A National Guard commander quit his job because people get abortions, and the governor of Arkansas is mad - Arkansas Times
By: Austin Bailey (Arkansas Times)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
opinion By Austin Bailey On January 2, 20245:55 pm
A clinician prepares a room in a Washington, D.C., abortion clinic. Library of Congress
A very odd notice arrived from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ' office Tuesday, in which she accuses President Joe Biden of infringing on her religious beliefs by allowing abortion.
In a letter addressed to Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Sanders even suggested that upholding abortion rights for women in uniform may herald the downfall of our armed forces, should leaders choose to abandon their posts rather than respect the medical privacy of others.
Sanders' argument goes like this: In December, Arkansas Air National Guard Commander Colonel Dillon R. Patterson resigned. The Department of Defense supports employees' rights to reproductive choice, allowing them leave if they must travel out of state to secure an abortion. This is an attack on freedom of religion, Sanders argues, because people opposed to reproductive rights will have to suck up the fact that abortion is often necessary, sometimes elective, and always none of their business.
Sanders' letter suggests Patterson retired to avoid granting leave for a subordinate to travel to another state to get an abortion.
So, Patterson chose to retire rather than honor a woman's choice to terminate her pregnancy. His religious beliefs — likely the patriarchal kind that have men telling women what to do, when, where and how — prevented him from letting another person live her own life and make her own choices.
Good riddance, Col. Patterson.
Here is Sanders' letter in full.
Governor Sanders Condemns Biden's Department of Defense for Infringing on Service Members' Freedom of Religion
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders sent the following letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin:
Dear President Biden and Secretary Austin,
As I expect you to be aware, on December 18, 2023, Colonel Dillon R. Patterson, Commander of the 188th Wing, announced his voluntary resignation from command of the 188th Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard. Col. Patterson has served our country honorably for 22 years and earned numerous awards and decorations. With all Arkansans, I thank Col. Patterson for his dedicated service to our state and nation.
Unfortunately, Col. Patterson was forced to personally choose between either continuing his command or adhering to his sincerely held religious beliefs against abortion. Because he adhered first to his faith instead of overtly political mandates, he voluntarily resigned his command. I admire Col. Patterson for having the confidence of his convictions, but regret that our nation's military will suffer the loss of a dedicated airman, leader, and guardsman as a commander.
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that states may protect the lives of unborn children by appropriately regulating the practice of abortion. Arkansas, like many other states, chose to do so—protecting unborn life by prohibiting abortions which are not medical necessities for the sake of the mother.
While half the country made the obvious determination that the killing of helpless, unborn children is contrary to the public interest, Secretary Austin declared that the U.S. Department of Defense ("DoD" or "Defense Department") would subvert the actions of states like Arkansas by using taxpayer dollars to fund the travel, meals, and lodging associated with out-of-state servicemember travel for procurement of an abortion procedure. Maybe equally as egregious, the DoD now requires that commanding officers—regardless of any sincere and deeply held religious convictions to the contrary—are forced to approve such abortion leave.
Abortion is itself a barbaric practice. But it is apparently not enough for this administration that abortion be available in some states and regulated in others. Thus, the Defense Department must now apparently sacrifice lifelong personnel's leadership in the name of military readiness—a laughable paradox if it were not so deeply offensive and damaging.
At a time when nearly every military branch has failed to meet recruiting thresholds, it is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible and shortsighted bureaucratic mandate. As relevant here, nationally, the Air National Guard missed its most recent recruiting goals by a shocking 40%.
It is unjustifiable to sacrifice the leadership of a lifetime of service for abortion or any other overtly political issue. Col. Patterson's only fault was being a man of conviction led by senior Department of Defense leadership who had disregarded his service and abandoned his most fundamental constitutional rights in favor of more fashionable political and social experiments.
Rescind this policy immediately.
Sincerely,
Sarah Huckabee Sanders Governor of Arkansas
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That commander had a choice, also. Continue to do his job w/o inflicting his personal religious beliefs or go all Arkansas Whiny Ass and resign.
He chose Arkansas Whiny Ass
POS thumpers that are unwilling to defend the constitution don't belong anywhere near the armed forces. call him back to active duty, bust him down to 2nd Louie and then let him retire at that pay rate.
Unfortunately that's not how it works. You can get busted down a few ranks but you get to retire with the pay you had at the top of your career. That happened to one of my first sergeants. He was busted from Master to Tech and was allowed to retire at Master pay
oh well. hide a camera in the basement of his church...
Yep, when I was stationed at MCAS Yuma in the mid to late 80' my wife worked for a USMC Gunnery Sargent whom I had frequent conversations with. He told me during Vietnam he received a battlefield commission to 2/Lt and eventually reached the rank on Major. Due to a reduction in force after Vietnam he was reduced to the rank of E-7. But since he had previously reached the rank of Major, he was allowed to retire as such with pay and privileges.
When I was a company commander, I had a first sergeant with the same story. Of course he had my complete respect and I learned a great deal from him.
Oh wow. That reminds me of something I did in my church in my youth (kissing and groping a young girl of my age on the breasts and body) on the lower 'floor' where we were lucky to be alone. Nothing much came of it, because I was 'finding' out about myself (and my fellow boys) not a long way off.
whoa! You dog!
I was young, dumb, and full of . . . testosterone (if you know what I mean). She was one year older and full of whatever it is girls are full of at moments like that one! To our credit, we pulled ourselves together, er, apart that is and stopped. After that, "no more" engagements occurred—in church, at least.
Perfecto - whiny ass - they're all nothing but a bunch of whiny asses - they think we should comply to how they think we should live our lives. Fuck them.
He had a choice. He could choose to adhere strictly to his religion or he could choose to do his job. It's not easy but, hey, life's not easy. Joe Biden, being a Catholic, has also had to make a similar choice. He chose to serve his country and has been punished for it by his own church. You'd think that, by the time a person reaches the rank of colonel he'd have this stuff sorted out already.
I can't stand folks like him and pharmacists who cry the same bullshit when women want to buy the day after pill.
Brings to mind the old adage: "Good riddance to bad rubbish". Seems to me that Huckabee qualifies for that as well.
Sanders was dropped on her head as a baby.
the sow pushed her out of the sty for being uglier than the other piglets...
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suey, suey, pig, pig, pig, suey...
Naw, that was AOC!
Now that's funny! The first word out of any Arkansas baby is whoo pig sooey
she'd still be in that sty if her dad hadn't noticed she didn't have a curly tail...
There is always one.
Governor Sanders Condemns Biden's Department of Defense for Infringing on Service Members' Freedom of Religion
WTF?
That woman infringes on mine every morning she wakes up
I hear she's saving a bundle on the houskeeping and maintenance staff at the governors mansion, they're all under the age of 14.
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2 of them are her own kids
does she still hide her family's dog when her brother visits?
yes
her kids hold management positions and she puts their earnings into a "college fund", in her purse.
Does she get all of her clothing from Goodwill?
LOL
So Sanders is broke? Wow, I had no idea. Poor thing.
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autozone. those are seat covers...
Look up her history! look what she has done with her life!
she's swallowed a lot of frustration...
... especially in college.
it made her cross eyed, poor thing ...
you give up certain rights when you sign on to the US armed forces. it says so right above the signature line.
Boy howdy do you ever!
Wanna take a vacation? Check with your CO first!
Freedom of choice; He made his and other people get to choose, too.
He doesn't care. The Air Force is full of self-righteous busy bodies. I had a LT ask me what church I went to. He was my OIC. It was none of his gd business but you can't tell a LT that when you only have 3 stripes
There used to be a USAF Colonel who retired to my area who was a refreshing exception to that. He frequently wrote letters to the editor of the local paper with a different view.
I got up on my soapbox. I was remembering that piece of shit LT.
Most of the officers I encountered and the NCOs were good people. They kept their religion to themselves. There were exceptions, tho
it's only a matter of time before he gets caught wearing a sheet or in the suspicious company of underage children...
my thoughts exactly - phonier than thou scumbag
or both
Remember when I was stationed at the Naval Hospital at Whidbey Island, WA in the late 70's my immediate NCOIC was of a particular denomination who had insisted on trying to convert me even after telling him I was no interested. I decided to teach him a lesson and waited for the right moment. One day his wife and two teenage daughters came to pick him up from work and in front of them he asked when so was going to go to church with him? I proceeded to tell him I would turn him into beer guzzling cigar chomping B*@#&*t before I let him convert me. This was especially since his denomination neither smoked nor drank. He stood there with his mouth open while his wife and daughters laughed hysterically. He never bothered me after that.😏
Good play!
I just wish I had had the guts to tell that LT that it was inappropriate to talk religion in the office
Ironically, in addition the CO, XO, Personnel Officer, my Department Head, and a significant portion of the staff all went to the same church. Talk about a hostile work environment.
ick! My direct supervisor when I first got to Reese AFB was a Christian man. A good Christian man. He never bothered me about going to church or getting saved or any of that bullshit.
Now...I had more problems with the civilians that worked in my office. One was an old lady so I kind of forgave her. But this other woman made it a point one day to approach every person in our office...ON DUTY...to ask us how we know we were going to heaven. I basically ignored her when she approached me...on MY SMOKE BREAK!. Interrupting me on my smoke break was an unforgivable sin. I wish someone had told her that she wasn't allowed to proselytize during duty hours.
On your smoke break. . . that's an outrage. Smoke breaks were "sacred" to my work day. I would enjoy myself while working through "heady" matters. She was totally out of line. Did you have to put out your cig on her account? Not to change the subject, but curious if you gave her any 'play' at all.
I was in the designated smoking area and there was no way I was putting out my cig on her account.
I did give her some bs line about saying Jesus died for my sins and let it go at that
That is not confined to just the Air Force. I saw more than my share in 20 years with the Navy and the Marine Corps.
If he were still alive and writing, I'd actually pay for a subscription to the newspaper. He was a good and eloquent man.
I really miss calling the cops on the door to door thumpers that used to plague my condo complex.
I've had a mackerel snapper priest square off on me, 2 mormon missionaries, and an evangelical puke that was very persistent on proselytizing, until he got arrested in the complex parking lot for arguing with a cop about soliciting and trespassing laws. oops, no exclusion in green river laws for thumpers.
I couldn't believe it when two mormons or jehovah's witnesses? I don't know which is which, knocked on my door not too long ago, right in the middle of my dinner of course, why I answered the door in the first place I have no idea, but when I told them I was in the middle of my dinner and that I didn't want to speak to them, one had the nerve to ask if there was a better time to talk about the lord jesus christ and I said, no, not really, he said back to me, 'no, not really?' and I said no. JFC.
I hate being interrupted when I'm eating but I really hate it when I'm in the middle of making dinner. Happened to me one time and I was hot!
my last interaction with a door to door thumper was last spring at my son's home. we were both sitting on the front porch having a smoke when we were approached. as soon as the thumper made his opening statement, I responded that we weren't interested, he was trespassing, and it would take me less than 2 minutes to unlock my gun cabinet and return. my son laughed and we both went back inside the home for dinner. apparently they all like to name drop geezus, but none of them are prepared to meet him...
Couple of months ago, a couple of young LDS missionaries ( they're all young) knocked on my door and asked me if I knew whether I was going to Heaven? With a totally straight face I replied "No, but I'm going to Vegas next week, does that count? Excuse me my beer is getting cold.".They just looked at me, said "Have a nice day." and left post haste.
my first interaction with door to door thumpers was at a friends home years ago. I was on my way out so they could go to dinner and the doorbell rings. the mrs opens the door and the thumpers ask if she knows geezus or something and she looks at me pitifully. I tell her as I'm passing thru the door that I'll be back later with the pentagram, candles, and tarot cards as I pull the door shut behind me to their laughter. proselytizers are the last fucking plague.
Good one!
I once had a woman and her teenaged daughter show up at my door on a Saturday morning at around 10 AM. I answered the door in my pajamas and a bowl of cereal in my hands. She apologized for waking me up. Now I think that's what got me started. I get up before dawn most days and weekends are no exception. She wanted to come in the house and talk Jesus. I slammed the door in her face.
A lot of the really good officers I encountered were former enlisted and knew what it was like to start out on the bottom of the proverbial totem pole. Not sure about the Army or Air Force, but in the Navy and Marine Corps we called them Mustangs as a sign of respect.
no problem, you probably unwittingly helped her turn her daughter into an atheist or agnostic and saved the young woman from a life of being thumper breeding stock...
laying around in warmups with food in one hand and remote in the other are my retirement goals.
I live in a deeply blue county and have never been bothered by door-to-door evangelists. They know better than to waste time here.
He must be related to Tommy Tuberville.
I wonder how many of Coach Tuberville's football players caused the need for an abortion
that's how my cousin and his wife got their son. product of a lilly white gooberette cheerleader and her college fling with an xxl and extra dark football star. so sorry daughter, we don't believe in abortion or that skin shade...
I see that, in the end, Tuberville's blockade of promotions went nowhere. He got nothing but grief for his efforts.
yeah, but he owned all them yankee libs in DC for his hero ...
Tuberville's pretty much always been one can short of a six pack, even when he was coaching.
Why do all of these religious zealots, claiming to be practicing Christians, focus on preventing something that their religious book does not condemn at all? None, nada, zip, zero.
It is almost as if they have converted to the religion of Capitalism that requires an ever expanding population of consumers, wage slaves and cannon fodder.
More asshats should follow his lead and remove themselves from the Chain of Command.
... throw in every trump supporter too, at this point...
Wow. Governor Sanders wrote a highly scripted letter to the President asking for him to see the world through the lens of conservatives and that ain't going to happen. Who gives a shit if he goes-apparently he has his pension secured anyway. Thus, it causes him NOTHING to go be a "good" Christian and to keep steady watch over his "dick" to make certain that he does not have any child out there that can be aborted by a female open to abortion practices.
Her letter is bs, because she has not considered the audience of 1 or 2 (president and secretary of defense) points of view.
She has principles. She thinks there is only one way helpless children should be killed.
holy crap. when did they start arming the wild beasts in hunts down south?
good one!
However I'm surprised to see her dressed for duck hunting. It's probably a photo op so she can seem more approachable to the duck hunters in Arkansas
that's a picture of her standing in line to get into an all you can eat buffet restaurant...
that shotgun helps get her some elbow room at the trough...
double tap on a pile of crap...
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What part of his religion requires that he get all up in the business of other people?
I’m sure that many commanders have religious beliefs that guide their actions in ways that are not true for many of the people working under them. Maybe the commander’s religion prevents him from drinking alcohol, gambling, eating certain food, cursing, or listening to certain music. His subordinates may take part in some, or all of these things, but no one throws a tantrum over it and resigns.
What a sanctimonious busybody!
Emphatically. It cost his little to 'nothing' to retire and take his pension. Maybe. . . he is looking for a new 'gig' with a second career in politics! Likely he will be on Fox News like that woman who would not allow same-sex marriage in your county paperwork way back when. She acquired "fifteen minutes of fame" but I saw something the other day that says she is liable (still) for court cost in the thousands of dollars!
I wonder if it bothers him as much to give leave to men who might then go out partying, drinking, and conceiving unplanned pregnancies with women to whom they may not have plans to ever speak again, let alone support through a pregnancy and childrearing.
Are those things not against his religion? Is he a cafeteria Christian?
He made certain to count the years to his pension before he CLOSED HIS WALLET securely and opened his mouth! No sacrifice there. This man is a selfish 'grandstander.'
He was well past the minimum retirement age.
Just "well past" retirement age enough to "suddenly" get indignant about somebody's else legal choice to abort their (future) fetus. Why did'nt he stand on principle before he got a pension. This is bs. The colonel is selfishly grandstanding and I venture this: He will soon be 'a face' or fixture on conservative television.
Oops, I got distracted and a question slipped 'out' of me (without signifying). I will work on it this year to correct it for MAGAs.
When did it become an issue?
He wasn’t a colonel, he was a major general.
Yep, my mistake, Col Patterson and you are free to continue “speculating” on his motivation.
You are forgiven easily. As for the colonel . . .one need not speculate. . .he told us why he is retiring and its over this issue of female abortions in the 'department.' I am concerned that he kept his principle to himself until he was safe to retire. Just go quietly, colonel and take your pension and 'run.'
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When Governor Sanders has time in her presumed busy work schedule to come to NewsTalkers she can read all our comments and interact with us as well. As for his pension-enjoy it, but the grandstanding as he sets the stage for what could possibly politically come 'next' is exploitation of girls, women, and his subordinates. . . otherwise likely support as well as follow his leadership. Take his 'right' to pension and retirement and go out and build his political career if interested from scratch and not on the back/s of females. And as for Governor Sanders shame on her to place her religious beliefs (and "duty" to God) on the shoulders of girls and women who have not decided or concluded any such things about her VERSION of God and what God could possibly want from them that God could not have given them to be in the first place had God wanted the same from everybody!
Governor Sanders writing the "democrat" (as MAGA is 'fond' of misappropriating the name of democratic) president to complain about his administration policy on women in the service having an abortion in legal setting, by making comparisons to the virtues of military service of officers and enlisted members belies the fact that both officer and enlisted are BENEFICIAL to the upmost degree possible for all the services.
Retired military members don’t deserve freedom of speech.
I’m sure that you know what his post retirement plans are.
I am not sure of anything regarding this man/Colonel/retiree. However, experience has shown that people who make the 'news' in such matters as these: land on conservative 'tv-land' first, "get" a spot/chair on a news panel, or are asked to bring their experience to the political arena where they have a base for their views lined up and ready to support them. Surely, we all have seen this played out/gamed out. Hell, even the shooter and maimer of others, Kyle Rittenhouse, has become shall we say, "lucrative" for a book about his "adventure in Kenosha, has been offered GOP political internships, tv guest appearances, video game appearances, and more.
That is my experience with watching people hawk themselves to make a life out of the misfortunes, death, injury, done to others under their 'control.'
Oh as to freedom of speech, l suggest he use it to speak about his own life, experiences, and 'travails' and not to exploit girls, women, and children who do not know or care about his personal (God) interests. Freedom of speech is a two-way street.
Exactly, equivalent.
it seems more that the Gov hawked him.
If you don't have anything constructive to add, you don't have to add anything. It's "perfectly" okay.
That said, I hasten to add this little Rittenhouse "tidbit":
He would not touch that. It reminds me of the. . .and I mean no disrespect to the Vietnamese children that once caused a big stir when "coming to America" as "Ameri-asians" born to their Vietnam parent and U.S. parent.
Back in the 'day,' I can remember Hustler Magazine graphics which made mocking references to Ameri-asians within its pages on a routine basis. (Flynt was seriously funny in his very own twisted way.) Surely, "the generals' knew about it at the time and nobody (or few were noticed) breaking ranks over it.
Exactly, the Vietnamese society and government ostracized them, especially the Black Amerasians. Same thing in Arkansas.
To their shame too. Children are not responsible for how they get into this world. As the case was then and is now. . . the male youth in our services, especially the single members remain "young, dumb, and full of . . . . (You know what I am sure. It was a common phrase back in the day if not so now!)
How would he know their intent, or hers, as it’s not on the leave form.
The same way the CO finds out about everything else
When I was a commander, no one asked for a leave to “go out partying, drinking, and conceiving unplanned pregnancies with women to whom they may not have plans to ever speak again, let alone support through a pregnancy and childrearing”.
And yet that is pretty much the exact definition of shore leave in a port of call...
Conus? Not nearly as bad but did you ever wish that when you signed off on St Patrick's Day passes, that you would see them laughing the next day and not in the morgue after having too much to drink in another State and dying in an early morning head on collision with a trash truck? With "borrowed" IDs from on duty persons, no less?
I wasn’t in the Navy.
My two commands were over seas.
I don’t understand the question.
thumper grapevine...
Definitely a grapevine. The naval term is scuttlebutt which was a large cask full of drinking water, hence the place in the office or field where people would gather for a sip of water and small talk, gossip and rumors.
There she was. . . standing there before the "right" Colonel. . .all big and ready to 'go' somewhat and he just had to ask what her intentions were once she got home and out of his sight. What is so strange about all that is he had to make assumptions about intent or ask her plainly.
Yeah, you have to wonder why he was even aware of it. She could have just taken her leave at home and had the abortion without telling anyone. Unless there is some requirement to divulge that information that I am not aware of.
It would have to be defense department policy to state it out-loud. The complaint from the Colonel is he is resigning because such dealings with subordinates is not the policy of his superiors in leadership. ("No Ask-Don't Tell" amusingly comes to mind.)
I think HIPAA applies to the military, too. I could be wrong. HIPAA wasn't a "thing" when I served
Same with me. It did not exist when I retired from the Navy in August 1993. It came into effect in 1996. And yes it does apply to the military.
This is the man who plainly says how his fellow anti-choicers feel about how women should be treated as incubators for their relatives' and rapists' children. Women's lives DO NOT MATTER at all to these people.
Why should we ever fight the religious zealots "over there" while we are supporting the same anti-women and children religious zealots here in the US? We will never be the "Home of the Free" as long as we treat women as incubators for a male's semen.
I like this revelatory set of statements. The Steve King remarks and bill ban I have nothing to add. It's too ridiculous. Can the world manage to populate itself without rape and incest - yes! Even if it is at a slower rate, though I do not see why it can't happen at an equal or faster rate using other methods of procreation.
CB, children are a product of their DNA and also their incubation.
Mothers, who are abused or stressed during pregnancy, are passing stress hormones to the fetus (which is detrimental to the mental well-being of the fetus).
I think that a pregnancy resulting from rape/incest or toxic relationship would be among the most stressful pregnancies that ever occur. Just because a baby meets all of the visual aspects for being "healthy" does not tell anything at all about its capability to be mentally healthy.
DNA - why would anyone want to breed people with the personality/mentality of rapists?
We are not born "blank slates". Much of our personality is programmed before we take our first breath. Then how we are parented for the first 3 years of life will most likely have the greatest impact of how we will relate to other people throughout our lives.
The people, who are not or can't be educated in basic human biology, are detrimental to the mental and physical well-being and ultimate survival of our species.
Excuse me, but I am not sure I can find a 'tie-in' of this comment to military service abortions. And I am not being arrogant by mentioning this. Because, actually I do have something to discuss. . . as I think you would be "perfect" for it. But, I can't fit it in to the topic either or if so will need some kind of "lead-in" for it.
We need to understand that while religious zealots make headlines with their mistreatment of women, the boys raised by men (who objectify women) will most likely have the same toxic mindset that women are to be used and abused according to the male's needs and desires.
Children need fathers who are kind, loving, empathetic human beings instead of abusive, controlling, violent religious or non-religious porn addicts.
There is another aspect of this issue - women are having sex and are choosing not to marry so they don't have to endure the emotional and financial cost of divorce if the relationship is toxic or a waste of their time and resources.
In today's world, women are educated and have choices on how to live a life that fulfills their dreams - not be a government sanctioned slave/mother to a male who needs a lifelong caretaker and/or an incubator. There are men (and women) who are trying to legislate a return to the "good old days" where women were forced into marriage or even losing their child to be sold to the highest bidder on the adoption market.
Some people are just psychopaths who see other people as a commodity to be used as they see fit.
This might be a "lead-in" where I ask you about females in general. And yes, it is the thing I mentioned above that I wanted to ask you: I watched a series on Amazon Prime the other day called, "The Power" - first season. And, its messaging about girls and women gave me a 'start.' Mainly, because the series leads one to conclude that girls and women literally recognize their state as 'weak' in the company of a man or males. Is that really the case?
I ask this, because as a male, albeit homosexual male, I have never considered girls are women to be 'weak' inherently. To watch a series that messages girls and women feel better when they are enhanced by an evolutionary twist of fate that further empowers them or gives them hope against men as a group is somewhat alarming and revelatory.
I can only speak for me - the answer is no. However, I don't recognize authority by anyone unless it is earned by performance. I try to avoid men who act like strutting peacocks or rutting bucks or kindergarten kids who need a gold star for coloring somewhat within the lines. And for some strange reason, those types of men are never a fan of me.
For other females - I suppose it would be on how they were conditioned by the males and females who raised them and how susceptible they were to the conditioning.
I googled for info on the series and the author to try to understand the mindset portrayed in the book and the series. The author was a protege of Atwood (author of The Handmaid's Tale). I suggest you read about the woman who wrote the book and her influences to understand her fantasy world.
Speaking for myself, I am aware of the fact that I am not as physically strong as a man. However, I also have generally exercised, played sports, and grew up carrying firewood, so I don't feel like I'm incapable of defending myself, nor of doing most physical tasks for myself. I open my own pickle jars, and still carry firewood. Just not as much as in my younger years. I do sometimes ask for help with items on high shelves, and my son helps me carry my Christmas tree from the basement every year, because we can neither of us do that by ourselves.
I also am aware that most men have no desire to use physical force against anybody, let alone women, except perhaps in athletic competitions. So, while I am generally aware of my surroundings, I don't walk around constantly in fear of being attacked or overpowered. I assume that most of the men I encounter are decent people, with no intention of harming me or anybody else.
Indulge me a half-step farther : Females, girls and women, especially women do not f eel oppressed or secondary as a species (and are just not willing to divulge it publicly) ?
It begs the question that a woman writer would invoke such sentiments in the series which puts into the 'air' that -worldwide- girls and women as they are "today" are inadequate and in need of something else (in the series it is electricity from an organ in their bodies) to 'make' them equal (or more) than men. Also, there is a dangerous 'bent' in the series - men who want to take down these so "infected" girls and women who can use their power to ignite power in other older women with "inactive" organs intact inside them) and use their podcasts to talk about seeking out and destroying those girls and women manifesting "power" (over their surroundings-specifically men ).
Addition:
I found this interesting on the link you supplied:
Very good! This kind of 'return' is what I hope for when I ask such 'alerting' questions about other types of people (in this case, females). I 'smart' at the pickle jar remark—those jars make my hand hurt and my fingers literally go out of sorts when gripping to break the seal.
I am so glad to "meet" you, Sandy. I did not and had no way of knowing how self-reliant and strong of spirit and might you are, but it feels really good to read about your true "power."
I don't like men who attack women. I don't/won't have men who attack girls and women as a friend. . .for any purpose.
Frankly, and this may surprise you that I write this, I do think girls and women of this world need to stop being so soft. I see it as a function of a "patriarch" cultural and society that girls and women are 'led' to believe they OUGHT not see to be as strong as they can be. That is, "softness" is a brand for girls and women and "strength" is the mindset of men.
It ought not be that way mentally. . . for girls and women if they wish to be treated and viewed as equals.
Thus, the series, "The Power" is. . . odd-duckish to me in the message it is conveying.
Thank you for sharing.
One more thing. I have always, always, thought about the female capacity to birth more children than this world has ever been capable of treating right and wholesome (everything we know about as male derives out of a female) to be worthy of respect for them-alone. That is, treat the "mothers" with regard and respect.
If you are referring to physical strength - women are not equal to men with few exceptions.
Females are assaulted, raped and killed on a daily basis in the US by men who should either spend their life in prison or a mental hospital or be executed for everyone's safety.
I don't see women and girls as being "soft", and TBH, it's a bit off-putting that you do.
Thank you. I respect girls and women to the utmost to be sure. I don't know if it cultural "softness" or born softness. Girls and women from my point of view are brought up differently; such that is hard for me to discern the "realities" of how inherently strong they are. Men on the other-hand- put it out there like testosterone 'fools' as times. (This is "getting away" from me. LOL. I may have to 'eat these words. . . .)
And yes, I respect and acknowledge your strength as expressed in your comment. Oh yes, and I have definitely seen the "power" of a woman to stand beside a man and even hold him up (as he holds her up). Much to reflect on already from the several incoming comments!
One more thing, if it is off-putting that I state these "thoughts" - know this, I am someone who can grow through explaining the facts of the matter.
One more thing, . . y'all already know about my 'state' of existence as a homosexual male. . .fit that in there somewhere.
One of these days I may spend some time trying to determine when this world became a "man's world" in the vein of James Brown's song: This is A Man's World.
Let's do fit that in there somewhere. If I were to say that gay men should toughen up, would that tend to make you more interested in explaining the POV of gay men, or would you feel that somebody who insulted gay men in general likely wasn't interested in learning about their POV?
It's not up to me to help you grow in the face of insults against myself and other women.
Don't make this about 'us.' I support girls and women in the best ways possible. Do I really need to state that I meant no offense? I sincerely mean no private or public harm.
BTW, I happen to come from a POV that no question is a "stupid question". . .so if I don't know something. . .I ask. No shame in asking.
To that end, all my life I have been told-as a homosexual man-that men should be tough. . .and the rejoinder: because women are soft (pink, pretty, 'soft where it counts,' etceteras.) Men tell other men not to sleep together because we are "hard-legs" (mainly coarse skin because of the hairs) and women 'moisturize' throughout their lives. . . and. . .and. . .I ain't going to get out out of this . . . easily, am I? LOL!
I had no way of knowing, may be even of processing, that a strong woman. . . does not think that she is 'soft' in her role living with and sleeping beside a man.
I don't know. I do the best I can. I do the best that I know how.
As a homosexual man I take the 'hit' all the time-less now but then I am not actively pursuing the 'field' . . . so yes I can take a literal and verbal 'jab' or several. Want to know something. . . about it just ask. . .if I know it or can answer I most definitely will! Being open and honest is how we (all) can grow.
It would be beneficial to your understanding of females if you would look at daily real-life experiences of females instead of basing your assumptions on someone's fantasy literature.
Are female judges "weak" in the company of a male? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that regardless of gender, everyone's safety is threatened by violent males?
And yet, there are legislators in the US that would imprison women for not incubating the semen of the violent males that rape them instead of jailing the rapist for life either in a prison or a mental institution.
Some people have mental issues that make it impossible for them to integrate peacefully into society. Everyone needs protected from them - not because they are "weak", but because the other person is violent.
I thank you for getting back to me. I only mentioned the tv series, "The Power" because, as we all know, television is (used as) a medium for change in the public stream of consciousness.
I don't support girls and women 'carrying' babies they don't want to have, raise, and love. Period.
That court case is funny in the stupidest of ways (I saw it just now on another newly arriving article). That young man (I will not label him as DailyMail.co.uk did in its headline) is utterly out of order and will find his IMPULSIVE act costly and gaining him additional charges. . .; I just have to ask. . . during sentencing this 'foolish' man hurled himself at a judge?!! All I can say is: SHOCKING.
I would say good riddance to bad rubbish. Sanders' dad almost made sense from time to time when he was Gov. She is just batshit crazy most of the time. from what I have seen. Now, I don't live there anymore so I might have missed something.
her useless dad hides in the thumper media now, where he's safe from the regular media...
He has a "variety" show on TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network) on cable every weekend. Note the theme colors.
... never had a real job in his life.
pocketed all the large bills in the collection plate for years...
modeled his governorship after his baptist church biz and spent his term traveling from one free meal to the next.
... squired defective spawn that enjoy torturing animals and children.
I didn't think her daddy was so bad either until I found out what a phonier than thou small c christian hypocrite he was/is.
Being a professional Christian nationalist entertainer has seemingly kept him living a materially comfortable lifestyle.
I thought he was a good governor at first when I first moved to Arkansas. Then that opinion changed. The man loved spending other people's money
he inherited a revamped economy which had brought arkansas out of the 19th century.
it's more hilarious bashing thumper morons than maga morons, but when they combine, it's 3x the fun...
good times...