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Protecting the Women and Children
Author: BobR    Date: 2014-05-07 10:36:35

We consider ourselves to be a moral nation. We try to protect our children from ideas and images and actions that we feel would be harmful to them. We have laws and institutions (like DFACS) to protect them from their own family members, if necessary.

If a mother is a drug addict with nefarious characters coming and going, or a prostitute that brings johns home, or a criminal or abusive father, or perhaps a lone parent bouncing in and out of mental institutions - the children are often taken from the parents and placed in foster homes, sometimes by force. Are the foster homes better? Sometimes they are - but often a child has a special connection with a birth parent that cannot be broken by destructive behavior.

It is a controversial practice, taking a child from its parents. Who are we to decide what is best for the child? Who are we to decide what is a good home and what is a bad home? What if the parents are nudists, and walk around naked in front of their children? Some might say that is unhealthy for the child. What if the parents are Satan worshipers? Christians might say the child is in mortal (and spiritual) danger. Who decides what is moral? Whose measuring stick do we use?

It's an interesting question when you look at what is happening in Nigeria. It seems abhorrent to us, but the rationale given seems to indicate that they believe they are doing what is best for the girls:
"I abducted a girl at a Western education school and you are disturbed. I said Western education should end. Western education should end. Girls, you should go and get married," he said.

"I will marry off a woman at the age of 12. I will marry off a girl at the age of nine," said the shadowy militant leader, speaking in the local Hausa language and Arabic, as well as English.

In their minds, providing the girls with western educations is detrimental to their spiritual well-being, based on their particular moral code. Of course - this isn't a government agency doing this... It's a militia group imposing it's religious viewpoint on others.

Fortunately for us, that kind of thing doesn't happen here, right? We don't force Judeo-Christian beliefs on people, do we? We don't consider girls to be less than boys, or women less than men based on some archaic religious notion, right?

If you Google "DFACS horror stories", you can spend a lot of time reading about how children were taken from their parents on the flimsiest of reasons, and put into homes where "good Christians" force these kids to live by their religious values (I know people who have had this happen to them). Who do they think they are to do that? Where do they get the notion that they have the right? If you listen to the right-wing noise machine, they sometimes sound like a Christian Taliban. Whether they are saying that critics of religion in government are like Hitler, or women deserve to be raped for wearing "sexy" clothes, or whether having the woman of the house be the main breadwinner disrespects the "innate" biology of men, the message is clear and relentless: women should be subservient to men as God intended.

It's not that far off from the justification used by the religious extremists in Nigeria. When a group of people decide that their morality is God-given and must be law, or try to force others to live by it, then we are regressing into a pre-colonial mindset where the Vatican was the law of the land, and witches were burned at the stake. We as a nation MUST do better. When our words and actions begin to mirror those of people we condemn as terrorists, then we have lost all ability to look at ourselves objectively.

And down the drain so too goes our moral standing as a nation.
 

30 comments (Latest Comment: 05/07/2014 20:11:24 by Raine)
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Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 12:38:19
good morning!

Thank you for writing this, Bob. What you wrote reminded me of a story I read a while back, (it was adapted into a movie this year, and I still have to see it). It's horrific.
Philomena was one of thousands of Irish women sent to convents in the 1950s and 60s, taken away from their homes and families because the Catholic church said single mothers were moral degenerates who could not be allowed to keep their children.

Such was the power of the church, and of Archbishop John Charles McQuaid, that the state bowed before its demands, ceding responsibility for the mothers and babies to the nuns. For them it was not only a matter of sin and morality, but one of pounds, shillings and pence. At the time young Anthony Lee was born, I discovered that the Irish government was paying the Catholic church a pound a week for every woman in its care, and two shillings and sixpence for every baby. And that was not all.

After giving birth, the girls were allowed to leave the convent only if they or their family could pay the nuns £100. It was a substantial sum, and those who couldn't afford it – the vast majority – were kept in the convent for three years, working in kitchens, greenhouses and laundries or making rosary beads and religious artefacts, while the church kept the profits from their labour.

Even crueller than the work was the fact that mothers had to care for their children, developing maternal ties and affection that were to be torn asunder at the end of their three-year sentence. Like all the other girls, Philomena Lee was made to sign a renunciation document agreeing to give up her three-year-old son and swearing on oath: "I relinquish full claim for ever to my child and surrender him to Sister Barbara, Superioress of Sean Ross Abbey. The purpose is to enable Sister Barbara to make my child available for adoption to any person she considers fit and proper, inside or outside the state. I further undertake never to attempt to see, interfere with or make any claim to the said child at any future time."


Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 13:07:33
Looks like good news for what is now being called *Establishment* Repubs. The TeaBaggers were rebuked in three states yesterday.

Comment by wickedpam on 05/07/2014 13:11:28
Morning

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 13:25:21
I can't help it, but with the Monica lewinsky essay, I cannot get this out of my head.
http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/john_goodman.jpg


Comment by wickedpam on 05/07/2014 13:39:06
the message is clear and relentless: women should be subservient to men as God intended.


Thing is, these religious types always forget that in the story of Adam and Eve, God took a rib (from his side) from Adam to create Eve. Not his foot, not his knee, not his leg or hip or anything lower then the rib cage. While God's intent is usually pretty illusive to me, it still seems that that is a giant banner pointing to men and women being equal.

Comment by TriSec on 05/07/2014 14:14:17
But. Bob, those are Mooslins in Nigeria. Ain't the same as us...

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 14:14:56
Comment by TriSec on 05/07/2014 14:25:15
But seriously...eep. We have no idea how Javi became 'available' to adopt. He does have a back story...but it's what the nuns told us.

The bottom line should be protection of the child, butlike Bob said, protection according to what standard? What works for me may be a totally alien concept to another culture.


Comment by BobR on 05/07/2014 14:30:08
Quote by TriSec:
But seriously...eep. We have no idea how Javi became 'available' to adopt. He does have a back story...but it's what the nuns told us.

The bottom line should be protection of the child, butlike Bob said, protection according to what standard? What works for me may be a totally alien concept to another culture.

Yeah - sorry I didn't provide a neat and tidy solution. To me, it almost always seems wrong to take a child from it's parent(s), unless the child or the parent(s) say "let's do this".

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 14:52:55
My grandmother was a foster mom to many many children. She ended up adopting two of the boys after my mother was born. One of my uncles, (now deceased) was being fostered by my Oma along with his brother .

A family decided to adopt the brother, and not my uncle. They were 8 and 10 at the time. My uncle never saw his brother again.

The adoption agency was Catholic Charities.

Comment by TriSec on 05/07/2014 15:02:06
Catholic Charities is all about the money. I recall them being many thousands more than a commercial agency when we did it. This Commonwealth has since put them out of business, since they can't legally bar adoptions by same- sex couples, they stopped entirely. Quite frankly, nobody even noticed.

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 15:09:56
Quote by TriSec:
Catholic Charities is all about the money. I recall them being many thousands more than a commercial agency when we did it. This Commonwealth has since put them out of business, since they can't legally bar adoptions by same- sex couples, they stopped entirely. Quite frankly, nobody even noticed.
This all happened in the 60's, btw. I was too young to understand, and I believe that my Oma was not aware of what was happening. She just wanted to care for children. After my mother was born, she lost a baby as the story goes, 7-8 months into term. I think that changed her.



Comment by Will in Chicago on 05/07/2014 15:34:21
Good morning, bloggers!!

BobR, I have good reason to fear any imposition of religious beliefs as laws, as I know what has happened to non-believers of the dominant faith. I fear that the dominionists in our midst view the Handmaid's Tale as instructional book.

On a more personal note, I am closing in on a part-time job that should help me over the next few months to get a car. (Obviously, when I get a full-time offer, I will be moving on to other things.)

Comment by Will in Chicago on 05/07/2014 15:38:38
I have some bad news about WCPT. It is losing two of its stations. I should be able to pick up 820 AM during the day, but Newsweb does not reassure me by converting two of its station to Polish music during the day. Here is the story from media reporter Rob Federer. Take a look at some of the comments.

Newsweb Radio streamlines WCPT talk simulcast
May 5, 2014 at 8:00 pm by Robert Feder

Newsweb Radio plans to drop its progressive talk simulcast from two of its FM signals while continuing the format on WCPT AM 820 and WCPY FM 92.5.

Starting June 2, WCPT FM 92.7 and WCPQ FM 99.9 will switch to Polski.FM, a time-brokered format of Polish-language news, talk and music, airing from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Charley Gross, president of Newsweb Radio, said the move will allow the company to focus progressive talk on its 820 AM flagship, 92.5 FM (which covers mainly the western suburbs and northwest Illinois) and its webstream.

“The 92.5 FM coverage complements the nighttime 820 AM signal as it fills in areas where the nighttime 820 AM is not as strong,” Gross told staffers in an email Monday. “We intend to change the 92.5 FM call letters to WCPT FM so we will continue to go by WCPT AM and FM. ChicagosProgressiveTalk.com continues to grow in Chicago and across the country making this a logical step forward for us.”


Comment by Mondobubba on 05/07/2014 15:46:23
Quote by Raine:
Looks like good news for what is now being called *Establishment* Repubs. The TeaBaggers were rebuked in three states yesterday.


They are still right-wing douche-tards

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 15:47:38
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Looks like good news for what is now being called *Establishment* Repubs. The TeaBaggers were rebuked in three states yesterday.


They are still right-wing douche-tards

Thus my use of **

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 16:31:29
Hey Look!!

April showers bring May showers!

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 17:14:11
LEst we all think that asshholes are only in red states and red areas of the state… I present to you Dutchess county NY's Comptroller, who clear puts the TROLL in comptroller.

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 17:20:20
I love these. =))

I present to you the (other) Carter family portraits….
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr06/7/1/grid-cell-24129-1399442169-0.jpg


Comment by wickedpam on 05/07/2014 17:26:08
Quote by Raine:
I love these. =))

I present to you the (other) Carter family portraits….
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr06/7/1/grid-cell-24129-1399442169-0.jpg




so am I the only one on the planet that really can't stand Beyonce?

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 17:30:36
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
I love these. =))

I present to you the (other) Carter family portraits….
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr06/7/1/grid-cell-24129-1399442169-0.jpg




so am I the only one on the planet that really can't stand Beyonce?
Funny you should ask…

I don't hate her. I like what she stands for, to be honest. A few of her songs are fun and catchy , but I would;t put myself in fandom for her.

Comment by wickedpam on 05/07/2014 17:41:45
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
I love these. =))

I present to you the (other) Carter family portraits….
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr06/7/1/grid-cell-24129-1399442169-0.jpg




so am I the only one on the planet that really can't stand Beyonce?
Funny you should ask…

I don't hate her. I like what she stands for, to be honest. A few of her songs are fun and catchy , but I would;t put myself in fandom for her.




I don't hate her either but I find her antics tiresome. Don't think I've like anything she's done since she backstabbed her former group. And she can't act. Just beyond over her and her hubby.

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 17:59:53
Quote by wickedpam:
I don't hate her either but I find her antics tiresome. Don't think I've like anything she's done since she backstabbed her former group. And she can't act. Just beyond over her and her hubby.
I really think that the link I gave is perfect for you. (I sully cannot stand the culture articles on TP. This writer is new I believe.)

Comment by Mondobubba on 05/07/2014 18:17:21
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
I love these. =))

I present to you the (other) Carter family portraits….
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr06/7/1/grid-cell-24129-1399442169-0.jpg




so am I the only one on the planet that really can't stand Beyonce?



Not a fan, Mala.

Comment by wickedpam on 05/07/2014 18:24:16
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
I don't hate her either but I find her antics tiresome. Don't think I've like anything she's done since she backstabbed her former group. And she can't act. Just beyond over her and her hubby.
I really think that the link I gave is perfect for you. (I sully cannot stand the culture articles on TP. This writer is new I believe.)



oh yeah, I total get the article - Godfather - meh, Springsteen - meh, Amy Poelher - meh. Meryl and Jennifer Lawerence - I adore. The rest I have no clue who they are.

I'll just sit over in the corner with my Supernatural fandom and adoration of Misha Collins

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 19:14:38
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
I don't hate her either but I find her antics tiresome. Don't think I've like anything she's done since she backstabbed her former group. And she can't act. Just beyond over her and her hubby.
I really think that the link I gave is perfect for you. (I sully cannot stand the culture articles on TP. This writer is new I believe.)


oh yeah, I total get the article - Godfather - meh, Springsteen - meh, Amy Poelher - meh. Meryl and Jennifer Lawerence - I adore. The rest I have no clue who they are.

I'll just sit over in the corner with my Supernatural fandom and adoration of Misha Collins


No one puts Mala in a corner, except….

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mala.


Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 19:27:22
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
I don't hate her either but I find her antics tiresome. Don't think I've like anything she's done since she backstabbed her former group. And she can't act. Just beyond over her and her hubby.
I really think that the link I gave is perfect for you. (I sully cannot stand the culture articles on TP. This writer is new I believe.)



oh yeah, I total get the article - Godfather - meh, Springsteen - meh, Amy Poelher - meh. Meryl and Jennifer Lawerence - I adore. The rest I have no clue who they are.

I'll just sit over in the corner with my Supernatural fandom and adoration of Misha Collins
I looked him up… *Board President of Random Acts*

Nice!

Comment by wickedpam on 05/07/2014 19:29:40
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
I don't hate her either but I find her antics tiresome. Don't think I've like anything she's done since she backstabbed her former group. And she can't act. Just beyond over her and her hubby.
I really think that the link I gave is perfect for you. (I sully cannot stand the culture articles on TP. This writer is new I believe.)


oh yeah, I total get the article - Godfather - meh, Springsteen - meh, Amy Poelher - meh. Meryl and Jennifer Lawerence - I adore. The rest I have no clue who they are.

I'll just sit over in the corner with my Supernatural fandom and adoration of Misha Collins


No one puts Mala in a corner, except….

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Mala.



True - just me an m'boys

http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/Sam-Dean-and-Cas-in-Season-9-of-Supernatural.jpg


Comment by wickedpam on 05/07/2014 19:30:22
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
I don't hate her either but I find her antics tiresome. Don't think I've like anything she's done since she backstabbed her former group. And she can't act. Just beyond over her and her hubby.
I really think that the link I gave is perfect for you. (I sully cannot stand the culture articles on TP. This writer is new I believe.)



oh yeah, I total get the article - Godfather - meh, Springsteen - meh, Amy Poelher - meh. Meryl and Jennifer Lawerence - I adore. The rest I have no clue who they are.

I'll just sit over in the corner with my Supernatural fandom and adoration of Misha Collins
I looked him up… *Board President of Random Acts*

Nice!



and weird and funny and odd - yeah I'm a total fangirl

Comment by Raine on 05/07/2014 20:11:24
Quote by Raine:
LEst we all think that asshholes are only in red states and red areas of the state… I present to you Dutchess county NY's Comptroller, who clear puts the TROLL in comptroller.

Remember all those times I said that local politics is important?

It's also important to watch what the local media does, says and ignores.

Like I said, I have strong ties to this area. I am a very big supporter of Terry Gipson HE's a solid Dem.

I wish I knew more people here in Virginia the way I know people in NY.

And as I said, NY is not immune from racist politicians.