Monthly Archives: November 2024

The New York Times faced criticism for referring to women as “non-transgender women,” which some see as an attempt to be inclusive. But it is a further reinterpretation, remember cisgender, that further diminishes by redefining or eliminating the term “woman” by making it contingent on not being transgender. The New York Times is not alone in this.

The use of “non-transgender women” instead of “cisgender women” or simply “women” in New York Times articles makes transgender women the default or primary category of women, with cisgender women now being a qualifier term, even though a cisgender woman is someone who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman, but in a way twice removed.

That sounds odd to state it that way, but a cousin twice removed may not make sense, which someone is free to point out. Legally, the term “removed” refers to the number of generations apart, not the degree of cousinship, first, second, etc.

The number before “cousin” (twice removed) indicates how many generations back you must go to find the common ancestor relative to the closest common generation. For example, “second cousin” means you share great-great-grandparents, as “second” points to the second generation of grandparents.

I don’t understand it; I know it from law school. My analogy, right or wrong, is that “woman” is twice removed from “non-transgender women” with “cisgender” in the middle, two generations of words apart.

With the default being “non-transgender women” for “women” is like referring to “sane people” as “non-crazy people.” If you followed this, give yourself a pat on the back.

If you disagree, or the analogy doesn’t make sense, email me.

I hope people had a nice Thanksgiving, had time with family and friends, and are thankful for what you have. Take a moment to remember those who may not have what you. Think about those who have family but won’t be able to share Thanksgiving with loved ones, like those with wives, husbands, or children serving our country in the military stationed far from home. I hope you enjoyed some time away from social media and had real encounters with real people.

Most of all, remember those you were with today. All of them may not be there next year; it happens. The problem is you can’t know who, so be kind to all who are important in your life. I hope you enjoyed some time away from social media and had real encounters with real people.

May God Bless You

Happy Thanksgiving

I’m not concerned about the dinner conversation today. We are a mix of political beliefs from left to right. There have been tense moments in the past, but I’m noticing something different since the election in people I run into. Even though it was not that long ago, there was a sense of relief that Trump had won. Even the more vocal democrats are quiet now. My friends are mostly conservatives, but a few are not. Harris was a bridge too far for them and way too far for me.

I intend to enjoy the day with my family.

I keep reading comments about President Trump’s selection of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as the next U.S. Surgeon General in his upcoming administration. The main complaint I see is she didn’t go to a top medical school.

I’m semi-retired, and this comment is not meant to pat myself on the back. I went to law school at the University of Akron. In an email exchange last Thursday, a judge told me hard work will beat talent. I responded that if he was including intelligence, real or perceived, as talent, I agreed because I never lost to a Harvard attorney.

I recall a case where the other attorney worked for a prestigious national law firm. The attorney was hired to represent corporate clients in domestic cases but was out of his element. I tried to resolve the matter, explaining why he couldn’t win. His response was, “I went to Harvard!” I admitted I was just a country lawyer but would do my best for my client in court, so we went to court.

I know nothing about her except the complaints she went to a less-than-prestigious medical school, but that means little to me in and of itself. I go to the Cleveland Clinic for all medical care. Before choosing doctors, I read their bio. I’d need to check, but the doctors listed on my “care team” include none who attended an Ivy League school. But I’m confident in the medical care I receive, just as I was in my own abilities.

61 years now. My guess is there are more people living today who were born after John J. Kennedy was assassinated than there were before he was killed. Writing it makes me want to delete it because it’s common sense. The government is planning to release documents in a couple of months about the shooting.

Here is what I originally wrote five years ago:

Puzzles Me

Interestingly enough, I was at the FMC today, and when signing a paper and remembering the date, I said it out loud. The young woman working with me (there were two) and it hit me. 56 years ago.

I asked both about the date’s significance, and neither had a clue. Both were in their twenties. I didn’t give them hell for not knowing. I just said, “John Kennedy,” but both looked puzzled initially. Then one asked if he was a president, and the other seemed to remember he was but didn’t seem sure. It’s all pretty odd, given the coverage it gets every year at this time.

In 1960 my mom voted for him, and my dad voted for Nixon. I’m not sure why they split. Both candidates were WWII vets, like my dad and many others back then. My mom thought Kennedy was good-looking, and that may have influenced her. I don’t know, and I don’t care.

My parents took me to Gettysburg in 1964, anyway. Of course, I knew who JFK was. You couldn’t have a television on after the assassination until he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetary without coverage of him. I also knew who Martin Luther King was. We were on a trip and had to detour because he was leading a march. One of my parents, probably my dad, told me about him.

So anyway, Gettysburg. My parents told me I could choose two gifts from the gift shop. Instead of selecting bullets (they were cool-looking), I decided to get Kennedy’s inaugural address and King’s I Have a Dream speech. Both were on parchment paper (or looked like it anyway). How King’s entire speech fit on one page is amazing, although the print is small. I framed both and hung each in my room. I still have both.

King was assassinated five later. Many will think in terms of the assassination on November 22 but think of him in life. Both are men to respect, and both are men to be remembered. That’s why the teaching of history is essential.