Comments for WordInEdgewise

Comment on Holding Medical Professionals Accountable for Child (Sexual) Abuse by Larry Esser

Larry Esser — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:52:50 +0000

@John Culhane Thanks, John, it was your referring to the Sandusky case that was the real kernel of the first message--he was crucified and so was Paterno, and for what? How bad was whatever Sandusky "did" to these boys? It's not easy to say, but the real problems are age of consent laws and also a criminal lack of sexual education for younger people. How young men or women can be "molested" from a very young age well into their teens without saying something says something about our society's close-minded and close-mouthed view of sex and sexuality. Re the Delaware doctor case, that was another matter altogether and seems to be a pretty clear case of outright molestation, something that cannot be allowed no matter what age or gender is involved. Your points on that are well taken.

Comment on Holding Medical Professionals Accountable for Child (Sexual) Abuse by John Culhane

John Culhane — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:54:12 +0000

Larry Esser: The article specifically mentions small children and infants in the medical care context. This has nothing to do with the more complex issues of teenagers and young adults in what look like consensual relations. I think age of consent laws supply the right compromise there, although of course one can argue with whatever age is selected.

Comment on Holding Medical Professionals Accountable for Child (Sexual) Abuse by Larry Esser

Larry Esser — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 01:33:59 +0000

You, as many others do also, sling the words “child” and “children” around in legal discussions without saying what a “child” is. When a fifteen or sixteen-year-old guy is having relations with someone in their twenties or thirties, so what? If a teenager feels, truly feels, that they are being molested or coerced, why the hell don’t they speak up? Because a lot of them are enjoying the sex or the attention or both. It’s only when a hue and cry is raised that they suddenly become “victims.” Come on, now. Instead of putting an age on all this, how about anyone past puberty should be well-educated enough on sexual matters to know when they are being taken advantage of. Adolescents are not stupid, many of them are the instigators of such relationships. It’s kind of amazing to have adolescents of both sexes flirting with you–they know what they’re doing. Putting someone in jail for a consensual relationship is simply inhuman. Let’s get real about the age of consent laws, educate our young people, and stop the witchhunts.

Comment on From SCOTUSBlog: The Outcome on Marriage Equality Would be Clear to History — and to the Future by Charley Sullivan

Charley Sullivan — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:35:48 +0000

An arc bending towards justice, as it were.

Comment on Tearing Down Robert P. George’s Scaffold (Part One) by Alister

Alister — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 06:35:27 +0000

What human communication is not “personality-based” ? Enough said

Comment on Zeitoun — One Katrina Family’s Story by Joe

Joe — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:17:33 +0000

FWIW, what is everyone going to say now that it’s been shown that Zeitoun (prior to Katrina) was already escalating his wife/child abuse? That he’s in prison on numerous accounts of attempted murder, solicitation of murder for hire, etc? That he launders monies through several of Eggers’ nonprofits? Or… is that Eggers doing the laundering?

Sometimes you completely miss the forest for the trees, and you turn a monster into a hero…

Comment on This Just In — Obama Announces Support For Marriage Equality! by Steven J Fromm

Steven J Fromm — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 01:00:51 +0000

From strictly a tax lawyer perspective, this situation is a veritable minefield for trying to plan for these couples. The current tax rules do not align with same sex marriages. In addition, DOMA conflicts with certain states that do recognize such unions. It is tough going for any estate or tax attorney to protect these families that do exist in our country.

Comment on Obama’s Ground-Breaking Gay Rights Speech* by TMC

TMC — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:44:50 +0000

Roger and Steven are my uncles and they are two amazing people. What they have done for others is the most wonderful thing I have ever seen anyone do for someone. We are lucky to have them in this world.

Comment on The Pink Wash? Israeli Activist Panel Disrupted by Pro-Palestinian Protesters by James K

James K — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:17:45 +0000

Watch this video to understand more about this issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jd5YwZJB3U

Comment on 9/11, Katrina, and the BP Oil Spill: The Inconsistency of Compensation by robert evans

robert evans — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:56:30 +0000

Everyone should encourage the Occupy Wall Street movement to get involve to help disabled claimants in the BP oil spill litigation. Because, as of now, only the interests of well-financed claimants are being represented by the attorneys that are tasked with representing all claimants:

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans With Disabilities Act, and prior Supreme Court cases, require that the new fund set up to compensate Plaintiff Steering Committee attorneys, that withhold 6% of settlements, as ordered by Judge Barbier, http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/OilSpill/OilSpill.htm BE JUSTIFICATION for these attorneys to provide extended representation to disabled claimants! Please bring this to the attention of others—Even if these attorneys obtain settlement agreements for their primary clients.