Syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr. recently wrote this piece regarding the 'controversy' over the return of a gay US Marine and the reception he received, which included the kissing of his sweetheart, who in fact turned out to be a man. But what Mr. Pitts may not have known about was that a gay military couple had already done the same thing back in 2011 almost immediately after "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was abolished. Only in that case, the couple was female, the reception was official, and there was not a peep of outrage or controversy over it.

Women Against VAWA Excess – WAVE – is dedicated to exposing how the Violence Against Women Act has veered away from its original intended purpose to stop domestic violence. Now, VAWA has come to embrace a radical ideology that marginalizes true victims, harms families, and betrays the ideals of equality feminism.

WAVE invites persons to visit its website, which features articles by Wendy McElroy, Anna Rittgers, and others: http://womenagainstvawa.org/

WAVE also sponsors a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/WomenAgainstVAWAExcess?sk=wall. We invite women to drop by and share your experiences and concerns about VAWA and with the domestic violence programs in your area.
For information on submitting an article, contact editor-at-womenagainstvawa.org

This article here from Australia beggars belief.

Apparently, a woman's 'right to choose' should include choosing to terminate a baby, after it is born, according to some philosophers. Apparently though, that's only the mother - fathers don't even get a mention.

I'd comment; but to be honest, I'm lost for words.... Quote:

'KILLING newborn babies should be allowed if the mother wishes, Australian philosophers have argued in a prestigious journal.

Their argument, that it is morally the same as abortion, has forced the British Medical Journal to defend its publication of their views.

In an article that has sparked outrage around the world and elicited death threats, Monash University's Alberto Giubilini and the University of Melbourne's Francesca Minerva say that a foetus and a newborn both lack a sense of life and aspiration.

Article here. Excerpt:

'Breastfeeding activists in New Zealand raised so much of a stink over an ad featuring a dad bottle-feeding his baby that the New Zealand government actually decided to edit the image above out of the ad.

While the government's decision could be viewed as a victory for La Leche League, which protested the ad, some observers have concluded that the decision is a sad day for dads. If a father is going to be involved in the feeding of his new baby, it's only going to happen through a bottle. Even in many families where the baby is drinking breast milk exclusively, Mom is often pumping milk to allow others -- including Dad -- to feed the baby breast milk through a bottle. So, to state the obvious: An ad showing a dad bottle-feeding a baby doesn't mean that the child isn't drinking breast milk. (We won't get into the fact that parents should be allowed to make feeding choices without being judged.)'

Article here. Although the number of boys circumcised in the UK is low by USA levels there is still much public anger at the practice. The reason for the vigil was that the B.M.A. was discussing ethics and once again the non-therapeutic cutting of boy’s genitals was not on the agenda. Excerpt:

'Men Do Complain held a vigil on Wednesday 22nd of February outside the B.M.A. Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP. We got there at 08:30 and stayed until the rain, cold and wind overcame us. The reason for the vigil was that the B.M.A. were discussing ethics and once again the non-therapeutic cutting of boy’s genitals was not on the agenda. The vigil went very well the public really are on our side. Several circumcised men approached us and quite openly said that they were glad someone was taking a stand. One surprise was the number of friendly car hoots and we didn’t even have a sign saying hoot if you agree.'

Senator Leahy and VAWA supporters are six co-sponsors short of avoiding a filibuster. They are close, but that doesn't mean they will succeed. Not if we get busy and make a few phone calls.

To see if your senators have co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php. Enter bill number S.1925.

If your senators have not become co-sponsors, call and thank them. Let them know that you do NOT want them to become co-sponsors. If your senators have co-sponsored VAWA, call two who haven't.

Tell them not to listen to the "If you're pro-women you're pro-VAWA" line. Remind them that women's groups like the Independent Women's Forum and Concerned Women for America have come out in opposition to VAWA. Or suggest they visit the Women Against VAWA Excess website to see what women really think about VAWA.

Find your senators' phone numbers here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Article here. Excerpt:

'The numbers bear it out. Since the advent of Title IX, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the number of girls playing high school sports has grown more than tenfold, from 294,000 in 1971 to nearly 3.2 million last year.

But this welcome transformation has come at a serious cost for many female athletes. Title IX has inflicted significant collateral damage, including increased health risks for the players, a drop in the number of women coaches, and increased exposure to sexual abuse.
...

Of special concern for girls is damage to their anterior cruciate ligament, or A.C.L., the tiny ligament in the knee that connects the two halves of the leg. Female athletes are four or five times more likely than male athletes to have A.C.L tears, says Dr. William Levine, the director of sports medicine at Columbia University and the head physician for its varsity teams.

Story here. Excerpt:

'TEENAGE boys can continue to be prosecuted for underage sex while teen girls are exempt.

The 'Romeo and Juliet' law is constitutionally sound because it reflects a girl's risk of pregnancy after sex, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday.

The court also said that it was not always possible to apply the same treatment to everyone, especially when it came to different genders.

It stemmed from a 15-year-old boy being charged with having sex with a 14-year-old girl in Donegal on August 5, 2006.
...
The court unanimously ruled the law was constitutional, because lawmakers could take account of the danger of pregnancy for teenage girls in such cases.'

Link here. Excerpt:

'The mother of a newborn child who surrenders the child—
(a) into the physical custody of a prescribed person at a hospital or medical practice; or
(b) at a prescribed hospital in a place—
(i) specifically designed for the purpose; and
(ii) designated for the purpose by signs, in accordance with the regulations; or
(c) to some other person or at some other place in accordance
with the regulations, will not be liable to prosecution for an offence arising only from that act.

Link here. Excerpt:

'Network Ten's The Circle is facing a furious backlash from viewers after the hosts mocked war hero Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, suggesting he was dim-witted and "not up to it in the sack".

The panel was discussing the Victoria Cross recipient after he appeared in a candid Sunday Night profile and aired a shot of him shirtless in a pool.

After one of the hosts commented on Corporal Roberts-Smith's physique, Yumi Stynes said: "He's going to dive down to the bottom of the pool and see if his brain is there".

Then as the shot of the war hero, who single-handedly stormed a machine-gun position in Afghanistan, was displayed again Stynes said "S-A-S" in a mocking voice.

Story here. Today, February 28th, 2012, a child´s right to both its parents and the right to know who the father is, is set to be abolished by the Swedish Government. Excerpt:

'The Centre Party, Liberals (Folkpartiet) and the Moderates want single women to have access to artificial insemination treatment, and are proposing a change to current laws despite opposition from coalition partners the Christian Democrats.
...
"The important thing is not that a child has a biological mother and father, but that children are surrounded by adults who take care of them and love them," she told Sveriges Radio (SR).
...
Although the Christian Democrats do not back the proposal, it is expected to win widespread support in parliament from the left-leaning opposition parties, which have made similar proposals in recent years'

Seen Huggies latest "Dad Test" campaign? Apparently, Huggies believes dads are bumbling idiots who are incompetent at parenting.

Video here. You have to see it to believe it.

Latest F&F newsletter here. Excerpt:

'Now is the time for the Massachusetts Legislature to appoint a Shared Parenting Task Force. On the heels of the resounding success of the Massachusetts Alimony Task Force, Fathers and Families wants the same for our children with a Shared Parenting Task Force.

Call your legislator today!

I am asking every Massachusetts Fathers and Families reader to advocate for the Shared Parenting Task Force that our legislative leaders promised. Please call your legislator and tell them or a member of their staff:

Now it is time to produce the single most important reform for the welfare of our children — shared parenting — in the family courts. The legislature used a task force to work out the solution for alimony, please use this same powerful tool for shared parenting for our children. Ask the Judiciary Committee’s Chairs to appoint a Shared Parenting Task Force: Senator Cynthia Stone Creem and Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty.'

Link here. Excerpt:

'This document provides guidance on the study and evaluation of sex differences in medical device clinical trials, with a specific focus on addressing potential differences in study design, conduct, outcomes, and interpretation that should be considered to ensure sex-specific issues are adequately addressed in clinical trials.
...
The purpose of this guidance is to outline the Center for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH's) expectations regarding sex-specific patient enrollment, data analysis, and reporting of study information. The intent is to improve the quality and consistency of available data regarding the performance of medical devices in women.'