Female quota for the cockpit
The airlines reacted quickly: Effective immediately the “two-person” rule should be applied in German cockpits, as in American. Regular psychological tests for pilots are also being considered, according to today’s news. At the same time it has been reported: “On Friday in Berlin the Bundesrat approved a new law requiring major corporations in the future to appoint women to one third of the positions on their boards of directors.” (Handelsblatt) Lufthansa is one of the major corporations.
I would like to make a suggestion. Lufthansa should institute a female quota not only for its board…
When Mamma gets milked: Sexism in Sign Languages
Our grandson, 13 months old, can only speak a few syllables, but these few all the more forcefully. Suddenly overcome with excitement, the sweet little boy will shout at penetrating volume and in a commanding tone “Dat!” or “Ayt!” or “Mammammam!”
He’s not yet able to say “more!” – but he can signify it with a gesture. His mother explained that he had already learned a few signs of Baby Sign Language (Baby SL). When he wants to nurse, he makes the sign for “milk.” It is derived from the act of milking a cow: he opens and closes his little fist in a milking motion.
The little boy doesn’t…
Men Are Like Pressure Cookers
Here are the things I’ve added in the past week. Added to the list of things that scare me:
• Backpacks: Who knows whether a pressure cooker might not be inside? • Pressure cookers: I always thought they were dangerous and got rid of mine long ago. But HOW dangerous they are I only learned this past week. • Boston Marathon: Even in the past I watched it at most on television. But since last Monday there are surely also other anxious persons who will avoid the Boston Marathon from now on. And all other marathons too. And for that matter, major events and mass gatherings of every sort. •…
Who’s in Poor Taste? Pussy Riot, Schorlemmer or the Luther Cities?
On November 10 the 16 German “Luther Cities” will decide who should receive their annual award “Das unerschrockene Wort“ (The Bold, Fearless Word), or Luther Prize, to be presented in April 2013. Luther City Wittenberg has nominated the heroic Russian political activists Pussy Riot for the award. But more than a few are opposed to the nomination, and no one more than the prominent theologian Friedrich Schorlemmer, previously a pastor and pro-democracy activist in the GDR and now a publicist.
Schorlemmer and those who share his views reject the nomination because they find Pussy Riot’s…
Granny and Nanny in American Politics
It’s the height of campaign season in the USA, and not only the presidency but the entire House of Representatives and one third of the Senate seats are up for grabs. One of the most closely watched races is the competition for one of the two Senate seats from Massachusetts. Ted Kennedy had held it for almost half a century before he died; then, thanks to massive financial support from business interests, the Republican Scott Brown won it in an upset election in 2010. Now the Democrats are aiming to reclaim “their” seat and have nominated a popular, respected and highly qualified…
