You Are Not Alone

December 11, 2017May 20, 2024 by MichelleMcHatton

Like so many others, I find all the revelations of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and pedophilia coming out of Hollywood, Alabama, The White House, Congress and other places to be disturbing. What has happened to these women and men is wrong and should not be happening to anyone, anywhere, ever.

I think the #MeToo movement has been great. It’s given women and some men a means to speak out. Maybe it will help them finally heal after so many years. As a victim of child molestation myself, I healed many years ago when I was a teenager. I don’t dwell on what happened. To me there is no point. I can’t change what happened to me but I can make sure it doesn’t happen to my daughter or niece. If you dwell on something that happened in the past you’ll never move forward.

These women and men have come forward, told their stories and destructed the men who hurt them. As long as it makes them feel better, that’s all that matters. I’m not sure if they were planning to get anything else out of it but the abusers certainly got what they deserved.

Aside from my own experience, I admit I have been the witness to sexual harassment and did nothing about it. Both incidents were very embarrassing to see, one especially since I knew the woman involved and considered her a friend. When you are in a crowded room full of men and women what are you to do? There were so many on-lookers during both of these incidents, any one of us could have said or done something. Even the women it happened to could’ve said or done something. The woman presenting an award who was forcibly kissed by the recipient and then had her breast groped by the recipient should’ve slapped the recipient right there in front of everyone. It would have served him right and certainly would’ve bruised his ego. The woman who was conversing with her boyfriend when the celebrity man came up behind her and pinched her ass should have had her boyfriend punch the celebrity’s lights out. I doubt he’d be pinching any asses after that.

I’m sure these abused individuals had their own reasons for staying silent for so long. Whether it be from fear, threats, embarrassment, etc. What we need to understand now is that it is not okay to remain silent. If you were attacked on the street would you remain silent? Why should it be any different during an audition, during a meet-and-greet, during a party?

There are laws that exist that protect people from sexual harassment, abuse and discrimination. Right now there are numerous cases/lawsuits happening. To read about these, as well as obtain more information on what to do in these cases, especially if they occur in the workplace, check out the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission web site at www.eeoc.gov.

You are not alone.

Happy Holidays: It’s Not Such A New Thing

December 10, 2017May 20, 2024 by MichelleMcHatton

This time of year always pushes the “politically correct” or “not politically correct” buttons with some people. For some reason people seem to think you can’t say “Merry Christmas”. Nobody ever said you couldn’t say “Merry Christmas” so don’t say they did. It has been suggested that you say “Happy Holidays” because, gasp! Not everyone celebrates Christmas. But instead of people looking at it as a “suggestion”, they twist it around and say “we were told to say this”. Guess they forgot this is America. Nobody can make you say “Happy Holidays”. Just like nobody can make anyone else say “Merry Christmas”.

For the record, saying “Happy Holidays” is not as new as everyone thinks it is. Wishing someone a “Happy Holiday” started in 1942 when Irving Berlin wrote the song “Happy Holiday” for the Bing Crosby film “Holiday Inn”. Another popular version of the song “Happy Holiday” was recorded by Andy Williams in 1965. So stop saying that the phrase “Happy Holiday” is a new thing because we’ve been saying it and singing it since WWII.

Once people get off their high horses and accept and understand others for who they are and what they believe instead of what they always feel is right, then the world will become a better place.

Making Merry

December 9, 2017May 20, 2024 by MichelleMcHatton

Last night I attended a friend’s Christmas party. Or as she called it “a holiday get-together”.

There were only ten couples there, most of whom I had never met. The coolest couple was Jim and Bob. This was the first time I ever encountered a same-sex couple and I certainly hope I encounter these two again in the future. Aside from my friend, the host of the party, Jim and Bob were the nicest people. Jim, a web designer by trade, is an expert at karaoke. Bob is a chef and his cranberry-pear tart is to die for. Plus I owe him a big “thank you” for introducing me to “sugared” champagne.

We’re already discussing getting together for New Year’s Eve. Chinese food and “sugared” champagne? Sounds like a great way to ring in the New Year!

I’m Choosing Kind: Review “Wonder”

December 7, 2017May 20, 2024 by MichelleMcHatton

Auggie Pullman is the typical 10-year-old boy. He loves his dog Daisy. He loves Star Wars and enjoys pretending to be an astronaut. Probably the only thing not typical for Auggie is the fact that he was born with mandibulofacial dysostosis, also known as Treacher Collins Syndrome, a facial deformity.

Auggie is the main character in “Wonder”, the movie based on the best-selling novel by R. J. Palacio. Auggie is about to enter the fifth grade. The only problem is, up until now he has never been educated outside the home. His parents (played by Owen Wilson and Julia Roberts) decide it’s time for him to enter the real world and experience school at Beecher Prep. That’s when Auggie really learns the true meaning of kindness and friendship.

The first peers he meets are Julian, Charlotte and Jack Will, three students selected to give him a tour of the school. Right away we are made aware of the kind of children they are through Auggie’s perspective of their shoes.

As the movie evolves we sense Julian is not impressed with Auggie and his vast knowledge of science. However, Jack Will senses he could use Auggie’s help in the subject and the two begin hanging out together. Another person who befriends Auggie is Summer, a girl who takes it upon herself to sit at the same lunch table as Auggie, where he is always sitting alone.

On Halloween, Auggie’s favorite holiday because it’s the one day he can be anything he wants and nobody will care, he goes to school wearing a “Ghost Face” mask and overhears Jack Will tell Julian that he’s only pretending to like Auggie. Jack can’t figure out why Auggie won’t speak to him until Summer reveals the reason. Jack then defends Auggie by punching Julian after Julian refers to Auggie as a “freak”. As a result, Julian is expelled and Jack and Auggie renew their friendship.

During a school trip to a nature reserve, Auggie and Jack are threatened by kids from another school. We learn just how much Auggie has grown on his classmates when some boys who had been friends with Julian come to their rescue.

The movie concludes with an end-of-year school ceremony where Auggie wins the Henry Ward Beecher Medal for standing out.

“Wonder” is a movie that will make you cry, laugh and laugh and cry at the same time. It is full of emotion and truth and leaves you with a joyous feeling in your heart.