MEN'S AND FATHER'S ACTIVISM REPORT -- 4/17/96
JPWHINSTON
General Email for NCM: <nc...@teleport.com>
MEN'S AND FATHER'S ACTIVISM REPORT -- 4/17/96
The National Center For Men
James Pierce Whinston, deputy director
*Please post this on FidoNet, others, everywhere you want & can.*
Thanks. The NCM supports TOTAL EQUALITY between men and women. And
an END to the gender war -- and its divisiveness.
"INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE." Immortal words
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the reason I champion this and every
equal rights, civil rights, and human rights movement. And for our kids
-- their right to two parents, a system that rewards cooperation, and
positive men/women role models. This is my patriotic duty.
Read the above paragraph in another way: This is National Holocaust
Remembrance Week -- a powerful testament to the tragedy of targeting and
blaming BY GROUP. NEVER AGAIN.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed herein are those of the persons who
send in the news items. They do not necessarily reflect those of the
National Center For Men, its officers, members, Jim Whinston or Mel Feit.
DAY AND DATE TV SHOW. Mel Feit will do this show on or near "Take Your
Daughter To Work Day" ( 4th Thursday of April). Please look for it.
TV Movie Sunday March 31, NBC, 9 p.m. "ABDUCTED: A FATHER'S LOVE" WAS
GREAT! From TV Guide: "Fearing that his infant daughter is being
endangered by his careless ex-wife and her boozing boyfriend, a divorce
(Chris Noth) runs off with the child and is pursued across the US by a
dogged Federal agent. A fact-based teleplay." And the TVG review:
"Here, it's the divorced dad (well played by Law & Order's CN) who steps
in to save his victimized baby." And the 2/3 page TVG ad; "The wife
got custody. The baby got abused. Dad took matters into his own
hands." So please watch. And THANK NBC for running it. Write 30
Rockefeller Plaza, NY, NY 10112, call 212-664-4444, fax 212-664- 7073.
UPDATE WITH EMPHASIS!: And as the divorced mom and dad "sailed off into
the sunset" at the end of the movie (meaning they were getting along
visitation-wise for the sake of the child), the on-screen graphic said
"JOINT CUSTODY GRANTED (on such and such date)." Really, thank NBC for
airing this movie! (Personal aside: some of us have been advocating
for some family court reform/sanity for a long time, and this success felt
sweet. But enough rhapsodizing.)
MARC WALBERG TV SHOW WILL RUN MAY 9. Nationally syndicated. NCM
Executive director Mel Feit did the show, on date rape. It was a
bruising, rough, tough, biased show. The studio audience was stacked
against him. But Mel nonetheless made point after point about PEOPLE
being sexually violated.
MAURY POVITCH. Negotiations between them and NCM for a show are still
going on, and we'll keep you posted.
TV GUIDE, March 16-22, Special Issue: "Parent's Guide To Kid's TV."
Lists the season's ten best shows for kids, The Muppet's return to prime
time, and top video and computer games for your family. They've got to
know they did the right thing by putting this on the cover!
Editor-in-chief Steven Radcliffe, PO Box 500, Radnor PA 19088-0500.
TIME MAGAZINE, 4/8/96. "In Defense Of Splitting Up," by Barbara
Ehrenreich. "The growing anti-divorce movement is blind to the costs of
bad marriages." Incredible. She ridiculingly denies the
correlation between single parent homes and all of America's social
pathology. And says we can't stigmatize divorce because that would hurt
the children. So typical of Time mag. They need to print the other
side (and now we can easily refer them to the 3/4/96 USA Today editorial
on joint custody presumption by Jim Whinston). Time & Life Bldg.,
Rockefeller Center, NY, NY 10020-1393, 212-522-1212, or customer service
800-843-TIME, email <timel...@aol.com> Thanks.
WILLIAM RASPBERRY, 4/1/96, syndicated column: "Declining Marriage Rate Is
Disastrous" (other papers may put a different title on it). Raspberry
again weighs in on the social pathology stemming from single parent and
broken homes, and concludes, "How can we start to make marriage a big deal
again?" He needs a big hand for his continuing efforts, as well as an
answer: presumption of joint custody, rewarding cooperation, enforcing
visitation. c/o The Washington Post, 1150 15th St., NW, Wash, DC
20071, 202-334-6000 main, 202-334-7462 for Wm. Raspberry, fax
202-496-3717, no email available.
NEWSWEEK, 4/8/96, Judgment Calls: "WHY MEN NEED FAMILY VALUES." "Single
parenthood hurts more than women and children. It also makes men poorer
and less happy." This is a good, pro marriage article, but take a few
unnecessary jabs at men ("predatory sex," "'family life is a considerable
civilizing force for men' -- therefore, its absence can be crippling".)
Compared to what Time puts out (two items above), Newsweek could use some
big thanks. 251 W 57th St., NY NY 10019-1894, 212-445-4000 main,
212-445-4186 comments, 212-445-4120 letters to the editor fax, email
<let...@newsweek.com>.
PBS, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT, 4/5/96, on "Women & Money," entire show.
They start out by telling us that in most households men handle the
finances. But most household purse strings are controlled by women, and
over 70% of retail space is devoted to women. But aside from that, they
are "genderizing" the issue, keeping the gender war going, and increasing
divisiveness. How about plain info on how PEOPLE should manage their
finances? c/o WPBT TV, PO Box 2, Miami, FL, 33261. 305-949-8321,
fax 305-949-9772. Email <nb...@aol.com> Thanks.
PBS MASTERPIECE THEATER, "BRAMWELL," a four parter currently running.
About a young woman doctor in Britain in 1895. Quality stuff, but with
a tint of anti-male (seems like the only compassionate and virtuous people
are women). As for the valid anti-male jabs, it's often at the medical
profession (e.g., removing a woman's ovaries as a cure for her mental
state), and that's a valid point. PBS could always use the nudge to
remove the unnecessary negative depictions of men (on-going anti-p.c.
prophylactic). Corp. For Public Broadcasting 901 E St. NW, Wash DC
20004-2037, 202-879-9600, fax 202-783-1019, email <comm...@soul.cpb.org>.
Masterpiece Theater c/o Station WGBH, 135 Western Ave, Boston, MA
02134, 617-492-2777, fax 617-787-0714, email <feed...@wgbh.org>.
WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/5/96, "Women Lose Itch for Women's Magazines."
"Some women -- like senior citizens and generation Xers -- are growing
uncomfortable with magazines that target them as a demographic niche.
"We have struggled and made a point. But enough already, let's
incorporate ... women in our society don't want to be singled out anymore
...' " Finally, many women are understanding that the veiled tactic,
"bash a man, get a woman's attention; bash a man, sell a woman a product,"
is a rank form of manipulation and patronization of women. Or they are
just tired of the devastating gender war, too.
WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/5/96, "What Multiculturalism Did To Canada," argues
that the systematic government-endorsed effort to STRESS OUR DIFFERENCES
has accomplished just that: Quebec wants to secede; and the national
identity is dramatically hurt. ("...causing balkanization .... ghetto
mentalities, the destabilization of Quebec ... reverse intolerance by
immigrants for Canadian culture and institutions, and the devaluation of
the very idea of a common nationality"). Why can we spell "diversity"
as "inclusiveness," and stress our SIMILARITIES?!
YELLOW PAGES -- US WEST DIRECT. They are starting a "MEN'S
ORGANIZATIONS category," just like they have a "Women's Organizations"
heading. Call their toll free number, 800-422-1234, and keep the
pressure up and/or thank them. (They still have not actually listed
our number, 503-727-3686). They serve these states: Ariz., Col., ID,
Iowa, Mont., Minn., OR, Neb, NM, ND, SD, WA, WY. If you live elsewhere,
call YOUR yellow pages company and TELL THEM that US WEST has overcome
their sexism, and your company should do the same, pronto, no excuses.
TIME MAGAZINE, 4/1/96. PROSTATE CANCER, cover story. Great article,
and it's about time. "Men don't like to talk about it, but 1 in 5 will
get it." "Prostate cancer is reaching epidemic levels in the US." "
The incidence of a malignancy that strikes at the very core of masculinity
is growing at the rate of 305 a year." Please THANK them. Email
<timeletter@ aol.com>, write Time & Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, NY,
NY, 10020-1393, call 212-522-1212. UPDATE: Some are saying that the
1 in 5 number is a "theoretical" number and is just as bogus as the 1 in
9 number re breast cancer (Wall St. Journal). In that case count us in
on demanding accurate numbers, not "advocacy research" or "alarmism
research." But the good news is that the subject of gender
specific/based cancer (breast and prostate) is starting to go BOTH ways.
"Never say die," literally and metaphorically!
WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/28/96. Op-ed, "The Finishing School Of The
'90s." And they are referring to Women's Studies Departments at
colleges! "Most are anti-religious, anti-establishment, anti-male.
Most call for a radical reconstruction of society. And most are
intellectually superficial and slovenly." "...have spent four years
doing little else than blathering about gender...they don't have to 'know'
anything to complete the program." " 'There seems to be a party line on
feminist issues that we had better not waver from.' " "Women's
studies, in current form, pose a growing threat not only to the
time-tested ideals of intellectual rigor and freedom of inquiry, but also
to the grandiose goals of the feminist movement itself. ... feminist
educators ... are transforming young women into a cackling brood with
little exposure to the knowledge and skills necessary to assume leadership
in the economic and political arenas."
WALL ST. JOURNAL, 3/27/96, page B2. "US Will Defend Law On Violence
Against Women. Yes, The Violence Against Women Act is being tested.
It should have been "The Violence Against Spouses Act," or "The Domestic
Violence Reduction Act." The constitutionality is being challenged
because the feds have no role: "sexual abuse is not covered by the
Constitution's commerce clause or 14th Amendment." "Congress exceeded
its authority in passing the legislation." " A ' crime of violence
motivated by gender' is simply not an economic activity that is likely to
have a substantial effect on interstate commerce,' ... 'And the Supreme
Court has not said the 14th Amendment can be used for 'purely private
conduct.' "
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 3/25/96, cover story on teen violence, and 4/1/96
cover story on "Dumb and Dumber" schools. The common thread that they
totally missed: the ONLY correlation with violence and poor educational
achievement is divorce, single parent and fatherless homes. And the
answer is shared parenting, rewarding cooperation and enforcing
visitation. Kids need BOTH parents. Tell these uneducated rufuses
they blew it. Email <71154...@compuserve.com>, write 2400 N Street,
Wash, DC 20037-1196, call 202-955-2000.
WALL ST. JOURNAL, 3/26/96, column five factoid. A Gallup poll released
on same date: "Even most women in most of the countries said they prefer
working for men. In US, 37% of men and 54% of women chose male
bosses." UPDATE: When I lecture on campuses, I tell the classes
that to be treated and respected as an equal, one MUST ACT LIKE AN EQUAL,
AND ACT IN A WAY THAT BRINGS RESPECT, and that playing the victim role --
the M.O. of the victim feminists -- is the exact opposite and antithesis
of that.
WALL ST. JOURNAL, 3/18/96, "Why Johnny Can't Empathize: No Girls in His
Class?" Interesting article in which feminist women admit to the
double standard of having single sex schools for girls, but insisting
their sons go to coed schools.
PLAYBOY MAGAZINE for March, 1996 has a good MEN Column by Asa Baber on
domestic violence. It goes both ways and is a human problem. Thank
him. Email: <pla...@class.com>.
USA TODAY -- we made the forum page! Monday 3/4. Yes! Point vs.
Counterpoint on Joint Custody, rewarding cooperation, and enforcing
visitation. No welfare if the non-custodial can take care of or day
care his/her own kids! Locate it after 3/4/96 by searching their forum
archives. And please THANK them for running both (our) sides. Call
main switchboard at 800-872-3410. Ext. 3629 is letters to editor and
op-ed page. Ext. 5395 is editorial page. Write 1000 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, VA 22229. Email <usat...@clark.net>. UPDATE UPDATE
UPDATE: Please keep contacting them -- We must let them know that they
did the right thing. Thanks.
EMILY'S LIST -- which raises money for women candidates. They
announced on 3/15 a $10 million campaign to get out the female vote
through 2000. The democratic party will be matching some funding.
Call your local or state Democratic party and tell them to STOP IGNORING
men, fathers and family -- before there is NOTHING LEFT of the Democratic
party. We are in this TOGETHER -- support humanitarianism and
boot-strappism for the little guys, not a gender war!
ONGOING
Avoid the movie "DIABOLIQUE," starring Sharon Stone, Isabelle Adjani,
Kathy Bates, if the description, "male-bashing," by Roger Ebert means
anything. Please let me know your reaction to this movie if you've
already seen it. Thanks.
THE AAUW IS WAGING GENDER WAR. They are running ads about shortchanging
girls in our education system. Call 800-326-AAUW and tell the American
Association of University Women to stop their gender war and stop the
playing of the victim role. So divisive and counterproductive.
NAT'L DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE IS 1-800-777-1960. CALL them.
"Every 9 seconds a women is beaten and somebody looks the other way," is
typical of their sexist message. When the recorded message asks for
your name and number, tell them that a gender war, and framing every issue
as men versus women, will only make all of these problems worse. Be
gender-neutral, and approach this as a human problem. FURTHER UPDATE:
No new news re possible threats made on this hotline, or the White House
investigation. Please still call, but tread gingerly and politely.
Thanks.
RENT THE MOVIE "BYE BYE LOVE." A Rob Reiner movie about three divorced
dads with kids and visitation. Many positive recommendations, much
laughter evoked. (And please let me know of your reactions. Thanks.)
Please send to me physical copies of stories of serious DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AGAINST MEN. We need the paper, mag, etc. date. We'll compile for
our bulletins. NCM Western, PO Box 6481, Portland, OR 97228-6481.
National Center For Men ACTIVISM LINE IS 503-727-3686. National and
local activism alerts, new info at top, dated, for efficiency of time and
money. Please call!
NCM members please send me your email addresses so I can bulk send you
this report as soon as it is posted. Thanks.
Are you being forced into fatherhood? The NCM Reproductive Rights
Project may be able to help you. Contact <cha...@nas.com>, or
address/phone at end. (Please help us spread the word on this on other
areas and niches of the Internet Thank-you very much.) (And look for
our Reproductive Rights AFFIDAVIT to be making the news soon.)
CALIFIORNIA ACTIVISM:
Don L. is filing suit in pro per in the US District Court on grounds that
the Univ. of Cal-San Diego discriminated against him by terminating him as
a kindergarten teacher (in spite of growing research showing the benefits
of male elementary school teachers). He has fought this battle
single-handedly for years and could probably use some help. Let's give
him some oomph. All he wants is fairness and equality. You can
write him at 140 Encinitas Blvd., #111, Encinitas, CA 92024-3657.
OREGON ACTIVISM:
SCHOOL BOARD PROTEST, 4/18/96. They won't let the NON-custodial parent
come in and observe the classroom , or attend lunch with the daughter
(they eat in their classroom with the teacher). Of course, they let a
custodial do those things. We will be very polite and constructive.
7 p.m., Ardenwald Elementary School, 8950 SE 36th, Milwaukie, OR.
Lynnette, a second wife, would really appreciate your support. THANKS.
The School District Superintendent is at 503-653-3601 (the child is in the
Lewelling Elem. School), and the state superintendent of public
instruction is at 503-378-3573 ext. 526.
SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT DIVISION MEETING, Friday, 4/19/96, in Salem.
Carpool from Portland. Chance to meet directly with the top people and
provide meaningful input. They had a fit when I recently told them
that a local DA office is still making it difficult for people to get
change-in-income forms. This meeting makes a difference. Call
503-727-3686 for address, details.
ABUSED MEN -- BE ON CABLE TV! TAPING ON 3/26, Friday, 3 to 7 p.m.,
Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW 6th and Morrison, Portland. You can have
your face blocked out, if you wish. Please come and speak up -- we
have to have powerful documentation to convince the powers that be that
this issue is a human problem, and that we need to stop the gender war.
Thanks.
FORUM AND DEBATE, US REP, 5th DISTRICT, 4/29/96, including CLARK SEELEY,
DAVID MILLER AND JIM BUNN. The National Center For Men is sponsoring
this debate, and the theme will be "Strengthening The Family,". Clark
Seeley is for reform of welfare (first, find the non-custodial parent),
visitation enforcement, child-support, and non-custodial parent's rights
issues. David Miller is a moderate Republican candidate concerned
about the economy and family values. Jim Bunn is the Republican
incumbent. We will be scrupulously balanced and fair. Occurs on
Monday, April 29, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Lloyd Center (NE 9th and Halsey),
3rd Floor, Room 2032. PLEASE COME!
MEETING PLACED CHANGED AGAIN ! WE MEET EVERY MONDAY 7-9 PM. Support
and activism. We now meet at the LLOYD CENTER (NE 9th and Halsey,
Portland), 3RD FLOOR, ROOM 2032. Be there!
OREGONIAN, 4/6/96, DAVE REINHARD column: "DON'T 'Take Our Daughters To
Work Day' " He's not taking his daughter to it (on 4/25) unless it
becomes 'Take our KIDS to Work Day,' because otherwise we are educating
everyone that sexism is OKAY. Gutsy. email for
letters<let...@news.oregonian.com>, for editors <oreed...@aol.com>.
TV CH 12, 4/10/96, "10 O'CLOCK NEWS". SEXIST SPOT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
All the perpetrators were men, victims women, etc. KPTV, 211 SE
Caruthers, Portland, OR 97214, 503-222-9921, fax 503-230-1065, email
<kptv...@kptv.com>.
"EQUALITY ON THE EQUINOX" sm RALLY was on Sat, March 23, 1-3 p.m. at the
Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, OR, WENT FANTASTIC! I50 PEOPLE
ATTENDED AT THE MAX. With a roster of almost twenty speakers,
including a legislative aid, attorney on the Bar Associations Committee On
Equality, and Clark Seeley, candidate for US Congress. The Oregonian
even gave us a pre-event headline and two and a half column inches to
announce it! The next rally will be September 21, 1996. And we'll
have a live band. Please contact me for how-to-kits ($6).
KPSU RADIO 1450 AM, EACH THURSDAY, 6-7 p.m. live (father's and family
issues, more, fun). PLEASE CALL IN FROM ANYWHERE! (503-725-5945),
especially at 6:15 p.m., Pacific time. You know the rough topic! (and I
subtly review for long distance calls). On 4/18 is Mark Brunelle,
candidate (and Republican primary winner) for US House of Representatives
(Ron Wyden's old seat); on 4/25 is Libertarian Gene Nanni, former
candidate for US Senate; on 5/2 is a debate and forum with Democratic
candidates for US Rep from the 5th district (including Sharon Scott); on
5/9 is a debate and forum with Republican candidates for US Rep from the
5th district (including Clark Seeley and David Miller); on 5/16 is Ginny
Van Loo, legislative aid to State Rep Larry Sowa and former candidate for
state rep; on 5/23 is David Winter of VOCAL, Victims of Child Abuse LAWS;
on 5/30 is Claudia Rumwell and other women/wives on the Promise Keepers
organization; on 6/6 is Glenn Dettwiler on going to medical school and
starting up a clinic for men's medical concerns; on 6/13 is Shawn Graham,
M.A., mental health therapist, on depression, suicidal tendencies and
psychotic breaks in non-custodial parents denied their children; on 6/20
is Stu Holbrook of the Panurge Emporium Bookstore on family activities and
The Summer Solstice; on 6/27 is David Slader, attorney, on child abuse and
false accusations that arise during divorce; on 7/4 is the 4th of July and
Jim Ward, a veteran who saw combat in Vietnam, Granada and the Persian
Gulf, on the cost of freedom and the meaning of the US Constitution; on
7/11 will be the Washington County WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
director on services and education they have for men, especially fathers
with children.
FILE A GRIEVANCE WITH THE SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT DIVISION. Are they
treating you like dirt? Did they fail to affirmatively tell you to file
a modification of child support if your income fell, and fail to give you
a packet?. For complaints, call 800-850-0228 (in Oregon only,
probably), option 2 (for payers), option 7 (for grievance form). Fun
time!
MENTOR MAGAZINE. Please support this magazine... This is a very good,
balanced effort, published in Oregon. "A quarterly journal about men
and their journey of discovery." It's gentle, warm and fuzzy, and
touchy-feely, and will have both very feminist and masculist views in an
attempt to be fair. Call 503-282-2108 for a complimentary copy in the
Portland area. Outside Portland, send $5 for a sample issue: PO Box
11381, Portland, OR 97211.
The Family Violence Intervention Steering Committee meets the 2nd Friday
of each month, at 12:15, at the Portland Building (1021 SW 5), Second
floor. They define men as batters and women as victims. This prejudice
then RESULTS in fathers and non-custodials having impacted rights.
Mailing list (which itself pressures them): 503-248-3691 ext. 7806. And
tell them to stop the sexism and bigotry, as they are only making violence
worse -- the very violence that they claim to be (finding jobs) stopping.
Multnomah county commissioners meet each Thursday, 9:30 a.m., room 602,
Mult Co. courthouse. Open mike, 3 min. Great opportunity to speak out
against Family Services Division's unethical behavior (they belong to the
bigoted Family Violence Intervention Steering Committee -- how can they be
fair?). Runs on MCTV cable TV that evening, to boot.
CABLE TV Show live 1st and 3rd Thursday of month, 8 p.m., at Portland
Cable Access. Repeats following Monday, Channel 11, 5:30 p.m. UPDATE:
we are on hiatus, but will be back soon. But look for frequent cable
shows, just not live or on a set schedule. Thanks.
PAPER needed for printing; also reliable economical photocopier.
BE POSITIVE! CHANGE PUBLIC OPINION! WORK TOGETHER!
PLEASE SEND TO JIM ACTIVISM OPPORTUNITIES and brief information, from all
over the country, and Jim will put it up on this report!! Please include
details on phone, fax, Internet and address. Thank-you very much!!
NATIONAL CENTER FOR MEN, National headquarters: 516-942-2020, P.0. Box
555, Old Bethpage, NY 11804. James Pierce Whinston: 503-727-3686, P.O.
Box 6481, Portland OR 97228-6481. Activism/message /event line:
503-727-3686.
PS THE NCM NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT, contributions of time, energy, money, and
membership. We cannot do this without your support. Our children
are going AWOL without two parents. Our marriages are failing because
all issues have been framed as men versus women for 30 years, which is
extremely divisive. A gender war hurts our children, and provides
devastating role models. We must vigorously educate to protect our
children and our children's right to two parents and a system that rewards
cooperation, and our children's right to healthy role models. Everyone
is getting hurt. PLEASE JOIN. Membership in the NCM is $60, $40,
and $30 low income. Suggested donation for reading this report is $1
per report, $24 per year. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY THAT IS AT STAKE. We
give so much. Please help. THANK-YOU VERY MUCH.