stoltz
Platinum
Reged: 01/29/07
Posts: 1478
Loc: Texas
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Many people probably know that Texas got hit hard with flooding the last couple of weeks. I was watching a local news station the other day, and one segment was about a single man who lost everything in the floods. The reporter said that the man got 5 days worth of help from the Red Cross (a hotel room and money for food/clothing) and he had tried getting help from local shelters in town, but was refused help because he was not a woman.
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jbar
Platinum
Reged: 12/16/06
Posts: 989
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This is just another example of the blatant, hypochritical anti-male mentality in this country. Of all of the laws against discrimination which are on the books, the ones against sexual discrimination are the easiest to enforce, when there is no question of employment involved.
I suggest the man in question file a civil rights suit with the Justice Dept. over this. Perhaps then any individual or organization providing "shelter" to anyone would be forewarned not to discriminate. Even use of the expression "women's shelter" is discriminatory!
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stoltz
Platinum
Reged: 01/29/07
Posts: 1478
Loc: Texas
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What really got me about the story when I watched it is that the reporter (a woman) said it in passing like it was no big deal.
While I agree that the man should file a lawsuit, he probably won't because (1) he has much HIGHER priorities right now to deal with, (2) it will drag in the courts and be tossed out in the end (like all other blatant unconsititional discrimination toward men), and (3) he'll probably get some money thrown his way from some people and feel he shouldn't muddy the waters.
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Meg21
Platinum
Reged: 10/25/06
Posts: 1664
Loc: Midwest
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That's a horrible thing for that man to go through and I hope he has family and friends who can help him, but something you two are overlooking AS USUAL is that if a shelter is for women or women and their children it is never allowed to have a man stay there for REASONS. It is not safe to have men in women's shelters. Period. It's not fair to the women to have a man there, even if he needs help. I've noticed that this isn't the first time someone has mentioned men not getting into women's shelters. But something no one takes into consideration is that the reason there are women's shelters is because WOMEN faught to get them. We've been fighting for rights and help and things like shelters to be safe in for decades if not longer. You want a men's shelter? You want to help men like the man who's house got flooded? DO SOMETHING YOURSELF! That's what women did, that's why we have shelters. Start a shelter yourself. Get other men and women in your community involved. Seriously. Maybe someday there will be as many men's shelters as there are women's shelters, but to get there someone has to get the ball rolling. So, roll it!
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I love tattoos!!! Woot woot!
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gigi
Platinum
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 4842
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There are men's shelters. For years, there have been men's shelters. They're not as nice as women's shelters, which is part of the problem. Frequently, women who need shelters are fleeing abusive marriages or unable to afford a place of thier own... the ones fleeing abusive marriages find it much easier to find shelter. Frequently, men who need shelters are unalbe to afford a place of thier own or have been kicked out elsewhere for being intoxicated or high... They are RARELY fleeing for reasons of being abused (and the few who have that problem DO have a problem finding shelter). BUT all people who are displaced because of fire or flood or hurricanes... the traditional shelters are not nice for them, they're full of recovering alcoholics & habitually homeless... and they ALL tend to turn to Red Cross when disaster displaces them. That's what the Red Cross is all about. If there were a flood that displaced a bunch of single women who were not abused... you can bet the battered women's shelters would turn THEM away as well, send them to the red cross shelter.
Should he sue? Well, to sue for discrimination, you first have to prove that you're a member of a class of people who need protection of the anti-discrimination laws. What minority is this guy part of which has been traditionally unable to feed & house itself? When he showed up at a battered womens' shelter, asking to be housed becuase his house was ruined, what made him think he was part of THAT protected class & deserved to be protected? Was the fire or flood that ravated his house liable to chase him down, find him and maybe rape him?
I'm all for pushing for men to be protected from harm in an equal way as women... but I don't like it when the facts are skewed so that things sound like they're discriminatory when they're not. Talk to me about how men don't get custody of the kids, or how they're laughed out of court when they try to explain that the ex wife is abusive... but don't take that extra step & try to tell me that they're in more physical danger on a regular enough basis that we need entire dormatories dedicated to protecting them... and don't try to tell me that a man who is displaced due to a disaster is disccriminated against because he had to go to the Red Cross (which takes care of ALL people who are victims of disaster) rather than a battered women's shelter!
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stoltz
Platinum
Reged: 01/29/07
Posts: 1478
Loc: Texas
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The question is are these shelters paid for in any way, shape, or form, with taxpayer money? I recall looking up one such "women's" shelter several months back and the list of contributors was a government agency. Therefore, since this man is a taxpayer, he has every right to demand equal service if the shelter is receiving funds from his pocket through a government agency, regardless of claiming if he is in any particular class.
BTW, what are your (and anyone else's) thoughts on the Trojan commercial that depicts men as disgusting, dirty animals (pigs, to be specific) until they plop down some money for a condom? It's interesting that the women in the commercial are depicted as model-esque types, too, eh? More sexism in the media, IMHO, which is crammed down the public's throats.
Edited by stoltz (07/11/07 12:16 PM)
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HardKnox
Platinum
Reged: 06/13/07
Posts: 2615
Loc: Wisconsin
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WELL, you know how it is. We men are TOUGH. We can forage around for roots and grubs for dinner and make a lean-to out of pine boughs for shelter for the night. We can make a fire-starter out of some sticks and twine. We'll be FINE.
Kind of a bummer with no fridge for the beer, but we'll be FINE.
The more I read this stuff the more I see the evidence of discrimination against the male of the species. It's nice how my STBX is "entitled" to 50% of all the stuff I have accumulated over the past 48 years.
HAH! For a moment, I actually thought most of that stuff was MINE!
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gigi
Platinum
Reged: 11/06/06
Posts: 4842
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HardKnox. You had a 48 year long marriage? Gee, I thought you were younger than that.
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HardKnox
Platinum
Reged: 06/13/07
Posts: 2615
Loc: Wisconsin
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Heeheehee....good one gigi.
OK, I should have said "It's nice how my STBX THINKS she is "entitled" to 50% of all the stuff I have accumulated over the past 48 years."
I started accumulating things at a VERY young age.
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Sarah1014
Platinum
Reged: 04/12/07
Posts: 2223
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Ok you guys. I don't know much about this but consider:
The world is basically run by men. Why all the injustice to you?
I will never get into a discussion about this gender crap because it's a waste of my time and gross generalizations.
Here's my experience with the Red Cross though...
A few years ago, my brother and sister-in-law's apartment building burned down. Mind you, she is basically new to our country--a doctor from Lithuania.
The Red Cross stepped in and provided stipends for food, clothing, new bedding, hotel stays, etc. They were on site for nearly a week aiding with the cleanup and providing food and water and supplies for the job. They even provided U-hauls for the tenants. They were beyond AWESOME!!
My sister in law was so impressed that she said she will give to the Red Cross for the rest of her life.
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