This week's chat is on the topic of making use of technology,
particularly the internet, to promote men's rights and organize the
men's movement. Some people have noted that in recent years the men's
movement has made more progress than ever before, and that this has
corresponded directly with the rise of the internet. With the ability
to find people with similar views and experiences only a search engine
away, the 'net and other technologies are empowering men's activists
in ways that were never before possible. What can we do to help this
process along? Click here starting at 9:30 PM Eastern Time tonight and join our discussion!

The latest episode of The Men's Hour, an internet radio program about men's rights, has been released on the web. Listen to it in Windows Media or RealAudio format at this page. Program 4 includes interviews with Maurice Elfeke about a hunger strike in Berlin, Michael Joiner, who did a hunger striker in Tennessee, and Trudy Schuett, author of the DesertLight Journal, and much more.

Doris Lessing, a well known feminist novelist, has recently spoken out about the needless and vicious male bashing that feminists keep promoting, according to this UK Guardian article. Lessing is quoted as saying, "It is time we began to ask who are these women who continually rubbish men. The most stupid, ill-educated and nasty woman can rubbish the nicest, kindest and most intelligent man and no one protests. Men seem to be so cowed that they can't fight back, and it is time they did."

cheddah writes "The New Jersey Supreme Court today barred a divorced father from having frozen embryos implanted in another woman, which would make his ex-wife a mother against her will." The article is here from the Boston Globe. The argument here is clear: women cannot be forced into unwanted parenthood. Now how about the same thing for men?

In 1971, the radical gender feminists developed a new theory about "The Patriarchy." They claimed that most fathers molest their daughters, "priming" them for wife and motherhood. Wendy McElroy in this column on Fox News puts the math to the myth.

Neil Steyskal wrote a great editorial for Lew Rockwell.com. In it, he explains that men need to become aware of the high incidence of divorce which often is initiated by women, and to take steps to avoid it (divorce or marriage). The article begins, "Would you take action if you learned you might lose the use of your legs within seven years? Well, the odds on your being divorced are much, much higher; and it can cripple you almost as badly."

Robert Cunningham writes "It is necessary for our culture to repudiate the deficit perspective on what it means to be male. Boys and men are not deficient simply by being male. Unless we address this negative understanding of the value of men and boys, which is largely accepted by our society, we cannot make inroads into reducing the high rates of suicide among men and boys. The following PDF document is a good attempt to promote a positive approach to the health and well-being of boys and men."

The Times, a UK newspaper, posted this review of a new book which purports to teach men how to avoid getting involved with potentially violent women. The book's author is none other than Erin Pizzey, the founder of Britain's first refuge for battered women. The fact that this person wrote a book about this particular subject offers hope to men everywhere that the problem of domestic violence against men is going to finally see mainstream light.

Ed Bartlett from the Men's Health America list writes "Men's health is going international! The preliminary program of the First World Congress on Men's Health, to be held in Vienna on Nov 2-4, 2001, is now available at this site."

This news just in, again from Dr. Chuck Corry: "State District Judge Thomas L. Kennedy, angered over being named a defendant in a $36 million corruption lawsuit, has threatened to arrest the Plaintiff, Father's Rights Advocate, Michael Sandifer, and hold him without bail. "No bail" is used only for the most serious capital crimes. Upon learning of the threat, the plaintiff, Father's Rights Advocate, Michael Sandifer replied, " I am taking this threat very seriously. It's hard to believe such an extraordinary abuse of Judicial power could happen in America." For further information contact Chuck Hansen @ (719) 748-9058."

Marc Angelucci writes "You'd think US News & World Report would be a little more gender-aware after John Leo's coverage of femi-fury at UCLA a few months ago. Not so. This short US News article says one in five girls report violence in relationships, then goes on to tell the usual one-sided story. Not a single word about male victims. Please write to the editor at letters@usnews.com. I'll post the outcomes when they print."

Robert Cunningham writes " A lot of the material written about the plight of divorced and separated fathers is written from a very conservative outlook. This, I believe, helps to limit the appeal of their plight to a narrow audience. Michael Green in his book, Fathers After Divorce and his web site of the same name presents an alternative vision, and in doing so presents their plight in such a way as to appeal to a wider audience. I heartedly recommend his book and site."

Dr. Chuck Corry forwarded me the following press release: "Colorado Springs, Co. - State District Judge Thomas L. Kennedy was named as a defendant in a $36 million lawsuit filed this day in Colorado Springs, Co. The lawsuit is asking for the disbarrment and the removal of Judge Kennedy for Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Fraud. Plaintiff, Michael Sandifer, a "Father For Equal Rights" advocate called the Family Court System of Colorado "a cess pool of graft and corruption." Other named defendants are: Robert J. Frank, partner in the law firm of Tegtmeier, Frank & Jones, Virginia Etheridge, a Colorado Springs attorney, Connie W. Frhoring, former President of the Colorado Childs Play Therapy Association, and 5 other defendants. For further information contact Chuck Hansen at (719) 748-9058." Legal action is often a path to quick social change. It will be interesting to see if this case is heard and its outcome.

This story on Fox News reports on a growing trend of violent offenses by young women and girls. Several reasons have been given for this turn of events, the most reasonable being that law enforcement is now more willing to arrest females and the most outlandish being that it's the result of women caving to the social priorities of "The Patriarchy." Notably, feminism is also blamed for "teaching girls to behave like boys rather than teaching boys to behave like girls." I remember my young female cousin once pulling my hair because she thought I was sitting too close to the television. She was far too young for feminism. Perhaps girls are simply violent by nature as well?

Ched sent in this story from the Boston Globe about a man who was found guilty for armed assault with intent to murder and armed robbery, but the judge apparently disagreed with the jury's decision and has pretty much openly stated that he feels he is sentencing an innocent man: "This is the most difficult moment I have been faced with during my legal career,'' [Judge] Murphy said. ''I am mindful of the possibility that I am sending an innocent man to jail.''" The man was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. The question is: why???