What I’m Reading – December 28, 2014
Written by Ashley Kelmore, Posted in What I'm Reading
Injustice
– “They found that the cemetery held 31 graves. That matched exactly the number of pipe crosses at Boot Hill, which were planted in the 1990s based on folklore. But that number — 31 — was based on the school’s own records, records kept by men accused of torturing boys. Those same papers showed that another 50 children died in custody. We asked where the other 50 boys were buried. The FDLE said they had no idea.” Ground Truth: In Dozier’s Neglected Cemetery a Search for Lost Boys and the Reasons Why They Died (h/t @mattdpearce)
Police Violence
– “But I assume this means we can blame Bill O’Reilly for his 28 episodes of invective against “Tiller the Baby Killer” that eventually ended in the murder of Wichita abortion provider George Tiller by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder.” Let’s Blame Conservatives For All the Killings They’re Responsible For (h/t @allenbrauer)
– “At the same time, however, we need to understand that their deaths are in no way related to the massive protests against systemic abuses of the justice system as symbolized by the recent deaths—also national tragedies—of Eric Garner, Akai Gurley, and Michael Brown. Ismaaiyl Brinsley, the suicidal killer, wasn’t an impassioned activist expressing political frustration, he was a troubled man who had shot his girlfriend earlier that same day.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The Police Aren’t Under Attack. Institutionalized Racism Is. (via @kaj33)
– “Keep in mind that up until now, there have been no reported incidents before any game, high school college or professional, in response to the players’ wearing the shirts. And we should ask: What kind of a message it is for a principal to send to young people that actually caring about the world and being educated on issues is somehow something that should be maligned and censored, if not outright punished?” Lesson Learned: High School Hoops Team Disinvited From Tournament Over ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Shirts (via @EdgeofSports)
Capitalism
– “Many were uninsured Heartland patients who were eligible for financial aid that would have eliminated or drastically cut their bills. Instead, they were charged full price for their care, without the deep discounts negotiated by insurers, according to court records, interviews and data provided by Heartland.” From the E.R. to the Courtroom: How Nonprofit Hospitals Are Seizing Patients’ Wages (via @ProPublica)
Racism
– “The American rapper’s drawl is incongruous with her Australian accent in interviews. She seems clueless as to why hip-hop is black dominated, but she’s absolutely sure that she deserves a place in it. She’s succeeding in a genre with no idea of its social and historical significance.” Azealia Banks vs Iggy Azalea: ‘Privileged white people shouldn’t steal hip-hop’ (via @renireni)
Misogyny
– “If “the rape train’s coming for you”—directed at a woman in order to punish her for her work advocating for women—doesn’t qualify as gendered abuse, then what on earth does? What’s the point of having a harassment policy at all if it doesn’t police harassment?” Twitter doesn’t think these rape and death threats are harassment (via @TheLindyWest)
– “She doesn’t want a relationship, she just wants people to leave her alone. When it comes to stuff like that, either be decent or don’t bother her at all,” she said. Man rejected by woman on Facebook charged for burning down her home (via @Q13Fox)
Health Care
– “It represents a remarkable shift,” Arthur Caplan, who heads the division of bioethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, told NBC News. “If physician opposition continues to weaken, it is likely that despite fierce resistance from some religious groups and some in the disability community, more states will follow Oregon, Washington and Vermont, and legalize.” Most Doctors In The United States Now Support ‘Death With Dignity’ Laws (h/t @Legal_Voice)
Resolutions
– “I’ve concluded that people condemn those who make resolutions to change mainly because change makes folks uncomfortable. So rather than encourage and support people who are trying to make changes, folks ridicule them and chastise them for making resolutions.” Talking About A Resolution (via @FeministaJones)