I cannot even believe Saudi Arabia has been appointed by the UN for the Human Rights Commission. They don't even follow their own religion's laws on women's rights, instead using religion as an excuse to scare and solidify a patriarchy. How on earth are they deemed to be fit for this?
I cannot even believe Saudi Arabia has been appointed by the UN for the Human Rights Commission. They don't even follow their own religion's laws on women's rights, instead using religion as an excuse to scare and solidify a patriarchy. How on earth are they deemed to be fit for this?
(tw) I am really upset to learn today that Iowa passed a bill banning abortions at 20 weeks with no exceptions for fetal abnormalities, even fatal ones. In other words, you could find out at your anatomy scan that the fetus is doomed (or worse, already deceased) and you have no options -- you are forced to carry to a stillbirth. Even at risk to your own health. Even if you want to choose what you consider a more merciful option. You are forced to continue a doomed pregnancy. That is so unspeakably cruel to women.
@adirat that is just unimaginable cruelty. These are not the kinds of abortions lawmakers think they are. It's not a 16 year old girl accidentally getting pregnant and getting one. It's women who have decided to keep their children, many of them planned and very much wanted who are now faced with horrible news that they didn't want or ask for. The article I read did say that if the mother's life is threatened abortion would be ok but it was criticized because the laws are so narrow that the mother would have to basically be on her deathbed for it to be allowed. I'm so sad for the women who live there and will have an already miserable event made even more unbearable.
Dear America, thanks for voting to take away our rights. Maybe instead of cutting funding for women's empowerment programs we could cut the funding for our oh so rich president to play golf. If he's as wealthy as he says he is then he can clearly afford it himself!
They are working on an artificial womb to allow babies to grow. This is amazing. Can you imagine this working with humans especially for women who suffer from IF.
@ShePersisted I saw that yesterday! I have a friend who works at CHOP and I chatted with her about it. I think it's so cool that they can keep babies in there for up to four weeks and give them a little more time to grow with help. Hopefully one day it can be used for full term!
So...cutting the Let Girls Learn program, that makes sense. Something that doesn't cost very much to keep running. Another program geared towards females going away. Message seems to be clear: Let Girls Sink.
I haven't been able to convince myself to watch the Jimmy Kimmel thing. I was afraid I would be sobbing too. I'm glad to see him using the platform for a good message though.
I got kicked out of my mom group last night because some girl said that blacklivesmatter was stupid and racist to white people and I just physically could not scroll past it.
@bcashaw what are your opinions about it? It's a tough subject because some people simply don't/can't understand. I notice that people often use their ignorance to deny the issue when that's the opposite of what needs to happen. I think some people also take offense to BLM because they think it demeans them and their life. However, that's not the point at all. Not at all.
@bcashaw white people tend to feel oppressed when minority groups fight for equality. Some people have sullied the name of BLM and what it stands for but the core is still there. Equality. Not getting shot for doing absolutely nothing besides being black. So on and so forth. No one wants white people to be torn down, they want everyone else to come up to the same level of respect and benefit of doubt, etc. Many many people have a hard time understanding that.
For some, a more relatable aspect might be feminism. Feminists don't hate men, they just want the same rights and pay grade for the same work as men, the same level of respect. A friend and I were talking yesterday and were joking about how if men had to carry and deliver babies, the artificial womb would have been invented ages ago.
When I say white people I understand I'm generalizing a lot and I hope no one takes offense to this generalization. I do understand many white people do not feel this way and are all for BLM and equality in general.
@mariposa_767s I think that as someone with a lot of privilege I won't ever be able to understand why the BLM is needed, but if the people affected by racism feel that it's something important that they need then who am I to say that it's stupid. I think that saying all lives matter is like taking a piece of duct tape and sticking it over the mouths of the people who are already feeling oppressed. I haven't had the experiences that many people of color have had, and because of that it's not my place to tell anyone that their movement is unessicary. BLM didn't come out of nowhere, there's a reason it's phrased like that, and frankly it's pretty sad that some people can't just agree that yes, the lives of black people matter. It shouldn't be an argument.
@mariposa_767s I think that as someone with a lot of privilege I won't ever be able to understand why the BLM is needed, but if the people affected by racism feel that it's something important that they need then who am I to say that it's stupid. I think that saying all lives matter is like taking a piece of duct tape and sticking it over the mouths of the people who are already feeling oppressed. I haven't had the experiences that many people of color have had, and because of that it's not my place to tell anyone that their movement is unessicary. BLM didn't come out of nowhere, there's a reason it's phrased like that, and frankly it's pretty sad that some people can't just agree that yes, the lives of black people matter. It shouldn't be an argument.
This. All lives DO matter, absolutely, just right now we're focusing on the ones that are most threatened. I'm not white but I'm also not black and the racism I face is MUCH different than the racism a black person faces. Blacks definitely have it worse. There was a professor who once asked everyone in the class if they would change places with a black person. No one raised their hand, not even other people of color. The professor explained this indicated everyone understands there is an issue otherwise you'd have no problem switching places.
ETA: @bcashaw you can read all about their principles here: https://blacklivesmatter.com/guiding-principles/ The base level of what you need to know is that blacks just want to know their lives matter as much as that of any other race. They don't want to be worried when being pulled over for rolling through a stop sign that they'll be shot on the spot. I think that's something we can all agree is worth fighting for.
Disclaimer: I do not mean to speak for all blacks, this is coming from the perspective of a non black person of color who truly cares about the rights of people of all ethnicities.
@bcashaw@duchessofcambridge I totally agree. And while I "understand" the perspective of those who are offended by it, I don't think they're willing to understand why it's not offensive. It is an issue and ignoring it adds to the problem.
I'm in an interracial relationship. It's been somewhat eye opening for me. While neither of us is black and I know it would be different/harder if one of us were, I do see things now that I didn't see before. Also, I believe many white families in my area shy away from talking about racial differences as if talking about it means they're racist. In my family now, we do talk about it but from a cultural aspect. It's important to understand why people are different and what that means for how they're treated. It's the only way to lead to change.
@dragonfly87 I'm having legitimate anxiety over that this morning. I mean, the state of things is enough to upset me normally, but this morning I'm having trouble functioning.
I keep wondering if there's some benefit or loophole that would give DH's company good reason to stop offering spouse insurance and suddenly I'm SOL with my pre-existing conditions and mental health issues.
I'm worried about it because open enrollment is in a few months and it could drastically change how much I pay to have this baby. I also worry because I would rather be a stay at home mom if possible, but idk how insurance might play out since SO and I aren't married.
@DuchessOfCambridge, you are right on with your post. I am not all black. I am mixed black and white but growing up, I never understood why my dad (who is black) never wanted to live in a mostly white community. My mom is white and has always had to live in a mostly black community because of this so I figured it would only be fair for my dad to do the opposite. Now that I am an adult, I see why he chose to live the way he did. My mom nor us kids understood what it meant to be profiled. My brother, sister, and I never even experienced racism from cops as kids honestly. As adults, I know I haven't but I don't know if my brother or sister has. I'm pretty confident my sister hasn't but don't know about my brother. It could be because we are light skinned.
I'm also in an interracial relationship. My husband is white. I have experienced racism in that way. We've had people stare at us, not just white people but black people as well. Actually, when I was dating someone else (also white), my close friend made a comment about how she could never date a black man. How her dad would be rolling in his grave if she did. She also said she doesn't think people should date outside their race. I pointedly asked her what I should date (knowing the whole one drop rule) and asked that since I'm mixed, can I date black and white people or should I only be allowed to date black people. She back tracked and said she only thought that for herself and not for other people. We are still friends, mostly because I'm not hung up on race nor racial issues as others may be, but it still sits in the back of my mind that she thinks this way. Also, and this sounds terrible, it also makes me wish her daughter, when grown, will marry a black man to set her straight.
@mariposa_767s most companies won't let you add someone on your insurance if you aren't married or if they aren't your child.
The House voted Tuesday to let companies give you comp time instead of paying you overtime. I don't get overtime as I'm salary but hubby does. I would be pissed if he worked his butt off and only got comp time. At my job, my boss is awesome enough to give us comp time when we work over to get a client out the door and happily on their way. The issue is that we're so busy, we never have time to take the comp time that we accrue. We have people here with over a month of comp time and no time to actually take it.
@ElizabethSchuyler it looks like it's not expected to pass and may just be theater for constituents. "Oh well, we tried". We can only hope it doesn't, especially since it would mess with employer-provided insurance as well.
@CubsFan7 good on you for still being friends with that person. Maybe because of you she thinks twice about things. ETA WTF to that vote! WTF to the House in general! How much middle class nickle-and-diming are we all expected to take??
It passed by one vote. I think they need to stop wasting their time on this and instead pass a law where they have to live on whatever new healthcare plan they want to implement for one year before even considering it for the public.
@DuchessOfCambridge I'm hoping she'll get better. I know her dad was very racist. I'm hoping that with him not being around now, she's starting to become more accepting.
@cubsfan7 my grandfather was very racist, so my mom had a hard time getting over that. We had interracial family friends. When she found out that their son was my first mutual crush/boyfriend (boyfriend is a loose term since it was fifth grade), she said "but he's half black. It doesn't matter anyway. It won't last forever" I remember being so hurt by that because I didn't understand. She's come a long way though. It wouldn't bother her now. SO always messes with her about our house being a Puerto Rican house now. She's even trying to learn Spanish. It's totally unnecessary but I think it makes her feel like she's come full circle in a way.
I generally stick to being a fly on the wall in this thread but I did want to thank you ladies because you are always posting about things that I had NO CLUE were going on.
I'm going to put this in a spoiler because delicate topic
So the new healthcare makes it seem like rape is basically going to become legal. Getting treatment for rape will be considered a preexisting condition. SO you can get raped nbd, but don't even think about getting treated or taking HIV prevention meds because that qualifies as a preexisting condition. Why TF does this country hate women so much. This made me cry.
@CubsFan7 I grew up similarly and I am half black, half white married to an Hispanic. My father is black, but we lived in mostly white neighborhoods due to being military. My parents faced lots of racism as a couple and my father in general. We are fairly light skinned and therefore "pass" most of the time as white or looking Hispanic. So our experience is very different than my father.
Not political, but angering. Thanks a lot, Babies R Us! Pink vacuum and kitchen for two girls, blue vacuum for a boy and orange kitchen for boy and girl.
It's funny how it's the little things in life that mean the most...not where you live, or what you drive, or the price tag on your clothes... There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind, this I've come to know! *ZBB*
Re: Current Events Opinions
(tw)
I am really upset to learn today that Iowa passed a bill banning abortions at 20 weeks with no exceptions for fetal abnormalities, even fatal ones. In other words, you could find out at your anatomy scan that the fetus is doomed (or worse, already deceased) and you have no options -- you are forced to carry to a stillbirth. Even at risk to your own health. Even if you want to choose what you consider a more merciful option. You are forced to continue a doomed pregnancy. That is so unspeakably cruel to women.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-budget-2018-state-department-cut-office-global-womens-issues-oxfam-ivanka-a7701631.html
https://cnn.it/2q6JIKM
https://www.facebook.com/jimmykimmel/videos/vb.1641767806100315/1904032659873827/?type=3&theater
But he does make a heartfelt plea at the very end about healthcare and the concerns our government is creating around cutting funding.
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
For some, a more relatable aspect might be feminism. Feminists don't hate men, they just want the same rights and pay grade for the same work as men, the same level of respect. A friend and I were talking yesterday and were joking about how if men had to carry and deliver babies, the artificial womb would have been invented ages ago.
When I say white people I understand I'm generalizing a lot and I hope no one takes offense to this generalization. I do understand many white people do not feel this way and are all for BLM and equality in general.
I haven't had the experiences that many people of color have had, and because of that it's not my place to tell anyone that their movement is unessicary. BLM didn't come out of nowhere, there's a reason it's phrased like that, and frankly it's pretty sad that some people can't just agree that yes, the lives of black people matter. It shouldn't be an argument.
ETA: @bcashaw you can read all about their principles here: https://blacklivesmatter.com/guiding-principles/ The base level of what you need to know is that blacks just want to know their lives matter as much as that of any other race. They don't want to be worried when being pulled over for rolling through a stop sign that they'll be shot on the spot. I think that's something we can all agree is worth fighting for.
Disclaimer: I do not mean to speak for all blacks, this is coming from the perspective of a non black person of color who truly cares about the rights of people of all ethnicities.
I'm in an interracial relationship. It's been somewhat eye opening for me. While neither of us is black and I know it would be different/harder if one of us were, I do see things now that I didn't see before. Also, I believe many white families in my area shy away from talking about racial differences as if talking about it means they're racist. In my family now, we do talk about it but from a cultural aspect. It's important to understand why people are different and what that means for how they're treated. It's the only way to lead to change.
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
Why on earth does the House of Representatives think this is even a remotely good idea?
Congress is voting Thursday on a bill to replace Obamacare. The CBO still hasn’t scored it. https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/policy-and-politics/2017/5/3/15536680/voxcare-ahca-vote-cbo-score-absurd
I keep wondering if there's some benefit or loophole that would give DH's company good reason to stop offering spouse insurance and suddenly I'm SOL with my pre-existing conditions and mental health issues.
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
I'm also in an interracial relationship. My husband is white. I have experienced racism in that way. We've had people stare at us, not just white people but black people as well. Actually, when I was dating someone else (also white), my close friend made a comment about how she could never date a black man. How her dad would be rolling in his grave if she did. She also said she doesn't think people should date outside their race. I pointedly asked her what I should date (knowing the whole one drop rule) and asked that since I'm mixed, can I date black and white people or should I only be allowed to date black people. She back tracked and said she only thought that for herself and not for other people. We are still friends, mostly because I'm not hung up on race nor racial issues as others may be, but it still sits in the back of my mind that she thinks this way. Also, and this sounds terrible, it also makes me wish her daughter, when grown, will marry a black man to set her straight.
@mariposa_767s most companies won't let you add someone on your insurance if you aren't married or if they aren't your child.
So. There's that.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/05/02/house-republicans-just-voted-to-change-overtime-rules-for-workers/?utm_term=.b16fcfa91a60
The House voted Tuesday to let companies give you comp time instead of paying you overtime. I don't get overtime as I'm salary but hubby does. I would be pissed if he worked his butt off and only got comp time. At my job, my boss is awesome enough to give us comp time when we work over to get a client out the door and happily on their way. The issue is that we're so busy, we never have time to take the comp time that we accrue. We have people here with over a month of comp time and no time to actually take it.
@CubsFan7 good on you for still being friends with that person. Maybe because of you she thinks twice about things. ETA WTF to that vote! WTF to the House in general! How much middle class nickle-and-diming are we all expected to take??
@DuchessOfCambridge I'm hoping she'll get better. I know her dad was very racist. I'm hoping that with him not being around now, she's starting to become more accepting.
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
TTC 9/2016 BFP 12/9/16 EDD 8/21/17 NMC 1/8/16 at 7w6d
TTC 2/2017 BFP 3/6/17 EDD 11/17/17 DS born 11/25/17 via ECS
TTC 12/2018 BFP 6/2/19 EDD 2/12/20 NMC / BO at 7 weeks, low progesterone
TTC 7/2019 BFP 8/21/19 EDD 4/22/20 CP at 5 weeks
TTC 8/19 IUI #1 w/ Clomid + Ovidrel + progesterone BFN, IUI 2 and 3 w/ Letrozole + Ovidrel + progesterone,
IUI 4 Follistim + Ovidrel + progesterone BFP 1/9/20 EDD 9/18/20
AMA, ITP in pregnancy, vWD type II - low Factor VIII, unexplained RPL and secondary infertility
ya...I call BS...as does most of this country...and McConnell doesn't want an independent prosecutor??
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.