Men's Names as Last Names

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Tuesday February 12, 2019 · 9:29 AM PST

2019/02/12 · 09:29

People are well aware of the inherent sexism of several cultural practices regarding the adoption and use of surnames. Upon marriage most women take their husband’s surnames. Even if a woman retains her “maiden” name she has simply replaced one man’s name for another – her father’s – because of the even more universal custom of bestowing upon a child the surname of its father. Moreover it is customary in professional, commercial, and political settings to refer to a woman by her first name (“Hillary”) and a man by his last name (“Trump”). All of these traditions are so deeply entrenched in our habits and daily lives that they seem to be unremarkable. In fact these customs are very remarkable indeed – we should remark upon them -- they should be reflected upon, and studied, and changed.

I write today of an even simpler and more obvious and therefore even more remarkable gender bias in the use of surnames. The names themselves refer almost exclusively to males.

conlaw

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Saturday April 30, 2016 · 2:28 AM PDT

2016/04/30 · 02:28

Donald Trump lives on the surface. He cannot see below the surface, and values nothing below the surface.

conlaw

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Friday April 29, 2016 · 10:33 AM PDT

2016/04/29 · 10:33

Is Donald Trump caving in to Russia on Ukraine? It sure looks like it. There are strong indications that Trump opposes President Obama's policy of steadfast resistance to Russia, and would prefer to downgrade NATO, abandon Ukraine, and forge an alliance with Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump has chosen Paul Manafort -- an apologist for the Russian puppet Viktor Yanukovych -- as his campaign manager. This is deeply troubling. It calls into question Trump's loyalty to western Europe, his commitment to democracy, and his willingness to stand up to Russian expansionism. Donald Trump's position on Russia is becoming increasingly clear, and it appears that he would reverse seventy years of United States opposition to Russian expansionism. Why is Trump doing this? It is because Trump is not a leader who has the best interests of people at heart; he is an opportunist who wants to make money.

conlaw

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Tuesday June 30, 2015 · 3:20 AM PDT

2015/06/30 · 03:20

Roberts just loves democracy,
So long as it works to keep him free.
Scalia now thinks gays are lovely
Forget his rants on sodomy.

Thomas thinks that slavery
Did not rob blacks of dignity.
And Alito delivers a homily
On the way marriage used to be.

Is their opposition due
To fears that they might be gay too?
To those who worry this might be true,
I'm afraid I have some news for you!

Or is it based on gender role?
Men sweat but women glow?
Is it a matter of control?
Man on top, woman below.

Will these dissenters consecrate
A desire to discriminate?
Do they dare insinuate
That Jesus taught us how to hate?

The Constitution's polity
Guarantees our liberty.
Obergefell's finality
Establishes equality.

Love Defeats Hate

conlaw

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Saturday November 10, 2012 · 2:00 AM PST

2012/11/10 · 02:00

The presidential election of 2012 presented a clear choice between love and hate.

conlaw

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Friday November 09, 2012 · 4:09 AM PST

2012/11/09 · 04:09

Dylan Byers of Politico reports that Karl Rove appeared on Fox News two days after the election and asserted:

This will be the first president re-elected to a second term with a smaller percentage of the vote than he got in the first term.

After his national television debacle disputing the clear result in Ohio on election night, one would think that Mr. Rove would strive for a little accuracy - particularly with respect to a discrete and easily checked fact that is at the core of his area of expertise, presidential election results. But he did not. Read More

Amicus Briefs Attempting to Protect Specific Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

conlaw

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Wednesday March 14, 2012 · 4:25 AM PDT

2012/03/14 · 04:25

In the event that the Supreme Court strikes down the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act, the Court will have to decide whether the remainder of the Act, or certain provisions of the Act, are "severable" from the individual mandate and therefore constitutional. A number of organizations have filed amicus briefs asking the Court to spare specific provisions of the Act. The number and significance of these provisions remind us how vast and encompassing this law is, and how unlikely it is that the Supreme Court will declare it unconstitutional.

conlaw

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Monday March 05, 2012 · 2:40 AM PST

2012/03/05 · 02:40

Over the course of three days conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh repeatedly defamed Sharon Fluke, a third-year Georgetown law student, calling her a "slut" and a "prostitute." If found guilty of slander or intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED), Limbaugh would be liable to Ms. Fluke for millions of dollars in actual damages, and his potential liability for punitive damages would be astronomical. Is Limbaugh liable to Fluke for defamation and IIED, or is he protected by the First Amendment? Limbaugh's only defense would be to compare himself to pornographer Larry Flynt and the homophobic Westboro Baptist Church.

conlaw

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Friday December 18, 2009 · 3:40 AM PST

2009/12/18 · 03:40

It is imperative to place the importance of the public option in perspective. The public option represents only a tiny fraction of what will be accomplished by health care reform.

conlaw

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Friday January 12, 2007 · 6:32 AM PST

2007/01/12 · 06:32

Senator Edward Kennedy has proposed legislation that would prohibit the expenditure of federal funds to support any increase in the number of troops stationed in Iraq. While I enthusiastically support this legislation on policy grounds, I reluctantly conclude that it is unconstitutional.

I opposed the invasion of Iraq because it was morally wrong as well as contrary to America’s national interests. I oppose the President’s proposed "surge" of troops into Iraq for the same reasons. However, as wrong and as unwise as the proposed escalation is, the Congress cannot, by law, prevent this escalation from taking place. Its choices are to either repeal the Iraq War Resolution, or to cut off any and all funds for the Iraq conflict.

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Men's Names as Last Names

Donald Trump Is a Person of Appearances, Not a Person of Substance

Will Trump Defend Ukraine Against Russia?

Obergefell Verses the Dissenters

Love Defeats Hate

Karl Rove's "Smaller Percentage" Argument Not True

Amicus Briefs Attempting to Protect Specific Provisions of the Affordable Care Act

Rush Limbaugh, Larry Flynt, and the Westboro Baptist Church

How Important Is the Public Option?

Senator Kennedy’s Proposal to Cut Off Funding for the “Surge” in Iraq Is Unconstit