Donald Trump Says Sexual Harrassment Is Okay

Surprise, surprise. After it became public knowledge that Fox News settled some sexual harassment lawsuits on behalf of Bill O'Reilly, Donald Trump took time out of his busy, presidential schedule to publicly comment that O'Reilly should not have to be accountable for his bad behavior, and that behaviors that include sexual harassment should not garner consequences. But then, is anyone really surprised that Trump would opine in such a way? For that matter, is anyone surprised that Trump cannot, as president of the United States, find other, more important things to do?

Lisa Irwin, Doppelgangers, And Identification For Children

The latest in the news in the case of Lisa Iriwn, the one year old who was reported missing on October 4 from Kansas City, Missouri, is, sadly, not that she has been found; but that another child keeps getting mistaken for her. And according to the little girl's parents, the mistake makers have been aggressive and creepy about it, too, putting their hands on the baby in public and harassing the parents. I will not put a picture of this child on my blog for two reasons, first, she is not Lisa Irwin, who is still missing; second, she does not need that kind of publicity. Please take my word for it when I say that the pictures I have seen of this child do not bear enough of a resemblence to Lisa to justify the harassment through which her parents have gone. Slimmer face, more teeth. At least five times, and hopefully not counting, this child's parents have had to prove their relationship with their daughter to law enforcement. If I were them, I would dress my daughter in boy's clothing for the next month or two!

I have a doppelganger of a missing child in my brood, too. Last summer, while traveling to the East Coast with all six of my children, someone in a Walmart in Indiana looked briefly at the pictures of missing children on the wall, and then at one of my sons. "He looks just like this picture of Kyron Horman!", the woman said. That was the first I had ever heard of Kyron Horman, it was about five weeks after he went missing from Skyline Elementary in Portland, Oregon. Several hundred miles later, in West Virginia, someone actually phoned in a "Kyron sighting"! That was interesting. I had never had one of my children mistaken for someone who is missing before, but since my son was old enough to talk, it was not a problem. No one reached out and grabbed him, either. If anyone had, I am not sure what I would have done. As it sits, I am still encouraged that there are people who cared enough about finding Kyron Horman to look for him in the first place. Even so, I packed a copy of my son's birth certificate in my suitcase before my next cross country trip, during the winter break last year.

About these missing child "sightings", allow me to advise this: if you really think you are looking at a missing child who is being sought by local law enforcement and the FBI, it is best to just call them. Unless the kidnapping is a familial kidnapping or custodial interference, none of us can truly understand what goes on in the minds of persons who would steal or harm children. Aggitating such a person is unwise for many reasons. In a store, letting security know, so that they can hone in on the image of the child with surveillance camaras and call the local police is a much better idea. Also, there is certainly nothing wrong with copying down a liscence plate number for the police. But it is best not to seek out a confrontation with someone you suspect has committed a very serious crime.

One day, perhaps the entire country will make picture ID's for children available. Then, I will not need to take my son's birth certificate with me when I travel. A picture ID is probably the only immediate relief the family of Lisa Irwin's doppelganger is likely to obtain. Picture ID's for children in Lisa Irwin's age group would need to be updated frequently, as children grow and change quickly. When I did a search on the subject earlier today, I was disappointed, as only a handful of states even offer them. Until we wake up to the need for identification for children, it looks like we are stuck with passports.

Lisa Irwin, who is still missing and has been missing since October 3, 2011. Where could this baby be?

Kyron Horman, who has been missing for over eighteen months. Every day, I am disappointed when I do not see any news of his return home. It is well past time for this.

Herman's Harem....In His Dreams!

Photo Curtesy of Yahoo

  What's the matter, Armando? Can't keep your harem under control? It looks to me like you should have granted these women some professional respect when you had the chance. They don't look very happy right now, but I guess you already know. Gloria Allred has served you with notice........

Something you should realize, Herman, is that the unfortunate stereotype of the American male businessman turned politician is generally that of a male who is a bit sexist. Lets face it, a woman in this country has a harder time finding harmony between the roles of motherhood and any career she might pursue than she does in any other developed nation. We get denied promotions because everyone knows we will always put our children first. (at least, we SHOULD) We often don't get paid as much as men, and often don't get benefits as easily because reproductive health has a more direct impact on our lives than it has on yours, or any other man's. And my boss once got very, very upset with me because I got a phone call from the hospital, letting me know that my baby had gotton sick at daycare and had been taken to the emergency room with a fever of 105.8. No joke, Herman; I was expected to remain at work until it was convenient for everyone else to manage without me. Of course, I left, and went to the emergency room anyway, because my children are more important to me than any job. But our culture left my boss with a vehicle through which to accuse me of "not doing my job" because my baby got sick! It would not surprise me if every woman in America who maintains a job somewhere was able to sympathize with me at one level or another. We are kinda sorta used to it, even though we would all like to see it change. But; you wanna add sexual harassment to all of that, and force us to deal with ass-grabbing bosses, as well? And you also wanna lead the nation? Hmmmm..........I honestly do not think you really have much to offer.

Now a fourth woman has come forward with a similar story about you, and ass-grabbing on the job. It has been my experience in number crunching and marketing that in a demographic such as your business, every single complaint you have heard probably represents at least a dozen that you have not heard. That goes for every type of complaint, from moldy pizza to sexual harassment. It is much easier to just take the path of least resistance when one's employer behaves inappropriately, than it is to speak up, and run the risk of losing one's income. That's why I believe that you probably, in this regard, have lived up to the negative stereotype of the American businessman turned politician. If a man just keeps his hands to himself, work related tasks always seem to get done much more quickly and efficiently. And, that same man will keep the respect of his co-workers, as well, both on and off the job. Especially when he decides, later on, to run for president. But, you went about your business seemingly unaware of this, and I don't think any number of court proceedings are going to clue you in now, and I think all of us are better off without you in the White House.

One more thing you can do to possibly enhance your chances for the presidency is this, Mr. Cain; pay your taxes!


Update: There is now a fifth woman coming forward with allegations of unprofessional and inappropriate conduct on the part of Herman Cain.

Further Update: We now know that Herman Cain could not be guilty of professional misconduct or sexual harrassment because he "totally respects women". Sure, Armando. Anything you say. (where's the eye-rolley when I need it?)

Another Update....and...where's the eye-rolley when I need it? Herman Cain thinks he was told by "God" to run for president, and he even likens himself to the biblical Moses! Stuff people do when "God" speaks to them, personally, almost never turns out well............and as for being anything like Moses, lets hope "God" does not set the bushes on fire when he speaks to Cain. Unless, of course....firehose.........no; I won't go there.......