight and not take the “walk of shame” out of the airplane.
The flight attendant told him that the pilot of the flight had deemed him to be a “safety risk” and it was not something that she had control over. When being ejected from the flight, he started tweeting and it all started with this:
“Dear @SouthwestAir – I know I’m fat, but was Captain Leysath really justified in throwing me off a flight for which I was already seated?”
Through the course of the past few days, as Kevin Smith has told and retold his story of this event and we were given the chance to learn the whole truth of the story, it turns out that the pilot did not see Kevin Smith and instuct the other Southwest Airlines employee to throw him off of his flight; this was one or two employees of Southwest booting a man who they deemed as too fat to fit into one seat on their airplane, put the arm rests down and give the other passengers he was sitting with their personal space. In other words, he was booted off a flight for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
While Kevin Smith was deemed to be a “safety risk” for this flight, he did end up boarding another flight, using two seats he had purchased. It has been noted by many, many media outlets that he usually buys two seats and that obviously he needs those two seats in order to fit on a flight and using that as the excuse as to why he was ejected from the plane. This, however, is absolutely false. While it’s true that he does often purchase two seats for one flight, he does this because he merely doesn’t want to sit by a stranger because there always seems to be that person, the same kind of person you often find at movie theaters, who have many other seating options, but choose to sit next to a stranger and when you’re on an airplane, these creepy folks can often be very chatty and not everyone really wants to deal with that, either.
Obviously just because he was able to board a later flight he didn’t stop tweeting about the incredible lack of compassion and courtesy not just human beings, but paying customers deserve from any business they are making money off of, and he even tweeted a picture of himself making the “fatty face” while sitting on his flight.
“Hey @SouthwestAir! Look how fat I am on your plane! Quick! Throw me off! http://twitpic.com/1340gw”
Anyone who knows of Kevin Smith and his work knows that he’s a pretty humorous dude and that he injects humor into all of life’s little “fuck you’s,” but this does not mean that this entire experience he was forced to go through wasn’t humiliating, because it very much was and no person, regardless of their size, deserves to be treated in the manner in which Southwest Airlines treated Kevin Smith. But this wasn’t just a one-time occurance as far as Southwest Airline’s blatant fat shaming goes. On his later flight, Kevin Smith sat by a woman named Natali who was also a bigger person. Natali was taken aside by a member of Southwest’s customer service and told that she would have to purchase a second seat if Kevin Smith didn’t say it was okay for her to sit next to him, with his purchased, unused seat between them. After a number of people started to speculate about the validity of Smith’s story of Natali, claiming that he made her up in order to truly drive home his point that he was being discriminated against or that Southwest Airlines was comprised of a bunch of thin, fat-shaming, fat-phobic assholes. To prove that Natali is indeed a real person who also faced very real discrimination by the airline, Smith had her as a guest on his SModcast (#107).
And I realize after typing all of that that I truly missed the mark on that whole “Reader’s Digest version” thing.
The way that Southwest Airlines treated Kevin Smith, Natali, and the way that they have and will most likely continue to treat “people of size,” as they put it, is an absolute disgrace. This is truly a case of fat shaming and while most, if not all, airlines have very size-ist policies, Southwest Airlines obviously enforces theirs to the fullest.
It is an absolute tragedy that we live in the World of Thinicism (word originally coined by Kevin Smith and the title of his SModcast with Natali, but how cool is that word?) where while two out of three Americans are “obese” yet those same two out of three people are so often discriminated against in our world where thinness trumps all. As Kate Harding has previously mentioned, the fact that Kevin Smith, the human being, had to go through that is absolutely horrible, but it’s okay to be really happy that Kevin Smith, Famous Person with 1.6 Million Twitter Followers, got really pissed off and knew very well that they way he was treated was not even close to being okay and had the courage to speak up for himself and not just sulk away and let Southwest Airlines get away with what they did.
Everyone has been discussing this incident since Kevin Smith’s first tweet to @SouthwestAir and while a bulk of what has been said about it has been sentiments of how wrong it was for him to be ejected from a flight he had every right to be on and did indeed fit on, some of the remarks that have been made and continue to pop up all over the place have been from aforementioned close-minded, holier than thou assholes who believe that fat people are fat because they want to be and just need to go on a diet and lose weight and cease being drains on society. While I expected a great number of these comments I’ve seen, where I did not expect to see close-minded comments was from well-known feminist media–and I don’t mean in the comments section.
Bitch Magazine recently started a discussion on their Facebook page that I was very surprised to see:
So we get that Kevin Smith is pissed at Southwest Airlines, and with good reason. But does anyone else think it’s weird that he’s spent more than a decade in one of the most inhospitable environments for fat people ever – that’d be Hollywood – and apparently never had issues with that? Discuss.
The first thing that went through my head upon being confronted with this post was Are you fucking kidding me? Do you even know who Kevin Smith is? Anyone who has seen just one Kevin Smith movie gets the gist of what he is all about. Sure, he built a career making films and plays a role in Hollywood to some degree, but he makes comedies and according to Kevin Smith himself, he has made a career out of repeatedly cracking dick and fart jokes and during his appearances at colleges, he pokes fun at himself for being fat and never once, throughout this entire incident, has said he wasn’t fat; he just isn’t too fat to fly. He is just one of those people who has excelled at making a career out of seeing the humor in every single situation a person can possibly be confronted with and when it comes to Hollywood, it’s pretty hard to make fun of or attempt to shame a person for being fat, or for any other reason, if they are already making fun of themselves and owning what could possibly be said about them. Secondly, while men as a whole do very often scrutinize themselves because of their bodies and do feel the same pressures women do when it comes to body image issues, Hollywood doesn’t cast such a discriminatory light on overweight men, as opposed to overweight women.
To ask if it is weird that someone who is fat to find a career within Hollywood is exactly the same as asking why a woman director has the audacity to make porn when the sex industry makes a living off of objectifying women. It is very much saying You do not belong there, so why try? and to me, that is just about the most un-feminist you can get. Feminism is not about enforcing double standards; if a woman of any background at all faced this exact situation, feminists would be expressing their deepest outrage over size-ist policies and for ejecting that person off a flight for absolutely no reason whatsoever, but when a man goes through a humiliating walk of shame off of a flight, we are allowed to compare the situation to his career? It does not work that way and we really do not need feminist media making comments that just make feminism look judgmental and uninviting. I have said it so many times, but I believe people really do need to be reminded that feminism is not a woman’s issues only clique; we must speak out and raise awareness when we see inequality being played out against human beings, regardless of their genitalia or gender identity. I have had many people challenge me in some pretty great, intelligent debates on feminism and I have always said that when I see men being treated or being represented unfairly, I would be raising awareness about it and that is what makes a truly fabulous feminist.
Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex, a Video Review
About a month ago I received a really awesome book from Babeland. I’ve known about Babeland for years now and have also worked with them periodically on another website of mine, so I was pretty psyched to have this book show up. Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex is something that all sexual beings can truly enjoy, learn from, and also even broaden their sexual horizons with the help of. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially how inclusive it is, so regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, you will find something in this book that you can completely relate to.
I went into a bit more detail on this book in a video review. Mind you, this is the very first time I have ever done a vlog of any kind for Menstrual Poetry and I am not very comfortable in front of the camera just yet, so if you totally hate this video, please be nice because you just may make me cry.
Check out product and purchase information for Moregasm: Babeland’s Guide to Mind-Blowing Sex from Babeland.
International Women’s Health Coalition Kicks Off Young Visionaries Contest and Grant Opportunity
I have had a great deal of ideas to supplement my community’s activism when it comes to resources for women and youth and if my past ideas are any indicator of the future, I’m bound to have a lot more. Have I done much of anything to build upon any of these ideas? Well, not much, considering my income’s constraints, given the fact that I work from home and my partner is a musician and anyone within the arts community or knows anyone who is, knows damn well that people in the arts seldom collect a paycheck worth jumping for joy over. It is my estimation that while we are not at a loss for great ideas that would impact and benefit the people of our collective communities for the better, as a whole, we are at a loss of funds to make our ideas and dreams a concrete reality.
I was recently informed of a really great contest and grant opportunity headed by the International Women’s Health Coalition–Young Visionaries, aiming to help create lasting change in the world. Because they have been so inspired by the activism of young people and their unique visions for the future of sexual rights and reproductive health, they are encouraging youth to share their visions for young people and the future. From now until March 25, 2010 youth between the ages of 18 and 30 can share their visions for a just and healthy life, and get a chance to win a $1000 grant from the International Women’s Health Coalition to fund a project that works toward this vision.
You can nominate yourself by answering four questions about your vision. Five nominees will become finalists by a popular vote, afterwards the International Women’s Health Coalition staff will select five more nominees after nominations close on March 25. To select the winner, guest judges including Marisa Viana-Aitchison, Ishita Chaudry, Mimi Melles, Jessica Valenti and Geoffrey Knox, will select the Grand Prize winner, who will be announced in early April.
If you are a young person between the ages of 18 and 30 with a vision, check out the complete list of contest rules and nominate yourself.
Blog for Choice 2010: Trust Women
Happy anniversary, Roe v. Wade! On this day 37 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that it was about time to let women make their own decisions about their health and what does or does not happen with and within their own bodies. The anniversary of Roe v. Wade is a day to be celebrared. Women having the right to think for themselves and to make their own informed, logical, emotional and difficult decisions is something to be celebrated.
Today is also the fifth annual Blog for Choice Day, a day in which pro-choice bloggers dedicate a post to answering a question presented by NARAL Pro-Choice America about some facet of their activism, of their passion for keeping abortion accessible, safe, legal and rare.
This year, we continue to mourn the tragic, untimely and unnecessary death of Dr. George Tiller who was murdered in the foyer of his church on May 31, 2009 by an anti-choice extremist in an act that can only be described as domestic terrorism. Dr. Tiller often wore a button that simply read, “Trust Women;” two words that have had a tremendous impact on the people he dedicated 33 years of his life to. Dr. Tiller knew very well the dangers of his profession and became one of the most well-known abortion providers and subsequently, a target of anti-choice extremists. Before he was murdered, a bomb had been placed and exploded on the roof of his Women’s Health Care Services clinic. Outside of his clinic during summer-long protests, approximately 2,000 protesters were arrested outside of the same place women were going to for help. He was shot in both arms by an anti-choice activist while driving away from the clinic and after a six year investigation of his practice, he was acquitted of charges that claimed he had performed 19 illegal late-term abortions. After he was acquitted, several members of anti-choice groups across the country declared that they were dedicated to getting him put in prison and that they would drudge up more false claims in order to do so. Dr. Tiller trusted women and ultimately had his life stolen from him and from his family, friends, colleagues, patients, future patients and the entire pro-choice population for being dedicated to trusting women and to providing a safe and legal procedure.
Dr. LeRoy Carhart, a friend and colleague of Dr. Tiller's and an image in memory of the late abortion provider.
So on this 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, NARAL Pro-Choice America is honoring Dr. George Tiller and his 33 year career and commitment to women and asking, What does “Trust Women” mean to you?
When laws go into effect that require abortion providers to extensively counsel women in person, instead of over the phone (and it is clearly stated that it must take place in person,) force them to see the ultrasounds of their unwanted fetuses or to have these ultrasounds explained to them and then that woman is forced to wait 24 to 48 hours after being counseled to go home and mull it over before she is permitted to actually have the abortion performed, I am offended. I am offended that laws like these exist to treat women like children who can’t make up their minds or who don’t know the severity of their own situation. It is extremely condescending to put in place multiple hurdles in order to obtain a safe and legal abortion due to the fact that the people who authored these laws and the lawmakers who voted for them think women are incapable of making an informed and logical decision for themselves that they believe is right. Laws such as these shame women and bring us right back to childhood when we’ve done something wrong and were sent to our rooms to think about what we’ve done. I probably should not give these lawmakers any more ideas, but I unfortunately would not surprised if in order to obtain an abortion, women would be required to write a 500-word essay on what they learned through making and going through the most difficult decision they will probably ever make in their lives.
It is a cliche feminist slogan of sorts, but there is that saying that is printed on endless t-shirts, buttons, stickers, hoodies, you name it, that says, “Feminism is the radical notion that women are people,” and in regard to what it means to truly trust women, it is completely correct. Women are people. Women, like men, are adults and, like men, are capable. We are capable of educating ourselves or seeking the information we wish to know more about and we are capable of making logical decisions that will affect our lives and our bodies. Pregnant women are often viewed as less rational as women who are not pregnant; as hormonal and who don’t really have any idea about what they are doing or the “consequences of their actions,” which brings woman shaming down to a whole new, disgusting level. I trust all women because I know that we are strong, amazing, miraculous, kick ass beings who deserve to be taken seriously and who refuse to be seen as, talked to or treated as less-than.
If you are also participating in Blog for Choice 2010, link your post here.
Blog for Choice 2010 Open Thread
Today marks the 37th anniversary for the landmark decision that gave women the right to have access to safe and legal abortion, Roe v. Wade. Today is also the fifth annual Blog for Choice Day from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
If you’re not familiar with Blog for Choice Day, it is when each year, NARAL Pro-Choice America asks a question directed to pro-choice bloggers before the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and on January 22nd, bloggers let their voices be heard by answering that question. From the official site:
“Blog for Choice Day provides us with an opportunity to raise the profile of reproductive rights in the blogosphere, all the while celebrating Roe’s 37th anniversary. Plus, it’s a great way to let your readers and the mainstream media know that a woman’s right to choose is a core progressive value that must be protected and advanced.
This year’s topic is What does “Trust Women” mean to you? in honor and in remembrance of Dr. George Tiller. Dr Tiller was an abortion provider who often wore a button that simply read “Trust Women.” He was murdered on May 31, 2009, in the foyer of his church by an anti-choice extremist.
I am still working on my Blog for Choice Day post, but in the meantime, if you have yours up please link it in the comments.
If you would like to participate in Blog for Choice Day, sign up here and don’t forget to come back and link your post!
Bloggers Unite for Haiti
I already took to my Twitter to spread the word about Bloggers Unite for Haiti, but wanted to make sure as many people as possible know that this is going on and how they can continue to spread the word about how they and others can help the relief efforts.
I found out about this blogging event from Nina Amelia, a wonderful commenter and felt very compelled to spread the word.
Bloggers Unite for Haiti will take place on January 19th, where bloggers everywhere unite for one day to spread the word about current conditions in Haiti, how and where to donate money, supplies and volunteer and personal thoughts about the tragic earthquake that has killed countless Haitians. However, because this is not just an effort to spread awareness of a certain topic or social issue, but a day-to-day struggle for the people of Haiti, this is not a one-day blogging event and they are and will continue to compile lists of blog posts from around the blogosphere that have to do with how to provide aid and relief to Haiti.
Also, while it is tremendously important to raise awareness about relief efforts in Haiti and to donate generously to worthwhile, hard-working charities dedicated to providing much-needed aid to the region, it is also so, very important to learn more about Haiti and to educate ourselves about the region, if just to wrap our heads around as to how dire the situation there was even before the earthquake hit and how much worse the region is now.
If you have not already, sign up for Bloggers Unite for Haiti and start spreading the word about relief efforts before, on January 19th, and after.
Helping Haiti
Image Credit: CNN
In the wake of tragedy, the first thing most people ask is how they can help. The devastating and deadly, 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday and has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and many more suffering, fighting for their lives and wondering how they will be able to piece their lives and their communities back together again has encouraged people to band together in order to provide relief efforts to the people of Haiti. There are still people, days after the news broke of this tragedy, who are asking what they can do to help. The easiest thing you can do to help is to donate money to the myriad of relief funds currently collecting donations, but picking a legitimate and worthwhile charity can be mind boggling, especially when you see the list of the different organizations. So after some research, here is a tidier list of the charities you can assist that are doing some great work in and for Haiti.
- Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders have been working in Haiti for 19 years, most recently operating three emergency hospitals in Port-au-Prince. They have been successful in mobilizing a large emergency response to the disaster in Haiti and their immediate response in the first hours following the deadly earthquake was only possible because of the private unrestricted donations from around the world that have been dedicated to making the relief efforts of Doctors Without Borders possible. Doctors Without Borders will use your donations to ensure that their medical teams can react to the Haiti emergency and humanitarian crises all over the world, particularly in neglected crises that remain outside the media spotlight. Your donation to Doctors Without Borders is ensured to be earmarked from their Emergency Relief Fund.
Donate to Doctors Without Borders
- UNICEF
UNICEF believes that children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster and they are committed to being there to provide aid to those children. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is absorbing all associated administrative costs so that 100% of every dollar you donate to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will support their relief efforts for children in Haiti.
Donate to UNICEF
- Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps always distinguishes themselves as one of the first responders when an earthquake hits. They were on the ground in Peru in 2007, in China in 2008, in Indonesia in 2009 and they landed in Haiti as one of the first on the ground ready to help. As stated on their donation page, the next $250,000 in donations made to Mercy Corps for their Haiti Earthquake Fund will be matched by a generous donor.
Donate to Mercy Corps
- American Red Cross
From your mobile phone, regardless of your carrier or plan, text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross (U.S. State Department) or text YELE to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haiti, the foundation started by Wyclef Jean. These donations will be added directly to your cell phone bill and will go immediately to the first responders on the ground in Haiti and will be sorely needed.
- Oxfam
Oxfam has over three decades of experience in Haiti and they have rushed in teams from around the region to respond to their tragic earthquake where their assistance in most needed. Oxfam is providing clean water, shelter and sanitation to the people of Haiti. Your donations to Oxfam will go immediately to the most critical needs in Haiti and is ensured that every penny will be used wisely.
Donate to Oxfam
- Save the Children
Save the Children has worked in Haiti for more than 25 years with staff on the ground in the region providing vulnerable children with health, education, protection and food security programs. They are currently providing life-saving emergency relief in the form of food, water, shelter and child-friendly spaces to children and families in Haiti.
Donate to Save the Children
- MADRE
MADRE has activated an emergency response through their partner organization, Zanmi Lasante Clinic, whose doctors, nurses and community health workers have been working to bring medical assistance and supplies to the areas of Haiti that have been hit the hardest by the earthquake. They are in urgent need of bandages, broad-spectrum antibiotics and other medical supplies, as well as water tablets to prevent cholera outbreaks.
Donate to MADRE / Call for more information on donating medical supplies
For even more charities and ways to donate supplies and volunteer, check out Like a Whisper for an even more comprehensive list and if you know of any additional charities or relief funds, please leave them in the comments to spread the word.
At the Death House Door
Anyone who has been following me on Twitter for the past, oh, about 18 days or so (all 613 of you–How did I get 613 followers? Oh yeah, probably because I down and out abandoned my blog and have just been using Twitter to bitch, moan and complain. Gotchya.) knows that I have been on quite the documentary kick. I’ve made my way through crime documentaries and have also been peeping in and out of political documentaries. Now, because I usually split-screen my desktop monitor so I can work as well as watch movies because I’m a multi-tasker like that, although it’s pretty obvious I haven’t been working on this website, I usually pick films that are light and airy and frankly, something I don’t have to pay much attention to so I can still be productive. For instance, I have watched several profiles on serial killers, a plethora of the best Cold Case Files episodes and so on. You know, because serial killers always provide that light and airy material I crave in the early morning hours when I need to get shit done.
Tonight I did very much the same thing I’ve been doing over the past two weeks–settling into some work and looking for something to watch. I settled on At the Death House Door, which I have stumbled across several times before and never really felt compelled to watch, so I’d always just glanced right over it. Tonight, however, I did watch it and I thought it was going to be one of those documentaries I kinda-sorta watched while I also typed away at the computer since the synopsis merely said that two filmmakers examine the state of the death penalty in Texas from the perspective of a “death house” chaplain who had witnessed nearly 100 executions throughout his career. Light and airy right!? Well, not exactly, but still something I could kinda-sorta work through.
The chaplain of the Huntsville, Texas death house in At the Death House Door was Rev. Carroll Pickett who you see throughout this documentary as being one of the nicest, caring people you could ever possibly meet in your entire life. His words were always careful and articulately chosen and throughout most of the documentary you do not know where he stands on the whole death penalty issue because he said that if he were openly for the death penalty, no inmate would have trusted or talked to him and if he were openly against it, he would be fired by the state of Texas. When you’re covering the death penalty in a documentary, the inevitable shoe to drop that I knew was coming, was the topic of a man who had been put to death who was completely innocent and this had happened on more than one occasion in the state of Texas, but one case is greatly highlighted and the family of this man was absolutely heartbreaking as they strove to raise awareness of what had happened to their family member.
Here’s the trailer for At the Death House Door:
Anyone who is familiar with me and this website can assume my stance on the death penalty. I think it is completely hypocritical, heartbreaking and downright wrong. While I had planned on working while watching this documentary, it did not pan out that way. From about ten minutes in until the end at just over an hour and a half in length, I was glued to it. It pulled me in and then tore me apart because while I haven’t really covered it too often here, the death penalty is one of those political hot points for me where I am so adamantly against it that I get angry about it, it tears me to shreds to think that something as corrupt and utterly and consistently unjustified, like the government (federal as well as state-wide) are under the tragic misconception that they have the right and even the responsibility to choose who lives and who dies. Whenever I encounter these hot button issues, one thing that repeatedly pops into my head is that one section of Network where Howard Beale is shouting:
We know things are bad–worse than bad. They’re crazy. It’s like everything everywhere is going crazy so we don’t go out anymore. We sit in the house and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller and all we say is, ‘Please, at least just leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won’t say anything. Just leave us alone.’
Well I’m not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad. I don’t want you to protest. I don’t want you to riot. I don’t want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn’t know what to tell you to write. I don’t know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad. You’ve got to say, ‘I’m a human being, goddammit! My life has value!’ So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it and stick your head out and yell ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’
There are a lot of things that make that little segment go through my head and the injustice of the death penalty is one of them.
By the end of the documentary, Rev. Carroll Pickett actually starts advocating for the end of the death penalty in Texas, after seeing nearly 100 executions and being that last person someone has contact with before the state puts them to death. He speaks with people who are for the death penalty and tells them what the government would and still will not. That what is injected into the veins of a person to kill them was also once used to put animals to sleep–before it was outlawed because of how inhumane it was against those animals. Regardless of your stance on the death penalty, At the Death House Door is an absolutely amazing, enlightening, gut-wrenching and incredibly depressing documentary that I felt very much compelled to write about here, even though at the time when I finished watching the documentary and knew that I had to write about it, I didn’t know what to say or if I would have anything to say before sitting down to write.
Rev. Carroll Pickett, the man whose perspective this documentary is from, is also author of a book that I now must get–Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain. If it’s even half as good as this documentary was, it’s going to be amazing.
Don’t Drop the Ball–Statistics Show EC Sales More than Double After New Year’s Eve
Teva Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Plan B One Step ® emergency contraception found that sales of emergency contraception more than double in the days after New Year’s Eve. They noticed this trend through statistics from January 2009 and because of the troubling statistic, the Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign and the National Institute for Reproductive Health are raising awareness through their new website, Don’t Drop the Ball.
The site is being used to raise awareness that condoms break and that pills are forgotten about with the excitement of the holidays and New Year’s Eve parties. They have also created a hilarious video about how if you can accidentally text your Grandma on New Year’s Eve, what else can go wrong?
While condoms breaking and forgetting to take your birth control pill at the same time every day is a great thing to raise awareness about since they can both happen at any time, especially in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there is another issue that should have at least been mentioned on the website. New Year’s Eve is the biggest party night of the entire year and when we decide to go out and celebrate in an atmosphere like a bar or house party, that additional issue that could be raising the sales of emergency contraception immediately following the last day of the year is date rape.
This initiative had the chance to really raise awareness about violence against women and date rape during the holiday season; it happens a great deal in an atmosphere where people are generally having a great time and celebrating the start of a new year. This is the exact atmosphere where no one would notice someone slipping something into your drink if it is left unattended or would notice the absence of your presence if you left the party or a bar early; people are too wrapped up in celebrating and having a great time with their friends during a time like a New Year’s Eve party, which is why you really need to adopt a trust no one mindset if you’re planning on joining your friends out for the night.
The bottom line of the initiative, however, is great and something to definitely keep in mind–A lot can go wrong with your birth control plan, not just during the holiday season, but at any time so it’s always wise to keep in mind that emergency contraception is available. With its use, you can prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex for up to 72 hours after the act and unlike the anti-choice groups would like you to believe, it is not an abortion pill in any regard. You can obtain emergency contraception at your local pharmacy over the counter and without a prescription, if you’re over 17 years old. For those under 17, you will need a doctor’s prescription. It is also very important to keep in mind that emergency contraception, as well as the oral contraceptives that may be a part of your current birth control plan, do not protect against sexually transmitted infections, so if you have had high risk sex, get checked by visiting a local Planned Parenthood or clinic that tests for sexually transmitted infections.
For more information on Plan B emergency contraception click here.
If you or someone you know has been raped, please reach out to RAINN by using the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1.800.656.HOPE) or Online Hotline.
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Out Campaign
The OUT Campaign allows individuals to let others know they are not alone. It can also be a nice way of opening a conversation and help to demolish the negative stereotypes of atheists. Let the world know that we are not about to go away and that we are not going to allow those that would condemn us to push us into the shadows.
