huMAN rights

A rally in nine cities around Japan this week
urging reform of the anti rape law which requires women to prove they are not weak!
prosecutors must prove violence or intimidation was used
regardless of who is raped, molested and abused
the law requires proof the victim was incapable of resistance
where is the justice in that law for the victims
while across the water they make no exceptions at all
that is with the 'heartbeat bills' being enforced
absolutely no exceptions for rape or incest
this reflects the control and power of the people at it's best
because the victim clearly never has a say
not about her body, not about the pregnancy or the rape
around the world from country, state, town and street
the victims are standing forth and trying to speak
however, with the governments in such denial
so many more victims are just added to an ever growing pile
the most common form of human trafficking being sexual exploitation
with so many trafficking victims being children
to save them from modern day slavery and rescue them from abuse
to later inform them a request for an abortion or justice will be refused
parental consent can be given for a girl to marry as young as 15 years old
but then a child will always do what they are told
whilst consent can be given from the age of 12 years old in parts of the world
they still require permission for contraception, abortions are illegal and little knowledge or protection is offered to these girls
girls as young as 9 pregnant, facing severe health risks
whilst knowledge is power it appears that ignorance is bliss
around the world; how can we not protect these vulnerable people
and it doesn't stop with women and girls, boys and men are victims too
control through culture, traditions and societies ideals
with so many rules, laws, regulations, bills and acts its hard to know what to feel
with a purpose of protecting the unborn child
where is the protection for the living child; girl or woman against crimes so vile
so who are the people who have all of the power?
sitting prim and proper in their ivory tower
casting down judgements and life sentences onto the weaker population of the world
giving them no hope, no support, no care, consideration or place to turn
it would have to be somebody the law doesn't directly effect
an individual who could get away with the crime if they were the suspect
the stronger and wiser of the sexes who clearly think they know better
discrimination of the sexes as women are treated as the lesser
we live in a world whereby the victim also serves the sentence
whilst the perpetrator commits the crimes knowing the have placed and supported laws to protect them

 © L. Blair

          
                                                           

Doctor, Doctor

So my doctor's changed its name, but when there are 61 different names for sugar you can call it what you want; sugar is still sugar therefore my doctors can change its name as many times as it wants shit is still shit!!

I called at 8:00am to make a 'same day appointment' with my full battle gear on, fully prepared with every argument as to why I deserved to see a doctor today.  Whilst there have been many occasions when I have managed to get through (after 20 steaming minutes on hold) to be told there are no more appointments available today, or we only have one doctor on this morning as we have 'doctor training' and my favourite ironic excuse 'there are no appointments as the doctor phoned in sick!!

Today I managed to get through at 8:15am, so although the name has changed it appears nothing else has.  I asked the receptionist if there were any appointments left for today to which she replied 'there are' I'm sure she heard the sarcasm in my voice as I responded 'There's a surprise' ... how did she get revenge? ... 'Can I put you on hold for one moment please', if I wasn't already steaming at the 15 minute wait listening to lift jingles I then found myself on hold until she decided to pick up again.  Whilst I was totally fuming I was also relieved to just get an appointment, so I accepted being on hold, begrudgingly.

The appointment was for my son so I was grateful for the appointment and the after school time slot.  The time slot would be the usual 10 minutes. When I visit the doctors I usually save everything up and offload in one go, which is how I found out that I only have 10 minutes. Having to choose between a smear and my contraceptive pill was definitely one of my more difficult life choices; possible cervical cancer or unwanted pregnancy, thanks Doc!

                                               

We arrived 5 minutes early, checked in and waited, and waited, and waited.  We sat and watched everybody else being called and leaving while we continued to sit and wait, after 30 minutes past the appointment time I went to the reception to remind them 'my sons appointment was half an hour ago' she checked the system and let me know 'your doctors running behind' Well no shit Sherlock was translated to her as 'I guessed that much!' but she felt the need to reassure me that we would be next.  It was 45 minutes past our appointment time before we were finally called for our appointment, how is this even acceptable? And do not tell me that you are sorry for the wait because its transparently not sincere.  If I had shown up 5 minutes past my appointment time I would have lost my 10 minute appointment slot and made to reschedule yet sitting there for 45 minutes was supposed to be acceptable, I think not.  Yet here we are putting it all down to 'teething problems' which translates to shit is still shit!

In hindsight I rant about this with full knowledge that many people from many countries will be thinking 'HA, you think you have it bad'.  I read a story about a young man who attempted suicide in the USA following the failed attempt he spent a week in hospital and was charged for his efforts to the sum of £70,000! They certainly take their 'after care' seriously! who says that you can't put a price on life, not USA!