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International Men's Day - November 19
posted by Scott on Friday April 19, @12:09PM
from the announcements dept.
Announcements Harrack Balramsingh writes "The International Men’s Day Committee is calling on organizations and individuals around the world to join with them in celebrating International Men’s Day (IMD) on November 19. The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day include improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, producing responsible males and highlighting positive male role models. The IMD first started in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999. It is hoped that the day would eventually be recognized worldwide. Please join with us in observing this Men’s Day."

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Commemorative Clothing (Score:2)
by Thomas on Friday April 19, @12:27PM EST (#1)
(User #280 Info)
Does anyone know if there are sweatshirts or other items of clothing being sold to commemorate and celebrate the day?
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Lets just kiss and make up. (Score:1)
by ronn on Friday April 19, @01:15PM EST (#3)
(User #598 Info)
producing responsible males and highlighting positive male role models. --------------- After we have been distroyed. Kiss Most of us are responsible. Lets just even the playing field and not just kiss and make up. It is way past that. You can not Kill a dead man.
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Is This Really What We Want? (Score:2)
by frank h on Friday April 19, @03:15PM EST (#6)
(User #141 Info)
"...include improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, producing responsible males and highlighting positive male role models."

I don.t want to rain on anyone's parade here, and perhaps I'm ignorant of something that we've already satisifed ourselves (as an "organization") that we support. But as I read these ideals, I realize that they could easily be defined from a feminist perspective. It's my position that an international celebration of men ought to be supportive of the needs of men, and it's definition needs to be just a little more pointed than the one offered in the announcement. Like:
- father's rights in reproduction and parenting,
- support for increased research in men's health, notably mental health (too many suicides) and prostate cancer,
- equal protection under the law (everything from prison rape to other rape of men to DV).

I'd also like to see a repudiation of pay equity.

Overall, I want to be comfortable that this is not just another feminist move with men's names pasted all over it. If I've missed the point here, please educate me.

Frank
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I Sent... (Score:2)
by frank h on Saturday April 20, @10:46AM EST (#18)
(User #141 Info)
I sent this email to Mr. Balramsingh:

I recently saw this post at / :
"The International Men’s Day Committee is calling on organizations and individuals around the world to join with them in celebrating International Men’s Day (IMD) on November 19. The objectives of celebrating an International Men's Day include improving gender relations, promoting gender equality, producing responsible males and highlighting positive male role models. The IMD first started in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999. It is hoped that the day would eventually be recognized worldwide. Please join with us in observing this Men’s Day."

There has been some discussion about how we ought to support this and participate. Among the first questions that came up was, can we get some more details on the description of the guiding principles of the event and who the leaders are? We have concerns that, from the description that was given, the goals of this celebration may be somewhat distant from our own.

Can you provide more information?
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By angry harry - www.angryharry.com (Score:0, Offtopic)
by ronn on Saturday April 20, @11:27AM EST (#19)
(User #598 Info)
On this website - hither and thither - and with STRONG evidence - FEMINISM is shown to be a CAUSAL factor when it come to violence, assault, domestic violence, sexual assault, robbery, child abuse, drugs, teenage pregnancies, poverty, poor educational standards, prostitution, paedophilia, harassment, bad manners, traffic congestion, pollution, terrorism, vandalism, burglary, murder, teenage delinquency, road rage, alcoholism, other addictions, hooliganism, depression, gender conflict, hysteria, the judicial punishment of innocent individuals, the growing prison population, family breakdown, the corruption of the justice system and the democratic process, the corrosion of academic integrity, the degradation of the social sciences and the law, poor public services, the impoverishment of pensioners, and hostile rap music!

http://www.angryharry.com/index.html
AH

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Opportunity (Score:1)
by Subversive on Sunday April 21, @11:24AM EST (#24)
(User #343 Info)
Perhaps it would be good to support this regardless, just to get our foot in the door. So long as the day is not labeled or described as "International Men-Are-Evil Day," it would create additional opportunities to discuss men's issues, despite the intentions of some of the other IMD supporters.
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This signature has been infected with Anthrax. Take your medicine.
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My Message and Balramsingh's Reply... (Score:2)
by frank h on Sunday April 21, @12:58PM EST (#25)
(User #141 Info)
This is what i got back from Mr. Balramsingh:

Subject: IMD

Dear Frank,
 
Firstly, I think the mensactivism organization is doing a fantastic job. We are committed to defending men but we recognise that men as well as women have their shortcomings.
 
Secondly, we have very reputable members who are great exemplars. I am one of the
co-ordinators and many others are involved. We have the blessings of people in UNESCO.
Groups from other countries observe the special day with us. I am sending a few articles of just one of the functions we had last year. I will send more information.

Men’s Day observance well attended
November 21, 2001
 
People of all walks of life assembled at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre in Couva on November 19 to celebrate the third International Men’s Day (IMD) observance hosted by the non-governmental organization Citizens For A Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT).
 
Topics discussed included the secrets to a successful marriage, how to handle the trauma of divorce, the scourge of domestic violence, self-esteem and gender equality.
 
The Men’s Day, which was initiated in this country in 1999, received the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). A number of organisations in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean also joined in this year’s celebrations.
 
Among the presenters at the Men’s Day function on November 19 were Gregory Sloane-Seale, executive member of the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition on the Rights of the Child; Jacqueline Burgess a founding member of the organisation Women Working for Social Progress; Sattie Sundar, head of the Bronte Village Women’s group, Dalip Soobarsingh of Alcohol Anonymous, Pastor Kenneth Niles, Dr. Robert Mulctrie, Director of the International Institute of Self-Esteem, health, peace and anger, Dr. Rakib Buckridan, a family and marriage counselor and co-coordinators Harrack Balramsingh and Jerome Teelucksingh
 
Other contributions came from Arjun Teeluck Janki of the Divine Life Society of T&T, former school principal Dr. Rosabelle Seesaran, Sam Lewis of the South Regional Mediation Centres, Dr. F. Rahimi of the Bahai Faith, Cindy Balramsingh of CBTT and Helen Pounder of the Rape Crises Centre.
 
Representatives of the Kabir Panth, Califonia Hindu Temple, Wesleyan Holiness Church, HOPE, Church of God of Prophecy, CAFRA, Rebirth House, St. Vincent De Paul, YMCA, Emanuel Christian Church and Family in Action were also present.

Men told to improve their self-esteem
Movember 20, 2001
 
“Low self esteem can cause poor and dysfunctional relationships, lead to depression and can create in one’s mind a very bleak and negative outlook on life.”
 
So said female activist Jacqueline Burgess while speaking at the third International Men’s Day (IMD) observance hosted by Citizens For A Better Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, McBean, Couva on Monday.
 
Burgess, a founding member of the organisation Women Working for Social Progress, known also as Workingwomen, added: “once you realize you are being overcome by a negative sense of yourself, there is the possibility of improving your self-esteem.” She said it was not always easy for the affected individual to articulate what was taking place and therefore, those who were around and observing must take the responsibility of restoring that life.
 
She pointed out: “A variety of factors can contribute to low self-esteem, including but not limited to poor relationships with parents or siblings, being victims or perpetrators of physically, sexually or mentally abusive relationships and the experiencing of discriminatory practices in your personal or professional life.”
 
Burgess said that from her observance, “many young males exude high self-esteem.” However, she added, it seems durin

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