The Sarcastic Social Worker

Activist, Social Worker, Coffee Addict, and that loudmouth from the streets of Jersey

[think-progress]

North Carolina GOP Accused Of Intentionally Suppressing Black Votes To Preserve Their Majority

The NAACP is also arguing that the legislature intentionally waited until the Supreme Court struck down key protections in the Voting Rights Act before going forward with the ID law.

On Monday, residents of North Carolina are taking the state to court, arguing that North Carolina legislators designed a new voter ID law to stifle growing minority turnout that threatened the Republican majority in Raleigh.

[plannedparenthood]

On this day in 1973, the US Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide. Today we celebrate the doctors and nurses who provide important care to patients, the people who fought to make legal abortion possible, and those who continue to work to ensure that abortion remains safe and legal. We won’t go back!

[wessasaurus-rex]

when you take out the G in Graveyard 

[spoonfuloffeminism-blog]

Disappointed in Bernie Sanders’ reaction to the #BlackLivesMatter protestors. He says that nobody will fight harder for us than him, and that is probably true. But apparently he’ll only fight for us if we stay silent and let him do the talking.

[swhelper]

His unwillingness to engage communities of color really bothers me. It’s as if he doesn’t need to listen because he can substitute his judgment for what he thinks is best for us. This is the opposite of SWK101. You can’t do a service plan without the family because you won’t get buyin. I am seeing a good Senator, but I am not seeing a president from his responses.

[think-progress]

Heartbreaking

[think-progress]

Twitter Uses #AllLionsMatter To Mock Race Baiting Over Black Lives Matter

An American dentist’s killing of a beloved lion in Zimbabwe has drawn much ire — and many comparisons to more persistent debates back home from ongoing police brutality against black people to new allegations against Planned Parenthood.

[protego-et-servio]

I tried to make this poster more inclusive, so it didn’t erase anyone that utilizes Planned Parenthood.

It’s not my best work, but it’s a start.

[think-progress]

Two graphics that explain active consent

[kjkarl1220]

#nomeansno

[sandandglass]

The Nightly Show, July 23, 2015

Larry Wilmore covers the Sandra Bland case

[kjkarl1220]

Why is it so difficult to respect pronouns?

In the past month, I’ve taken to social media to fight for transgender rights. There is one specific thing that seems to be the number one thing people do not realize shows the most blatant disrespect: Not using the pronouns the person wants to use. 

It may seem like a casual thing, but it is a massive insult to trans individuals. It ultimately says “I do not respect you” in two or three letters.

It is just blatantly ignoring their request for dignity and respect that all human beings deserve. So many people go by a name that is not their’s by birth and no one ignores or questions it. Here in the South, so many people go by their middle name or a completely different name, We go along with their wishes. We go along with nicknames but why can’t people fulfill this request for trans people? If someone wants to be called he instead of she, Ze, or anything else RESPECT IT AND JUST DO IT! It’s not that hard and it doesn’t hurt anyone. Yet, it hurts someone not to respect it. 

So please, think before you speak. Use the pronouns/name they ask to be called. We can never understand how difficult or painful it is for a trans person to be assaulted on such a basic level. Make the effort to show respect and do not let someone throw around disrespect. Stop and correct them when they don’t use the pronouns or name that someone requests. 

Its respect at a basic level. 

[fag]

Kids Read Mean Tweets (x)

[salon]

DeRay Mckesson on the proof that “racism is alive and well” in America

[sheabuttabae]

Preach! We have to hold media outlets accountable.

[kjkarl1220]

Confederate Flags and Nazi Flags are the Same

There has been so much violence in the news these past few weeks, it’s almost surreal. The aftermath of the violence is usually a lengthy debate about guns, hate, and mental illness. The shooting in Charleston brought up a new subject that I was unaware of as an issue. The Confederate Flag still flying in South Carolina. 

I will be honest, I was completely unaware of the government still using the Confederate flag in South Carolina. If you told me before this became a hot button issue, I would contribute it to the South being sore losers over the Civil War. But there is my white privilege kicking in.That blissful ignorance to how devastatingly painful it must be for African Americans to see that everyday and other symbols of Southern Civil War era pride. I never was effected by it and the people defending the flag, white Americans, have never experienced the painful reality associated with it.  

For those who do not see it as a big deal, let me ask you this? If all over Germany in public spaces the Nazi flag was hung high, wouldn’t that upset you?What if they said it was to remember the German/SS soldiers who lost their lives? If you think that is different, let me tell you how it is not. 

Supporters of the Confederate flag attribute it as a symbol of their heritage and memorial to their ancestors. When the Germans adopted the swastika, they said the same thing. When Heinrich Schliemann rediscovered the symbol and saw similarities to ancient German pottery, he saw it as a special religious symbol. Hitler used the symbol of “good fortune” and turned it into a symbol of an Aryan identity. During the Civil War, the Ku Klux Klan was formed by six ex-Confederate soldiers and mostly recruited Confederate soldiers after the South surrendered. The Klan adopted the Confederate flag as a symbol of their supremacy and hatred. The Nazis adopted the swastika as a symbol of their supremacy and hatred. How is it different? 

Both today are reminders of violence and atrocities against human beings. These cruel acts of enslavement, labor, experimentation and denial of basic human rights happened because of a belief in racial superiority. I am a white American and grew up in New Jersey so I will never know what it is like to be a Black American living in South Carolina faced with symbols and reminders of the violence against African Americans and people and policy reminding them they are inferior. That level of oppression and subliminal hatred is unimaginable. It is worse that people dismiss these anxieties as a memorial to the soldiers. The soldiers who fought to keep slavery legal. 

Soldiers of the Civil War are remembered in preserved battlefields, monuments, museums and so many other ways. Why does South Carolina need such a hate filled symbol too? Once again, if Germany still had the red flag flying high and left it high during an act of terrorism, Americans would go crazy and call the German nation racist and hateful. 

If you have read this and other arguments for the removal of the flag, and you still do not see it as a racist symbol, then here is my last point for you: THE SOUTH LOST GET OVER IT.

References

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007453

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/22/416548613/the-complicated-political-history-of-the-confederate-flag

http://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/Ku-Klux-Klan-A-History-of-Racism.pdf

[lisarachnid]

[kjkarl1220]

Secret World War II Chemical Experiments Tested Troops By Race

While the Pentagon acknowledged years ago that it used American servicemen in World War II mustard gas experiments, NPR found new details about tests that grouped subjects by the color of their skin.

Funny, I learned this only happened in Auschwitz.... 

[kjkarl1220]

When the Abuser is a Cop

Normally I have a witty or sarcastic comment in my posts. This one is different. My hometown of Neptune, NJ was rocked by the tragedy of domestic violence that left a family without a mother and community without a committed and compassionate soul. 

I have to say, I went to the school with one son and played sports with another. From what I knew, they were a successful family, the kids were good and I liked poking fun over football rivalries with one. This family was a model family that we should strive to have. At least that was appeared so. Reading in the local newspaper’s website, I am heartbroken for my hometown and this family. A model citizen with a secret that she was forced to keep. A victim of domestic violence. What makes it worse is her husband was a Sergeant on the police force. When you’re abuser is a member of the force who is supposed to protect you, what do you do?

The officer was off duty when he chased down his ex-wife through Asbury Park and when the chase left her cornered, he got out of the car and shot her. He shot her in front of their seven year old daughter. This resulted in a stand off and when the daughter was taken to safety, the shooter continued to shoot into the car and hit his ex-wife. No officers shot at him or attempted to stop him. They simply talked him down. WHY?! He was shooting into the car and was a clear threat. I’m absolutely against excessive force, but this woman could have still been alive clinging to life. Why was nothing done by his fellow officers?

The Asbury Park Press has been releasing details about the divorce and past reports of abuse. These reports were swept under the rug and nothing was done to protect this woman. This is not a rare occurrence. Police are capable of domestic violence and there are research reports showing rates are much higher for spouses of officers. However, there is a lack of new research on the issue. There is a gap in resources specific to victims of abuse who’s abuser is a member of law enforcement. The police not pursuing this clearly criminal action of another officer gives it validation as okay and something to stay silent on. Running a stop sign is different from assaulting a spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend. It needs to be reported and handled just as it would be handled if the abuser is not a cop. As a society and community, we have failed these victims. We all cannot walk away from this issue. By staying silent, we are confirming their silence as the only solution.

Why do we need a tragedy to address an everyday event and harsh reality? If law enforcement weren’t so reluctant in reprimanding a fellow officer, this woman may still be alive. Now a community has lost a town mom. A church has lost a devout member who worked to enhance lives, and more importantly a family has lost a mother and their father as well. Although we cannot change what has happened, we can change the approach to domestic violence and policing police officers. To continue treating domestic violence as a private matter only means we have not learned a single thing from this awful crime. 

There is no sarcasm or smart ass comment today, only a prayer for this family and the towns of Neptune and Asbury Park. May God look over this family and help them heal. 

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Some resources and information. Please share, do not remain silent. Be someone else’s voice

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/police-domestic-abuse/

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/09/police-officers-who-hit-their-wives-or-girlfriends/380329/

http://www.abuseofpower.info/Article_FBI.htm

http://thefreethoughtproject.com/cops-beat-wives-girlfriends-double-national-rate-receive-promotions/

http://www.app.com/longform/news/investigations/watchdog/2015/06/19/inside-world-domestic-violence-nj/29012625/

[spacemohawks]

My Reaction to Mad Max: Fury Road and the Utter Perfection that is Imperator Furiosa

Okay so. Buckle up, kids. It’s time for Furiosa feels.

Here’s the thing.

I am what’s called a fetal amputee. Fancy way for saying I was born with a missing limb. I’ve written about this on here before, but it’s been a long time and I’ve gained a lot of new followers recently (hai guyz) so it might be news to some of you.

This is me. 

[ Above image: A photo of the author, a woman missing her left hand from just after the elbow down. ]

This is Charlize Theron as Furiosa.

[ Above image: Furiosa from Mad Max: Fury Road – the character is missing her left hand from just after the elbow down. ]

I finally wound up going to see this movie Monday night after work, by myself, cause I was too thirsty for it and couldn’t wait for my friends to be available. Everyone was out of town this weekend for various reasons, so I figured I’d just wait for someone to go with, but then Facebook started talking about how amazing it was and I just couldn’t put it off any longer. So that’s how I ended up in a theater last night, completely by myself – not another soul in the room, sobbing my eyes out.

Because you guys. I am turning 30 years old next week. I’ve been a fan of action film my entire life. And I have NEVER seen a physically disabled, kickass, female lead character in a Hollywood movie EVER – not once, until yesterday.

(SEMI-SPOILERS AHEAD)

Keep reading

[bitch-media]

So glad you wrote this! Keep being awesome.

[kjkarl1220]

Awesome story! Fight against ableism