Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Gov. Nikki Haley Issues Budget Vetoes
The Governor's veto #18 cuts all operating funds - $417,750 - for the S.C. Arts Commission, eliminating their ability to function/administer any programs and services, including grants. She also vetoed the $25,000 in one-time funds for a plan a Cultural Districts Designation Program in her veto #56. More details to come but now is the time to urge your House and Senate members to vote to OVERRIDE VETO # 18 AND #56. The House is scheduled to take action Wednesday at 1PM and the Senate at 11AM on Thursday. Please act now!
Gov. Nikki Haley issues budget vetoes
In other news of things I care about: The US Supreme Court decisions about California's Prop 8 and the so-called 'Defense of Marriage Act' (aka DOMA) will come on Wednesday, June 26 at 10am.
Where can we learn about the decision?
Minute by minute updates are posted live Wednesday morning on SCOTUS Blog. You can log-on to watch for free. Also, if you have Facebook, sign-up to join this ONLINE Event page.
What can we do once we have a decision?
Many credit the beginning of our modern LGBT movement to the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969 which started at one of New York's LGBT bars.
In that spirit we will gather Wednesday from 5-6pm at PT's 1109 (1109 Assembly Street, Columbia) to organize a march through the streets of Columbia.
- At 6pm, we will march up Gervais Street past the State House which continues to deny our equality.
- We will turn down Main Street where the first SC Pride March was held in 1990 and pass the county courthouse at 1701 Main Street where many loving same-sex couples have been denied marriage licenses in the past.
- We will end our march out front of Columbia's City Hall, one of the places in our state which has granted equality to our state's residents and visitors through inclusive Human Rights Ordinances.
- From there we invite you to return to PT's 1109 with us so that we can spend time together as a community, processing the court's decisions and brainstorming ways to move forward for South Carolina. PTs 1109 will be offering Happy Hour specials till 8pm.
The results of the court's ruling will signify if this will be a celebration march or a march to call for more equality. We will have posters and supplies for you to make your own signs if you'd like. We will adjust the message of our signs based on how the court rules so come early to get ready. If it rains, bring your umbrellas!
Things you can do on Wednesday:
• Wear RED to symbolize love and commitment of marriage equality
• Tell all your friends about the march and ask them to join you in support of equality
• Post this information to Facebook and Twitter so everyone will know about the march
• Remember no matter the outcome, we will march peacefully and respectfully
• If you belong to an organization or business, bring your signs and banners so that the public will know you support equality
• Change your Social Media profile image to reflect LGBT equality in South Carolina.
If you don't live in Columbia but are organizing an event in your town, post those events this page to share with other residents of South Carolina.
United we will stand no matter the decision and we will move forward to advance other issues of LGBT equality till Equal Means Everyone.
If you haven't already, be sure to sign-up for South Carolina Equality action alerts to stay updated on the cases. http://goo.gl/PYmPW
Identity
Do you know any transgendered people?
(I'm listening to your answer, but I don't think you are listening to the question.)
Do you KNOW any transgendered people?
(What's the difference, you ask, between my two questions?)
Let me phrase it this way: Do you openly and genuinely associate on a personal basis with a Transgendered person?
(I do.)
I have more-than-one family member who is transgendered.
(I'm trying to protect their anonymity by being vague about their identity.)
I have several acquaintances who are transgendered.
In all cases, my associations with these people increased my awareness and compassion for the issues they experienced and are still experiencing.
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook, and since he posted it publicly, I shall quote him fairly and in its entirety (the link he refers to is immediately following):
"I'm all for equal rights for everyone, but this perplexes me. Not being insensitive, but I find it hard to believe that a six-year old has the sophistication of thought to culturally identify as transgendered. Would it not be kinder in the long run to tell the child "No, you're a boy. You have these body parts, and that means you use the boy's bathroom" than to foist this level of publicity and attention (some of it sure to be negative) on a first-grader?
This calls several levels of ethical consideration into debate...when does allowing your child to "be who he/she is" actually cause more damage than forcing the child to conform to societal norms? Children are not allowed to drink, drive cars, enter into contracts, engage in sexual behavior, or any number of other things that adults do because they (children) do not possess the knowledge or emotional maturity to make informed decisions.
This particular case also begs the question of whether the other children in the school are being treated fairly. Does exposing them to the concept of transgenderism at such an early age force them to process issues which they are not yet culturally or psychologically prepared to fully comprehend?
Ultimately, I hope that Coy grows up to be a happy, well-adjusted adult, living whatever lifestyle he/she chooses. I also hope becoming an iconic figure as a first-grader doesn't lead to pressures that make that more difficult."
My friend's post surprised me, because he in fact IS probably one of the most open-minded straight people I know, and I truly enjoy his company, friendship, and insights. I also know he won't mind me tackling the issue on my blog, with due respect to him, of course. But his post reveals a conformist tendency that we all fall victim to from time to time. The "don't rock the boat" idea that manifests in the fear that the child might be harmed by the very act of defending that child's rights and identity.
I responded to his post on Facebook with a quick answer, one that I didn't spend a lot of time on, just my gut reaction to his post.
"obviously the child *IS* sophisticated enough to express it, and therefore does deserve to have attention paid to the issue. No one should have their identity forced upon them AT ANY AGE. Three cheers to the child's parents who were actually listening to their child! (If she can think it or feel it, it's real enough to be an issue)"
Too often we think, as evidenced by my friend's post, that children are not aware of their identity. That they need development and maturity to know who they are. That they are too young to understand. But identity starts forming at birth. It begins with family and environment. It succumbs to society and marketing within days, beginning with how the parents view their child (as a boy, as a girl, as a race, as a culture), because, you see, the parents decide how to dress the child, how the child will told to believe, who they will associate with, what toys they will play with, etc. So the parents decisions are shaping the identity of the child - without input from the child.
So the child emerges into self-awareness with much of his or her identity predetermined by how their parents perceived them - and now has to overcome any dissonant components, sometimes with great difficulty. A parent doesn't have anything to go on, at first, EXCEPT genitalia. So being a "boy," or being a "girl," can ONLY begin with what genitalia the child has initially. And upon this the parents start forming the child.
Identity is everything to a person. Dig deep into your own psyche and try to tell me that isn't true. When I think of WHO I am, my first thought is that I am a man - but I am not a penis (nor the color blue or a tonka truck or a cigar or a mustache). I am gay - but I am not sex (or top or bottom). I am emotional - but I am not any specific emotion. I am a member of a family, a member of a community, a member of a minority group, a citizen of a city, a citizen of a state, a citizen of a country. I could go on and on about all the things I am - but the point is, my identity is not tied to the visible, but instead, to the invisible. I am feelings, I am thoughts, I am self-aware... etc. etc. etc.
And yet, so often, I hear gay people say things like, "I knew I was different (at a young age), I just wasn't sure what it was." My transgendered friends say that they "knew" when they were very young (this child's age), but didn't have definitions or specifics of what it is that they "knew." The theme keeps emerging in coming-out-story after coming-out-story after coming-out-story. Not just gay people, but bisexual people and transgendered people, too. I would like to offer the notion that the reason why they "don't know what it was" is because parents, and society, don't give them all the information, thinking that we have to shield them from such things.
I like this article because it means the parents were listening. They were listening when the first ludicrous idea that their boy might identify as a girl manifested in whatever way. They were listening again when the idea persisted. And maybe it took lots of listening, but the parents decided to listen, to give their child audience, to entertain the idea that they child might have a better understanding of her identity than the parents did. And the parents provided information so that the child could know what that something was. They didn't prolong or put-off a conversation with this child - and possibly saved this child years of emotional agony, years of identity-crisis!
I'm not a parent. I'm not transgendered. I can't pretend to fully understand either. I don't think there's any specific age at which it is a perfect time to discuss identity issues, but I would say there are cues and signs at every age. Cues as to whether there is an issue, signs that the issue needs discussion.
But I know that I sure would have liked parents who listened, not just to what I was saying, but to what I wasn't saying, when I was young. I, too, "knew" when I was very young, but had no outlet to explore it - no one to talk to, no one who was listening.
The result? I spent years pretending to be what I thought everyone else wanted me to be - instead of who I was. My environment as a child presented me with what my parents, their social circle and my school considered "normal," but I knew I was different. With lack of information, it became this guilt, this sense of not-belonging, this sense of being different, this sense of being strange, this sense of being weird... and I was just gay - not dealing with the super-complicated transgender identity-crisis that this young child appears to be confronted with.
(I'm listening to your answer, but I don't think you are listening to the question.)
Do you KNOW any transgendered people?
(What's the difference, you ask, between my two questions?)
Let me phrase it this way: Do you openly and genuinely associate on a personal basis with a Transgendered person?
(I do.)
I have more-than-one family member who is transgendered.
(I'm trying to protect their anonymity by being vague about their identity.)
I have several acquaintances who are transgendered.
In all cases, my associations with these people increased my awareness and compassion for the issues they experienced and are still experiencing.
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook, and since he posted it publicly, I shall quote him fairly and in its entirety (the link he refers to is immediately following):
"I'm all for equal rights for everyone, but this perplexes me. Not being insensitive, but I find it hard to believe that a six-year old has the sophistication of thought to culturally identify as transgendered. Would it not be kinder in the long run to tell the child "No, you're a boy. You have these body parts, and that means you use the boy's bathroom" than to foist this level of publicity and attention (some of it sure to be negative) on a first-grader?
This calls several levels of ethical consideration into debate...when does allowing your child to "be who he/she is" actually cause more damage than forcing the child to conform to societal norms? Children are not allowed to drink, drive cars, enter into contracts, engage in sexual behavior, or any number of other things that adults do because they (children) do not possess the knowledge or emotional maturity to make informed decisions.
This particular case also begs the question of whether the other children in the school are being treated fairly. Does exposing them to the concept of transgenderism at such an early age force them to process issues which they are not yet culturally or psychologically prepared to fully comprehend?
Ultimately, I hope that Coy grows up to be a happy, well-adjusted adult, living whatever lifestyle he/she chooses. I also hope becoming an iconic figure as a first-grader doesn't lead to pressures that make that more difficult."
Transgender Girl Wins Right to Use Bathroom at Public School
My friend's post surprised me, because he in fact IS probably one of the most open-minded straight people I know, and I truly enjoy his company, friendship, and insights. I also know he won't mind me tackling the issue on my blog, with due respect to him, of course. But his post reveals a conformist tendency that we all fall victim to from time to time. The "don't rock the boat" idea that manifests in the fear that the child might be harmed by the very act of defending that child's rights and identity.
I responded to his post on Facebook with a quick answer, one that I didn't spend a lot of time on, just my gut reaction to his post.
"obviously the child *IS* sophisticated enough to express it, and therefore does deserve to have attention paid to the issue. No one should have their identity forced upon them AT ANY AGE. Three cheers to the child's parents who were actually listening to their child! (If she can think it or feel it, it's real enough to be an issue)"
Too often we think, as evidenced by my friend's post, that children are not aware of their identity. That they need development and maturity to know who they are. That they are too young to understand. But identity starts forming at birth. It begins with family and environment. It succumbs to society and marketing within days, beginning with how the parents view their child (as a boy, as a girl, as a race, as a culture), because, you see, the parents decide how to dress the child, how the child will told to believe, who they will associate with, what toys they will play with, etc. So the parents decisions are shaping the identity of the child - without input from the child.
So the child emerges into self-awareness with much of his or her identity predetermined by how their parents perceived them - and now has to overcome any dissonant components, sometimes with great difficulty. A parent doesn't have anything to go on, at first, EXCEPT genitalia. So being a "boy," or being a "girl," can ONLY begin with what genitalia the child has initially. And upon this the parents start forming the child.
Identity is everything to a person. Dig deep into your own psyche and try to tell me that isn't true. When I think of WHO I am, my first thought is that I am a man - but I am not a penis (nor the color blue or a tonka truck or a cigar or a mustache). I am gay - but I am not sex (or top or bottom). I am emotional - but I am not any specific emotion. I am a member of a family, a member of a community, a member of a minority group, a citizen of a city, a citizen of a state, a citizen of a country. I could go on and on about all the things I am - but the point is, my identity is not tied to the visible, but instead, to the invisible. I am feelings, I am thoughts, I am self-aware... etc. etc. etc.
And yet, so often, I hear gay people say things like, "I knew I was different (at a young age), I just wasn't sure what it was." My transgendered friends say that they "knew" when they were very young (this child's age), but didn't have definitions or specifics of what it is that they "knew." The theme keeps emerging in coming-out-story after coming-out-story after coming-out-story. Not just gay people, but bisexual people and transgendered people, too. I would like to offer the notion that the reason why they "don't know what it was" is because parents, and society, don't give them all the information, thinking that we have to shield them from such things.
I like this article because it means the parents were listening. They were listening when the first ludicrous idea that their boy might identify as a girl manifested in whatever way. They were listening again when the idea persisted. And maybe it took lots of listening, but the parents decided to listen, to give their child audience, to entertain the idea that they child might have a better understanding of her identity than the parents did. And the parents provided information so that the child could know what that something was. They didn't prolong or put-off a conversation with this child - and possibly saved this child years of emotional agony, years of identity-crisis!
I'm not a parent. I'm not transgendered. I can't pretend to fully understand either. I don't think there's any specific age at which it is a perfect time to discuss identity issues, but I would say there are cues and signs at every age. Cues as to whether there is an issue, signs that the issue needs discussion.
But I know that I sure would have liked parents who listened, not just to what I was saying, but to what I wasn't saying, when I was young. I, too, "knew" when I was very young, but had no outlet to explore it - no one to talk to, no one who was listening.
The result? I spent years pretending to be what I thought everyone else wanted me to be - instead of who I was. My environment as a child presented me with what my parents, their social circle and my school considered "normal," but I knew I was different. With lack of information, it became this guilt, this sense of not-belonging, this sense of being different, this sense of being strange, this sense of being weird... and I was just gay - not dealing with the super-complicated transgender identity-crisis that this young child appears to be confronted with.
In which I hire a staff of gay waiters to wait upon me "hand-and-foot."
In a preemptive strike, I'm going to publicly admit that I have used the words "gay," "homosexual," and maybe even "faggot" in my lifetime. Also, I have even considered hiring an all gay staff of waiters to serve me food and decorate my house. I'm going to admit all this now, because I'm fully aware that someday some lawyer may ask me some questions relating to my use of those words and my contract with the Food Network may come under scrutiny. Oh, and also, some television news networks may become interested in reporting on it.
Ironically, Paula Deen should have followed my lead - because if you say you're sorry BEFORE you are caught for something, Mrs Deen, then people are more forgiving for it.
The way you are playing this out, Mrs. Deen, it sounds like you are apologizing only because you got caught.
Because it sure sounds as if you never took any real, tangible steps to create a pleasant working environment for those beneath you.
In other words, your apology rings shallow, Mrs. Deen.
My apology, on the other hand, is sincere. I have used all three words ("gay," "homosexual," and maybe even "faggot") to describe myself. Occasionally, I even call my friends "gay" or "homosexual." But please don't take it out-of-context and use it against me. I actually AM gay, I actually am homosexual, and when I first struggled with being gay, I may have called myself a faggot or two. Many of my friends are, in fact, "gay" or "homosexual." I don't refer to them as "faggot," because I know the difference. And what gay man wouldn't want a staff of gay men in their life?
But see, words like "gay," "homosexual," and "faggot" often are used to target a minority group in a derogatory fashion, and "I can, myself, determine what offends another person." I am, in fact, aware that some usage of these words are insensitive, so I don't use them in a derogatory fashion. I have even asked other people around me not to use those words in a derogatory fashion. I find the word "faggot," in particular, to be "mean," and I am sensitive to the fact that there are many other derogatory words that are "mean" to my minority group. I make sure people know how I feel about such words, and openly discourage jokes and innuendos that cause harm to my minority group. Furthermore, even though I am not of African-American heritage, I can plainly see that the "N Word" is harmful to a minority group and I don't use it. I have even asked other people around me not to use that word. In fact, I don't believe it is possible to use the "N Word" in any way that would be other-than derogatory, so I fail to see how you could make a statement like "I can't, myself, determine what offends another person," with regard to the use of that word, or with regard to racist jokes.
You see, Mrs Deen, you just can't simply turn a blind eye to how the people in your organization are being made to feel. If you were truly sensitive to the use of the "N Word" and the attitudes it conveys, you should have created policies and made statements and developed procedures for making your organization a friendly work environment. BEFORE the media attention, and your own Food Network's attention, forced you to. If you were truly sensitive to discrimination to members of minority groups then you would not have a discrimination case against your company in the court system.
I am a forgiving person, and I believe you have a lesson to be learned here, Mrs. Deen. The lesson is simply this: slap your brother and yourself upside the head (hard) for being insensitive to minority groups, offer proper compensation to the individual or individuals that were discriminated against in your restaurant, and use the publicity to make positive affirming statements about the minority group(s) - instead of taking a defensive, falsely innocent stance for yourself.
Oh, and, Three Cheers to the Food Network - hip-hip-hooray!
Ironically, Paula Deen should have followed my lead - because if you say you're sorry BEFORE you are caught for something, Mrs Deen, then people are more forgiving for it.
The way you are playing this out, Mrs. Deen, it sounds like you are apologizing only because you got caught.
Because it sure sounds as if you never took any real, tangible steps to create a pleasant working environment for those beneath you.
In other words, your apology rings shallow, Mrs. Deen.
My apology, on the other hand, is sincere. I have used all three words ("gay," "homosexual," and maybe even "faggot") to describe myself. Occasionally, I even call my friends "gay" or "homosexual." But please don't take it out-of-context and use it against me. I actually AM gay, I actually am homosexual, and when I first struggled with being gay, I may have called myself a faggot or two. Many of my friends are, in fact, "gay" or "homosexual." I don't refer to them as "faggot," because I know the difference. And what gay man wouldn't want a staff of gay men in their life?
But see, words like "gay," "homosexual," and "faggot" often are used to target a minority group in a derogatory fashion, and "I can, myself, determine what offends another person." I am, in fact, aware that some usage of these words are insensitive, so I don't use them in a derogatory fashion. I have even asked other people around me not to use those words in a derogatory fashion. I find the word "faggot," in particular, to be "mean," and I am sensitive to the fact that there are many other derogatory words that are "mean" to my minority group. I make sure people know how I feel about such words, and openly discourage jokes and innuendos that cause harm to my minority group. Furthermore, even though I am not of African-American heritage, I can plainly see that the "N Word" is harmful to a minority group and I don't use it. I have even asked other people around me not to use that word. In fact, I don't believe it is possible to use the "N Word" in any way that would be other-than derogatory, so I fail to see how you could make a statement like "I can't, myself, determine what offends another person," with regard to the use of that word, or with regard to racist jokes.
You see, Mrs Deen, you just can't simply turn a blind eye to how the people in your organization are being made to feel. If you were truly sensitive to the use of the "N Word" and the attitudes it conveys, you should have created policies and made statements and developed procedures for making your organization a friendly work environment. BEFORE the media attention, and your own Food Network's attention, forced you to. If you were truly sensitive to discrimination to members of minority groups then you would not have a discrimination case against your company in the court system.
I am a forgiving person, and I believe you have a lesson to be learned here, Mrs. Deen. The lesson is simply this: slap your brother and yourself upside the head (hard) for being insensitive to minority groups, offer proper compensation to the individual or individuals that were discriminated against in your restaurant, and use the publicity to make positive affirming statements about the minority group(s) - instead of taking a defensive, falsely innocent stance for yourself.
Oh, and, Three Cheers to the Food Network - hip-hip-hooray!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Annoy Your Facebook Friends, Get Facebook Blocked - a How-To Guide
Candy Crush Saga is a time-eating addictive ploy to get my money and piss off my friends.
A) I spent way too much time playing it.
B) Every cool "Booster" costs Facebook Points or Friends, and sometimes both.
C) Although the first two episodes are free, it's a lot like a drug pusher who gives the first few hits to get you hooked - every episode thereafter requires the player to invite three other Facebook friends to help the player to "get on the train", or to unlock the next episode. Or, alternatively, the Player can buy Facebook Points.
D) Candy Crush Saga posts to your Facebook wall incessantly, unless you restrict its access, and even then, you can't be sure.
E) Your friends will hate your incessant Life Requests, Ticket Requests, and Invitations.
So, is this all stuff I didn't know? Of course not! But did I play, did I get hooked? Yeah, I did.
Did you know all this stuff about Candy Crush Saga? Perhaps, and you might still get hooked too.
Sounds like there should be a CCSA 12-step meeting we should be attending.
The sheer genius of the game impresses me - because IT WORKS. I bugged my friends, I even almost bought Facebook Credits, and I even looked for Cheats.
What other Facebook game does this remind me of? Oh yeah, Farmville. Which was never THAT addictive, never as addictive as the Candy Crush Saga game. But it also incessantly posted to Facebook about game progress and would bug your Friends for help in the game.
Bejeweled Blitz and Zuma Blitz, while addictive, weren't nearly as intrusive on your Friend's Facebook as Candy Crush Saga.
Candy Crush Saga is directly responsible for the dishes in the sink, the rank cat box and dandelions in the yard. It is why I'm not on my bicycle keeping fit, it is why Sarah Palin is evil, and why Fox News still sucks. I simply can't change the world while playing Candy Crush Saga.
I have decided to give up Candy Crush Saga, and so far, I am officially On-The-Wagon (3 days!). And yet, I find myself blogging about Candy Crush Saga. Am I a goner, after all?
I still get requests from others who play, though.Perhaps an Intervention is imminent? No, wait, I need my 30 Day chip first. At least.
A) I spent way too much time playing it.
B) Every cool "Booster" costs Facebook Points or Friends, and sometimes both.
C) Although the first two episodes are free, it's a lot like a drug pusher who gives the first few hits to get you hooked - every episode thereafter requires the player to invite three other Facebook friends to help the player to "get on the train", or to unlock the next episode. Or, alternatively, the Player can buy Facebook Points.
D) Candy Crush Saga posts to your Facebook wall incessantly, unless you restrict its access, and even then, you can't be sure.
E) Your friends will hate your incessant Life Requests, Ticket Requests, and Invitations.
So, is this all stuff I didn't know? Of course not! But did I play, did I get hooked? Yeah, I did.
Did you know all this stuff about Candy Crush Saga? Perhaps, and you might still get hooked too.
Sounds like there should be a CCSA 12-step meeting we should be attending.
The sheer genius of the game impresses me - because IT WORKS. I bugged my friends, I even almost bought Facebook Credits, and I even looked for Cheats.
What other Facebook game does this remind me of? Oh yeah, Farmville. Which was never THAT addictive, never as addictive as the Candy Crush Saga game. But it also incessantly posted to Facebook about game progress and would bug your Friends for help in the game.
Bejeweled Blitz and Zuma Blitz, while addictive, weren't nearly as intrusive on your Friend's Facebook as Candy Crush Saga.
Candy Crush Saga is directly responsible for the dishes in the sink, the rank cat box and dandelions in the yard. It is why I'm not on my bicycle keeping fit, it is why Sarah Palin is evil, and why Fox News still sucks. I simply can't change the world while playing Candy Crush Saga.
I have decided to give up Candy Crush Saga, and so far, I am officially On-The-Wagon (3 days!). And yet, I find myself blogging about Candy Crush Saga. Am I a goner, after all?
I still get requests from others who play, though.Perhaps an Intervention is imminent? No, wait, I need my 30 Day chip first. At least.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
RANT
RANT: Marketing companies who produce commercials for local or big business but don't appreciate your talent enough to pay their actors: YOU SUCK.Quit advertising for actors willing to do the commercial to "build their resume..." YOU CHEAPEN THEIR ART!.
And Actors, SHAME ON YOU FOR ACCEPTING THAT! You are worth more than just free... expect more, demand more! Even a modest stipend is better than nothing! Save your charity for community theatre - Actors should get paid in any business setting!
END RANT.
And Actors, SHAME ON YOU FOR ACCEPTING THAT! You are worth more than just free... expect more, demand more! Even a modest stipend is better than nothing! Save your charity for community theatre - Actors should get paid in any business setting!
END RANT.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Exercises for Each Stage of Cancer Recovery
Recently I was contacted by one Melanie Bowen. She asked if I would " allow guest posts because (she) recently (has) been researching and writing about how staying physically fit can be extremely beneficial to people going through cancer treatments." Melanie's bio states she "is currently a Master's student with a passion that stems from her grandmother's cancer diagnosis. She often highlights the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. In her spare time, you can find Melanie trying new vegan recipes, on her yoga mat, or spending time with her family."
I thought to myself, "where's the harm in in an article that explores the benefits of exercise for cancer patients?" And so I asked her to send me her submission and I would read it and decide. The article she sent me appears at the bottom of this entry. It became immediately apparent, in fairness, that Melanie wanted to promote her blog for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.
Personally, my only awareness of Mesothelioma was from those commercials I always see on certain networks and in certain hospital waiting rooms claiming that some law firm is standing by waiting to take your call to see if they can make a buck off of your Mesothelioma case. Because, of course, Mesothelioma is the "Asbestos Cancer," and so surely money can be made off the case by suing corporations, businesses and other "responsible entities" (the manufacturer) that exposed you to asbestos in the first place. You know the commercials of which I speak - the ones with the American Flag flying in the background and some anthem-like patriotic music and an actor who got paid to elicit your sympathy and make you feel like that law firm actually cares (The truth of such commercials is that they are a paid advertisement for a referral mill in which they seek a cut from a locally referred lawyer's fees - the claimant would be just as well-served, if not better-served, by contacting a local lawyer directly).
As it turns out, upon a very-quick-educate-myself-on-Mesothelioma session, Mesothelioma is in fact caused solely by asbestos. Asbestos liability is what's known as "strict liability" - the plaintiff doesn't have to show negligence, or even demonstrate that the manufacturer was aware of the risks. Because the product is inherently dangerous, a diagnosis is practically a guarantee of full compensation to either the patient or the surviving family.
A whole industry has arisen out of this Mesothelioma thing. Don't get me wrong, Mesothelioma is very serious, and people DIE from it. But a Mesothelioma-industry that has sprung up out of the disease that includes a network of doctors and healthcare professionals who specialize in it, lawyers (of both the legitimate and ambulance-chaser varieties) who specialize in it, insurance companies and processors who specialize in it, awareness/charity organizations that generate cash flow (and thus salaries) off of it, and the media industry that benefits from advertisers in all the aforementioned categories. It's an industry that capitalizes on the misfortune of the victim, and drives healthcare costs up through the milking thereof.
However, Melanie's blog appears to be oriented more for cancer in general rather than (just) Mesothelioma, and carries an overall positive message that explores things that can be beneficial to cancer patients. Some examples I read included exercise, nutrition and therapy. Still, reader beware: seek a doctor's advice, do your own research, etc., etc., etc., and be aware that the overall purpose of her blog appearing on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance website is to drive web-traffic to that parent site, though Melanie's personal motivations may be more noble than that. You decide.
I firmly believe that an physically active lifestyle can be beneficial to anyone, regardless of their health or diagnosis, except when their doctor does not advise physical activity. Mental acuity and spiritual fitness are things no self-respecting doctor would ever advise against. So therefore, I have included what Melanie sent me - Melanie's blog is here: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/melanie/
And thanks, Melanie, for improving my awareness of Mesothelioma.
I thought to myself, "where's the harm in in an article that explores the benefits of exercise for cancer patients?" And so I asked her to send me her submission and I would read it and decide. The article she sent me appears at the bottom of this entry. It became immediately apparent, in fairness, that Melanie wanted to promote her blog for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.
Personally, my only awareness of Mesothelioma was from those commercials I always see on certain networks and in certain hospital waiting rooms claiming that some law firm is standing by waiting to take your call to see if they can make a buck off of your Mesothelioma case. Because, of course, Mesothelioma is the "Asbestos Cancer," and so surely money can be made off the case by suing corporations, businesses and other "responsible entities" (the manufacturer) that exposed you to asbestos in the first place. You know the commercials of which I speak - the ones with the American Flag flying in the background and some anthem-like patriotic music and an actor who got paid to elicit your sympathy and make you feel like that law firm actually cares (The truth of such commercials is that they are a paid advertisement for a referral mill in which they seek a cut from a locally referred lawyer's fees - the claimant would be just as well-served, if not better-served, by contacting a local lawyer directly).
As it turns out, upon a very-quick-educate-myself-on-Mesothelioma session, Mesothelioma is in fact caused solely by asbestos. Asbestos liability is what's known as "strict liability" - the plaintiff doesn't have to show negligence, or even demonstrate that the manufacturer was aware of the risks. Because the product is inherently dangerous, a diagnosis is practically a guarantee of full compensation to either the patient or the surviving family.
A whole industry has arisen out of this Mesothelioma thing. Don't get me wrong, Mesothelioma is very serious, and people DIE from it. But a Mesothelioma-industry that has sprung up out of the disease that includes a network of doctors and healthcare professionals who specialize in it, lawyers (of both the legitimate and ambulance-chaser varieties) who specialize in it, insurance companies and processors who specialize in it, awareness/charity organizations that generate cash flow (and thus salaries) off of it, and the media industry that benefits from advertisers in all the aforementioned categories. It's an industry that capitalizes on the misfortune of the victim, and drives healthcare costs up through the milking thereof.
However, Melanie's blog appears to be oriented more for cancer in general rather than (just) Mesothelioma, and carries an overall positive message that explores things that can be beneficial to cancer patients. Some examples I read included exercise, nutrition and therapy. Still, reader beware: seek a doctor's advice, do your own research, etc., etc., etc., and be aware that the overall purpose of her blog appearing on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance website is to drive web-traffic to that parent site, though Melanie's personal motivations may be more noble than that. You decide.
I firmly believe that an physically active lifestyle can be beneficial to anyone, regardless of their health or diagnosis, except when their doctor does not advise physical activity. Mental acuity and spiritual fitness are things no self-respecting doctor would ever advise against. So therefore, I have included what Melanie sent me - Melanie's blog is here: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/melanie/
And thanks, Melanie, for improving my awareness of Mesothelioma.
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Exercises
for Each Stage of Cancer Recovery
It’s
important for people to remain physically active to preserve bone strength and
muscle. Heart and lung function can also suffer from a lack of exercise. When
people are ill, it’s often impossible to maintain their normal exercise
routine, but it’s important that a sedentary lifestyle isn’t adopted. When the
symptoms or treatment for cancer leave you unable to pursue your regular
activities, speak to your medical team about ways to work your body to remain as
physically fit as possible.
Beginner `
Light
exercise can give a feeling of calmness and encouragement, thus reducing the
depression that may accompany illness. Even low impact exercises like light
stretching can increase vitality and make you more flexible. A light exercise
program can improve sleep so that your rested body and mind are ready for the
next day. Simple stretching can help strengthen the body even while receiving
aggressive cancer treatments. The exercises can be done without taking away the
breath. You can even carry on a conversation while improving your physical
fitness. People in the late stages of cancer can relieve the swelling and
discomfort caused by surgery or lymph-edema. For those with the prognosis of
mesothelioma, there may be respiratory related complications that prevent
heavy exercise. As a result, simple stretching can improve fitness without
suffering difficulty in breathing. Almost anyone can remain flexible by simple
body movements and stretching.
Intermediate
There
are many benefits to exercising in the water as opposed to on land. Water has
the unique ability to disperse body heat, which prevents your body from
overheating while exercising. Patients can easily do moderate exercises like
water aerobics as they begin to recover from the treatments received to fight
cancer. The buoyancy of the water supports the body, allowing a greater range
of motion. It is often easier for those who suffer from joint and muscle pain
and stiffness. Water aerobics are very beneficial in the building and regaining
of strength, due to the fact that water
provides 12-14 times more resistance than training on land. Circulation is
increased, cardiovascular endurance is improved, and bone health is maintained.
Advanced
As
the cancer recovery progresses, advanced exercise routines can be practiced so
that strength is regained and overall physical condition is improved. To battle
fatigue, the continuous movement of aerobics will improve energy. With approval
from the medical team, the recovering cancer patient can combat the fatigue, a
common symptom caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Rest alone will
not overcome this fatigue, but an aerobic exercise routine can improve the
circulation and strengthen the heart. Emotional health and brain function can
be improved as overall physical well-being is being restored.
If
your cancer treatments won’t allow you to follow a strenuous workout routine,
there are several other options available to strengthen your body, improve your
emotional state, and work toward a healthy lifestyle. Ask your medical staff
about various exercises to make sure that you are strong enough to embark on
the new physical fitness routine at every stage of your disease, treatment, and
recovery.
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