The Backlash! - March 1996

Tell me why

Editor: Single, never married.

Editor: Many people ask, and most assume it began with my ordeal involving sexual harassment at Microsoft, but my motivation for beginning work on my first book, What Every Man Should Know About Feminist Issues, on January 1, 1989, arose out of my indignation over the growing extremism of the feminist fanatics.

You can find more about that, and about how all of this became very personal for me, at rod.html.

Toronto Globe and Mail

Editor: Not yet.

Ditto for alt. newsgroups that might interest readers.

In your list of links for newspapers, consider adding The Globe and Mail, Canada's equivalent to the WJS and NY Times in one. Male-female issues are often discussed in that paper. It would be a recommended resource for your Canadian readers.

Editor: Indeed, it was in the pages of The Globe and Mail that Canadian readers were first introduced to The Backlash! I will, as time permits, look for The Globe and Mail url, but I am terribly pressed for time these days.

Justifying women's studies?

Editor: The following was forwarded to me. Talk about "things that make you go, hmmm."

Any ideas, solutions, rebuttals, ways to keep calm in the face of all this...any ideas that are beneficial are welcome. Thanks! Danville, Kentucky

The Boston Globe

He needs our help. It's the perfect opportunity to point out the consequences of fatherlessness, the folly of feminist philosophy, the need to help our sons, and other issues.

Please write a SHORT (200 words or less!) "letter-to-the editor" to the Globe within the next 48 hours. Succinct messages stand the best chance of being printed. Email them to Letters to the Editor (Please cite your name, address, and day-time phone).

I implore you, however, to send TWO posts. ONE should go directly to the Globe at the above email address (Subject line: LETTERS). Don't "cc" anyone. We don't want to seem like a confederacy. We want to be individuals spontaneously, simultaneously supporting a columnist.

The SECOND (Subject line: COPY GLOBE LETTER) should go to me. I will then collect the "letters" and put them on The Men's Internetwork webpage. Everyone will be able to read the letters there (to copy them for future reference; get new ideas; make new friends; etc).

Doing this has several benefits.

1. We'll have ammo if the Globe prints only anti-Jacoby responses. We'll know how many of us actually wrote in.

2. I'll make sure Jeff gets the accumulated email so he knows he's supported (of course, any and all Massachusetts men's groups can do the same, after downloading the letters).

3. It will show the Globe that men and women are now united against feminist excesses.

4. It will show US that WE can work together AND be more effective.

But PLEASE, send one letter to the Globe. And a separate (NOT "cc'd"!) copy to me. As I said, I'll have them sited so all can see.

The Globe is a good target. It's well worth 30 minutes of your time. If they see our interest, they're more likely to do other "men's issues" stories. And if they DO, other papers (including its parent, the NYT) may follow. Plus Jacoby will write more pieces, making other reporters feel safe enough to speak out, too.

So, again, please do this. And soon! (You know NOW and the others are already on the war path!). And alert anyone else (lists, newsgroups, individuals) you think might be interested, too.

Thank you

Catt's Claws #101 - A Feminist Newsletter

Dagwood finally "gets" it

Anyway, in the cartoon, Dagwood is in a car with two other guys and a woman. The woman is complaining about the "inequality of women"-"all humans should be treated as equals" . When each of the men gets home he is given a snow shovel by his wife, at the door, to clear the snow before he can come in. As the woman gets home, she finds her husband digging . A succinct, funny but devastating attack on the whiners of the women's movement who complain so about their lot, while men get all the dirty jobs. Perhaps men are not so far from seeing the truth they they are the disadvantaged sex.

Women will have equal rights when they give up some.

New Chivalry

There is one point, however, that you left out, and that I felt compelled to mention.

Chivalry got it's birthright from CHRISTIANITY. Remember "King and Country"? Well, Kings were said to rule by DIVINE RIGHT.

While, honestly, I share your point of view on almost all you have denoted, without reference to God and Christ, the words ring hollow.

Editor Don't forget the chivalry (in principle) of the Samurai. Also, chivalric principles can be found in the philosophy of Xenos (stoicism) as well.

As occidental and oriental cultures have sloshed and mixed in the urban cultures of Hong Kong, west coast Canada, the US, and elsewhere, I do not feel remiss in excluding references of a more detailed nature to an occidental context that might be expected in a scholarly work on that subject in particular, where I touch on it more as an element of modern culture in a modern context.

I will grant you this, though. Putting religion aside (which I can't do, but I will pretend to for a second), society would be much better off after embracing the values of either than it is right now.

I say either because they ARE (at least on the surace) different. Samurai served men, Knights served God through his appointed representatives on earth.

Thanks, and good luck with your page.

A service of the Men's Health Network

We distribute research and timely information about gender, family (custody, welfare, etc.) and public policy issues and will gladly place you on our Distribution List if you wish.

Let's network.

Thanks. Men's HOTLINE : 512-472-3237 : tfa@menhotline.org, A crisis line for men 807 Brazos, Suite 315 : Austin, Texas 78701 A service of the Men's Health Network: Washington, D.C.

Available on newstands?

Editor: We published a hard copy for 2 years, then I lost my job at Egghead after The Seattle Times published an extremely deragatory and biased article about me. I had to (temporarily...I keep saying that hoping that it will prove to be true) suspend hard copy publishing. I’ll announce it if we ever get back into print.

You’re welcome to quote from the articles as long as you provide suitable citation, preferablly (shameless plug for a plug :-) with the url for the original article.

Please e-mail with the answers to the above questions as soon as possible.

Thank-you for your time and effort!

MenWeb National Advisory Board

The URL is http://theorem.math.rochester.edu/nocirc/nocirc.html .

Thanks

On Your Side

I could write a book re divorce inequities.

Passages

We are shocked to learn that Sonny Burmeister, one of the most effective children's advocates in the country, died suddenly this morning following a fall from a ladder. Many of us were proud to call Sonny "friend." Sonny will be missed, as will his efforts on behalf of children.

Sonny was an expert on most of the issues affecting families and children, including domestic violence. Among the activities mentioned in the following note, he was a Men's Health Network delegate to the American Medical Association/Bureau of Justice Conference on Domestic Violence where he advocated for a professional and unbiased approach to domestic violence issues.

Sonny's family can indeed be proud of him. His presence made the world a better place to live.

This sad message from David Levy, Esq., President of the Children's Rights Council:

Horace W. (Sonny) Burmeister of Atlanta, Georgia, a nationally known child and family advocate, died on Monday, February 26, 1995 after falling form a ladder outside of his home.

Burmeister wrote extensively on the relationship between family structure and poverty, as well as other topics affecting children of divorce, and his articles appeared in various newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, as well as regularly in "Speak Out for Children," the quarterly newsletter of the Children's Rights Council. He also appeared frequently on TV and radio.

A bill establishing a presumption for joint custody which Burmeister worked extensively on passed the Georgia Senate earlier this month. He is also credited with a successful 3-year effort which culminated in a referendum approved by Georgia voters in 1994 to create a Family Court for the state of Georgia.

Burmeister was the Georgia coordinator for the Children's Rights Council, and host for CRC's 10th national conference at the Crowne Plaza (Rivinia) Hotel to be held in Atlanta, April 24-28, 1996.

"Sonny was a larger than live figure of immense energy and effectiveness in the national movement to assure children emotional as well as financial resources of both parents," said David L. Levy, Esquire, national president of CRC. "The conference in Atlanta in April will be a testament to his memory."

Burmeister, 46, is survived by his companion, Candace Schooley of Roswell, and three children from his previous marriage, Erik, age 22, Athens, Ohio; Yohannah (Honey), 18, and Aaron, 16, both of San Ramon, CA. Sonny's mother, Claudia Burmeister of Athens, GA, sisters and brother Betsy of Athens, Joanne of Atlanta, Sharon Burns and Kerry Burmeister, both of West Virginia.

The family suggests donations in Sonny's name be given to: Children's Rights Council, 220 I (Eye) Street, N.E., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20002. 202-547-6227. All donations to CRC are tax-deductible.

Men's Events

I live in Pocatello, Idaho. It's only about 3 hours from Salt Lake City, Utah (Boise is 4 hours away).

Men's publications

Here is a summary of the "best" men's publications around North America. You have the names, publications and phone numbers of them on page 428 of "The Myth of Male Power". However, some have changed and Warren's list includes neither e-mail addresses nor Web Page URL's. So here are the ones I like, including a brief evaluation:

The National Men's Resource Center
Publication: Menstuff
(Quarterly, $10 US/year, $20 US/year foreign)
P.O. Box 800
San Anselmo, CA 94979-0800 USA
E-mail: none
URL: none
Comment: Great resource for men's-work events, books, publications, organizations, plus some male positive writings. At $10/year it is a bargain!

Seattle Men's Evolvement Network (M.E.N.)
Publication: M.E.N. Magazine
($20 US/year, monthly)
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Ste. 209
Seattle, WA 98103 USA
Phone: (206) 545-3736
Editor's E-mail: Bert Hoff
M.E.N. Magazine URL: http://www.vix.com/menmag/
Comment: Regular publication, mostly mythopoetic focus. Also, men's stories, therapy, poetry, men's rights, and some male feminist (more accurately part of the women's movement). I have been active with Seattle M.E.N. in a supportive role for 5 years. Web page has links to several other good men's issues web sites, including Roy Schenk's: http://www.msn.fullfeed.com/rschenk/bioecat.html/ and Jack Kammer's: http://www.butterfly.net/gwtm/.

National Coalition of Free Men
Tom Williamson, President
Publication: Transitions
(Bimonthly, $30 US/year US & CDN, $40 US/year foreign)
P.O Box 129
Manhasset, NY 11030 USA
Phone: (516) 482-6378
Hotline: (516) 794-5151
E-mail: NFCM
URL: http://www.ncfm.org
Comment: Most active male-positive org. in USA, newsletter quality very good until recently, expect it to improve again. Active internet conversations.

The National Center for Men (NCM)
Mel Feit, Executive Director
Publication: Men's Rights Report
(2-4 times/year, $40 US/year)
P.O. Box 555
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 USA
Phone: (516) 942-2020
FAX: (516) 938-7550
E-mail: NCM
Comment: Smaller, but active group. Join to participate. Newsletter mostly reports their activities and requests reader's help with projects. Two "projects" listed below.

• NCM (Men's) Reproductive Rights Project: Kingsley Morse, Chair; E-mail: Kingsley Morse; URL: http://www.nas.com/c4m/

• NCM Portland Oregon Chapter: James Pierce Whinston, NCM Deputy Director P.O. Box 6481 Portland, OR 97228-6481 USA

MEN'S Advocate, a MENSA Special Interest Group
Publication: MEN'S Advocate
(6/year, $15 US/year, non-mensan $18 US/year)
12819 SE 38th St., #237
Bellevue, WA 98006 USA
E-mail: Gene Hopp
Comment: Although Gene is more conservative than I am, I always benefit from reading this newsletter.

Movement for the Establishment of Real Gender Equality (M.E.R.G.E.)
Publication: Balance
(Quarterly, $12.50 CDN, $10 US)
9768- 170 Street #366
Edmonton, Alberta T5T 5L4 CANADA
Ferrel Christensen, editor.
E-mail: Ferrel Christensen
URL: forthcoming asap
Comment: This is the best publication around on real equality in gender issues. However, they are struggling to get their slick-cover magazine financially sound. At the current price it is a "Best Buy." Looking forward to their web page.

Circumcision Information Network
Publication: The Guardian Angell
(cost: donations)
3865 Duncan Place
Palo Alto, CA 94306 USA
Phone: (415) 493-2429
FAX: (415) 493-2427
E-mail: CrcInfoNe@aol.com
Comment: Newsletter of anti-circumcision activists. News of their activities and status of the movement. Opportunities to become involved.

Shameless Men Press
Publication: The Backlash! (against anti-male bigotry)
(monthly, $18 US/year, $27 CDN/year)
P.O. Box 70524
Bellevue, WA 98007-0524 USA
Msg: (206) 649-0892
FAX: None
E-mail: rodvan@nwlink.com
URL: http://www.backlash.com
Comment: This magazine is more "in your face" than the others on this list. Publisher Rod Van Mechelen has severely suffered financially because of this. This has forced cessation of publication during the past year. Rod continues activity with his web page, URL given above.

Men's Health Network
P.O. Box 770
Washington, D.C. 20044 USA
------- A crisis line for men -------
807 Brazos, Suite 315
Austin, Texas 78701 USA
Phone: (512) 472-3237
E-mail: men@menhotline.org
Comment: Crisis line a service of the Men's Health Network: Washington, D.C. No newsletter, but regular e-mail with news of men's movement-related events and responses.

Men's Rights, Inc.
Fredric Hayward, Executive Director
P.O. Box 163180
Sacramento, CA 95816 USA
Phone: (916) 484-7333 (h/o/fax)

David Ault, Co-Director
MR, Inc., Equal Rights Amendment Project.
P.O. Box 31864
Seattle, WA 98103-1864 USA
E-mail: ault@compumedia.com
Comment: Both of us have reduced our organization-running activities to respond to other priorities in our lives. Each of us remain active in selected arenas.