DLJ211

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The DesertLight Journal

Volume 2, Number 11

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July 1, 2002

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The e-zine of the International Men's Rights Movement. This is the first e-zine intended to focus primarily on the issues of domestic violence against men and divorce/child custody issues. We welcome news of groups, websites, and people in the men's rights movement worldwide. We encourage new writers and commentary.

For all the news all the time, visit our buds

http://www.angryharry.com in the UK http://www.mensactivism.org in the US

or Men's News Daily http://www.mensnewsdaily.com anywhere.

For book-length works on men, and the issues visit

http://www.cybermanbooks.com

See the BBS at http://www.cybermanbooks.com/cgi-bin/board/

For breaking news on the groups and orgs.

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"A woman needs a man like a fish needs the river."

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IN THIS ISSUE:

OH, THOSE GIRLS AND THEIR STUDIES!

THOMPSON AND SACKS

SETBACK IN SCOTLAND

WEBSITE NEWS! (mine, theirs, everybody's)

For some reason, I haven't often brought up what I do when I'm out and about. If it comes up, it comes up, fine. But lately I've found that I'm proud of my work and have no reason to keep quiet about it. (Having your husband announce his wife's accomplishments at his place of business is a big plus ;>)

When people ask me what I do, I don't just tell them I'm a writer anymore, I tell them I'm a men's rights activist. And you know something? In my neck of the woods, at least, the people I've encountered are glad I'm doing something about this mess. People, yes men and women both. Seems just about everybody knows a guy, has a son, or have run up against anti-male bias themselves.

When you have to hang around an airport for two hours before a flight, you can't help but speak to the people right around you. Well, I can't, anyway! In the waiting area for the flight out of Minneapolis, I sat next to a woman whose son had been a victim of domestic violence, and spent jail time for it. She still didn't understand how it all happened, and felt responsible, since she'd been the one to call the police. She was part of one of those families that is separated geographically, but it seemed to me everybody had a cell phone, since she often interrupted our conversation to talk to her mother in Maryland or her office in Houston. So the terrible night her son went to jail, she was sitting in another airport and did the only thing she could when her boy phoned the only number he could remember begging for help, and afraid for his life. "At least," she said, "she didn't kill him." It was probably too hard for her to talk about, because then she got up and went in search of coffee.

Others around us couldn't help but overhear. After she left, she was replaced by a guy whose brother was going thru a divorce, (a techie, by the looks of the hardware hanging about his person ;>) Anybody reading this will know how the story's going to go, so I won't belabor the obvious.

(If you're a newcomer, the story goes like this: guy comes home from work to find his personal possessions stacked on the porch, in the yard, wherever. He finds he's being divorced. The X2B has been advised by her attorney an order of protection is a good way to expedite matters and assure her a constant source of cash that somehow appears magically the instant a divorce action is filed, despite the fact the couple isn't wealthy to begin with. Doesn't matter that there has never been so much as a rude word between her and her husband. You can get these things online these days, no questions asked. All you have to do is be a woman. Suddenly, it's imperative that he become a monster in the eyes of the law. The guy loses everything; seldom, if ever, sees his kids again. From that moment anything he does becomes a suspect action, and nothing she does is outside the law. Even if it is clearly in defiance of court orders. And that's how it goes.)

So -- what's next, folks? After the stunning success of the NCFM event in St. Paul, a lot of you are wondering the same thing.

For those who are planning an event of this same kind, and have never done this before, please, please, PLEASE!!! Read "Activism for Newbies" at the website. This gives you a course in PR you can't get anywhere else. There's also a free download of the same in e-book form at http://www.cybermanbooks.com

Only problem with these freebie courses is you have to do what they say. I've got ten years' experience in PR and that's what I'm giving you. I'm available to answer questions, so ask! I can answer your questions, but do not expect me to do your work for you. With the resources and links in the "Activism for Newbies" book, you have all of the ingredients for a kick-ass media campaign at low or no cost. No more excuses! Media will cover your event if properly informed. Things have changed bigtime, and I don't want to hear anyone whining to me that "there's no point, they won't cover our event."

Horse hockey.

All of you need to value your local media. Do NOT saddle them the with the same bias assigned to major TV networks. All of the network people live in Manhattan or nearby, and are seriously removed from the people they cover. The good news for you is that most of you don't live in Manhattan and therefore have local media outlets of all varieties. Study your locals, find out who they are. Do your homework and never presume. Don't be so full of yourself you can't start with a low-power radio station or a shopper paper. There are endless possibilities for exposure, once you start looking. DO NOT SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR BIG ADVERTISING BUCKS! Do it, dudes.

When you're dealing with an emerging movement, often you can get speakers to show up just for expenses. I know I do. So what's stopping you??? You might have a talented local speaker, as well. You could have one heck of an informational gathering at no cost, with Dave Doe your local speaker at the fire hall attended by 78 local people who heard about it in the Paper Press Weekly.

Gentlemen, you can do this. It does not all depend on national or even regional media. Thomas Payne did not have NBC and soundbites with Matt Lauer. He had word of mouth, we have e-mail and websites. If you can't do anything in person, then promote your website. You can do that without money as well. In the past year I've spent a grand total of $11.33 on website promo. The rest has all been hard work and persistence. Hey, if I can do it, you can do it! Give your imaginations free rein. Anything is possible!

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OH, THOSE GIRLS AND THEIR STUDIES!

When I first heard about the now-infamous NOW California 'study' on gender bias in the courts, my first impression was of a badly-constructed document, which was riddled with typos and mistakes. I noted that much of their information on father's groups is many years old, and apparently they relied on the mis-info and disinfo provided by some of the most virulent hate websites for their 'research' in that area.

Next, I contacted some actual academics at real universities for their input. Donald C. Hubin, at the Department of Philosophy, Ohio State University and author of Parental Rights and Due Process" (The Journal of Law and Family Studies 2(1999)123-150) was unimpressed by their scholarship. He said, "I suspect that this will be completely ignored by academia (it really doesn't look like anything a serious academic will take seriously) and dismissed by practicing lawyers and judges (unless the media makes a big deal of it and forces these people to respond)."

I also contacted Sanford L. Braver, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University and Co-Author of "Divorced Dads: Shattering The Myths." Unfortunately he didn't have time to comment on the NOW survey specifically, but kindly sent me a copy of a recent study in which he took part. This study, entitled "Experiences of Family Law Attorneys with Current Issues in Divorce Practice" will appear in an upcoming issue of "Family Relations; the Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies"

http://ncfr.allenpress.com/ncfronline/?request=index-html

This study also addresses gender bias in the courts.

The abstract is quoted here:

"A survey was administered at a State Bar convention to 72 Family Law attorneys who reported on their experiences in representing a total of 3,860 clients. Results showed that lawyers believed that (a) most losers in relocation cases do not or would not ultimately move; (b) the Family Court Masters system seems to be helpful to families; (c) lawyers' actions often raise the emotional level of the dispute; and (d) the divorce and custody system is biased against fathers."

I'll mention the article here when it appears.

You can see more on Dr. Braver's work at http://asuprc.asu.edu/content/Webpage/divorceddads.htm

And Don Hubin's at:

http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/philo/people/faculty/hubin.1/Research/PRDP.PDF.

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and this from David Byron, on another 'study,' on another issue.

"You have to see this to believe it!

http://www.slis.indiana.edu/csi/WP/WP02-03B.html

Some feminist wrote a thesis on how I "trolled" the Ms Magazine board 2 years ago. They changed the b-name but the regulars recognize me too. LOL. Can you believe

this is a university paper? "

Yes, David, I can. In the world of "Women's Studies," there isn't all that much subject matter. I'm sure they need to go to some fairly drastic lengths to find something that 1.) hasn't already been done, and 2.) can by some stretch of the imagination, apply.

It's good if you need a little light reading.

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THOMPSON AND SACKS

Glenn Sacks and Fathers' Rights activist Dianna Thompson host a weekly webcast on MND Radio every Tuesday night from 6-7PST. For more information, go to MensNewsDaily.com or www.GlennSacks.com

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SETBACK IN SCOTLAND

Dear All:

It is with considerable sadness and no small measure of anger that I have to

tell you that the Scottish Executive have sent me a letter indicating that

they are unwilling to accept the existence of Parental Alienation Syndrome,

and that "The Executive are confident that Sheriffs are competent to deal

with alienating behaviour".

All PAS (or "merely" alienation victims) will realise how false these words

ring.

I have to say, that even as a parent who lives in an intact family, I felt

devastated by this refusal to recognise evil. Of course, in some cases, some

of these politicians are the architects of this evil, and they wish it to

flourish. I have to say, that unless men politicise as a sex, this foul

abuse will continue

My heart goes out to all, parents and children, afflicted by this vile

abuse; my thanks to the great many people from many organisations who put

such a great deal into what was a well-presented, well-researched and well

argued campaign.

The Executive letter, which I hope to send in toto shortly, made no mention

of the legallity or otherwise of refusing to recognise PAS under ECHR. The

letter was sent to me just four days before Parliament breaks for the

summer.

However, the fight will go on, by UKMM and by others, in the courts and in

Parliament.

Yours Sincerely,

George McAulay,

http://www.ukmm.org.uk/

Those responsible for not accepting PAS exists:

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petitions@scottish.parliament.uk

margaret.ewing.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

dorothy.elder.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

rhoda.grant.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

john.munro.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

john.mcallion.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

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WEBSITE NEWS!

(mine, theirs, everybody's)

The start page at the old corral has a completely new look! This gives easier access to our partner sites, cyberManbooks.com, and The Men's Hour.

Updated features 'inside' include two new works at the Heart-Man Chronicles, by Richard Germain and Jack Forrest.

And two new Guest Editorials, by Hunter Brooks and Dean Tong.

BTW we've entered the mainstream! The DLJ now has links at About.com in

http://fatherhood.about.com

and at Women's Issues, under anti-feminism.

http://womensissues.about.com/cs/antifeminist/

We also came across a men's issues blog at

http://www.weberrific.org

And look for the July 4th unveiling of Raymond's new sites at:

http://www.mensmovement.org and

http://www.MSNHatesMen.com

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"They gave me paper with lines to write on and I wrote the other way."

-- Stephen King

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Trudy W. Schuett

Publisher

http://www.desertlightjournal. com/

PO Box 1252 Yuma AZ 85366

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Commentary and contributed articles are not necessarily the opinion of the DesertLight

Journal. We strive to include all views in the emerging men's rights movement, and

therefore cannot be expected to agree with everything. We are not affiliated with, nor do we receive financial support from any group or organization.

ISSN: 1538-3857- Library Of Congress, USA