Why people laugh at US

Do you know why people laugh at US–the United States? Well, here is a clue…

 

This has been bothering me. Maybe someone was watching FoX NEWS when this happened last week—I don’t watch them anymore. It seems that a female pilot from the UAE was being hailed a hero for her part in the airstrikes in Syria but instead the shout out was made a mockery by some buffoons there at the channel. According to the Guardian…  

[http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/sep/25/fox-news-mock-female-pilot-isis-sexist-jokes]

 

One presenter, Kimberly Guilfoyle, tried to pay tribute to Major Mariam al-Mansouri, 35, one of four UAE fighter pilots to take part in the operation. “Hey, Isis, you were bombed by a woman,” she said. “Very exciting, a woman doing this … I hope that hurt extra bad because in some Arab countries women can’t even drive.”

She continued: “Major Mariam al-Mansouri is who did this. Remarkable, very excited. I wish it was an American pilot. I’ll take a woman doing this any day to them.”

But after the segment, co-host Greg Gutfeld interrupted Guilfoyle, mocking the pilot.

• “The problem is after she bombed it she couldn’t park it,” he said.

Another presenter, Eric Bolling, joined in, asking:

• “Would that be considered boobs on the ground or no?”

The conversation between panellists [sic], which was broadcast on Wednesday, was part of discussion show The Five on Fox News.

…

Mansouri, who is from Abu Dhabi, graduated from the UAE air force academy in 2008 after becoming one of the first women to join after it scrapped its ban on women.

Speaking to the National of UAE, she said: “It was my aspiration. Ever since I finished high school, I wanted to learn flying because it was something that I liked in the first place.

“A woman’s passion about something will lead her to achieving what she aspires and that’s why she should pursue her interests.”

Mansouri told CNN this summer: “I put my mind to being a fighter pilot. But at that time, the doors were not open for females to be pilots, so I had to wait almost 10 years.

“Whenever a woman enters a new male-dominated field, they find the same hesitation, the same prejudice, the same stereotype thinking.

“And I had to prove myself by just being determined and having that skill and the knowledge enough to prove that I can perform as skilfully as the men in this field.”

 

 

You can watch the video (this link is from Youtube) but I will let you know that I had to hide my head in shame as I watched. I could not believe it. This is 2014 not 1814 or 1614 or 3214 BC or BCE. Women may have found equality in some areas but until a woman is respected—until she has as much rights and power and respect as that of any man (and I am speaking across the board for all women)—we (all humans) are no better than animals. In fact, I love animals and would rather be with them than a lot of the asinines who talk like these two. Women have had to do things twice as hard to get noticed and twice as much to gain respect and it still is not good enough in the eyes of some. I wish the two guys had been fired that day. Castration (or worse) is an option…ok, I’m kidding…sort of…maybe…well…I’m not perfect…

 

My father didn’t have a son but he taught me to push for the stars and that no one should treat a female as a second rate citizen. When we do not respect others, we do not get respect—I’m talking about women and other countries. When we do not respect the rights of others, they will not respect us. I didn’t fit the norm when growing up. Daddy didn’t see me as female or a male—I was his child. He wanted the best for me. He taught me how to build things, how to roof a house, build two additions onto our house, how to make things, how to draw and plan projects, how to build furniture…all types of stuff. I was there watching and learning at first and then I was doing it with him–his helper–his trainee. I was mowing lawns and cutting wood during my teenage years. He used to joke about his log splitter…that he had the best. The sales people that went into his office pictured something out of a catalog but he was talking about me. 😀 We have laughed at that story for so many years.

 

Women can do anything they want. Don’t make fun of them and never refer to them/us as objects or boobs or other degrading things. And, encourage girls to keep pushing the limits.

 

If you are a man, before you make fun of a woman in a degrading way, you need to first think about your daughter or potential daughter or granddaughter. If that’s not enough, think about your mother’s father. What if he had treated her in such a way–making fun of her? Every time a man degrades a woman, he makes a stab at all women and that’s just not acceptable. Women work too hard to “earn” respect. I know some will say women shouldn’t be respected but we should. Maybe one day…

 

Oh, and here is a response from some of those who have served in the armed forces. I really think these two guys shouldn’t be working in the public sector where they can give people a bad name. They don’t speak for me. Sometimes, life is tough and there are some men who think being a woman is so easy.

 

Dear Mr. Bolling and Mr. Gutfeld,

We are veterans of the United States armed forces, and we are writing to inform you that your remarks about United Arab Emirates Air Force Major Mariam Al Mansouri were unwarranted, offensive, and fundamentally opposed to what the military taught us to stand for.

First, foremost, and most obvious to everyone other than yourselves, your remarks were immensely inappropriate. Your co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle was so right to call attention to an inspiring story of a woman shattering glass ceilings in a society where doing so is immeasurably difficult. We never heard an answer to her question: why did you feel so compelled to “ruin her thing?”

As it turns out, women have been flying combat aircraft since before either of you were born. Over 1,000 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) flew during World War II. Seeing as U.S. Army Air Forces Commander “Hap” Arnold said “Now in 1944, it is on the record that women can fly as well as men,” we can probably guess he thought their parking was adequate. The WASP legacy reaches into the present day; on 9/11, then Lt. Heather “Lucky” Penney scrambled her F-16. Completely unarmed, she was ready to lay down her own life to prevent further devastating attacks on American soil.

Thus the skill of women as fighter pilots is well established. And before you jump to the standby excuse that you were “just making a joke” or “having a laugh,” let the men amongst our number preemptively respond: You are not funny. You are not clever. And you are not excused. Perhaps the phrase “boys will be boys”—inevitably uttered wherever misogyny is present—is relevant. Men would never insult and demean a fellow servicemember; boys think saying the word ‘boobs’ is funny.

The less obvious implication of your remarks, however, is that by offending an ally and cheapening her contribution, you are actively hurting the mission. We need to send a clear message that anyone, male or female, who will stand up to ISIS and get the job done is worthy of our respect and gratitude.

We issue an apology on your behalf to Major Al Mansouri knowing that anything your producers force you to say will be contrived and insincere. Major, we’re sincerely sorry for the rudeness; clearly, these boys don’t take your service seriously, but we and the rest of the American public do.

Very Respectfully,

[Men and women of the Truman Project—The Truman National Security Project unites next-generation veteran, political, and policy leaders to develop and advance strong, smart, and principled solutions to the global challenges]

I counted 60 names who signed on. There were more who wanted to sign but the letter had been sent. Those people that present the NEWS are representing us as a country whether they mean to or not and I don’t take kindly to that. I cannot wish bad things on people but I wish they were not so senseless. I wish they were more respectful of people—speaking for the boys on the show. There is a terrible disease in this country and across the globe—pride and selfishness. Someone said she watches FoX–she said that all stations make mistakes so it doesn’t bother her. That is true…we all make mistakes. But, this was not a mistake. A mistake is something that you don’t mean to do. This was true to their character, their way of life, the way they believe…no mistake. They would do it again if they thought they could get away with it and they did get away with it, didn’t they? If it was me saying something about a man…I would be out of a job that day.

 

Where does it stop? Where does respect begin? Too many people see women as sex objects–worth less than a man and many times they see us as worthless. It is past time for that to change. It’s 2014! It’s time for the boys in the world to grow up and become MEN! Oh, and…I’m just a girl… 😀 Other things I was taught along the way:  how to arc weld, how to drive a tractor, and how to drive a CAT road grader and skidder-like machine…and some other stuff. 😀 I’m just a girl who has been a math teacher, a cook, waitress, restaurant manager, tutor, volunteer, trainer and leader for Girl Scouts, caregiver, I have given birth to two children, yada, yada,… A woman’s job is never done and one day I hope to be a grandmother and it cycles again. I read, paint, sew, make music and build things … and I blog. 😉

Encourage the young women in your life to push the limits and require the guys in your life to show respect. Have a great day! 🙂