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.
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. On this page I sometimes wax toward the glamour and glory of high flame, highly visible activism, but the reality is that now and then it boils down to simply one person against a hostile, inflamed, prejudiced and bigoted world. And sheer fortitude and guts are prerequisite. In case the reader is wondering where I am going: Mel Feit has virtually single-handedly broken open the electronic media to "men's" issues over the last decade, and he has done so in the face of deafening screams of bigotry and hostility; and now it is time for you, the public, to support this movement with your time and your finances. We cannot do it without you.
DAY AND DATE TV SHOW. Mel Feit may do this show on or near "Take Your Daughter To Work Day" ( 4th Thursday of April). Please look for it.
MAURY POVITCH. Negotiations between them and NCM for a show have stalled, but Mel Feit is working on it. We'll keep you posted. (These TV talk shows are a way to inexpensively each millions.)
YELLOW PAGES -- US WEST DIRECT. Yes, after three years of pressure, we have convinced them to start and have 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.
CLARK SEELEY IS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS from Oregon. If you want a person who will champion reform of welfare (first, find dad!), child support, visitation, non-custodial parents rights, etc., here is your chance to support him. We need your financial support. Please see Oregon section.
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." (I remember debating Ron Wyden on that one on the radio a few years ago. And now he's a senator from Oregon. Call him at 503 231- 2300 and tell him "I told you so!") 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.' " (Let me editorialize here: God bless the US Constitution -- it has protected us for 200 years -- all except possibly the 1.2 million people who died fighting for it.)
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 Time & Life, write Time & Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, NY, NY, 10020-1393, call 212-522-1212.
US NEWS & WORST 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 US News, 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." (Knock of the sexism, boys, the 37% figure should be much lower!)
UPDATE: We've been doing radio talk shows all over the country as a result of the impact of this article! And CNN called on 3/15 to line up a "Backtalk Live" guest. Calls keep coming in from individual from all over the country -- we've hit a positive nerve! WE MUST LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY DID THE RIGHT THING.
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 2/12/96. JOHN LEO's column, p.18, on "PC Crimes and Misdemaenors" compiles a two page compendium of true politically correct episodes of idiocy. Leo hits stride again. Sorry for the lateness of this entry (even I miss things!).
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! UPDATE: Look for the re-elect Bill Clinton ads on welfare reform, which stress, of course, child support collection, rather than shared parenting or visitation enforcement, and let me know your thoughts.
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 ne news re possible threats made on this hotline, or the White House investigation. Please still call, but tread gingerly and politely.
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.)
"CHAMPS" is a new TV sitcom mainly about GUYS AND BONDING. (Most sitcoms have a woman theme.) It's on ABC TV, Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m., and just started 1/9/96 Please let me know your responses on this show.
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.
Are you being forced into fatherhood? The NCM Reproductive Rights Project
may be able to help you. Contact
MEETING PLACED CHANGED! WE MEET EVERY MONDAY 7-9 PM.
Support and activism. Temporarily now at Gucci's restaurant (616 SW College St.
{x 6th Ave]) until we can find a permanent (free) meeting place. UPDATE: We
will probably meet on 4/8 and after at the Bonneville Power Association (BPA)
main conference room, 905 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR. Call 503-727-3686
for up to date details.
GLORIA STEINEM IS COMING TO PORTLAND STATE UNIV 4/12 & 13.
There is a conference on child abuse and recovered memory. So let's have some
constructive ideas, and do something to let her know that the gender war has to
stop, men and women have to start working together, and the kids need both
parents.
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 packette?
We have this problem in Multnomah county, even though the head person assured
us the workers the worker will hand out the modification packettes like candy. So
let's get lots of complaints filed. Call 800-850-0228 (in Oregon only, probably),
option 2 (for payers), option 7 (for grievance form). Fun time!
CLARK SEELEY IS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS!!! Clark is a calm, level-
headed, smart man with a very gentle demeanor. He is championing so many of
our issues: reform of welfare (first, find the non-custodial parent), visitation
enforcement, child-support, and non-custodial parent's rights issues. I personally
am endorsing him -- I am his campaign manager -- in case there is any doubt. IF
WE WANT A VOICE, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT IT. Clark needs your financial
support. Please send contributions made out to "Seeley for District 5," to 1215
Alder Drive, NE, Keizer, OR 97303. (Up to $50 can be anonymous; $50 or more
need a name and address; $100 or more must be a check or money order; $200 or
more must also have a job provided; $1,000 is the max per person; in-kind
donations are okay, especially stamps.) Contact us if you can distribute fliers and
put up lawn signs.
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 4/4 is Marsha Everett on grandparents rights
and CSD abuses; on 4/11 is John Williams from the False Memory Syndrome
Association; on 4/18 is Mark Brunelle, candidate for US House of Representatives
(Ron Wyden's old seat); on 4/25 is Libertarian Gene Nanni, candidate for US
Senate; on 5/2 and 5/9 are more political candidates prior to the 5/21 primary; on
5/16 is Ginny Van Loo, legislative aid to State Rep Larry Sowa; on 5/23 is an
opening due to postponement; on 5/30 is Claudia Rumwell 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 we're looking to do something fun for the 4th of July, and
hopefully not too irreverent; 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.
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 for a bit. But look for frequent cable shows, just not live or on a set
schedule.
PAPER needed for printing; also reliable economical photocopier.
The National Center for Men needs your support, contributions of time, energy and
money, and membership.
Men are brought up to be independent and self-reliant. So they tend not to join and
speak out. And as a result, there is little political clout for men's, father's and non-
custodial issues. And everyone is getting hurt. 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 fight 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.
Please join. Membership in the NCM is $60, $40, and $30 low income.
Reprinted with permission from the Activism Report of the National Center for Men
California 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
"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! (But they
did not put us in their Thursday Portland Calendar, nor did they cover it. Call the
managing editor, 503-221-8327 and editor, 503-221-8138 and tell them to cover
the Equinox rally.) And the next rally will be September 21, 1996. Please contact
me for how-to-kits ($6).
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