Essential Estrogen

A small article appeared Monday that many likely only skimmed or completely ignored.

Two women, according to writers at The Gazette, were arrested as part of a Cedar Rapids police prostitution sting. I'm always curious as to what pushes a woman to sell her own body, which is a topic rarely included in news articles, but I'm always loathe to check. After noting that such information was not included, I kept going back to the story, which was originally posted without photographs of the women, to read the comments.

In America, and maybe in other places as well, women are too often judged on outer appearances instead of their spirit -- and profession isn't a limiting force. Don't believe me? Check out the video that Minnesota Senate Republicans felt was appropriate for their website. Women, regardless of merit or economic station, are continually judged by their appearance.

As evidence, the first comment on The Gazette's online site is by username icgma, requesting "Mugshots, please!" The comment received a push rating of two, and is followed by several similarly degrading comments that left me with visions of pigs in Chinos, salivating over a trough of rotten produce.

According to Hollywood and front-page political sex scandals, prostitution is glamorous, right? Only for a select few.

Most of the prostitutes that I've had the honor of speaking with (and it is *always* an honor when people provide you access to their lives and their thoughts) are a lot like I imagine these two women to be. That is, many of the women I've spoken with don't feel they have the skills or talents to move into a more traditional industry -- and, even if they wanted to, they believe traditional earnings would be much less than what can be garnered by turning tricks. Some have children at home to support, others have drug habits or alcohol addictions that need constant nurturing. They were not saints, nor were they demons.

But none of those commenting at The Gazette seem interested in learning more about what makes people tick, or what that says about or how it impacts larger society. They are content, as most are, to simply judge a book by its cover.

Everyday in Cedar Rapids it seems there is a house being torn down as the owner stands by with tears in their eyes.  This morning, someone stayed away because they "might be a problem if they showed up".

Has anyone seen a picture of any candidate for office that any of us on the west side of the river in Cedar Rapids will vote for standing by and watching a house being demolished?  What about as the citizen is crying about the house being demolished?  Were any of them there with the deaf lady whose home was torn down last week with no interpreter?

Where are you Governor Culver?  Governor Branstad?  Senator Grassley?  Congressman Loebsack? Ms Conlin? Dr. Miller-Meeks?  

Where is Bill Clinton when you want him.  At least I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, he could feel our pain, and he was smart enough to have a photo made proving it.

There's a reason why Bob Vander Plaats has lost so many campaigns -- and that reason was on full display Wednesday.

The city of Ames and the Iowa State University campus have been devastated by flood water. A teenage girl was swept away from her family and later found dead in a waterway. Once again, thousands of state residents will have to push their way through government's red tape in order to access the assistance they need to recover from a natural disaster.

Residents in other parts of the state -- Monticello, Vinton, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Columbus Junction, Coralville and Delhi, just to name a few -- simultaneously watch film of today's flooding while reliving the stored mental pictures of their own disaster.

At roughly the same moment when emergency workers were pulling that young woman's body from the water, Bob Vander Plaats held a press conference. Not only did he show a complete disregard for Iowa residents dealing with a disaster, he did so for no real purpose. That is, even conservative state pundits have acknowledged that there was no real reason for the press conference -- the second in as many weeks on the same topic.

While we may have come to expect such a single-minded, self-promotion approach to politics from Vander Plaats, it's worth noting that by his side on Wednesday stood Iowa Rep. Jodi Tymeson, who represents District 73 just south of the most recent flood destruction, and a Coralville (!?!) clergyman.

The pastor -- Brad Sherman -- also serves on the board for the Iowa Christian Alliance and, notably, sent out a call for all pastors throughout the state to get involved -- not with the new and ongoing flood recovery efforts throughout the state, but in the battle against same-sex marriage.

Natural disasters are precarious things for politicians. There is typically an emotional need to reach out to constituents or would-be constituents, but also a logical need to keep promises and pledges vague and at a minimum. That's why you see so many "we're going to make this right" comments from politicians who are on the ground immediately following a disaster. It's difficult to know what's available, what will eventually become available, and who is willing to provide what during and immediately following flooding, tornadoes or any number of horrific events.

Also, while people are going through the stress of the disaster, there is actually very little focus put on politicians. Weeks and sometimes months later, residents will begin to digest news clips from those times when they were too busy thinking about survival to care about the larger picture or what promises may have been made.

This very personal aspect of disaster recovery -- "rejoining" the world, so to speak -- is why Vander Plaats and especially Tymeson are so very ignorant for going forward with a needless press conference. Tucked away amid pictures of a flooded Hilton Coliseum, a train derailment, the closing of I-35, a horror-stricken family confronted with the loss of their daughter and the evacuations in Pleasant Hill will be pictures of Vander Plaats and Tymeson campaigning on the steps of a very dry and safe Iowa Judicial Building.

On August 18th Planned Parenthood of East Central Iowa will host its 18th Annual Free Pap Day for women in need of cervical and breast cancer screening. Additional details are on the flyer below:

Elena Kagan was confirmed by the U.S. Senate today on a 63 to 37 vote. Iowa's senators, Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin, split with Harkin voting in favor.

Will add to this list as more are received...

I know I join many Iowans in congratulating Elena Kagan on her confirmation to the Supreme Court, she will be a great asset as she upholds the constitutional promise of equal justice under the law. Her forthrightness with Senators from both parties and her informed and intelligent answers to the toughest legal questions facing our nation is proof that she will be a strong and fair voice. Kagan's professional career and dedication to public service will serve her well as she takes her seat on the bench.

"While I am glad to see bipartisan support for her nomination it is troubling that Senator Grassley chose to stand in opposition, guided by nothing more than blind partisanship. His vote is unsurprising given his recent opposition to everything except extending tax cuts for the rich."

~ Sue Dvorsky, chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party

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"Senator Grassley's vote against Elena Kagan is proof that Washington is broken, and any bipartisanship in the Senate is on the verge of extinction. Senator Grassley has chosen to vote against two talented, qualified women nominated to the Supreme Court, by a Democratic president, after decades of support for past nominations. This is an incredibly dangerous and disturbing precedent. Voting on a Supreme Court nominee is a serious responsibility and Iowans deserve much better than childish, partisan games."

~ Roxanne Conlin, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate

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"Today, I was proud to cast my vote to confirm Solicitor General Elena Kagan to our nation's highest court. As a student, she excelled at Princeton, Oxford and Harvard Law School. She has stellar legal credentials that have been recognized by liberal and conservative lawyers alike. And, throughout her career, including as a professor of law, as a key advisor to President Clinton, as Dean of Harvard Law School and as Solicitor General, she has demonstrated a great mind and intellect.

"Solicitor General Kagan will be an important and needed voice on the Court to ensure that appropriate respect and deference is given to Congress, and proper effect is given to our most important statutes, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, so all Americans receive the fullest protections of the law. And at the heart of her credentials is a strong sense of justice for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

"And as the fourth woman to serve on the Supreme Court, her confirmation is a historic one, similar to her accomplishments as the first female Dean of Harvard Law School and first female Solicitor General. I congratulate her on this honor."

~ U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, Democrat

This two-day 2010 Iowa African American Women's Leadership Conference offers personal and professional development opportunities relating to family, health, leadership and culture for women across the state.

The conference begins Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. with a "History Makers Gala" at the African American Museum of Iowa. The second day of events will be held at the Cedar Rapids Marriott from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include various break-out sessions and performances.

More info on registration and tickets is available at the museum's site.