Listening to the controversy in 1991 in reference to Anita Hill and then court hopeful Clarence Thomas, I thought then that there is no way I would want to have Clarence Thomas as a Supreme Court Justice. After these last nine years I still stand on that thought. What holds me to this thought is not the new actions performed by his wife Ginni Thomas. It was his actions and how things were then swept up under the rug and they are still in that era. The case I felt was a "go" card for some men to say and do as they pleased considering that nothing really happened to this Judge. He was in a way given an award for his actions. It was not a full week in behind his accusations becoming public (and the hearings where testimony was given that he just denied happened and they kind of in a way just took his word for things) before it was made official that he was to be the next Supreme Justice. I was out raged. How could someone with that type of reputation have office to set in Judgment of others? I think that during this case some of the people who were in charge of helping to select the next court Justice did not want to seem racist in their selection. Because the next judge would replace Justice Thurgood Marshall, they wanted to maintain the status quote. Thomas had the nerve to be upset that they were taking the time to investigate this matter. I still don't feel that Ms Hill received the justice that she deserved.
Now coming full circle Justice Thomas wife Ginni Thomas decided that she would after all of these years demand an apology from Ms. Hill and a full account of what it was that she did with her husband. I would have thought that she should have spoken with her husband years ago. The time of stand by my man has long been over. The story is one that took place 19 years ago. Mrs. Thomas took time to look Ms. Hill up and contact her at her home. She claimed it was an olive branch, but the wording did not come off as kind. I felt that she was being demanding and condescending toward Ms. Hill. One of the few things that were positive from this case was that it was recognized that there really wasn't a lot of women in the Senate and some changes were made to accommodate that, but at the cost of someone's pain and suffering I don't think that was fair. It was a passionate story and I have copied it into this blog along with the website. If you would like to look it up for yourself you can find it at:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/20/scotus.thomas.hill/index.html?npt=NP1
Anita Hill: No apology coming for Thomas testimony
By the CNN Wire Staff
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* Hill's testimony in 1991 almost sank Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court nomination
* Ginni Thomas says she reached out to Hill to extend "an olive branch"
* Hill says she won't apologize
Boston, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Anita Hill, whose accusations of sexual harassment almost derailed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' high court nomination, has no plans to apologize for the charges she made nearly two decades ago.
The response from Hill, now a law professor at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, comes following a voice-mail message left for her by Thomas' wife, Virginia, over the weekend, requesting an apology.
Charles Radin, the Brandeis director of news and communications, said Hill received the voice mail and turned it over to the campus Department of Public Safety, which then turned it over to the FBI.
Special Agent Jason Pack, an FBI spokesman in Washington, declined to comment late Tuesday.
"I certainly thought the call was inappropriate," Hill said in a statement to CNN issued by Brandeis. "I have no intention of apologizing because I testified truthfully about my experience and I stand by that testimony."
In a statement to CNN, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas said: "I did place a call to Ms. Hill at her office extending an olive branch to her after all these years, in hopes that we could ultimately get passed what happened so long ago. That offer still stands, I would be very happy to meet and talk with her if she would be willing to do the same. Certainly no offense was ever intended."
According to a source at Brandeis, who spoke on condition of not being identified, the message left over the weekend said:
"Good morning, Anita Hill, it's Ginni Thomas. I just wanted to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology some time and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband. So give it some thought and certainly pray about this and come to understand why you did what you did. OK, have a good day."
Virginia Thomas is a conservative activist who founded the organization Liberty Central.
Hill declined comment to CNN affiliate WCVB outside her Waltham home on Wednesday, saying, "Please, let me go teach my class."
Then-President George H.W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas -- a then-43-year-old conservative from Pinpoint, Georgia -- to the Supreme Court in 1991.
The nomination was "instantly controversial," according to an outline of the incident posted on the website for the Center for History and New Media, part of a history class syllabus.
African-American organizations, including the NAACP and the Urban League, opposed it, fearing that Thomas' conservative stance on issues such as affirmative action would reverse gains his predecessor, Justice Thurgood Marshall, had helped achieve, the outline said.
However, the nomination proceeded to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the first few days of his confirmation hearings were uneventful, according to the historical account. "When asked about his stance on legal abortion, [Clarence] Thomas claimed that he had not formulated an opinion and the issue was dropped."
The nomination went before the full Senate, but a media frenzy developed when Hill -- then a law professor at the University of Oklahoma -- came forward and alleged that Thomas had sexually harassed her years earlier, when he was head of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and she worked for him, the outline said. The Senate Judiciary Committee launched an investigation.
Hill actually had made the allegations during interviews with the FBI, but they were leaked to the press just before the final Senate vote on Clarence Thomas, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications' website. The Senate delayed the vote in order to hear more about Hill's allegations.
In three days of televised hearings that transfixed Americans, Hill testified that Thomas repeatedly requested dates with her and engaged in inappropriate discussions including references to pornographic material.
In his testimony, Clarence Thomas denied the allegations and called the hearings "a national disgrace ... a high-tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves, to do for themselves," according to the museum.
Two days later, Clarence Thomas was confirmed on a 52-48 vote.
"Although the hearings themselves had no legal significance, to many observers they symbolized a public referendum on sexual harassment and other gender inequities in late twentieth-century America," according to the broadcast museum. The incident has been credited with increasing public awareness regarding gender discrimination and motivating female voters in the 1992 elections, which saw a record 29 women elected to Congress.
"Many feminist groups refer to Anita Hill as the mother of a new wave of awareness of gender discrimination, particularly given the attacks on her credibility that she withstood from the white male senators," the museum said.
Harriett Woods, then-president of the National Women's Political Caucus, was quoted by the museum as saying, "Anita Hill focused attention on the fact that there were no women in that Senate panel making decisions about people's lives."
Thank you so much for reading my blog. I think that some instances of forward motion was created after the Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill talks. I would have liked to see more done on behalf of women. Sexual harassment is not something that many can easily recover from. Anita Hill had to over come the harassment as well and the attacks on her credibility both during the investigatory talks, I am sure that it would have come up for any type of job interview and from others around her as she was living her life. The thoughts of some was because Thomas got off she must have lied. She still states her innocence and maintains a positive out look. Considering the invasion of her privacy by Justice Thomas wife Ginni, I think it is not a position that I would have held so eloquently as she.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Blog 4
Reading about this woman who just wanted to help others who's life was ended by her kidnappers really opened my eyes to the plight of women in other countries. I wish that there was more information in the news when these types of tragedies occur. I don't remember reading anything in the news about her being kidnapped. Life is so precious and to have it end so quickly is hard to take. I wonder what her family is going to be able to do for her. She was a British National and yet they could not get anyone over there to safe her.
What are we willing to pay for a life. I know that we can not give in to every nut case that holds someone for ransom, but what can we do to stop it? I had a friend who recently past. We had her memorial service yesterday. I wish I had the time to tell her how wonderful I thought she was. Reading on how much Linda cared about these people and what she was willing to do to continue to help them reminded me of my friend Brittany. These two women I can say were very selfless. Willing to do whatever they could including giving up their life's for others.
Linda lost her life trying to escape from her kidnappers. At the time she went on the only information that she had. She was kidnapped with three other men who were set free days ago and she could only go on the facts she had. Living in Afghanistan a woman's life is worth very little. Women are still in some areas considered property. They have little to look forward to in the way of owning their own homes, they have limited jobs that the can obtain, and the living there depends on your status. Linda being a white woman really stood no chance beyond trying in some way to get away. A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She wanted to lift the living status of the people there and the cost was great. I am truly sorry for her families loss. This will hopefully bring to light the treatment of people in Afghanistan. The story is below along with the web page so others can go on and get more information on this.
London, England (CNN) -- A British aid worker held hostage in eastern Afghanistan since late last month was killed by her captors during a rescue attempt on Friday night, officials said.
The woman was identified as Linda Norgrove, who worked for DAI -- an agency that provides various services to developing nations. Norgrove, who was age 36, spent much of her career managing projects for farmers and rural workers.
James Boomgard, DAI president and chief executive officer, called the news "devastating" and said his operation is "saddened beyond words by the death of a wonderful woman whose sole purpose in Afghanistan was to do good.".
"Linda loved Afghanistan and cared deeply for its people, and she was deeply committed to her development mission. She was an inspiration to many of us here at DAI and she will be deeply missed."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement that Norgrove "was doing valuable work for the Afghan people."
"Decisions on operations to free hostages are always difficult. But where a British life is in such danger, and where we and our allies can act, I believe it is right to try. I pay tribute to the courage and skill of all those involved in this effort," he said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a written statement that his forces received information about where she was held and "decided that, given the danger she was facing, her best chance of safe release was to act on that information,"
"Responsibility for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the hostage takers. From the moment they took her, her life was under grave threat. Given who held her, and the danger she was in, we judged that Linda's best chance lay in attempting to rescue her."
Norgrove was being held by two Taliban commanders, Mullah Basir and Mullah Keftan, who were both killed in the raid, an Afghan intelligence official said.
An Afghan official said last month that the British woman, two Afghan drivers and a security guard had been kidnapped after an exchange of gunfire September 26 in the Chawkay district of eastern Kunar province.
Abdul Marjan Adel, a local provincial official, had said that the four were being held in a "very remote area," and that Afghan and international forces were looking for them. He said they were healthy and located in the Dewcar valley.
Provincial officials had created a council of district elders, religious scholars and provincial council members to negotiate with the abductors, he said.
The three Afghans kidnapped with Norgrove had been released days ago, according to another Afghan intelligence official and a local provincial government official.
Hague expressed his gratitude to NATO allies and Afghan forces "for doing all they could to secure the safe release of the woman."
"Hostage taking is never justified and the UK does not make concessions to hostage-takers. But whenever British nationals are kidnapped, we and our allies will do everything in our power to free them," he said.
DAI said Norgrove worked in projects around the world, including Afghanistan, Laos, Mexico, Uganda, and Peru, and was involved in projects for the United Nations.
She joined DAI in January and has been a senior manager on a program to create jobs, improve local economies and help local leaders "reduce reliance on the opium economy," the group said in a statement.
Gen. David H. Petraeus, the ISAF commander passed along his condolences.
"Afghan and coalition security forces did everything in their power to rescue Linda," Petraeus said. "Linda was a courageous person with a passion to improve the lives of Afghan people, and sadly she lost her life in their service. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time."
Last year, British troops freed New York Times journalist Stephen Farrell from Taliban captivity in a raid but his interpreter, Sultan Munadi, died in the rescue effort. A British commando was also killed, as were a woman and child.
Security forces in Afghanistan this week captured a Taliban leader who was "directly involved" in the kidnapping, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/09/afghanistan.british.worker.death/index.html?hpt=T2
What are we willing to pay for a life. I know that we can not give in to every nut case that holds someone for ransom, but what can we do to stop it? I had a friend who recently past. We had her memorial service yesterday. I wish I had the time to tell her how wonderful I thought she was. Reading on how much Linda cared about these people and what she was willing to do to continue to help them reminded me of my friend Brittany. These two women I can say were very selfless. Willing to do whatever they could including giving up their life's for others.
Linda lost her life trying to escape from her kidnappers. At the time she went on the only information that she had. She was kidnapped with three other men who were set free days ago and she could only go on the facts she had. Living in Afghanistan a woman's life is worth very little. Women are still in some areas considered property. They have little to look forward to in the way of owning their own homes, they have limited jobs that the can obtain, and the living there depends on your status. Linda being a white woman really stood no chance beyond trying in some way to get away. A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She wanted to lift the living status of the people there and the cost was great. I am truly sorry for her families loss. This will hopefully bring to light the treatment of people in Afghanistan. The story is below along with the web page so others can go on and get more information on this.
London, England (CNN) -- A British aid worker held hostage in eastern Afghanistan since late last month was killed by her captors during a rescue attempt on Friday night, officials said.
The woman was identified as Linda Norgrove, who worked for DAI -- an agency that provides various services to developing nations. Norgrove, who was age 36, spent much of her career managing projects for farmers and rural workers.
James Boomgard, DAI president and chief executive officer, called the news "devastating" and said his operation is "saddened beyond words by the death of a wonderful woman whose sole purpose in Afghanistan was to do good.".
"Linda loved Afghanistan and cared deeply for its people, and she was deeply committed to her development mission. She was an inspiration to many of us here at DAI and she will be deeply missed."
British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement that Norgrove "was doing valuable work for the Afghan people."
"Decisions on operations to free hostages are always difficult. But where a British life is in such danger, and where we and our allies can act, I believe it is right to try. I pay tribute to the courage and skill of all those involved in this effort," he said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a written statement that his forces received information about where she was held and "decided that, given the danger she was facing, her best chance of safe release was to act on that information,"
"Responsibility for this tragic outcome rests squarely with the hostage takers. From the moment they took her, her life was under grave threat. Given who held her, and the danger she was in, we judged that Linda's best chance lay in attempting to rescue her."
Norgrove was being held by two Taliban commanders, Mullah Basir and Mullah Keftan, who were both killed in the raid, an Afghan intelligence official said.
An Afghan official said last month that the British woman, two Afghan drivers and a security guard had been kidnapped after an exchange of gunfire September 26 in the Chawkay district of eastern Kunar province.
Abdul Marjan Adel, a local provincial official, had said that the four were being held in a "very remote area," and that Afghan and international forces were looking for them. He said they were healthy and located in the Dewcar valley.
Provincial officials had created a council of district elders, religious scholars and provincial council members to negotiate with the abductors, he said.
The three Afghans kidnapped with Norgrove had been released days ago, according to another Afghan intelligence official and a local provincial government official.
Hague expressed his gratitude to NATO allies and Afghan forces "for doing all they could to secure the safe release of the woman."
"Hostage taking is never justified and the UK does not make concessions to hostage-takers. But whenever British nationals are kidnapped, we and our allies will do everything in our power to free them," he said.
DAI said Norgrove worked in projects around the world, including Afghanistan, Laos, Mexico, Uganda, and Peru, and was involved in projects for the United Nations.
She joined DAI in January and has been a senior manager on a program to create jobs, improve local economies and help local leaders "reduce reliance on the opium economy," the group said in a statement.
Gen. David H. Petraeus, the ISAF commander passed along his condolences.
"Afghan and coalition security forces did everything in their power to rescue Linda," Petraeus said. "Linda was a courageous person with a passion to improve the lives of Afghan people, and sadly she lost her life in their service. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time."
Last year, British troops freed New York Times journalist Stephen Farrell from Taliban captivity in a raid but his interpreter, Sultan Munadi, died in the rescue effort. A British commando was also killed, as were a woman and child.
Security forces in Afghanistan this week captured a Taliban leader who was "directly involved" in the kidnapping, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/09/afghanistan.british.worker.death/index.html?hpt=T2
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