"Why didn't they say anything before now?" part One

Several years back, Hollywood received an opening salvo in the
arena of their most-recent sexual abuse scandals as the allegations 
of sexual assaults against Bill Cosby and charges of pedophilia
against Stephen Collins were made public. (Collins was actually
caught on tape confessing and later admitted to 3 occurrences--
Cosby has always denied. See links for more detailed stories.)

Then we had the (not-surprising) revelations and accusations
against Bill O'Reilly and Roger Ailes brought in lawsuits alleging
not only a long and sordid history of abuse, but a workplace
which fostered and covered for such behavior.

And how could any of us forget how America elected (but
not by the popular vote--or perhaps even legally) the
Rapist-in-Chief, Donald J. Trump, even after a year and a half
of being exposed to his misogyny, lewd remarks, secret tapes
about 'pussy-grabbing,' and a litany of reports about sexual
assaults on women and girls?  NPR: A Full List of Accusers 

So, despite the Harvey Weinstein 'allegations' being the decidedly
watershed moment where the floodgates of "Enough is Enough"
did truly open, we the people were getting softened up for the
blow of just how many secrets Hollywood has. And although
more attention will be paid to Hollywood because of America's 
love affair with movies, escapism, fantasy, and mock-relationships
with people they read about in tabloids, the epidemic of sexual
abuse in the workplace occurs across the board.

Anywhere you have people in a position of power, you can expect 
that people are going to abuse that power. Some say "People are 
basically good at heart." I say 'bullshit.' People will try and get away
with exactly as much as they think they can get away with. So it
stands to reason that those in positions of power and privilege are
going to go hog-wild. (Just an observation, not a promotion.)

But here's where the next part of the story comes into play:
The public's response to the allegations (or as I prefer to
call them, revelations. I've only heard two people call for
'calm and restraint' in responding to these reports of abuse;
one being Woody Allen, a known pedophile/incester, and
Jeremy Piven, who is long-known for shady stuff and does
clearly 'protest too much.' His shit will be laid bare soon 
enough, I'm sure.)

The public seems genuinely surprised at several things.
* First is the shock at seeing a star they like, "Fill-in-the-blank,"
accused of something so heinous. 

* Then there is the sheer volume of the accusations that are
being leveled. (Hint: This is only the tip of the iceberg.) 
Certainly people--men in particular--are astonished at the
notion that this is such a widespread problem. (The plus side 
of it, for lack of a better phrase, being that visibility and
transparency have finally given survivors a foothold to 
speak out against this evil, and to feel connected. Now they
know they aren't alone in what was done to them. Social 
media finally contributed to the world!)

* Next is the inevitable partisan bullshit that has flared up as
people try and make even sexual assault, harassment, and 
rape about what someone's politics are. (Unless you're an 
Alabama Republican judge who raped a 14-year-old girl--
then the GOPers give a free pass!) More on Roy Moore 

* People are also confused by how widespread behavior
could go on unnoticed...and why someone didn't stop it 
once it was known. This whole 'open secret' thing has a 
lot of folks scratching their heads as they play armchair
whistle-blower. "Well that never would have happened 
on my watch!" (More on the culture of silence and tacit
complicity later.)

But the Number One question people seem to have on 
their minds in response to the tragic nature of these
revelations is simple, direct, and very telling:

"Why didn't he say anything before now?"

"Why didn't she say anything before now?"

"Why didn't they say anything before now?"

Not in a Fox News, innuendo-filled, victim-blaming,
heartless code for 'oh they must be liars' sort of way.
Just a genuine inability to relate and comprehend 
something as a disconnected party viewing the matter
with none of the emotional skin in the game.

And it's a valid question, albeit with a complex 
answer. I'll delve into that in detail next.

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What Color is Your Patriotism?

Today in London, nearly 2 dozen NFL players kneel during the U.S. national anthem

I'm always curious as to what makes things or people tick.

The outrage, negativity, and condemnation that has arisen over

the last year in response to the peaceful protesting of the national

anthem really has me perplexed.

So, when in doubt, ask questions.

America, here's your chance to express yourself (see, we actually

are allowed to do that here...at least in theory.) But first, I want you

to give careful, reasoned consideration to the following questions.

If you are opposed to football players (and other athletes, or students)

being 'unpatriotic' by refusing to stand at attention or recite a pledge,

I am especially interested in your participation.

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What does 'America' mean to you?

Who decides what freedoms are protected?

Is there only one kind of patriotism?

Should we always blindly follow those who represent 

our country?

What are the words to our national anthem?

What is the story behind the national anthem?

Do you believe in the First Amendment?

Who should be allowed to protest?

Should people who wish to sit during the anthem/Pledge 

be forced to stand?

Is personal choice an option in your version of America?

What do you know about the practices and problems 

that Kaepernick and other players are protesting?

Do you think that law enforcement in this country has

a problem with extreme violence?

Do you acknowledge that racism is a force in the U.S.?

Why do you think the protests are unpatriotic?

What is your favorite part of being in America?

Do you believe in everything this country stands for and does?

How do you reconcile loving America but hating the

exertion of free speech?

"Your party can not be reached..."

Rape Culture has a new poster boy--emphasis on 'boy'

He makes a lot of threats and mouthy promises, but he doesn't stand 

behind anything he actually did when it turns out poorly.

The Shits Just Keep on Coming

Maybe you've heard about the raging debate

regarding the anti-Obama commentary/ad,

"2016: Obama's America."

If not, here are the low lights; a

conservative, right-wing, propagandist

experiment in scare tactics and mudraking....

a nightmarish speculative designed to feul

anxiety and fear.

Picture that Goebbels were alive and well,

doing PR for the Republicans. Add to that

a slasher film, internet trolls,

conspiracy theorists, Christian zealots doing another

end-of-the-world fiction flick for the already-brainwashed

(spearheaded by that simpering Dolt, Kirk Cameron,

of course. Yes, it's that level of stupid and predictable.)

Picture Rush Limbaugh's keen world view made

flesh. Add some race war promotion, some birther

 insanity, some baseless conjecture and

one-sided predictable bashing.

Dinesh D'Souza, the 'brains' behind this ordeal,

is a conservative evangelical Christian, with a skewed

view and a history of trying to undermine the President.

It is not a documentary; it is a speculative, masturbatory,

deranged piece of propaganda, one part of the smear campaign,

from all the usual players (or, more accurately,

usual suspects.)

One of the chief accusations is that Obama's father and his

radical nature live on in Barack and are leading to the

deconstruction/destruction of America from within.

Ironically, the Republican 's actual agenda for

manifesting such a coup is never mentioned.

The highly charged hyperbole and conjecture

is the same as it has been for the last 4 years;

"The world is ending! The sky is falling."

The conspiracy theories spouted here

are of an old and frightening tone; promoting that

Obama was reared and influenced by

terrorists and Communists and all manner of

spooky, unsavory, anti-American bogeymen

who influenced his every move and motive.

(You can almost hear the Amos and Andy-style

commentary whispering in your ear, "Whoo-Lordy...

We's told you to be carefuls with them Nigras!")

I would very much like to see the list for who

bankrolled this production. It's got all the

over-the-top venom and outlandishness of

Trump, Limbaugh, and Robertson at their absolute

worst. Not that those guys are hard to come

by these days.

This dredge is all about one thing; attempting to

(once more) establish President Barack Obama as The

Corrupter, the biblically-forewarned devourer of

this 'great nation;' the anti-Christ.

It is disgusting and puerile, even treasonous.

Pathetic and heavy-handed, shockingly out of touch

and craven. A dirty tactic, even for those immersed in

dirty tactics. Lies told often enough are still lies.

Obama haters are always accusing the President of

'bashing' his opponents because his record on policy

can't stand. Seems that's actually their favorite tactic.

Go see this conspiracy flick if

you're in the mood for a 'legitimate rape.'

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"O" Knocks It Outta The Park!

"I didn't set out to 'run Smitty into the ground,' but..
gosh darn it, he makes it so amazingly easy!"

PRESIDENT Obama knocked it out of the park with his
impromptu press conference yesterday.

He deftly laid
out how the Republican position on women's rights is
no more sane than Todd Akin's, even if not quite as
publicly decried.

He questioned, in response to unduly
severe criticism of his campaign ads, why
Mitt Romney has trouble releasing tax documents as
all other presidential candidates have done
(and then quoted Smitty's Daddy to drive the
point home.)

Whoopsie! Well, finally some truth in
advertising, anyway!

Here's the rub;
WHY is it such a big deal?

If you have nothing to hide, prove it by
being transparent!

Obviously Romney is scared of his complete
detachment from the average American being fully exposed.

This is the guy who wants to run the most influential country
in the world, and he refuses to play by the same rules
as everyone else? In order to cover up what one has
to assume at this point is wrong-doing and
corruption?

And, by the by, where are all the rabid dogs like
Rush and Trumpy to demand and go ballistic
in the public eye, calling for truth in advertising,
never satisfied, never relenting?
Oh, right...that was only in regards to blocking
our current President over a birth certificate
red herring.

What are you hiding, Smitty?
And with all this money at your disposal,
should it really take this long to forge old tax documents
and pay off IRS agents to 'legitimize' them?

Sheesh!

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