A TIME FOR LOGIC AND REASON

        Since the Rutherford Institute Attorney reported that "women's groups were going to announce support of Paula Corbin Jones's appeal," we have received a lot of mail in vehement opposition.

        We agree.  Filing a "friend of the court" -- amicus -- brief, would be disastrous, especially since it would be in response to the goading and unfair criticism of women by the right wing political groups.

        It would be a great mistake because it would be used against us over and over again.  It would be misinterpreted by the press and appear in political advertisements.  No matter how carefully crafted, the political supporters of P.C.J. would claim that, "In filing this brief, women's groups support her claims and believe she is telling the truth."

        In addition, we would all receive a figurative pinch on the butt from the ry-chus ones, along with insidious remarks such as, "Way to go, bitch!"

        The political advertisements would feature women's movement leaders telling the media of womens's unqualified support.  We have already seen this happen when a knee-jerk reaction to the TV appearance of Kathryn Willey caused a women's movement leader to make several ill advised statements.

        These were immediately snatched out of context and misrepresented by politicians and the media. In light of the revelations that followed, those "off the cuff" words come back to haunt and embarrass us all, again and again.

        We can understand that women may feel unjustly attacked by the label of "hypocrite." that has been so liberally applied by the conservatives.  "Why," they taunt, "did you support Anita Hill but won't support P.C.J.?  Hypocrites!"

        But it is not a time to react with emotion. It is a time to respond with logic and reason.  We must make clear that we are supportive of anti-harassment laws and will work to make them stronger and more definitive.

        We must also make the following points:

      • We oppose all forms of harassment in the workplace.

      • We support the right of all women to bring their cases to court and receive the best possible legal representation.

        • [This has been done in the case of PCJ, who has had the benefit of several attorneys plus the monetary backing of the Rutherford Institute and the followers of conservatives such as Jerry Falwell and Rush Limbaugh.]

      • As in the case of Anita Hill, we support a women's right to be heard when she has a grievance to present and for her case to be reported by the media.

        • [This has been done over and over again for P.C.J.  Neither she nor the conservative money mavens need any help from women's groups in this regard.]

      • We believe that there is something much more important that women and men of good will could be doing now.  We should be speaking out against the latest in a long list of obscenities by Kenneth Starr.

        • Once again, he has ordered Susan Mc Dougal to the Grand Jury in Arkansas.  She has already demonstrated that she will not lie, as Starr has demanded, by serving 18 months in jail on civil contempt charges.  Now, he is poised to send her to jail for another 18 months or more on criminal contempt charges.

        This is an atrocious and despicable use of power against a woman.  If Starr has charges against President Clinton then let him bring them forth and stop his unreasonable torture of Susan Mac D.

        TWANDA@ConnRiver.net

        1998-017

        Copyright 1998 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: TWANDA@ConnRiver.net.

        G e n d e r G a p p e r s   T M   


        NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMENOur congratulations to the National Organization for Women on winning their lawsuit filed in 1986.  It was the first nationwide class action lawsuit ever filed against the anti-abortion movement under RICO.

        They have delivered a blow to the bullies of Operation Rescue and their fellow terrorists -- a swift kick to that part of their anatomy that contains their true feelings -- their wallets.

        "Way to go, WOMEN!"