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Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
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boredparalegal
10/30/09

In reply to Administration Recommends Political Asylum For Rody Alvarado Peña
I wrote my senior thesis in college about this case. You can't tell from the NY Times article, but she was subjected to horrific violence on a daily basis. She left her children with a relative when she fled and I'm not sure if she's seen them since.

Each asylum applicant has to prove a certain level of violence/discrimination/etc. to be considered "persecution." If she had been abused by a local officer or a member of the military because of political beliefs or ethnicity, she would have been granted asylum and INS would not have appealed. The fact that it was a domestic situation and the US government is (properly) hesitant to expand asylum law without studying the impact of that change means she was just barely outside of established asylum regulations. In a way, she was lucky-ish because her case was picked up by Karen Musalo, who runs a gender and refugees clinic at Hastings. (There's been a link to Alvaradi's case since as long as I remember and students at the clinic learn about the case.) I'm just happy that DHS, after initially appealing a grant of asylum to someone who clearly deserves it, finally came to its senses and made this recommendation.

[cgrs.uchastings.edu]

Check out the court filings, they're pretty extraordinary. #asylum
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Atomic Bowling
10/30/09

In reply to Administration Recommends Political Asylum For Rody Alvarado Peña
I think this makes perfect sense if the asylum seeker is from a country that does not really provide legal protection to victims of domestic abuse, thus making them, as said above, a particular social group facing persecution. Of course, that still leaves a lot of room in our own system for providing better protection for victims of domestic violence, and I'm fairly certain that this unfortunately will not apply equally to male victims of domestic violence, but it's a good start. #asylum
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wordinedgewise
10/30/09

In reply to Administration Recommends Political Asylum For Rody Alvarado Peña
It seems to me the real problem here is the insanely pervasive culture of violence in the countries the women are fleeing. Why don't we spend some money on that? #asylum
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TheocratsForDarwin
10/30/09

@wordinedgewise: Much of U.S. foreign assistance is inefficient and tied to security issues. Aside from all the issues of imposing outside values, the U.S. government simply does not have the capacity to change other cultures in any kind of time frame that would actually help these women now. However, many NGOs are working toward women's rights, and often have local implementers - they would probably be happy for any support. #asylum
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wordinedgewise
10/30/09

@TheocratsForDarwin: Thanks for pointing that out. I should clarify that by "we" I meant American people (read: NGO's), not necessarily government agencies. #asylum
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Kristinkles Ingabogovinanana
10/30/09

In reply to Administration Recommends Political Asylum For Rody Alvarado Peña
It would be interesting to see if any women left the US under the same provision. Lord knows we have the same problems here. #asylum
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CurtCole promoted this comment

CurtCole
10/30/09

@Kristinkles Ingabogovinanana: But, we have resources and agencies for men and women subjected to domestic violence, whereas these countries, for the most part, do not.
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Edited by CurtCole at 10/30/09 10:21 AM CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred

Kristinkles Ingabogovinanana
10/30/09

@CurtCole: I know, I know. These resources do fail our women though, and so I was just posing the point that while it's wonderful and very necessary to help elsewhere there is still much to be done here. #asylum
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CurtCole
10/30/09

@Kristinkles Ingabogovinanana: I totally agree. My best friend works for Child Protective Services and sees women fall through the cracks all the time. She'll refer them to Adult Services, but after that is is out of her hands. #asylum
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crissy000
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
I work for Breakthrough (www.breakthrough.tv) a human rights org that does great pop culture work and my boss Mallika Dutt, presented along side Nicole Kidman yesterday - I love Jezebel, so I wanted to share our post on this: [blisted.breakthrough.tv] We have a new campaign out in India called Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell) that calls on men and boys to bring domestic violence to a halt in their communities. [www.bellbajao.org.]

-Crissy
[blisted.breakthrough.tv]
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phantom lady
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
I thought that was a picture of Karen Black at first. And then I'm like why is looks the first place I go? Read her message. Which is a message all need to hear - woman's rights are human rights. Besides having these stories of woman helping other women, I think its also a great story that she has gone to these places without bringing along her own press core, as many do. #nicolekidmancongress
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Hiroine Protagonist
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
That expression is exactly why people easily burn out on activism. Trying to convince douchebags of somethings that every human being should know and support is frustrating as hell. Women in Hollywood should form a union. #nicolekidmancongress
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TransFat
10/22/09

@Hiroine Protagonist: There is a group called Women In Film but I'm not sure how active they are on these topics. I've been meaning to get more into them and would love to tip my editors should anything of interest happen. #nicolekidmancongress
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thesciencegirl
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
That is the best bish please face I have ever seen. #nicolekidmancongress
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wtfox?!
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
I love her expression there. Congress is getting told.

Also, I resent the implication in Dana Rohrabacher's question that a representative come from the evil land of Hollywood isn't qualified, or is perhaps somewhat hypocritical, to advocate for women's rights and the ending of violence against women. This especially irritates me considering that movies are productions of endemic and systemic issues regarding women's rights and bodies, but it's a lot easier to question/pass judgment on cultural production than the culture that underlies it. #nicolekidmancongress
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SomeAuthorGirl
10/22/09

@wtfox?!: I think we question the notion that anyone with half a brain can come out of the bowels of Congress, so... pot, kettle, etc.

Makes me angry also. Nicole is inspiring. #nicolekidmancongress
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wtfox?!
10/22/09

@SomeAuthorGirl: This is very true. If I were in her place, I'm not sure I could stop at the "oh give me a fucking break" face... There might be violence, or at least yelling.

It's probably good that I'm not a high-profile representative for anything. #nicolekidmancongress
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hej hej
10/22/09

@wtfox?!: That's really par for the course for Rep. Rohrbacher. He's notorious here in Orange County.

I question Rohrbacher's credibility on the subject of women's rights anyway.
This is the same representative that once claimed that the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan was a positive thing. His support for that repressive regime leads me to believe that women's rights and ending violence against women aren't high on his list of congressional priorities. #nicolekidmancongress
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wtfox?!
10/22/09

@hej hej: Oh, wow, he sounds like a real prize. #nicolekidmancongress
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hej hej
10/22/09

@wtfox?!: That he, of all people, would question Nicole Kidman's credibility on the subject of women's rights and violence against women makes me very very angry. #nicolekidmancongress
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Jack_Burton
10/22/09

@wtfox?!: Yep... She's got her Dogville face on. Her character runs the gamut in that film, but once wronged, god help anyone in her way. #nicolekidmancongress
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Hooplehead
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
Nicole is awesome. That is all. I would rather hear more awesome stories like this than another 5 million brainless stories about "ZOMG, LOLZ, she has the Botox! " #nicolekidmancongress
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DrunkasaurusRex
10/22/09

@Hooplehead: For real. It's so nice, for once, to not have to listen to people cackle on about her appearance. #nicolekidmancongress
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girlleastlikelyto
10/22/09

@Hooplehead: Thank you. I get so tired of that, and Jezebel is one of the perpetrators. #nicolekidmancongress
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Hooplehead promoted this comment girlleastlikelyto was starred

Hooplehead
10/22/09

@DrunkasaurusRex: And her appearance is gorgeous! If Kidman can't catch a break from the appearance snarkers, what hope is there for us mere mortals? #nicolekidmancongress
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Barbed Ire
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
Not only does Hollywood damage women image and self-image, but those many adverts that Kidman appears in. Usually highly photo-chopped as a porcelain doll (a long shout from her natural curly red-haired, befreckled looks), she promotes junk in marketing plaoy that push the same unrealistic promises of eternal youth and happiness. #nicolekidmancongress
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tailfeather
10/22/09

@Barbed Ire: The only advertising I can recall seeing her in were the Chanel No. 5 ads, in which she played a movie star character. It's a luxury product, sure, but it's not shilling anti-aging cream or diet pills, and it was glamour rather than T&A-driven. #nicolekidmancongress
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Barbed Ire
10/23/09

@tailfeather: True, her ads are "classy" - be it for Chanel or Omega or Schweppes. But personally I find glamour and fairytale images used in marketing to be damaging in a more insidious way than outright T&A - we might be more accepting of them because they glorify the unattainable "goddess" figure, rather than the vulgar "whore" figure. It boils down to the same thing in the end, though - the "choice" between being a harlot to be useful and used, or a virgin goddess to be left untouched and adored. Kidman is promoting the latter in her advertisments. A notable exception could be the DS advert, which at least shows a woman playing a video game that requires brains (admittedly whilst dressed angelic white clothing and surrounded by pristine white furnishings). #nicolekidmancongress
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Perpetual Ingenue
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
This is good news. I love her. Why don't more women in Hollywood campaign for women's rights and recognize things still aren't equal? Maybe they do and I'm not aware of it? It just seems that every time I hear a story about an actors' money/time/effort spent for a charity, its always dogs rights! or save the circus elephants! or save the vintage clothes!
Believe me, I love animals, I have two dogs, and elephants are innocent and deserve a safe home (as do vintage clothes, preferably in my closest) but it can never be said enough what Nicole said-women's rights are human rights. People still don't get it.
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wtfox?! promoted this comment Edited by Perpetual Ingenue at 10/22/09 10:33 AM Perpetual Ingenue was starred

msmoneypenny
10/22/09

@Perpetual Ingenue: Probably because strongly supporting women's rights can be controversial, especially in an industry still very much dominated by men? Nobody would disagree with and actress's Save the Puppies campaign. It's the whole Michael Vick/ NFL violence against women thing. Puppies=awesome, women=what did she do to provoke him? Nicole has the clout now where she can do this. I don't see many young, up and coming actresses who haven't yet reached super-stardom speaking out about it. #nicolekidmancongress
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
10/22/09

@Perpetual Ingenue: Because people, audiences and producers, still have trouble distinguishing between actors and their characters. So you're wither too attractive and talented to be politically active, or too politically active to make a credible (sweet, non-threatening) leading lady.

When plumb roles are so coveted, most actresses are looking out for themselves, and it's hard to blame them. #nicolekidmancongress
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Hooplehead
10/22/09

@Perpetual Ingenue: Jay Leno's wife Mavis is very active in Afghan women's causes. She is a total feminist badass by all accounts I've seen.

[en.wikipedia.org]

I've also heard of Mariska Hargitay advocating for rape victims domestically, as well. #nicolekidmancongress
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Perpetual Ingenue
10/22/09

@Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!: True.
I don't mind seeing actors/actresses maintain a low profile in order to keep up the suspension of disbelief (as a matter of fact I quite enjoy that) but when they're selling their baby pictures to Life&Style for money, there's no excuse for silence. (they're, their, there's...that last sentence of mine was like a third grade grammar quiz: spot the contraction!) #nicolekidmancongress
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Kitten is an 80s rocker
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
I subscribe to the belief that actresses are hookers (what with their painted faces and vaudeville routines) so I object to the conclusion of this article.
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VirginiaDentata promoted this comment Edited by Kitten is an 80s rocker at 10/22/09 10:31 AM

Adah
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
Well, slight quibble on the hooker line. Many would argue that it was Kidman's turn as a courtesan in Moulin Rouge that made her an A-list star. #nicolekidmancongress
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Little Green Frog (Wise Latina) promoted this comment Adah was starred Adah was unstarred

wtfox?!
10/22/09

@Adah: The article says upcoming roles. Moulin Rouge = not upcoming. #nicolekidmancongress
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theKP
10/22/09

@Adah: I think the post was suggesting that her roles in the immediate future aren't hookers, victims, or doormats--not that she's never played them. And although she plays a courtesan in Moulin Rouge, there is at least an implicit critique in there of the violence that high class sex workers can face (the Duke's treatment of her, Harold's ignoring of her consumption, etc.). #nicolekidmancongress
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Little Time Bomb
10/22/09

In reply to Nicole Kidman Takes On Congress, Hollywood Over Violence Against Women
I love the "Congress get your shit together." face she's giving here. #nicolekidmancongress
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