No waa-waa, “I’m offended,” crap. Seriously? We all have the right to our opinions, beliefs, clothing choices and thoughts. Quit crying “offended!” If there is something about them/their business you don’t like, just don’t use their business or hang out with them. If you don’t like it; someone’s belief, dress, opinions, words, food, etc., then leave…move along. Do business elsewhere; find people you are comfortable with. No one is forcing you to hang around.
I am talking about are our rights, both with the Bill of Rights and Universal Law of Free Will.
Amendment I in the Bill of Rights states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Source: https://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/bill-of-rights/
Which means we have the rights to free speech, religion and press.
Free Will
“Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded.[1][2] It is closely linked to the concepts of responsibility, praise, guilt, sin, and other judgments which apply only to actions that are freely chosen.”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will
ABUSE OF OUR RIGHTS
Assault
“At Common Law, an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.
An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in either criminal or civil liability.”
Source: http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Physical+assault
Rape
2 : unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception — compare sexual assault, statutory rape
3: an outrageous violation
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rape
1. unlawful sexual intercourse or any other sexual penetration of the vagina, anus, or mouth of another person, with or without force, by a sex organ, other body part, or foreign object, without the consent of the victim.
Source: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/rape
“The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.”
“Physical resistance is not required on the part of the victim to demonstrate lack of consent.”
Source: https://www.justice.gov
Sexual Assault
: illegal sexual contact that usually involves force upon a person without consent or is inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent (as because of age or physical or mental incapacity) or who places the assailant (such as a doctor) in a position of trust or authority
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexual%20assault
Perpetuating It
A stranger, perhaps on the street assaults you physically or sexually, or you experience verbal bullying, being demoralized, would you stand there and take it, repeatedly and often?
This is what you, John and Jane Public, are perpetuating by paying for, and allowing this to continue happening to you and your loved ones.
At Work
Sexual innuendos, inappropriate touching, inappropriate language, demeaning you, solicitation, etc.
Allowing this to continue happening to you, or supporting it happening to someone in your environment.
I had worked where I loved what I did and adored my office mate, but not only had I been solicited by the owner (I refused), but had been promised raises, insurance, etc. which never happened, despite my repeated requests and reminders. There were also many other things going on that were not appropriate or legal.
My husband watched me, day after day, come home, sit on the couch and cry in frustration and humiliation.
Long story shortened – he asked me what I wanted to do. I yelled, “I want to quit!”
He shrugged and said, “So quit.” He turned around and walked off.
I was dumb-founded. Was it really that easy?
I went to the office the next morning and knocked on the owner’s office door. When he opened the door, I held out my office keys and told him, “You have misused me and abused me. Now you lose me.” I dropped my keys into his hand and walked away.
TSA
I have seen people aggressively treated (also known as molested) by the Transportation Security Administration/TSA. I have also seen them humiliate, treat others like sub-humans, and threaten others. (This is a generalization; I know there are some descent TSA officers.)
I have felt the fear rolling off of the people around me in the line at the airport.
Sexual assault, bullying, threatening, terrorizing, etc. by an authoritative figure? Aren’t they supposed to protect us? Not hurt us.
Airlines
Most of my experiences on airplanes have been decent; a few not so much.
On one flight to Alaska, I watched a flight attendant verbally attack and bully an elderly woman passenger. The passenger was holding her purse, in her lap, and the flight attendant leaned down, grabbed her purse, trying to take it away from her, while yelling at her that she wasn’t allowed to hold that.
The passenger was startled and confused by the attendant’s aggressive behavior; she didn’t understand not only why the attendant was trying to steal her purse, but why she was being yelled at.
I sat, frozen and horrified, while the flight attendant’s voice became more shrill and demanding.
A stranger approached the spoke gently and softly to the passenger. The passenger’s purse was then safely tucked under the seat for take off.
I haven’t flown since about 2012. My choice.
UPDATE: In October 2017, my husband and I were in a time crunch and needed to travel quite a distance away. I prayed, and we bought airline tickets. We went through TSA both in El Paso, TX and in Charlotte, NC. Both TX and NC TSA staff members were pleasant, patient and without aggression or hostility.
We took Delta to NC (layover in Atlanta), and our flight attendants and Delta representatives were warm and welcoming.
And I am very thankful to be able to have this pleasant experience and not witness (or be on the receiving end of) any aggression, bullying, hostility.
Part Two next week
by Jan Toomer
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