Culture Watch

“This month is an opportunity for us to participate in virtual activities to engage with, and deepen our understanding of, Indigenous peoples’ distinct histories, customs, spiritualities, and languages. Doing so is essential to promoting a society based on mutual respect, understanding, and fairness. We all need to play a role in amplifying the voices of Indigenous peoples, dismantling systemic racism, inequalities, and discrimination, and walking the path of reconciliation together. The recent, distressing news of the remains of 215 children found near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School is a painful reminder that the impacts of residential schools are still felt today. Sadly, this heartbreaking discovery in Kamloops is not an exception or isolated incident. Over decades, thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and communities, and everything was stolen from them. We must all unreservedly acknowledge this truth and address these historical and ongoing wrongs, so we can build a better future." more »

Some bills introduced: May 24-28, 2021: A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and marital status in the administration and provision of child welfare services, to improve safety, well-being, and permanency for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning foster youth. A bill to prevent the child care cliff and increase parental choice for low-income families. A bill to direct the secretary of Veterans Affairs to allow a veteran to receive a full year supply of contraceptive pills, transdermal patches, vaginal rings, and other hormonal contraceptive products. A bill to authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and a pilot program to furnish doula services to veterans.   more »

Of the 912,000 single-family homes completed in 2020: 870,000 had air-conditioning. 90,000 had two bedrooms or less and 401,000 had four bedrooms or more. 29,000 had one and one-half bathrooms or less and 309,000 homes had three or more bathrooms. 353,000 had a heat pump. Of these, 344,000 were air-source and 9,000 were ground-source. 831,000 were framed in wood and 75,000 were framed using concrete. 306,000 had a patio and a porch, while 71,000 had no outdoor features. The median size of a completed single-family house was 2,261 square feet.  more »

Jo Freeman Reviews: Mazie Hirono's first four years in the Senate were relatively uneventful, as she dug down and learned the job. When Trump became President, Hirono pulled out her sword. His acts, appointments and words represented everything she disliked. There’s a lot on the Kavanaugh hearings where, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, she questioned Kavanaugh about his alleged sexual assaults. There’s also a lot on immigration (one of her pet issues) and the “Chinese virus.” Hirono’s political career coincided with the rise of political women from bit players to major leaguers. Her stories illustrate the forward steps as well as the backward ones. This book is a tribute to success, both hers and that of other women. more »