Chelsea Manning
By Thom Hartmann A...
Today, Army Private Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning came out as a transgender. She is asking everyone, including the press to refer to her as female. She said, "As I transition into this next phase of my life, I want everyone to know the real me. I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female. Given the way that I feel, and have felt since childhood, I want to begin hormone therapy as soon as possible. I hope that you will support me in this transition. I also request that, starting today, you refer to me by my new name and use the feminine pronoun (except in official mail to the confinement facility). I look forward to receiving letters from supporters and having the opportunity to write back."
There were many immediate attacks by the conservative press including this one from Laura Ingraham - Laura Ingraham tweeted "So Manning wants to live as a woman. Let me guess, we have to pay for it.” Yes - Laura - we do have to pay for it - if there is healthcare involved - when someone is in jail. Chelsea Manning should receive humane treatment during her incarceration.
Comments
#2
DAnneMarc -- Thanks for the info. It sounds reasonable. Since it is Wikipedia, I will continue to research to assure that Thom's and Obama's take on "negative rights" concurs. Interestingly, the establishment of the post office by the constitution sounds like a positve right.
I still like my take on what negative rights are better. Namely, the "Bill of Rights" prevent "We the People" from passing certain laws. At the time of the writing of the "Bill of Rights", I think our founders were idealistic enough to think that "We the People" were going to make the laws of the land. They must have believed that "We the People" could fend off corporations, religious institutions, mafia, and unfair employers. I think there fear was the "each other" part of your sentence.
#3
Lets be sure about what's driving what before performing any irreversible surgery.
My calendar reminds me that Bradley's Birthday is coming up (Tuesday, the 17th).
I was totally occupied with other things last August when this announcement was made, but heard about it a little later.
What I don't see here, and maybe it was covered by Thom on the show that day, is that when the POTUS allows you to be tortured and sexually humiliated for months on end there are going to be psychological consequences like believing your gender is wrong for you.
It's one thing for soldiers (and others) to have PTSD from events on the battlefield. It's quite another for Leadership to intentionally inflict it on someone in their custody like Pfc. Manning.
So this result should come as no surprise, but I think that genuine psychological treatment to address the damage caused by those long months at Quantico would be the appropriate starting point. It will need to be extensive, and so, expensive.
I suggest deducting the cost from Whorebama's paycheck.
If after the psychological damage done by Quantico, etc. has been appropriately addressed fully and the surgery is still desired, resume this debate then.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann is a literary descendent of Ben Franklin and Tom Paine. His unflinching observations and deep passion inspire us to explore contemporary culture, politics, and economics; challenge us to face the facts of the societies we are creating; and empower us to demand a better world for our children and grandchildren."
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Never one to shy away from the truth, Thom Hartmann’s collected works are inspiring, wise, and compelling. His work lights the way to a better America."
From The Thom Hartmann Reader:
"Thom Hartmann is a creative thinker and committed small-d democrat. He has dealt with a wide range of topics throughout his life, and this book provides an excellent cross section. The Thom Hartmann Reader will make people both angry and motivated to act."
David Abbot ~ I agree with everything you said. Especially the part about the bravery of Chelsea Manning. Unbelievable! Perhaps it is just the way some of us are wired. All or nothing! It is far better to leave the world at a young age with a taste of what it should be than to live it the world the way it is disgusted with every part of it. Very Christ like. With people like Manning and Snowden in the world it becomes far easier to believe in someone like Jesus Christ. Just look at the future that has been inspired by Jesus in these two people. The faith is spreading beyond the control of its opposition. Keep the faith!