MESSAGE
DATE | 2006-03-24 |
FROM | Ruben Safir
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SUBJECT | Subject: [NYLXS - HANGOUT] Re: [Fwd: Fwd: Shared Parenting Round 2 plus New Column: Are
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Please folks - read this over and make a call to the NY State Assembly/Senate today. Follow the links for help. Anyone who has ever had 6 children ripped from them would know ow important this is.
Ruben
On Thu, 2006-03-23 at 23:38, Ruben Safir wrote: > > Subject: Fwd: Shared Parenting Round 2 plus New Column: Are American > > Husbands Slackers? > > Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2006 22:55:24 -0500 > > > > I URGE EVERYONE HERE TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL LAWMAKER TO EXPRESS > > SUPPORT FOR PASSING BILL A00330. > > > > This bill establishes a presumption of shared parenting of minor > > children in matrimonial proceedings. This bill will have a positive > > and substantial effect on society and remedy the terrible gender bias > > now present in most custodial determinations. Our children need this > > bill. > > > > Regards, Stu Meltzer, Esq. > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > From: Jeffrey Rosner > > To: Stu Meltzer > > Subject: Shared Parenting Round 2 plus New Column: Are American > > Husbands Slackers? > > Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 06:11:15 -0500 > > > > > > Jeffrey Rosner > > Seren Funding Corp. > > 46 East Park Avenue > > Long Beach NY 11561 > > Tel: 516-889-8218 > > Fax:516-432-0624 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Glenn Sacks > > To: jeffrosner-at-optonline.net > > Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 5:06 AM > > Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] Shared Parenting Round 2 plus New Column: > > Are American Husbands Slackers? > > > > > > > > Shared Parenting Round 2 plus New > > Column: > > Are American Husbands Slackers? > > > > March 21, 2006 > > > > > > Round 2 of Shared Parenting > > Campaign--Fill in Fax Form Now! > > > > New York's Shared Parenting Bill > > has reached a critical point and > > we're giving the bill a strong push > > forward. Nearly 3,000 of you have > > used our form to email the members > > of the Assembly's Children & > > Families Committee in support of > > A330. Now I want you to use our > > quick, easy form to fax the members > > as well--click here. > > > > The vote on the bill is set for > > March 28. According to the > > Coalition of Fathers and Families > > New York, who are sponsoring the > > bill, your efforts along with > > theirs in New York have had a big > > effect on the committee members. > > Fax the committee members with your > > support for this bill by clicking > > here. > > > > New York is a battleground state > > for shared parenting and > > > > Advertise on the World's Largest > > Regularly Distributed E-Newsletter > > on Men's and Fathers' Issues > > Are you looking for an affordable > > way to reach tens of thousands of > > people with your business, > > organization or message? My weekly > > E-Newsletter is the largest > > regularly distributed men's and > > fathers' issues E-Newsletter in the > > world. Contact us for more > > information. > > > > > > fatherhood. Attorneys' groups, such > > as the Legal Project and the > > Women's Bar Association of New > > York, and feminists, including the > > New York Chapter of the National > > Organization for Women, are > > fighting this bill. These special > > interests have successfully blocked > > shared parenting efforts in New > > York for over 25 years. > > > > To support the bill, click here. > > > > > > March 25 NYC Rally for Shared > > Parenting Bill > > > > This Saturday (March 25) New York > > shared parenting advocates will be > > holding a rally in New York City. > > The rally will be held in > > Manhattan, outside the Children's > > Zoo, on 5th Ave at 64th Street, > > from 12 noon to 4 pm. For more > > information, write to FaFNY > > activist Debbie Fellows at > > dafellows2001-at-yahoo.com. > > > > > > The American Coalition for Fathers > > and Children > > The American Coalition for Fathers > > and Children is dedicated to > > creating a family law system which > > promotes equal rights for all > > parties affected by divorce. > > Contact the ACFC at 1-800-978-3237 > > or visit them on the web at > > www.acfc.org. > > > > Lisa Scott Launches > > RealFamilyLaw.com > > Shared Parenting Advocate/Family > > Law Attorney Lisa Scott has just > > launched www.RealFamilyLaw.com to > > expose the truth about what is > > happening in our family law system. > > Lisa, the all-time leader in > > appearances on His Side with Glenn > > Sacks, says that she was "tired of > > having her stuff rejected by > > elitist bar publications and > > politically-correct newspapers" and > > decided to start her own website. > > www.RealFamilyLaw.com > > > > > > Glenn Quoted, Misquoted by > > Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service > > > > I was quoted (and misquoted) in the > > Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service > > article Women outdo men in > > graduations, which appeared in the > > Orlando Sentinel, the San Jose > > Mercury News, and other newspapers > > last week. The article says: > > > > "Women are smarter than men. > > > > "That's one possible conclusion you > > can draw from a study released > > Wednesday by UCF's Institute for > > Diversity and Ethics in Sport. > > > > "The study, which examined the > > graduation rates for teams headed > > to the NCAA men's and women's > > basketball tournaments, shows that > > women's basketball players do far > > better academically than men's > > basketball players. > > > > "Ninety-five percent of the women's > > teams graduated half of their > > players. Only 64 percent of the > > men's teams did the same." > > > > The article quotes and paraphrases > > me as follows: > > > > "Even [Sacks] acknowledges that the > > male basketball players should take > > their classwork more seriously. > > > > "Most of the guys hope for or > > expect a multimillion-dollar NBA > > payday after they leave school. > > Therefore, they spend more time on > > basketball than schoolwork. > > > > "Then there's something else: what > > Sacks calls the 'Bill Buckner > > Syndrome,' the desire not to screw > > up on the court. Sacks said that > > male basketball players are more > > likely to work harder on their > > games than women because men > > generally play in front of larger > > audiences. > > > > "'If one of these male players > > screw up in a major way, you'll > > screw up in front of millions of > > people,' Sacks said. 'That'll get > > you to focus on your game in a > > major way.'" > > > > In the interview I gave several > > reasons for the women's better > > academic performance among top > > athletes. For one, there's simple > > economics. In general, economics > > dictates human behavior. While it > > would be nice if the > > student-athletes focused on their > > studies instead of sports, a top > > male college basketball player is > > not far away from earning millions > > of dollars as an NBA player. Many > > others are close enough to think > > they will, and others have at least > > an outside shot. In this situation, > > it makes economic sense to focus on > > basketball, not school. One can > > always go back and take Western > > Civ. or Biology, but opportunities > > to become a professional athlete > > are precious and rare. > > > > It is true that some of the top > > women players will go on to the > > WNBA, where they'll make some > > money. However, it's nothing like > > the future earning potential that > > the men have. > > > > Another reason is distractions. > > Male athletes are heroes who > > receive press attention and > > adulation. Because there is less > > interest in women's sports, women > > athletes receive far less. > > > > And of course, there's the issue of > > attention from the opposite sex. I > > doubt that being an accomplished > > athlete does much to effect a > > college woman's chance of > > attracting members of the opposite > > sex. It's not difficult for > > college-age women anyway. > > > > On the other hand, for young men > > and their voracious sex drives, the > > girls are a huge distraction. And > > it's not hard for a young athlete > > to figure out that it's the > > athletes, not the good students, > > who get the girls. > > > > I also pointed out to the reporter > > that there's probably more > > competition for the men's athletic > > slots. I would imagine that the > > starting center for a major men's > > college basketball team has had to > > beat out more competition than the > > starting center for the women's > > team. > > > > I also believe the "Bill Buckner" > > factor--the fear of being > > embarrassed in front of millions of > > people in a highly publicized, > > televised athletic > > competition--also spurs athletes to > > do their best. > > > > (Bill Buckner was the Red Sox first > > baseman who let a groundball go > > through his legs in the 6th game of > > the 1986 World Series against the > > Mets, allowing the Mets to win the > > game and, a day later, the series. > > Buckner has always been the > > standard for "goat." I'd feel sorry > > for him, except that throughout his > > career he was always badly > > overrated, so I always viewed his > > series humiliation as simply > > evening things out). > > > > > > Athletics and Embarrassment > > > > Don't underestimate the motivation > > provided by fear of embarrassment, > > even in what might look in > > retrospect like a trivial > > situation. Obviously I'm not one > > who fears fear public > > embarrassment, but I do recall a > > couple incidents from my childhood. > > > > In one, I guess I must have been > > about 11. Our baseball team made > > the playoffs and was advancing, but > > at this point we were facing sudden > > death elimination. We're in the > > last inning (can't remember if we > > played 7 innings or 9), we're down > > by two runs with one out, bases > > loaded, I'm up. > > > > The game had gone on a long time > > and the sun was setting, so > > visibility was really bad. A kid > > named Tom or Tim Marino was > > pitching and throwing what seemed > > to be very hard. I could barely see > > the ball. It was just a Little > > League or Pony League game but it > > seemed that everyone was watching > > and it's a big deal. My > > overwhelming obsession as I come to > > the plate? Not making a fool of > > myself. > > > > I was a pretty good hitter--I hit > > over .300 with good power, and > > batted fifth or sixth on a good > > team. But this time I felt > > completely helpless. He threw me > > the first two pitches and I swung > > at both, each time missing by what > > seemed like a foot. I remember > > stepping out of the box and > > thinking "dammit, I'm going to > > strike out in a key situation and > > make a fool of myself." I took a > > deep breath--"please just connect > > with the ball, please." I looked > > out at the pitcher and squinted and > > said to myself--"please just throw > > the damn thing wherever it is I'm > > swinging, please just hit my bat." > > > > The next pitch comes and I connect, > > hitting a comebacker right at the > > pitcher. He throws home for the > > force-out and I'm on first base, > > unbelievably relieved. The effect > > of what I did was no better than a > > strikeout--it's bases loaded, two > > out either way--but I feel a weight > > lifted off my shoulders. I can now > > actually think about the game > > again. > > > > The next batter, a kid named John > > Shea or O'Shea, smashes a hard line > > drive to left. I jump up, thinking > > I could score from first on the hit > > and we win the game. Except the > > shortstop is playing deep and the > > ball is hit right at him and he > > catches it--game over, season over. > > > > I'm disappointed, but as I walked > > off the field I thought to myself > > "at least I didn't strike out..." > > > > I remember another time I was > > playing goalie for our soccer team > > and it was a tremendously rainy day > > but for some reason we were playing > > anyway. The parents abandoned > > watching from the sidelines but > > instead all sat in their cars in > > the parking lot right behind our > > goal. > > > > The game was tied and time was > > running out. The other side came > > down the field and centered the > > ball, where it stopped dead in the > > middle of a puddle about two feet > > from our goal. There was a big > > group of guys hacking away at it, > > trying to either score or clear the > > ball out. > > > > Suddenly the ball squirted out > > towards the goal, I dove for it, > > some kid stepped on my leg, I got > > the ball but only after it had > > crossed the goal line. So I laid > > there, shooting pain in my leg, > > partially wrapped up in the net, > > wet, cold, muddy, and defeated, > > looking back up into the bright > > headlights of all those cars as > > their horns blared loudly in > > celebration of their triumph and > > our defeat. > > > > As I've raised my now teenaged son > > I've thought back on these > > experiences from time to time and > > asked myself if I benefited from > > them and if he would. Proponents > > of kids' sports would argue that > > experiences like this build > > character and teach kids how to > > lose and how to come back from > > losing. Opponents would say the > > emphasis on competition can > > traumatize kids who aren't old > > enough or mature enough to deal > > with it. Overall I'd say there's > > plenty of truth in both, but as for > > me, I'd go with the former. I mean, > > after some of my experiences > > playing sports, getting chewed out > > on the O'Reilly Factor in front of > > three million people was no big > > deal... > > > > I suppose it also depends on where > > you are in the sports hierarchy. I > > probably was lucky in this regard. > > Exceptional child athletes are > > privileged in many, many ways, but > > their success also puts them under > > a lot of pressure and scrutiny, > > too. Being a bad athlete can also > > be traumatic. When I played > > baseball and soccer I was usually > > somewhere between average and good, > > maybe the 5th or 6th best player on > > a team of 15, which was probably > > the most comfortable place to be. > > > > Of course, even a player in my > > position sometimes has pressure put > > on them. I had good power and hit > > some long balls, including a > > homerun over the fence in dead > > center and a ground rule > > double--very, very long balls for a > > kid that age. So one of my coaches > > put his arm around me and said > > "this is our power hitter--he's > > going to hit some loooong homeruns > > for us this year." So I started > > swinging real hard to hit the > > homeruns the coach told me I should > > be hitting and hit about .190 the > > rest of the season... > > > > > > Glenn Misquoted? > > > > When the reporter contacted me and > > explained that the story was about > > male athletes not doing as well in > > school as their female > > counterparts, I said "and you've > > contacted me because you know I'm a > > knee jerk defender of men who will > > make excuses for their behavior, no > > matter how stupid, lazy or > > inexcusable." Obviously I was > > joking. So the reporter wrote > > "Glenn Sacks calls himself 'a > > knee-jerk defender of men,'" and > > now it's in major newspapers like I > > was serious. Sigh... > > > > I suppose it's another example of > > my oft-stated axiom for dealing > > with media--expect little, and > > don't be surprised when you get > > even less. > > > > > > College Athletics > > > > One of the biggest concerns for > > male college athletes is the > > feminist-inspired interpretation of > > Title IX that has led to the > > destruction of hundreds of men's > > athletic teams. In my column Title > > IX Lawsuits are Endangering Men's > > College Sports (Los Angeles Daily > > News, 9/7/01) I wrote: > > > > "In one of UCLA's proudest moments, > > UCLA-trained swimmers and gymnasts > > dominated the 1984 Summer Olympics. > > Half of the gold-medal winning > > men's gymnastic team were Bruins. > > Yet, despite producing 22 Olympic > > swimming competitors and dozens of > > world-class gymnasts, these UCLA > > men's teams were eliminated less > > than a decade later. In fact, over > > the past five years more than 350 > > men's collegiate athletic teams > > have been eliminated nationwide, > > and the number of men's gymnastics > > teams has fallen from 200 to just > > 21. What happened? > > > > "These athletic programs were not > > felled by mismanagement, drugs, or > > rules violations. They were > > destroyed by something far more > > dangerous than a triple full twist > > off the parallel bars or a reverse > > three and a half somersaults dive. > > They were destroyed by Title IX. > > > > "Title IX of the Education > > Amendments Act of 1972 barred sex > > discrimination in any educational > > program or activity which receives > > federal funding. In the decades > > since, women's athletics have > > burgeoned in high schools and > > colleges. Title IX was and remains > > an important and laudable victory > > for the women's movement. > > > > "More recently, however, misguided > > feminist lawsuits and political > > lobbying have changed Title IX from > > a vehicle to open up opportunities > > for women to a scorched earth > > policy whereby the destruction of > > men's athletics has become an > > acceptable substitute for > > strengthening women's athletics." > > > > > > New Edition of Leving's Divorce > > Magazine Now Online > > The second edition of Leving's > > Divorce Magazine, the new magazine > > for the modern divorced men, is now > > available online with articles > > focusing on issues such as men's > > reproductive rights (or lack > > thereof), Parental Alienation > > Syndrome and child support. Visit > > now and get a free subscription. > > > > Time for Family Fun Without the > > Burning Sun > > Have hours of the outdoors with our > > children's fun but functional sun > > protection. Don't let sunburn, heat > > or insects get in the way of > > lifelong memories! Save 10% off > > your order with the coupon code > > SACKS. www.babysunprotection.com > > > > > > New Column: Are American Husbands > > Slackers? > > > > My latest co-authored column, Are > > American Husbands Slackers? > > (Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, > > 3/19/06), discusses the assertions > > being made in the wake of Betty > > Friedan's death that while career > > opportunities have opened up for > > women, these careers are being > > undermined by women's > > disproportionate household > > obligations. The column looks at > > the relevant research to determine > > whether men are doing their fair > > share in their households. Family > > law attorney Jeff Leving and I > > wrote: > > > > "Feminists' persistent criticism of > > men has combined with women's > > traditional expectations of their > > husbands to place men in a double > > bind. A man may be a devoted > > caretaker of his children or a > > talented cook, but if he is unable > > to provide for his family, he is > > not respected. Yet when a man works > > long hours to fulfill the > > breadwinner role which he is still > > expected to perform, he is blamed > > for not contributing as much at > > home as his wife does." > > > > Tree House Solutions > > As with the tree house of > > childhood, parents as well as > > children need a place of refuge and > > support to "see above" and to > > navigate what has been termed "high > > conflict" divorce. Tree House > > Solutions, LLC is a growing and > > evolving resource that is designed > > to meet both the emotional and the > > informational needs of parents who > > are going through divorce, as well > > as those who are divorced but still > > experience challenges in shared > > parenting with their former > > spouses. > > www.treehousesolutions.org > > > > > > Want to Give Good Morning America's > > Manbashing a Hot Welcome? > > > > From Good Morning America's > > website: > > > > "March 20, 2006 -- In 1979, > > homemaker Terry Martin Hekker > > stirred controversy with her book, > > Ever Since Adam and Eve, which > > celebrated stay-at-home wives and > > mothers. > > > > "On Jan. 1, Hekker again created > > headlines with a column in The New > > York Times announcing that after 40 > > years of marriage, her husband > > asked for a divorce to be with a > > younger woman. 'He got to take his > > girlfriend to Cancun, while I got > > to sell my engagement ring to pay > > the roofer,' she wrote. > > > > "Have you been through a similar > > situation? Have you thought about > > what you'll do to support yourself > > if your partner ever leaves you? > > > > "Tell your story by filling out the > > form below. You may be contacted by > > Good Morning America for a future > > segment." > > > > Last month I countered Hekker's > > manbashing in my co-authored column > > The Rise in 'Gray Divorce': It's > > Always Hubby's Fault (Houston > > Chronicle, 2/18/06). I wrote: > > > > "This 'Pin the Blame on the > > Husband' is unfair. For one, the > > stereotype of the husband trading > > in his wife for a younger model is > > by and large a myth. The women in > > the American Association of Retired > > Persons study were 60% more likely > > to claim that they ended their > > marriages than the men were, and > > men were almost twice as likely as > > women to say that they never saw > > their divorces coming. In contrast > > to the Porsche and trophy wife > > stereotype, the AARP study found > > that these divorced men had many > > serious concerns, high among them > > their fear of losing touch with > > their children after their > > divorces... > > > > "Though nobody says it, 'dumped for > > a younger woman' is sometimes just > > a woman's cop-out for not taking > > responsibility for her own > > contribution to the marital > > breakdown. Hekker says her > > ex-husband spent 16 pages of his > > divorce papers 'meticulously > > detailing my faults and flaws.' Yet > > the New York Times' editors didn't > > ask her to devote a single one of > > her 1,600+ words towards giving the > > reader a clue as to what her > > ex-husband's feelings and > > complaints might be. > > > > "Given the way the media is > > portraying gray divorce on both > > sides of the Pacific, this is no > > surprise." > > > > I suggest you leave ABC with some > > choice words or simply copy and > > paste my Houston Chroniclecolumn in > > the emailing to them. Perhaps > > they'll allow the male side of the > > story to be heard. To respond to > > ABC, click here. > > > > Help, Resources for Dads > > The National Fathers' Resource > > Center is a division of Fathers For > > Equal Rights, Inc. (FER), located > > in Dallas, Texas, with offices in > > both Dallas and Houston. In > > existence for over three decades, > > it has services and resources for > > dads nationwide and is one of the > > largest and most active fathers' > > rights organizations in the U.S. > > www.fathers4kids.org > > > > Are You Really the Father? > > Find out the underlying flaws in > > the DNA paternity testing system > > and learn how a man with results in > > the 90%, 95% or even 99% positive > > range may not be the father. Learn > > what most lawyers and judges don't > > know about paternity testing. > > www.paternitytestflaw.com > > > > > > Attorney Criticizes Glenn, Says Low > > Income Dads Can Pay Child Support > > but Waste Money on Themselves > > Instead > > > > Michael E. Young, Esq. the author > > of The Art of Divorce, is unhappy > > over my co-authored column Kansas > > License Bill Unfair to Noncustodial > > Parents (Wichita Eagle, 3/8/06). > > Young retorts in Driver's License > > Bill is Not Unfair to Noncustodial > > Parents as follows: > > > > "Attorney Jeffrey Leving and > > columnist Glenn Sacks contend that > > a Kansas bill that will take away > > driver's licenses from 'deadbeat > > parents' who owe more than $500 in > > support arrearages is 'unfair' > > because it disproportionately > > affects the poor. > > > > "However, they ignore that many > > parents below the poverty line have > > the money to pay support but spend > > it instead on different priorities. > > Time and again, funds that should > > go to child support are spent > > instead on $60 hairstylist bills, > > $90 premium cable TV bills, $100 in > > new clothes, $300 for a New Year's > > Eve bash, $1,000 for a weekend trip > > to Las Vegas, a new car, etc. by > > the 'poor.'" > > > > I guess Young is smarter than I > > am--I didn't realize that the > > roofers, maintenance men and day > > laborers who populate the "Top 10 > > Most Wanted Deadbeat Parents" lists > > put out by most states were > > spending $60 on hair stylists. > > > > Young continues: > > > > "Rich or poor, the duty to support > > one's children exists. Leving and > > Sacks miss the boat by carving out > > an exception based on income." > > > > I agree that regardless of income, > > parents have a duty to support > > their children, though that support > > also very much includes the > > emotional support which divorced > > dads so often aren't allowed to > > give. But I'm not "carving out an > > exception based on income"--child > > support is supposed to be based on > > income. The issue with many > > so-called "deadbeats" is not that > > they won't pay but that they are > > being asked to pay amounts which > > are well beyond what's affordable > > with their incomes. And when they > > are unable to pay, the system > > cripples them further by seizing > > their driver's licenses, jailing > > them, etc. > > > > To share your opinion of this issue > > on Young's blog, click here. To > > write to Young, click here. > > > > Responsible, Intelligent, > > Insightful Help for Men from a > > Woman Who Can Think Like One > > Therapist Shari Schreiber, M.A. > > addresses gender issues in her > > male-friendly Forum, such as: sex, > > making your marriage work, online > > dating, men blackmailed into > > marriage/fatherhood, > > dangerous/Borderline disordered > > women, weight issues and MUCH more. > > > > 4TRUTH IDENTITY: The Leader in > > Fast, Accurate DNA Tests > > If you're looking for a paternity > > test, Paternity Fraud crusader > > Carnell Smith's 4TRUTH IDENTITY > > offers guaranteed, 100% accurate > > identification services in > > virtually every US state and in > > several countries. Call (404) > > 289-3321or click here. > > > > > > War Veterans Return Home To Custody > > Battles > > > > I've covered the custody problems > > faced by deployed service personnel > > on many occasions. According to > > this piece on KMBC TV in Kansas > > City: > > > > "Two local women are fighting to > > get their children back after > > serving their country overseas, > > KMBC's Bev Chapman reported. > > > > "When Dena Stephenson went off to > > war, her 6-year-old daughter, > > Kristina, went to stay with her > > father. Stephenson followed the > > military's Family Care Plan, which > > gave temporary power of attorney > > and guardianship of her child. > > > > "'Once I came back from deployment, > > naturally, my child wanted to be > > with me nonstop,' Stephenson said. > > > > "Stephenson said she was supposed > > to get Kristina back when she > > returned home, but now the girl's > > father is asking for 50-50 custody. > > > > "'I don't agree with that as a > > parenting plan. I don't think it's > > healthy for the child and I've > > already missed a year of her life,' > > Stephenson said. 'It hurts me that > > he's trying to do this, and in the > > long run, I think it's going to > > hurt her, too.' > > > > "Regina Ellis is going through a > > similar experience. She was > > deployed overseas for a year, and > > she also followed the Family Care > > Plan. Now that she's back, Ellis > > has lost custody of her son, > > Trevor. > > > > "This month, her ex-husband gained > > full-time custody, and Ellis said > > she sees Trevor only every other > > weekend. > > > > "'It's not just us and it's not > > just the Army and it's not just > > females -- this is military-wide, > > and it hurts,' Ellis said." > > > > I often hear from deployed > > servicemembers--some of them > > female--who are facing these > > problems, and I sympathize. In this > > case, however, I sympathize with > > only one of the two ladies > > involved. In the case of Regina > > Ellis, where her ex-husband has won > > sole custody of their son and she > > can only see him every other > > weekend, I think it's an outrageous > > injustice. > > > > In the Dena Stephenson case, > > however, I see no injustice except > > the one she is trying to perpetrate > > against her ex-husband. Her > > ex-husband parented their 6 > > year-old daughter full-time while > > Stephenson was away, and now that > > she has returned he has offered her > > 50-50 custody. She should recognize > > that this is best for the child, > > and acknowledge how fair and > > reasonable her ex-husband is being. > > Instead she is demanding sole > > custody and, playing the victim, > > says "It hurts me that he's trying > > to do this." In other words, he's > > been raising their daughter > > full-time but now that the child's > > "real" parent is back the girl's > > bond with her father is of little > > or no import. As for dad, he can > > kiss his parenthood goodbye and > > settle for the every other weekend > > visitation shaft. > > > > I wish I could set up two legal > > assistance funds here---one for > > Regina Ellis, the other for Dena > > Stephenson's ex-husband. > > > > To learn more about this issue, see > > my co-authored column Laws Must > > Protect the Rights of Military > > Dads (Army Times, Marine Corps > > Times, 3/28/05), and listen to the > > His Side with Glenn Sacks show Two > > Years into Iraq War, Little Has > > Been Done to Protect the Rights of > > Military Fathers (3/13/05). > > > > To read about recent legislative > > victories for military parents in > > California and Michigan, click here > > and here. > > > > Online Support for Men Going > > Through Divorce > > Don't feel isolated, frightened, > > confused or alone when going > > through your divorce. Get the help > > and support you need without > > leaving your home at the Ottawa > > Divorce Forums. > > www.OttawaDivorce.com/forum/ > > > > BE THE FIRST TO KNOW > > The Levine Breaking News E-LERT is > > Hollywood's premier Breaking News > > e-zine sent every day to > > approximately 100,000 > > "influencers." Referred to as "part > > CNN-part Variety-part Drudge > > Report"--to sign up, send an email > > to MLasst-at-LCOonline.com. > > > > > > Man-Bashing on College Campuses > > > > A reader sent me this clip from > > "The Family Guy" which illustrates > > the man-bashing and anti-male > > hysteria prevalent on our college > > campuses today. To watch, click > > here. > > > > I detailed my sentiments about the > > way male college students are > > treated in my column Why Males > > Don't Go to College (She Thinks, > > 11/13/02). I also criticized > > "feminist academics [female and > > male] who poured their derision > > upon college men, knowing that > > their students could not > > effectively fight back," and "timid > > male professors who were so content > > with their own careers that they > > were perfectly willing to allow 18 > > year-old boys to be beat up on > > rather than jeopardize their own > > comfort by speaking out." > > > > How Does Sex Discrimination Affect > > Men and Boys? > > The National Coalition of Free Men > > is a non-profit educational & civil > > rights organization that looks at > > the ways sex discrimination affects > > men and boys. NCFM helps provide > > men a unified voice on important > > political and social issues. > > www.NCFM.org > > > > Help for Boston Dads > > Boston family law attorney Nick > > Palermo is a shared custody > > advocate who believes that divorced > > dads are parents, not visitors. The > > Law Offices of Nicholas Palermo is > > a dedicated and committed trial law > > firm which has worked to make > > shared custody for all fit parents > > the law of the land. > > LAW OFFICES OF NICHOLAS PALERMO > > > > > > Indiana Politician Responds to > > Glenn over 'Deadbeat Dad' Charge > > > > A couple weeks ago I discussed > > Roseland Town Council President > > Dorothy Snyder's decision to run > > for the Indiana state legislature > > on a noncustodial parents' rights > > platform. She decided to run when > > Indiana State Rep. Ryan Dvorak > > proposed a bill which would require > > officeholders who are more than > > $15,000 in arrears to give up their > > offices. Snyder's husband, David > > Snyder, a local councilman, is > > reportedly $90,000 behind in child > > support. > > > > Snyder's candidacy got a lot of > > play and applause on men's and > > fathers' websites and elists. I > > noted that "it would be wrong to > > assume...that David Snyder is a > > deadbeat who abandoned his > > kids...many so-called "deadbeat" > > parents are instead simply dead > > broke or are victims of the > > system." However, I also cautioned > > that "it would also be wrong to > > assume that David Snyder is simply > > a victim of the system. There are > > fathers who behave irresponsibly > > towards their children, and he > > might be one of them. I'd like a > > little more information before we > > all go jumping into bed together." > > > > I guess one of my readers forwarded > > my enewsletter on to Snyder, > > because he contacted me a few days > > later. Snyder wrote: > > > > "Your column came to my attention > > today, and as usual for me when I > > read similar writings my stomach > > begins to churn at the unfairness > > of our current laws and the living > > hell non-custodial parents, > > children, and extended families are > > going through due the thoughtless > > actions of our legislators. You > > fairly reserved judgment in my case > > as I would be wont to do until I > > had heard all sides." > > > > According to Snyder, his child > > support arrearage (which he claims > > is $60,000, not $90,000 as reports > > indicated) was caused by a > > combination of factors which will > > sound familiar to many of the > > divorced dads on this elist. These > > include: child support based on an > > income well beyond what Snyder was > > actually earning; unequal division > > of marital property; legal bills; > > periods of unemployment or > > underemployment; his ex-wife using > > the legal system to tie up and then > > destroy his business; and stiff > > penalties and interest on the > > arrearages. In the middle of all of > > this Snyder says he contracted > > cancer. He also claims that his > > ex-wife alienated his children and > > poisoned them against him. > > > > I have no idea if all of this is > > true. I will say one this--I've > > received thousands of letters from > > fathers telling me the same types > > of stories, so Snyder's claims are > > certainly plausible. > > > > The Rantings of a Single Male: > > Losing Patience with Feminism, > > Political Correctness... and > > Basically Everything describes the > > rise of feminism from the mid '70s > > to the present, through Ellis' > > personal experiences and is loaded > > with outrageous stories. > > > > Legal Help for Fathers > > If you live in Los Angeles, > > Riverside or Orange counties and > > you're facing a divorce, > > separation, or a child custody > > issue, the law firm of Oddenino & > > Gaule can help. > > > > > > Glenn Appears on the Dennis Prager > > Show--Audio Available > > > > I discussed my co-authored column > > The Rise in 'Gray Divorce': It's > > Always Hubby's Fault (Houston > > Chronicle, 2/18/06) on the Dennis > > Prager Show on the Salem Radio > > Network on March 8. The 45 minute > > audio (without commercials) is > > available by clicking here. We > > discussed many of the issues which > > serve to drive husbands and wives > > apart. > > > > > > A Message from FaFNY About the > > Shared Parenting Bill > > > > Debbie Fellows is one of the > > principal activists in the > > Coalition of Fathers and Families > > New York, the New York affiliate of > > the American Coalition for Fathers > > & Children. Debbie, a former NOW > > activist, wrote the letter below to > > pass on to my readers: > > > > "For years we have been fighting an > > unfair war. Some battles won, most > > are lost. A330 is a battle but not > > the war. > > > > "This past week we launched, with > > support from people like Glenn > > Sacks, the campaign in support of > > the bill. The Assembly has received > > over 2,000 letters [now over 2,500] > > in the last week in support of > > shared parenting. Their response to > > us shows that they have been > > listening. > > > > "On March 28 the Children and > > Families Committee will put A330 > > up for a vote. The Coalition of > > Fathers and Families of New York > > has been at the capitol in Albany > > daily, working in support of the > > shared parenting bill. In the last > > year we have been on several > > television shows and radio > > broadcasts, and have appeared in > > newspapers many times. > > > > "On Sunday we were on the radio and > > were beat against the wall on this > > subject. The Legal Project and the > > Women's Bar Association of New York > > came on after us and just tore > > shared parenting apart. Their > > misstatements included: '70% of all > > men win custody in contested > > divorces'; 'shared parenting is not > > in the best interest of the child'; > > 'children suffer being shifted > > between homes'; 'what about > > domestic violence?'; and '97% of > > custody is giving to the mothers on > > consent of the fathers in > > stipulated agreements.' > > > > "Regarding the stipulated > > agreements, someone called in and > > stated that the fathers' > > stipulations to give up custody > > parallel the 'consent' Sophie gave > > in the movie, Sophie's Choice. Good > > analogy. > > > > "Our opposition knows this bill is > > coming up for a vote and they're > > ready. We have been trying to get > > shared parenting passed for many > > years. At this point we certainly > > aren't going to get everything we > > want. We have to work within the > > realm of the possible, and this > > bill is a start. After this b |
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