Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today:
J Lenni Dorner (me! ✨), Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton!
July 6 question - If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?
Short Answer:
You set the price!
Lumber Of The Kuweakunks
By J Lenni Dorner
I pick this book and world because of the trees. 🌳
It's a short read with a mystery told in modern times and the early 1600s era.
Long Answer:
For my longer answer, I arranged a few books in the shape of my name - J.
(Hopefully, no one will confuse my name with co-host Jenni Enzor's. J isn't an abbreviation, I didn't know about the superfluous "ay" that people add, or that sometimes J is short for Jayson or other names. Lenni- Lenape means "original people". My tribe is also known as the Grandfathers. Naming customs are different in various cultures.)
Long Answer:
For my longer answer, I arranged a few books in the shape of my name - J.
(Hopefully, no one will confuse my name with co-host Jenni Enzor's. J isn't an abbreviation, I didn't know about the superfluous "ay" that people add, or that sometimes J is short for Jayson or other names. Lenni- Lenape means "original people". My tribe is also known as the Grandfathers. Naming customs are different in various cultures.)
BSC. I appreciate that the books are being redone with Graphix while still staying pretty true to the original books. Stoneybrook is a fictional small suburban-like town in the state of Connecticut. Most of the problems were solved in one book.
The Baby-Sitters Club books remind me of my youth. It was just such a better world than my own, a parallel universe of sorts where I wished I could be. Not that I had any interest in baby-sitting. A rare happy period in my school-age time when, for a brief while, I had friends. The Logan character helped to cement the idea that it was okay for the girls I knew to have a guy friend (me). Their parents disagreed. My foster caretakers didn't know or care. Things eventually went bad because of other males at the school. Resulting in my being hospitalized more dead than alive. At which point I was passed to a different foster home. (This is all before I ran away and found my people and birth parents again.)
So anyone out there saying the new laws in parts of America are fine because the foster and adoption system exists can kiss my 🍑ss. Plenty of people are talking about that.
I'll pause to talk about just how "pro-life" the American government has been for about two centuries. I don't often get political on social media, unless it relates to Native American issues, and this does.
Think putting abortion services in Federal places will help? 🎲 That's rolling the dice because those places sometimes sterilize people without their knowledge or consent. Especially Native American women.
"On October 2, 2020, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent."
House resolutions are not binding laws.
In case anyone thinks this happened long ago. 2020. Hasn't even been two years since the House did something. Though, what they did wasn't much.
It was after finding out some medical personnel at the ICE cages were sterilizing people who they deemed to be non-Americans.
For ten seconds, imagine a popular, well-liked American celebrity is shooting a film in another country. And, while in that other country, is captured and sterilized. And the other country says, "well, it wasn't one of our citizens, so it's okay." Try to imagine how well that would go over. American citizens getting forcibly sterilized in other countries.
Now imagine it's someone that is barely known at all. Doesn't matter where they're from. Is it okay now?
"31 states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing permanent forced sterilizations."
Some states will outlaw abortion, but have laws to force sterilizations.
Surly the “"pro-life"” crowd has put a stop to forced sterilizations. Right? Nope.
There are some laws to prevent certain groups, like inmates, from being sterilized without consent. But there is NO LAW to prevent forced non-consensual sterilizations for all Americans.
So yes, in certain states, very soon, a person can be imprisoned for performing an abortion, and the person who had the abortion could be forcibly sterilized.
Ending one pregnancy will be outlawed. But preventing a person from ever becoming pregnant by sterilizing that person is still legal. (Again, depending on the state.)
The loss of the right to consent to carry a pregnancy will be new to many people alive today.
The loss of the right to consent to ever reproduce was taken from many long ago and is still being fought to get back.
In theory, medical malpractice and assault and battery might protect a patient from sterilization without consent. Unless the patient is incapacitated. And even then, consider that forced sterilization just happened in America. And that there are still laws that ALLOW it. But there do not seem to be laws that specifically OUTLAW it.
In case you wonder, some places also prohibit people from making the choice to be sterilized via "tube tying" (tubal ligation) or hysterectomy (womb removal). One in six US hospitals, it is estimated, refuse to perform such procedures as electives. Vasectomies, however, are easier to obtain. https://www.insider.com/a-woman-needed-husbands-consent-to-get-her-tubes-tied-2020-2
The following is from a scene in Stargate SG-1:
(LYA)After careful consideration, I believe that both Klorel and Skaara have the right to live. But living as a host with no will of one's own is not life, therefore only one may remain in the body. To that end, I award priority to the original owner of the body.
Lya is of the Nox people. The Nox are an advanced, non-violent, wise people who use technology in harmony with nature and have existed since ancient times in the Stargate Universe.
As there are Stargate books, my third choice for a book world would be to live with the Nox. They feel like an evolution of my own Lenni-Lenape tribe, had history been different for Native Americans.
Thanks for reading! See you next time.
Please also visit: The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club on Goodreads.
Thanks for reading! See you next time.
Please also visit: The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club on Goodreads.
https://t.co/sgrj82hfJa #WRiTECLUBDFW
— J Lenni Dorner (@JLenniDorner) July 2, 2022
WriteClub 2022 is here. pic.twitter.com/QdGdbcEpyv
Happening at OperationAwesome6.blogspot.comHave your query letter and first 250 words ready
— Operation Awesome (@OpAwesome6) July 4, 2022
This week is the #PassorPages #QueryContest
July 4-8: Entry window 🤔 #win agent feedback
👨👩👧👦👨👨👦👦👩👩👧👧💑👬 Family Dynamics/Family Saga fiction - all age audienceshttps://t.co/F9IU7kcAC4
Please spread the word pic.twitter.com/i7hCBpuRjS
It would mean a great deal to me if you'd be kind enough to share that tweet, or go to the Operation Awesome site and share a post of your own somewhere. Please 🤍💗 too!
J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author
Please, call me J.
Please, call me J.
Hi. That set in the shape of J made me smile. I'm so sorry about your past experience. The ripple effect of what happens in one part of the world is sure to rock the others too. I hear you. I sent in the Operation Awesome link to some of my friends. I hope they sent in a query. And, thank you for co hosting today.
ReplyDeleteThanks so very much.
DeleteHi, I saw the J. Nice. I also read through your article. Some of the things I had heard about. Like the treatment of Native American Women. It is appalling. Thank you for co-hosting today. Shalom aleichem
ReplyDeleteYup. I'm thinking of using that as a basis of my WEP in August. We'll see.
DeleteI didn't know forced sterilization was legal anywhere in this country. I think that's something in general people don't talk about, like the forced sterilization of the Uyghur people by China.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for co-hosting today.
Glad I was able to spread knowledge. Happy to co-host!
DeleteThanks for co-hosting. I'm so upset about the Supreme Court decision too. I didn't know about the laws about forced sterilizations. That's terrible to hear about on top of the other horrible laws that are now legal.
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing, the sterilization laws have existed for ages. But people stopped being angry enough, stopped making enough noise, and now the laws exist, just waiting to be used to as a way to erase a people entirely. 👩🏽🤝👩🏼👩🏿🤝👩🏿👩🏾🤝🧑🏿👨🏾🤝👨🏽
DeleteWe are living in strange, chaotic times that will go down in history. Take Care. Thank you for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteYes, but will that history be only what the "winner" allows to be remembered?
DeleteI've been a NICU nurse for 31 years, who's cared for countless babies (often subsequent siblings) born addicted and watched them suffer. Don't get me started...
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting.
I worked in entertainment, mainly at children's hospital (🐻🐱🏍👨🏽🎤🦸🏽♂️🤹🏽♂️). The ones who survive past your department, it doesn't always get a whole lot better.
DeleteThanks for cohosting this month. We are, indeed, living in chaotic times.
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteThis Supreme Court has stirred a lot of reaction. If the Congress wasn't so busy trying to get re-elected, they might pursue impeachment, but that's not going to happen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking on the co-hosting job this month!
"The only Justice to be impeached was Associate Justice Samuel Chase in 1805. The House of Representatives passed Articles of Impeachment against him; however, he was acquitted by the Senate."
DeleteIt's possible. It's never actually happened though. Adding more justices could be easier.
I'd like to say I'm appalled by forced sterilization (which I am) but so much anymore is appalling. Abortion on the table? Who thought that was civilized? Yikes.
ReplyDeleteAll the more reason to love being a writer and the worlds we can escape to.
Well, there's a book called The Bible that gives instructions for a priest to have a woman drink "bitter water" that would cause a fetus to abort if she's pregnant. So I'm guessing Christians thought it was civilized. Though the Torah does not discuss abortion exactly, it does put the life of the pregnant person above that of an unborn. The Qur'an apparently puts the law at 120 days of pregnancy. Hinduism allows abortion only in cases where it is necessary for saving the life of the mother. Buddhists seem torn on the issue. That's only 5 of roughly 4,200 religions. 🤷🏽♂️
DeleteThanks for all your information in this post. I had heard of sterilization of Black Americans. Of course, the treatment of Native Americans is appalling. The genocide, sterilization, children taken from their families and forced to live in boarding schools and the atrocious treatment. You have a strong voice and important message. Keep writing and teaching. Peace, Mary
ReplyDeleteIt's actually all non-👱🏻♀️ people, and 👩🏻 people who they deem unworthy (such as mental medical needs, like Down syndrome), or people not following the exact branch of Christianity the state or area has decided is the correct one (Baptist, Protestant, Mormon, Catholic, etc).
DeleteThanks for co-hosting. So far, I don't think we've gotten confused. While I differ with you on the abortion issue, I am appalled about about the forced sterilizations. I work as a special ed teacher and there's a long history of that in that community as well.
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then, people change my name. Even people I've know for years. Only online though, never in "real life." 🤷🏾♂️
DeleteIn Canada it took decades before the people understood what the government had been doing to aboriginal people up until the 90s. Abhorring doesn't come close. Thanks for co-hosting, J.
ReplyDeleteThe full realities are still trickling out here in your neighbor, America.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting. I hadn't known about the forced sterilization. It's bone-chilling that's happening, that choices are being taken, that there's so much hate and entitlement. It's cases like these that make me wish I could create my own fantasy world that's ideal for my children and take them to live there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hear that. Probably why fantasy is so popular.
DeleteWhat a powerful post, J! Thank you for expressing your views and experiences. I can't imagine what you have come through, and my heart goes out to you. Kudos to you for surviving. I'm from Canada, and I know a lot about what has been done to Indigenous people there, including sterilization and other horrible things. I am angry and discouraged about so much that is happening in my adopted country, the USA. I am absolutely with you on the right to have autonomy over your own body. Thanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteI got a great literary, "You are here." chart posted from one of my friends. Welcome to the SciFi dystopia our favorite authors predicted. Great post. Thank you for co-hosting! (Babysitter's Club brought out my young entrepreneurial side. Glad they're still selling!)
ReplyDeleteYeah, sounds about right.
DeleteHi J! Yes, I saw the "J" in the books. Clever. So sorry to hear of your difficult youth. So many things people in general don't know about our pasts. You are an amazing person. Always remember that. Thanks for cohosting IWSG!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI didn't know about forced sterilization situation in America, but its abortion legislation has become dismal lately. It feels like dystopia, but sadly, it is real. I'm so happy to be living in Canada. I hope my country doesn't follow America on its reactionary course to outlaw abortion. A woman should have a choice. Always.
ReplyDeleteFunny how that's been so silenced, isn't it?
DeletePerhaps because the real goal is to boost the population of people who "certain red hat wearing people" wish to keep, while carefully reducing the populations of 🧑🏾🧑🏿🧑🏽👳🏾♂️👲🏻 others.
Thanks for co-hosting, J. I'm so sorry you had to deal with such horrendous situations growing up. I'm appalled at what has gone on and is currently going on in our country.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteI hadn't heard about the forced sterilization. That's crazy!
ReplyDeleteFunny how I'm covering it but there's no major news outlet discussing the connection.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting J. What a lot in your post! I'm exhausted, LOL. Yep. Most news coming out of America is darn scary. Overturning established laws, gun violence, that ridiculous Jan 6 thing, the inability to stop letting the NRA call the shots (pun intended) - too depressing. I wouldn't want to inhabit that world!
ReplyDeleteThe Jan 6 attack... if I, and people who look more like me, did that, I promise you we would have been labeled as traitors and terrorists, rights stripped, tossed in Git-mo (Guantanamo Bay detention camp) to rot to death as a *best* case.
DeleteThe news these days is definitely scary. Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteLove that you ventured back into your childhood's brightest days :D I respect and love the fact that you keep pushing forward and get stronger everyday!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteI went straight from reading your cogent analysis to my email inbox, where a reasonable commentator on world politics pointed out the "US supreme court has restricted the ability of the world’s largest historical carbon polluter to address the climate crisis. Last week, the rightwing-dominated court ruled that the US government cannot use its existing powers to reshape the country’s power generation away from coal towards a cleaner future."
ReplyDeleteIt continues, but it's clear to me, that unless the US sorts itself out very soon [six months-type soon], none of us will be able to care whether we have control of our bodies or not.
Sorry, that was from me. Google is playing games with my logins.<a href="https://jemimapett.com> Jemima Pett</a> (and thanks for co-hosting this month!
DeleteSeems several people are having trouble.
DeleteAnd yeah, there are dark days for Americans hoping to have a cleaner Earth. ♻
Thanks for stopping by my blog. This is a truly informative post. Thanks for sharing it. I wasn't able to share the embeded tweet but I will share this post.
ReplyDeleteCool cool, thanks.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting this month and sharing your book worlds and your story.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteWe need to work more toward a more utopian society like that of the Nox. Today's society is in too much chaos without a sense of value towards one's fellow human being(s).
ReplyDeleteThe human-trafficking in this country needs to be exposed as well as the unjust laws that go against the rights of both individuals and discriminated parts of society so more people will see how inhumane they are and feel prompted to speak and act against them.
Celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are trying to fight human trafficking, but even with the star power, there's barely any news about it.
DeleteThat's horrific and why I am tired of things being done by executive order, administrative policy, or cloaked in huge bills. I want laws passed with votes after simply and HONESTLY being shared with the public. Human trafficking generates more money than drug trafficking. I shudder to imagine what happens to the vulnerable people who trust coyotes--and those who are being kidnapped and transported. We have to stop thinking like Democrats and Republicans and start thinking like Americans.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I support the Supreme Court. People are being told these rulings equal bannings, but what they actually do is kick decisions back to the politicians who are held accountable by votes instead of in the hands of policy-making, faceless bureaucrats. Bring it to Congress. Petition and persuade the public and put it to a vote. Every voter should demand the right to have a say at the ballot box. If laws are decided by policies set by unelected agencies that voters have no power over because they are unelected- that's when our dystopian nightmare begins.
DeleteI trust we the people. I don't trust the power collective.
Who gets to decide who gets a vote though? It's actually pretty easy to find ways to cut people out of getting a vote, especially with lower levels of government.
DeleteLincoln freed the slaves. Well, sorta. He freed the ones that got labeled as human. A term that some groups had to keep fighting for long after Lincoln was gone.
Research what year a Native American woman living on a reservation in North Dakota was first allowed to vote.
I do like trees but I also like modern conveniences. For me I'd like to live in a nice house with modern conveniences that is located in or near mountains and surrounded by trees, but safe from potential forest fires.
ReplyDeleteThe other political stuff I'll avoid for now. I've already said plenty of a political nature on my blog that probably lost me readers. Too many fragile people these days broken by the past events and agitated by the opinions of others. I'm just watching the mess of a world we are in and shrugging a lot of it off.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Yeah, it's rough. Guess we'll see if we make it out of 2022 as married dudes, huh? Starting to think my parents were right to live off the grid.
DeleteWell said. All of it. My parents were friends with a couple when I was a kid. I asked my dad once why the couple didn't have children, and he told me the wife had been in a mental hospital for a little while, and they sterilized her while she was there. She was heartbroken.
ReplyDeleteFolks who are cheering the loss of Roe don't seem to understand that a government that has the power to force you to carry a child also has the power to force you to be sterilized or to have an abortion. We either have reproductive freedom, or we don't. And right now we don't.
Ethnic cleansing is a lot easier when anyone carrying genes that aren't of a certain type is no longer able to procreate.
DeleteJust saying.
Also, it's a lot easier to sterilize people who have been put in prison for involuntary crimes (miscarriages).
I've never read The Babysitters Club but I'm not sure it was out when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteThe first Baby-sitters Club book was published in August of 1986. They were fairly popular when I was middle-school aged.
DeleteI have not read any of those, but now I will have to look them up.
ReplyDeleteCool.
DeleteSounds like it's a lot better to live in South Africa -- our laws protect against forced sterilization, and abortion is your legal right if you choose to do so. We may not always have internet or electricity, but we do have the final say over our bodies...
ReplyDeleteIf this wasn't the homeland of my ancestors for so many thousands of years, and if so very few of us weren't all that remained here...
Delete