<^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> ........Catt's Claws # 124 ... September 11, 1996......... ........ A Feminist Newsletter by Irene Stuber......... <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> <^> How many of you were offended - shocked - by the sight of a slight woman being shackled and handcuffed (chains around her waist) and escorted to jail by burly marshalls for refusing to lie for a failed special prosecutor who is being paid big bucks by Republicans and tobacco interests. Brave Susan McDougal is not going quietly into that dark place of prison. She has objected and objected to being pressured to lie for the Republican special prosecutor Kenneth Starr who will stop at nothing to try to get something on President Bill Clinton. She refused to lie so Starr had her declared in contempt of a grand jury. She was then chained and shackled and placed in a jail cell away from Little Rock where she has friends. Isolation. Intimidation. Where the hell is due process? Where the hell is justice? The people of Arkansas are up in arms. We've lived up to our armpits with this shit about Whitewater and we are angry that the Republicans are wasting millions upon millions of dollars on this case - FOUR YEARS and more than $64 million spent - and not a single piece of evidence against Clinton has been uncovered. And we're madder than hell about this mistreatment of Susan McDougal. In desperation because the election only about 60 days away, Starr has obviously gone over the top and over the edge. He was promised a U.S. Supreme Court justice (maybe chief justice) appointment if he can get something, ANYTHING on Clinton. OH BY THE WAY - although he is a federal special prosecutor, Starr is a on retainer for the tobacco industry which isn't too happy with Clinton right now. Susan's divorced husband Jim who was also convicted of one of those crazy Whitwater-related charges has disappeared into luxurious secret custody. That luxurious custody is the same kind Starr gave a witness who lied his back teeth off in recent "Whitewater" cases where the jury laughed at Starr and openly criticised him for wasting their time. Starr says that Jim is "cooperating" with the prosecution and is holding up Jim's sentencing until the day AFTER the election in November. (GAWD, the smell of this prosecution is gagging. What is this, a Columbian or a Mexican dictator's idea of justice? For once don't blame bubba Arkansas. Those Republicans from the Carolinas (tobacco people) and D'Amato of New York and Dole of Kansas, and what's his bigotry from Utah sent him to Arkansas from the East.) Jim McDougal is pathologically frightened of jail. He believes he will die if he goes to jail. He's not a well man. Meanwhile Susan has been made a political prisoner. Please write U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, your congressional representative and your U.S. Senators, as well as Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr with your objections. And if you want to send Susan a "be brave" and "bravo for your courage" note, address it c/o Bobby R. McDaniel, 400 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR 72401. He is brave Susan's attorney. The federal judge in the case is Susan Webber Wright who may be reached at 302 U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, 600 West Capitol Ave., Little Rock 72203. The same street address reaches Kenneth Starr. Enough is enough! . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . The English-American justice system which allows an accused to defend himself face-to-face against his accusers is great when it comes to someone defending against the charge of stealing a neighbors ass, etc. HOWEVER, when it comes to a rapist re-raping a woman through cross examination, obviously relishing and enjoying every word he draws out of her - forcing her to describe in excruciating detail the rape, over and over and over again, it is no longer justice. It is legal rape. It is a case of a rapist re-raping the woman in full view of a full courtroom and under the protection of the law. It happened to an English woman recently who was subject to SIX DAYS of cross examination by her rapist. The rapist declined to hire an attorney so he had the woman he raped at his mercy again, forcing her to tell and retell the most intimate details of his crime against her. Make your skin crawl? Hear more. Ralston Edwards, 42, who was convicted and could face life in jail wore exactly the same clothes he wore when he raped the woman over a 16-hour period. He leered. He made suggestive movements. He raped her again for SIX DAYS. Edwards has a long string of violent sex and rape convictions. Twelve years ago he was jailed for ONLY three years after breaking into a woman's apartment to hold a knife to the throat of a 16-month-old baby while he raped the mother. He is known for being manipulative and knowing the system. The female judge failed to stop him for the real fear of a mistrial because he could claim he was prevented from mounting a proper defense. At first the male attorneys, etc., backed the idea of a just defense, but as objections from women mounted, they are backtracking and talking about revising English law. Here in the U.S. almost the same thing happened a couple of years ago when a woman was brutally raped by members of a lacrosse team. She was forced to tell and retell the story over and over again in court as the SEVERAL lawyers for EACH defendant were allowed to question and re-question her. She finally dropped further prosecution. It is not an uncommon ploy and becoming more and more common. But it all seems to pale in comparison to the ordeal of a 20-year-old Japanese woman who hardly speaks English. She was in the witness box in London for 12 days going over and over and over her ordeal for the attorneys of the six guyz who had raped her over and over and over again while they held her prisoner for two days. The length of the questioning was exacerbated by the woman's limited English that necessitated a translator. The men have been convicted but the woman's life of horror is only beginning. Coming from a traditional family, she dares not tell her family in Japan what happened because of the honor system that would necessitate the suicide of senior family members because SHE was forcibly raped which dishonors them and permanently dishonors her. She doesn't even dare not seek support from her friends because word might get back to her family. The life she had a right to expect is over. The boyz laughed and yelled obscenities at the woman in court. Some of them testified there was no sexual activity and others said the vaginal, anal, and oral sex was all consensual. The men ranged from 15-years- old to 19. She had gone with one of the boys to the movies because he said he could help her learn English. She was then forced to accompany him to his apartment. Having newly arrived in London from a very protected environment, she had no idea of the dangers of a friendly trip to the cinema. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . Shannon Lucid is the Flying Astronaut - the 20th century version of the Flying Dutchman - who it appears is destined to fly around the world and fly around the world and fly around the world ... more than 170 days and counting. Other than a short visit by a Frenchwoman, Lucid's only company for six months have been Russian astronauts. The news stories on he rtravels only mention that she is a U.S. astronaut, age 53 and with three children, but she is ALSO a biochemist which is why she's up there. Lucid is still on Russia's Mir space station setting the record for the longest period any American has been in space. Placed aloft in April, Lucid was supposed to come home in July but rocket problems delayed the transfer shuttle and then the hurricane season came along. If Hortense cooperates, NASA will launch the transfer ship Sept. 16 and Lucid should be earthside Sept. 26 after 188 days in space. Almost every story about Lucid has included some homily from her or from some other woman astronaut about house cleaning or cooking or laundry or needing more lipstick. GAG. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . To hear the politicians spout off to the TV cameras, children are the most important thing(s) in the world - but in private the Republicans of our Congress want to cut their health care, food stamps, etc. But it's not only American reactionaries who are hypocrites. In Ontario, Canada, the government wants child-care workers to take an average of $4,500 cut in their already lowly yearly wages and then take care of more children. The government will also lessen the requirements for inspections and licensing of the day cares to save money. Canada which has always led in consideration for its children will soon look like the U.S. - everything for the fetus and nothing for the born. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . The CDC said women accounted for 19% of the new AIDS cases reported in 1995. Oddly, it is the lower income women who are most likely to be tested for AIDS, probably because of the HIV testing at public health clinics. Middle class women hesitate to asks their family physicians. The CDC estimates 32% of all women have been tested for HIV-AIDS at least once. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . Paul Ware, 27, was found drunk and nude next to the body of 4-year- old Lindsey Green on Oct. 1, 1994 in Tennessee. She had been raped and sodomized. The autopsy indicated she had suffocated from the weight of her rapist pounding on her tiny 30-pound body. Ware denies it and the prosecution is using a DNA process that comes from a cell's nucleus, mitochondrial DNA mostly found in bones, hair and teeth, the same process that is used to determine the identification of soldiers who were killed some time ago and their bodies only recently discovered. It was also used to determine the authenticity of the remains of the Czar Nicholas and his family and entourage, but it is the first time it will be used in a criminal case. One wonders when DNA identification banks will become as common in the U.S. as fingerprinting. Isn't taking one's photo or fingerprints as intrusive of one's privacy as a DNA sample when one is arrested for a crime? . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . Oh yes, the Republican reactionaries are objecting to government looking into their pocketbooks but are all for government looking into and determining the actions of people in their bedrooms. The forbidding of same sex marriage in the U.S.has now passed Congress and President Clinton ways he will sign it, knowing full well that the issue will eventually be settled by the courts - to the gays favor IF the radcial reactionary Republican religious right winger don't take charge of the White House and the Supreme Court. What started it all is a civil case underway in Hawaii right now. Three years ago the Hawaiian Supreme Court set off a religious firestorm when it ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional unless the state "can show a compelling interest in keeping it." So, the issue is in court right now as the State of Hawaii attorney general tries to convince the court that children are better off with a man and woman, ergo same-sex partners should not marry. (HUH?? Yeah, to these people marriage means breeding, not love, not respect, not anything except a method of uniting sperm with egg.) Regardless of the decision in the present court case, it will be appealed to the Hawaiian Supreme Court again - and may be the springboard case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Hawaii will argue that marriages are licensed for the purposes of procreation even though the 1984 state legislature removed that criteria from licensing since it discriminated against elderly and those unable to procreate because of physical handicaps. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . The IRS is auditing the records of Newt Gingrich and that "college course" he taught at Reinhardt College for ten weeks in 1993. College officials had shut it down when they found out it was funded by Gingrich's political action committee, GOPAC. Many said it was a political action enterprise and not an educational course. More than $300,000 is at question. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . "In 1992, women voters went to the polls in record numbers, electing pro-choice Democratic President Bill Clinton and a pro-choice Democratic Congress. "In 1994, discouraged by the angry, negative Republican campaigns, many women stayed home and Republicans took control of the Congress, and have been working to turn back the clock on the progress we have made. "Now, the GOP seems to think it's enough to pay lip service to women and minorities. Well, I have got some news for Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich. They are about to fall into a gender gap the likes of which have never been seen before. Women are on the move again, and we are going to make this the year of the woman voter. And women have made their choices clear. We prefer Democrats. But the question remains, will women participate in 1996? Will women vote? That's why Emily's List has launched our Women Vote project to mobilize women voters. "And I am proud to tell you that for the first time in history, a woman's organization is working in partnership with the Democratic Party to reach out to women voters and bring them to the polls. Emily's List, the DNC, and the White House, are united in our commitment to Women Vote, because we know that when women vote, women win. When women vote, it's fair to say, the country wins. Women are a powerful new force in politics. We are partners in the Democratic coalition. We bring to the table our financial resources and our savvy winning candidates. But most of all, women bring our commitment to the strength of our families, our communities, and our country. And in November, women will turn that commitment into a tidal wave of votes that will re-elect Bill Clinton and Al Gore and take back the Congress with pro-choice Democratic women." -- Speech of Ellen Malcolm, founder and director of Emily's List, at the 1996 Democratic Convention. Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, a few days before the convention released a statement which said in part, "This fall, we will be voting for the lesser of two evils. Many of us will hold our noses and vote for President Clinton, but others of us will not - we'll be discouraged voters who will simply stay home." Some who heard her speak claim she actually said women should not vote for Clinton. Ms. Ireland forgets women fought hard for the right to vote, that our reproductive freedom depends on our strength at the polls. Fortunately NOW members are deluging the White House with letters, faxes, and email to show conclusively that Ms. Ireland does not speak for the membership. Catt's Claws URGES you to write to President Clinton to indicate your disapproval of Ireland's words. REMEMBER: 40% of all of Clinton's appointments have been WOMEN, more than ALL of the presidents combined. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . Without looking at the x-rays prior to operating, Dr. William Helfrich Jr., removed the wrong kidney from a 76-year-old woman suffering from cancer of a kidney. The medical board failed to rule him incompetent and gave him a few hours of community service as verbal punishment. The Massachusetts medical review board predominantly made up of physicians heard the case in secret. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . Our Monthly Reminder: Medical authorities are saying the use of two already approved drugs that induce abortions when used in combination has produced a surge in abortions but no one will realize it for several years because they are being prescribed quietly and in private in doctor's offices. (The abortion rate, according to the Centers for Dissease Control, *is* dropping.) Dr. Richard U. Hausknecht of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York published a study of the use of the combination of methotrexate and misoprostol to induce abortion in the Aug. 31, 1995 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. In years past, several doctors, including a woman doctor released the same information and after the first news story, it was quietly ignored/suppressed. Catt's Claws vows this time the information will stay available to women. Methotrexate is FDA-approved for use against cancer; Misoprostol is FDA approved to treat ulcers. Because both are FDA-approved, they can be prescribed by physicians today. Together, according to Hausknecht and other physicians, they produce abortions at a better rate than the RU-486 pill. Available today at your friendly M.D. . . . . . . . ^c^c^ . . . . . . . Catt's Claws salutes volunteers Jennifer Gagliardi for posting Catt's Claws through her listserv and ?? for proofreading. ....................... * ........................ Women's rights are young and tender and we must protect them from the plagues of holy hypocrisy and newts. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- >>> Send your ideas, comments, and news to istuber@cswnet.com for inclusion in the Catt's Claws feminist newsletter which will be emailed up to three times a week. This is NOT an interactive discussion net but an exchange of information. Catt's Claws is NOT sponsored by any organization. We are accepting *limited* donations (only what can be spared) to help offset the online costs of posting Catt's Claws. Copyright 1996, Irene Stuber. PO Box 6185, Hot Springs, AR 71902.<<<<