Legislator hears from women he called "sluts"

[bobbolink]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/21/griego-lessons-at-a-school-for-moms/

Many lessons in this article... worth reading the whole thing:

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Rep. Larry Liston talks with teen mothers at Florence Crittenton School. Liston, who recently called teen parents "sluts," told the girls, "I regret it. I am sorry." It's hard to say what moves a person. What's genuine. Upon hearing Liston had agreed to visit Florence Crittenton, the young mothers wondered whether it was a political stunt. Maybe he's just trying to make himself look better, they said.

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Everyone is a little awkward. Liston, Principal Donna Campanella, Jelyssa, the 17-year-old mother of 16-month-old baby boy. Jelyssa is the tour guide. She's good at it, though bashful around Liston, her eyes darting up to meet his and then sliding away again. As soon as she can, she tells him she will soon graduate and attend college and then law school. Read: I am no slut.

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She shows him the offices of the counselors and the art therapist. "Art therapy?" he asks. "They're working through many things," Campanella tells him. "A lot of our students have suffered tremendous loss." "What kind of loss?" "Family members who have died or been killed." "Really?"
"The children who are here are trying to overcome great odds," she says, adding later that nearly all of them, if they finish school, will be the first high school graduates in their families.
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He holds up the letters. "I did get your letters. I want you to know I did read them."
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One lesson there... Contrary to what we think, OFTEN the legislators DO read our letters, and ARE affected by them.

We need to impress on them what we won't tolerate!

[caseycoon]

1. K&R! Great article!

I hope this guy really learned something.

[noiretextatique]

2. this is the type of dialogue that is needed

everytime someone make a stupid public comment. a public apology is ok, but i appreciate liston's willingness to face those young women and apologize directly to them.

[bobbolink]

6. I'm not so sure it was "willingness" -- There's been quite an outcry... I think he was pushed.

This came on the heel's of Bruce's big messup, and I think, politically, he was called up to "do the right thing".

HOWEVEr..... I DO believe in that last part.. that a huge number of letters DOES serve as a Clue-by-Four.

[noiretextatique]

7. good that they put pressure on him

i'm glad he had to face the music.

[dajoki]

3. Excellent post...

"For as ye judge, so shall ye be judged". This man should feel grateful that these girls were willing to be so courteous as to allow him in their presence. Something which he surely has not earned on his own, but something he may have learned from TEENAGERS. "Art therapy?" he asks. "What kind of loss?"..."Really?" He was clearly clueless when he so callously uttered those words which he came to apologize for and remained so when he walked into that building. HE had to be taught a lesson by the STUDENTS!! Let's hope he has LEARNED that lesson, it does pay to show how far your tolerance will go.

[pamela]

4. Great article, Bobbie.

K&R!

[txaslftist]

5. Larry Liston is a closet queen who dresses in drag and blows hobos.

Oh. I didn't mean it. I regret I said it.

Sorry.

[dajoki]

11. You better go right to...

Larry Liston and apologize. LOL!!:sarcasm:

[txaslftist]

12. I'll do that straightaway.

After all, we don't really know they were "hobos".

[bobbolink]

8. evening kick for the masses....

:kick:

[bobbolink]

9. to the top

:kick:

[bobbolink]

10. once more... because no legislator should get away with this crap!

:kick:

[demgurl]

13. I think the most important part of this is that we can reach our reps.....

if there is something we really need to express.

I hope this man thinks before he opens his mouth next time. There is enough shunning in our society, I wish people at the top would make it their job to heal.