Monday, September 26, 2016

John Lewis: In Civil Rights Movement - Discrimination Against Women

Hierarchies exist everywhere. In places where people are trying to end one particular hierarchy, other hierarchies rise up. It is time to use the common language of hierarchies to address them all. 

John Lewis, a 14-term congressman and civil rights leader himself, said the civil rights movement of the ‘60s was “dominated” by men, most of whom were ministers.

Lewis continued:
There were some women like Ella Baker, Diane Nash, a student in Nashville, one of leaders, the leader of the Little Rock Nine effort ― and others, you had Gloria Richardson. But I truly think and believe women were discriminated against. They did all of the work, they did the heavy lifting. They were kept back.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-lewis-women-did-all-the-heavy-lifting-during-civil-rights-movement_us_57e41c3ae4b08d73b8301795

Sunday, September 25, 2016

NPS - Sexual Harrassment is Everywhere

According to a congressional committee report this week, sexual harassment and bullying among National Park Service employees at some of the nation's most iconic parks—including Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon—is pervasive and has continued unabated for years.

At Yosemite alone, at least 18 employees described working conditions as “toxic,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. 

As women become more and more in positions of power and their remarks less likely to be shouted down, they are able to demand that sexual harassment issues be addressed and challenged.  

Park Service executives vowed last spring to end harassment, declaring a “zero tolerance” position on sexual harassment. But congressional committee members accused Park Service management of failing to take harassment seriously.  

 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/national-park-service-sexual-harassment-scandal/?google_editors_picks=true

Arnold Palmer – Speaking Against Casey Martin

Arnold Palmer died today. Many think of him as a great golfer. That he was.

But we remember him for sending a video, along with Jack Nicklaus, in opposition to the federal case that Casey Martin filed against the PGA for the use of a golf cart because of his disability.

We were in the courtroom to watch that case, as it is a wonderful depiction of a hierarchy – the five PGA white male lawyers in expensive almost identical suits believing themselves to be on top of the golf hierarchy, and Martin trying to just participate in the sport.

That is a legacy we hope eventually Palmer came to understand was wrong.

http://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/17639539/arnold-palmer-dies-87

Trump - Top of the Hierarchy Again

People on top of the hierarchy expect that they will not be held accountable for their actions. People such as Donald Trump. They believe the universe revolves around them.

According to the New York Times, Trump, again, has used his top-of-the-hierarchy lack of accountability to do it for another week.

"Virtually all of Mr. Trump’s falsehoods directly bolstered a powerful and self-aggrandizing narrative depicting him as a heroic savior for a nation menaced from every direction. Mike Murphy, a Republican strategist, described the practice as creating 'an unreality bubble that he surrounds himself with.'"

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/24/us/elections/donald-trump-statements.html?_r=0

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Tamika Catchings ends Illustriuos Career; Team Knelt during National Anthem

Tamika Catchings was proud of the stand her WNBA Indiana Fever teammates took before the final game of her illustrious career when the entire squad knelt during the national anthem, locking arms and lowering heads in a show of unity. They join players in other sports who are protesting social injustice, racial oppression and police brutality in the United States. This was the first time an entire professional team took a knee.

Fever coach Stephanie White said, "We don't create change by seeing it on the news and waiting until next time. People who have the platforms have the ability to affect change, and I'm proud of our group for using the platform in a respectful manner."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2016/09/22/catchings-career-ends-and-fever-kneel-in-anthem-protest/90824894/

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Pat Summitt - Honored by UT Band

Pat Summit, the great basketball coach at the University of Tennessee, was honored by the UT band during their half-time show. So wonderful to see that women's sports have come so far from the pre-Title Nine days, and no one contributed more to those efforts than Pat.

http://www.espn.com/espnw/video/17570878/tennessee-band-pays-tribute-pat-summitt