Post by John on Mar 28, 2009 18:31:26 GMT -5
Manifesto
I know my case is not unique. Based on what I have read and heard first hand, there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of cases much like mine taking place across America today. Decent, hard working men and women are being driven from their jobs, sued, humiliated and black marked for life for occurrences which are often extremely insignificant and/or misunderstood.
Where are the foes of "big government" when it comes to speaking out against such outrages ? Where are the 'shock jocks' who aren't afraid to tell it like it is ? Where are the 'no spin' people ?
The expansion and exploitation of 'sexual harassment' laws represents a threat to Americans across the board! Employers and employees alike are victims of its insidious reach. Old and young, rich and poor, male and female have all been negatively impacted by its awful effects. With the possible exclusion of lawyers who make their livings filing 'sexual harassment' suits against individuals and companies, every single person living in the U.S. today is currently threatened by these laws whether they know it or not!
Defenders of these laws and regulations are fond of saying, "Well, as long as you obey the laws and the policy at your workplace, you should be fine so why worry about it ?" Let's look at the definition of 'sexual harassment' as published in the Human Resources section of the website about.com humanresources.about.com/od/glossarys/a/sexualharassdef.htm
* Unwanted jokes, gestures, offensive words on clothing, and unwelcome comments and repartee.
* Touching and any other bodily contact such as scratching or patting a coworker's back, grabbing an employee around the waist, or interfering with an employee's ability to move.
* Repeated requests for dates that are turned down or unwanted flirting.
* Transmitting or posting emails or pictures of a sexual or other harassment-related nature.
* Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or posters.
* Playing sexually suggestive music.
Please go back and read these words once again, only this time put yourself into the equation: Can you honestly say that you have never told a joke that could have offended someone ? Have you ever made a comment that caused someone to frown ? Have you ever crooned a song that may have been a bit ‘naughty’ in nature ? If so, consider yourself lucky if you were not brought up on 'sexual harassment' charges! Also, don't believe the defenders of sexual harassment laws when they try to claim that only those who repeatedly commit a particular act or say a particular comment are in violation of these policies. I gave one person a single copy of a text list, yet I received the harshest punishment available! Also, discard the theory that sexual harassment rules only kick in when someone is 'targeted.' My 'inappropriate list' was passed around without my consent to God-knows-how-many other employees before someone along the line complained.
Perhaps the most compelling factor about modern day sexual harassment laws and regulations is the fact that almost everyone I speak to admits they are too intrusive and need to be reigned in. Yet, year after year, the situation continues to worsen. Rather than limiting the definitions to only that conduct which is overtly harmful and/or coercive, the courts very often expand sexual harassment boundries to encompass conduct that very few people would regard as ‘offensive.‘ Are we a nation of the people or a nation of money chasing attorneys ? Is it fair that the vast majority in society need to cow tow and acquiesce to the whims of the few thin skinned folks (and their money grubbing attorneys) among us ?
I hereby call on all honest folks from all walks of life to join with me in this virtual picket line to protest the injustice of contemporary 'sexual harassment' laws and regulations both governmental and private! We the people have a specific RIGHT to petition our government for a redress of grievances. It seems that many of us have complaints in this regard, so let's get started!
I know my case is not unique. Based on what I have read and heard first hand, there are hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of cases much like mine taking place across America today. Decent, hard working men and women are being driven from their jobs, sued, humiliated and black marked for life for occurrences which are often extremely insignificant and/or misunderstood.
Where are the foes of "big government" when it comes to speaking out against such outrages ? Where are the 'shock jocks' who aren't afraid to tell it like it is ? Where are the 'no spin' people ?
The expansion and exploitation of 'sexual harassment' laws represents a threat to Americans across the board! Employers and employees alike are victims of its insidious reach. Old and young, rich and poor, male and female have all been negatively impacted by its awful effects. With the possible exclusion of lawyers who make their livings filing 'sexual harassment' suits against individuals and companies, every single person living in the U.S. today is currently threatened by these laws whether they know it or not!
Defenders of these laws and regulations are fond of saying, "Well, as long as you obey the laws and the policy at your workplace, you should be fine so why worry about it ?" Let's look at the definition of 'sexual harassment' as published in the Human Resources section of the website about.com humanresources.about.com/od/glossarys/a/sexualharassdef.htm
* Unwanted jokes, gestures, offensive words on clothing, and unwelcome comments and repartee.
* Touching and any other bodily contact such as scratching or patting a coworker's back, grabbing an employee around the waist, or interfering with an employee's ability to move.
* Repeated requests for dates that are turned down or unwanted flirting.
* Transmitting or posting emails or pictures of a sexual or other harassment-related nature.
* Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or posters.
* Playing sexually suggestive music.
Please go back and read these words once again, only this time put yourself into the equation: Can you honestly say that you have never told a joke that could have offended someone ? Have you ever made a comment that caused someone to frown ? Have you ever crooned a song that may have been a bit ‘naughty’ in nature ? If so, consider yourself lucky if you were not brought up on 'sexual harassment' charges! Also, don't believe the defenders of sexual harassment laws when they try to claim that only those who repeatedly commit a particular act or say a particular comment are in violation of these policies. I gave one person a single copy of a text list, yet I received the harshest punishment available! Also, discard the theory that sexual harassment rules only kick in when someone is 'targeted.' My 'inappropriate list' was passed around without my consent to God-knows-how-many other employees before someone along the line complained.
Perhaps the most compelling factor about modern day sexual harassment laws and regulations is the fact that almost everyone I speak to admits they are too intrusive and need to be reigned in. Yet, year after year, the situation continues to worsen. Rather than limiting the definitions to only that conduct which is overtly harmful and/or coercive, the courts very often expand sexual harassment boundries to encompass conduct that very few people would regard as ‘offensive.‘ Are we a nation of the people or a nation of money chasing attorneys ? Is it fair that the vast majority in society need to cow tow and acquiesce to the whims of the few thin skinned folks (and their money grubbing attorneys) among us ?
I hereby call on all honest folks from all walks of life to join with me in this virtual picket line to protest the injustice of contemporary 'sexual harassment' laws and regulations both governmental and private! We the people have a specific RIGHT to petition our government for a redress of grievances. It seems that many of us have complaints in this regard, so let's get started!