First, a little context to this story....
According to news reports there has been a man, short in stature, roaming the Upper East Side (UES) of Manhattan groping and sexually assaulting women since January.
A few days ago, on July 22nd, a hispanic man by the name of Eusebio Molina, was running in Central Park and had groped a 41 year old female jogger's buttocks. He fled right after but was found by police and arrested. This man was also short in stature (about 5'2") and was put in a lineup to see if he had been the man wanted in connection with the UES attacks. They brought the victims in but they did not identify him as the attacker.
Now, no one is condoning his actions of course and he should be imprisoned, along with the other pervert who is still roaming the UES of Manhattan. However, the characterization of him as a "pipsqueak" is what I question. If you look at the article, is it surprising that it was written by two women? Would those same women refer to him (meaning Eusebio Molina) as a :"wetback" or a "spic"? What do you think? I bet not! Yet, it is perfectly acceptable to attack his short stature!
Here is the article....
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/pipsqueak_ruled_out_as_groper_WZ9zjHaRNxtLnVGpCd8mtN?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
"Small people...can turn out to be a pain"
So, just about a week ago, an article came out suggesting that fact that tall people are at a higher risk of cancer. Then, in response, real quickly, another article came out from the BBC making sure that tall people were cuddled and basically said "Don't worry, though you may be at a higher risk of cancer, you still are superior to the shorties!" Here is the article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14233727
Specifically, have a look at this quote from the director of a Tall Person's Club, a 6'3" woman named Louise Ross-Foden:
Gee Ms Foden, do you think perhaps the idea that shorter people must try harder could have anything to do with the fact that you have a sense of entitlement about yourself and have such a negative view of us "small people"? Sadly, we have to try harder because we aren't treated as equals, especially by people like you!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14233727
Specifically, have a look at this quote from the director of a Tall Person's Club, a 6'3" woman named Louise Ross-Foden:
Louise Ross-Foden, a director of the Tall Persons Club, is 6ft 3in. She says there are lots of advantages to being tall.
"I can always get a good view at concerts because I can see over everyone else's heads. If you're tall there's automatically a 'wow' factor, people notice you and if you're a confident person like me then you carry yourself better.
"Small people constantly want to prove themselves - and they can turn out to be a pain as a result."
Gee Ms Foden, do you think perhaps the idea that shorter people must try harder could have anything to do with the fact that you have a sense of entitlement about yourself and have such a negative view of us "small people"? Sadly, we have to try harder because we aren't treated as equals, especially by people like you!
***Update***
Today (7/28/11), I received an email from the Tall Person's Club about this particular quote and it has since been removed due to complaints from others to the BBC as well:
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your email.
I appreciate that the article you mentioned caused you some distress - we're
not very happy about it either as it is not a true reflection of Louise's
comments. What she actually said was "Tall people get noticed more easily,
shorter people have to work harder to stand out", which is something I have
always found to be true and not necessarily in a beneficial way - I
personally rarely want the extra attention my height gives me.
Louise never said that "short people can be a pain" - she doesn't believe
this at all and neither does the Club. The purpose of our Club is to
provide practical, medical and social support for those of above average
height, not to in any way denigrate those who are not.
I hope this answers your query, if not please feel free to contact me
directly.
Helen Porter
Admin
Tall Persons Club GB & Ireland
To: Webmaster
From:
Chris Hamre
Message:
Dear Ms. Foden-
My name is Christopher Hamre and I am the president of NOSSA
(National Organization of Short Statured Adults) and I want to respond
to your comment in a recent article about small people being pains
because we have to prove ourselves.
Since women have not been treated equally either, would it then be
fair to label you in the same fashion? Women also have had to work
harder to prove themselves but I wouldn't then refer to them in a
negative way. I wouldn't penalize them and stigmatize them unfairly as
you have small people.
Short people are not treated equally, so why attach blame to us when
we have to work harder to succeed? I guess if we were treated equally
(as we should be), we would cease being "pains" then.
So, which is it, are we equals or not? If so, then we need similar
measures to counter the prejudice we face. If you don't think of us as
equals, then why be surprised when we have to try 10x harder to make
it in life?
Thanks for your time
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your email.
I appreciate that the article you mentioned caused you some distress - we're
not very happy about it either as it is not a true reflection of Louise's
comments. What she actually said was "Tall people get noticed more easily,
shorter people have to work harder to stand out", which is something I have
always found to be true and not necessarily in a beneficial way - I
personally rarely want the extra attention my height gives me.
Louise never said that "short people can be a pain" - she doesn't believe
this at all and neither does the Club. The purpose of our Club is to
provide practical, medical and social support for those of above average
height, not to in any way denigrate those who are not.
I hope this answers your query, if not please feel free to contact me
directly.
Helen Porter
Admin
Tall Persons Club GB & Ireland
To: Webmaster
From:
Chris Hamre
Message:
Dear Ms. Foden-
My name is Christopher Hamre and I am the president of NOSSA
(National Organization of Short Statured Adults) and I want to respond
to your comment in a recent article about small people being pains
because we have to prove ourselves.
Since women have not been treated equally either, would it then be
fair to label you in the same fashion? Women also have had to work
harder to prove themselves but I wouldn't then refer to them in a
negative way. I wouldn't penalize them and stigmatize them unfairly as
you have small people.
Short people are not treated equally, so why attach blame to us when
we have to work harder to succeed? I guess if we were treated equally
(as we should be), we would cease being "pains" then.
So, which is it, are we equals or not? If so, then we need similar
measures to counter the prejudice we face. If you don't think of us as
equals, then why be surprised when we have to try 10x harder to make
it in life?
Thanks for your time
Monday, July 18, 2011
Cyber bullies = cowards
Just like their brethren, the physical bully, a cyber bully is a coward, even more so because they don't have the cajones to confront their victims face to face. They use the internet (to cloak their identity), cell phones for texting nasty messages or emails at work to harass their victims.
Cyber bullying and cyber stalking are pretty pathetic acts when a adolescent partakes in them but they are much more so when full grown adults can't seem to shake their adolescent/pre pubescent inclinations. They will attack others via the internet, engaging in character assassination, nit picking, name calling like they are five year olds, and spreading lies (doesn't sound like an adult does it?); all this in a vain effort to empower themselves because they are insecure about their own, unfruitful lives. Perhaps they need to look at themselves first before they try and dismantle someone else's life.
Cyber bullies and stalkers are usually mentally unbalanced or psychologically scarred, possibly from years of abuse they have suffered at the hands of other bullies. Since they more than likely fear physical confrontation, the electronic media becomes their platform. They will unleash verbal hell at anyone they dislike and all those years of having their feelings suppressed now become expressed and they erupt like a volcano!
Once this behavior is recognized, that person will more than likely be ignored, which hopefully will result in an end to their attacks or they will, sadly, become even more belligerent. Sooner or later the attacks will cease, either a good friend will intervene on the bullies behalf and recommend counseling or the bully themselves will just reach a breaking point.
It is unfortunate that some people feel the only way they can communicate effectively is through constant verbal attacks, when, in reality, those do nothing but indict the character of the attacker.
Cyber- bullying (as well as physical bullying) must end and, if you engage in it, please stop it! If you are truly angry at someone, do not blog, send them a nasty text or a malicious email. When you become rational or less emotional, then send them a message, phone them or speak to them face to face. Don't let hate consume you or it will destroy you eventually!
If you are the target, try to ignore the bully as best as you can. Just as easily as they use the internet or cell phone to hurt you, you can ignore them by deleting any message they have or by just ignoring whatever webpage they use.
For more info about cyber bullying please visit: http://www.nossaonline.org/hgh/antibullyingprograms.html
Cyber bullying and cyber stalking are pretty pathetic acts when a adolescent partakes in them but they are much more so when full grown adults can't seem to shake their adolescent/pre pubescent inclinations. They will attack others via the internet, engaging in character assassination, nit picking, name calling like they are five year olds, and spreading lies (doesn't sound like an adult does it?); all this in a vain effort to empower themselves because they are insecure about their own, unfruitful lives. Perhaps they need to look at themselves first before they try and dismantle someone else's life.
Cyber bullies and stalkers are usually mentally unbalanced or psychologically scarred, possibly from years of abuse they have suffered at the hands of other bullies. Since they more than likely fear physical confrontation, the electronic media becomes their platform. They will unleash verbal hell at anyone they dislike and all those years of having their feelings suppressed now become expressed and they erupt like a volcano!
Once this behavior is recognized, that person will more than likely be ignored, which hopefully will result in an end to their attacks or they will, sadly, become even more belligerent. Sooner or later the attacks will cease, either a good friend will intervene on the bullies behalf and recommend counseling or the bully themselves will just reach a breaking point.
It is unfortunate that some people feel the only way they can communicate effectively is through constant verbal attacks, when, in reality, those do nothing but indict the character of the attacker.
Cyber- bullying (as well as physical bullying) must end and, if you engage in it, please stop it! If you are truly angry at someone, do not blog, send them a nasty text or a malicious email. When you become rational or less emotional, then send them a message, phone them or speak to them face to face. Don't let hate consume you or it will destroy you eventually!
If you are the target, try to ignore the bully as best as you can. Just as easily as they use the internet or cell phone to hurt you, you can ignore them by deleting any message they have or by just ignoring whatever webpage they use.
For more info about cyber bullying please visit: http://www.nossaonline.org/hgh/antibullyingprograms.html
Monday, July 11, 2011
Another short man demeaned!
Wow! It has happened again. A short man has been subjected to a hostile work environment a la Sgt. Patrick Burns. The story reads similar, as he had pictures of his head pasted onto the body of a baby and was patted on the head and called a "m" word. Here is the article...
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/03/29/2011-03-29_handyman_at_upper_east_side_building_hit_called_midget_by_his_boss_suit_claims.html
I wonder what would have happened had his race been attacked in the same manner? What if he were black and his boss referred to him as an "n" word? I am sure his boss would have been terminated! So, why is it okay to disparage a short man in such a way? It obviously was offensive and demeaning to him!
Of course his boss, Moises Guimet, says this never happened; I have to laugh at that. Why would this man, Juan Pichardo, go through the trouble of filing suit if it weren't true? He is the one that has the burden of proof does he not? One man's word against another isn't going to cut it! Mr Pichardo must have had something for his attorney to agree to represent him.
It was the same story with Sgt Patrick Burns; a short police officer who sued the city of Bayonne, NJ after being subjected to a hostile work environment for twelve years. His reward: a suspension for misconduct. Could it be that if Sgt Burns was black or female and was harassed due to those characteristics he would have received justice? His fellow police officers would have no doubt been disciplined.
So, just because you file a suit doesn't necessarily mean you will get justice. Not even a large class action suit (Dukes vs Walmart) will guarantee a remedy. This was a suit for gender discrimination. The Supreme Court just ruled that this particular suit shouldn't go forward and it will be the responsibility of the individual to sue Walmart, instead of a suit with potentially over a million plaintiffs. This case has been going on for almost ten years. Now, wouldn't you think that if the claimants didn't experience discrimination, they would have given up a long time ago?
There are many short men out there who experience mistreatment at work that don't sue, probably because they won't get much justice! It is not just about compensation, it is about principle! If you can't discriminate against one group, then you shouldn't be permitted to do it to another group. Isn't that equality? Unfortunately, most states have yet to pass protective measures for the short statured! Until then, us short men and women will be subjected to this type of unfair treatment.
Phrases such as...""How can this little man help us?" and "You short people sure have personalities" (as were directed at me) will continue to exist in the workplace. You can object to these and will subsequently be told to "go work elsewhere" or "get over it shortie"; working elsewhere won't solve the problem because they will engage in the same behavior.
Heightism is rampant and it is high time that these employers be held accountable!!
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/03/29/2011-03-29_handyman_at_upper_east_side_building_hit_called_midget_by_his_boss_suit_claims.html
I wonder what would have happened had his race been attacked in the same manner? What if he were black and his boss referred to him as an "n" word? I am sure his boss would have been terminated! So, why is it okay to disparage a short man in such a way? It obviously was offensive and demeaning to him!
Of course his boss, Moises Guimet, says this never happened; I have to laugh at that. Why would this man, Juan Pichardo, go through the trouble of filing suit if it weren't true? He is the one that has the burden of proof does he not? One man's word against another isn't going to cut it! Mr Pichardo must have had something for his attorney to agree to represent him.
It was the same story with Sgt Patrick Burns; a short police officer who sued the city of Bayonne, NJ after being subjected to a hostile work environment for twelve years. His reward: a suspension for misconduct. Could it be that if Sgt Burns was black or female and was harassed due to those characteristics he would have received justice? His fellow police officers would have no doubt been disciplined.
So, just because you file a suit doesn't necessarily mean you will get justice. Not even a large class action suit (Dukes vs Walmart) will guarantee a remedy. This was a suit for gender discrimination. The Supreme Court just ruled that this particular suit shouldn't go forward and it will be the responsibility of the individual to sue Walmart, instead of a suit with potentially over a million plaintiffs. This case has been going on for almost ten years. Now, wouldn't you think that if the claimants didn't experience discrimination, they would have given up a long time ago?
There are many short men out there who experience mistreatment at work that don't sue, probably because they won't get much justice! It is not just about compensation, it is about principle! If you can't discriminate against one group, then you shouldn't be permitted to do it to another group. Isn't that equality? Unfortunately, most states have yet to pass protective measures for the short statured! Until then, us short men and women will be subjected to this type of unfair treatment.
Phrases such as...""How can this little man help us?" and "You short people sure have personalities" (as were directed at me) will continue to exist in the workplace. You can object to these and will subsequently be told to "go work elsewhere" or "get over it shortie"; working elsewhere won't solve the problem because they will engage in the same behavior.
Heightism is rampant and it is high time that these employers be held accountable!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)