Do NOT Mess with the Tits

Do NOT Mess with the Tits

By Kathy Reschini Sweeney

The last several days have been all about the boobs - everyone is talking about them!  I think it's great and am glad that boobs are getting the respect they deserve outside of men's magazines and special movies people watch in hotels.

This whole Komen business has been encouraging - and not just because of the safety and health of tits everywhere.

Ask yourself - how much political bullshit has occurred over the past several years?  Tons.  And usually we bitch about it, or roll our eyes, or simply stop paying attention.  I happen to sign petitions, but that's about as far as it went because I am so disgusted with the whole political process that I don't feel I can make a difference.

That all changed last week, and we have boobs to thank.  And yes, I meant that as at least a double bitch slap.

Koman and the "No choice but my choice" gang took on the wrong group.  To mangle a famous movie quote:

"You may take our Congressional seats, but you'll never take our ta-tas!!"

Some things should be off-limits to political gamesmanship and women's health is one of them.  And boy, did everybody get that message loud and clear!

Planned Parenthood more than made up for the money they lost from Komen, and got a whole new batch of more enlightened donors in the process.  If you think that the shift of donations from Komen to PP was a temporary thing, guess again.

Because the other consequence is that many people - including me- took a good, hard look at an organization we have been funding and supporting for years.  Much like the sausage factory, we did not like what we saw.  Barely 20 cents from each dollar donated to the SGKF actually goes to research.  They have also defunded other research facilities - like Johns Hopkins - just because Hopkins engages in other research - promising research - that Komen finds offensive.  And don't even get me started on this campaign of harassment against small groups trying to raise money by using three common words in the English language.  

I have several three-word combinations I could suggest for the politically-driven forces at the SGKF, but I'm already skating close to everyone's spam filters by using the word tits, so I won't push it for now...

No argument that the Komen Foundation has raised awareness. They are not a bad organization. But a few people with power can poison any group, and maybe it's time for the SGKF to decide if they are about women's health or about political agendas.

Because for most of us, you can't have it both ways.

***

And now, another vignette from my adventures in Boobburgh.

When you are preparing for surgery, one of the things the docs do is provide you with informed consent - which is a summary of the risk and possible consequences from surgery.

In plain English, informed consent is a legal exercise where the docs read off a huge list of all the bad shit that could happen - like death by crossbow and the loss of an unrelated limb - so that if something does go wrong, you can't sue them because they have the legal defense of: "We told you so."

I am not blaming anyone for this, I am just telling you what goes on.

Part of the list for my informed consent was "permanent scarring of the breast".  This shows up in the list somewhere between aspiration due to bad anesthesia and one of your lungs accidentally jumping out of your chest during surgery.

But I caught it, and interrupted the PA, which also caused the med students to actually focus out of their glazed-over stances.

Here is what I said: "Scars?  On my boobs?  Does this mean I have to give up my night job as a stripper?"

Total silence.  I mean, pin drop, dead quiet. Then one student finally, after shifting nervously and looking at his colleagues in that peripheral "is she serious?!" way, says: "Wow."

I burst out laughing and said: "Are you kidding me?  The only place I could get work as a stripper is at a blind circus!"

Then they laughed - hard and loud.  Someone came in from the next room to see what was up.  

My work was done.

***

So what say you on the SGKF situation?  Was their 'apology' sufficient?  Or did the dodginess and the back-pedaling cause you more concern than relief?  Your tits could hang in the balance...

 

Comments

[Kathy Maple]

Kathy,

Love this and love your blogs. I am concerned about their apology and back peddling. I have decided that as of now I will not give anymore money to Komen. That is until they get their right wing lady leader and all her cronies out.

[liz]

So right, power of few can poisen the bunch! Don't mess with the power of women, we changed the insurance ruling that post baby delivery your home in 24 hours to 3 days post delivery(barring no complications.) Exposure is good.
Kathy, praying all goes well for you.

[Renee in KS]

I'm thrilled that you are writing again! It is unfortunate that once you look behind the curtain, things are not as they appear. So it seems with SGKF. Power and money change people. I like the points made that remind organizations to stay true to their mission. Sometimes people lose their course and forget what their purpose is too.

[POM]

With humor as the best medicine, you are sure to heal well and recover fully. I can no longer bring myself to drink coffee from the SGK mug my daughter got me for Mothers' Day last year (as she was there w/ her cosmo class providing manicures for participants & figured I coulkd put it too goo use as a caffeine junky). As always, thank you for the clear & logical perspective presented with humor and dashes of vaguely disguised sarcasim as appropriate. So HAPPY : ) you are back!!!!

[Elaine Viets]

The apology is a start, Kathy, but it's not enough. SGK has to remove the leadership with the political agenda. And I want to see 90 percent of my money going to help those with breast cancer -- not 20 percent.
My eyes have been opened and I don't like what I see.
You, however, are facing a scary situation with good humor. Thanks for keeping us . . . abreast.

[Storyteller Mary]

No, the insincere half-way back-pedaling by Komen is not sufficient, and the shifty interview to "explain our mission" reminded me of students trying to defend plagiarism . . . bye-bye pink ribbons. This has served to remind me to send a donation to Planned Parenthood, to whom I am indebted for my own health care when I was a college student.
I love that you made your doctors laugh . . . and wish you'd run for office, because we need people like you.
Healing thoughts and love to you.

[mary alice at mystery lovers bookshop]

dead to me for even thinking about it
PP gets me and mine

[Diana in STL]

They will no longer get any funds from me. The CBS network station in St. Louis revealed that Komen has flatly refused to approve funding for Planned Parenthood in St. Louis from the beginning. At first they just told them no then finally told them to stop applying.After all this bad publicity (St. Louis has one of the largest Komen events in the country) they told them they could apply this year. Stay tuned to see if they get any funding. Learning only 20% goes to actual research is the icing on the cake.

Thanks as always for your eye opening blog. Positive thoughts your way next week. I know you will keep them laughing.

[Nancy Martin]

I'm a little dismayed that so little money Komen raises goes to research. So much goes to "breast cancer awareness," and what does that mean? Buying pink hats? Paying for the pink ribbons that go on NFL uniforms? Yes, everybody needs to be made aware, but . . .
On the other hand, the whole tempest got me to click over and donate a few bucks to PP. So easy online: https://secure.ppaction.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=pp_ppol_Nondirected_OneTimeGift

[gaylin in Vancouver]

What SGK probably doesn't realize is that once people switch where their donation dollars go, they rarely switch back. This could be an ongoing boon for Planned Parenthood and rightly so.

Keep laughing Kathy!

[mary lynn]

No way will Komen get any of my money in the future.

I try to do double duty with gifts I buy for people, especially Christmas gifts, buy purchasing items from 'do-gooder' organizations, like Bead for Life' and Komen and Unicef, etc. I often buy goats and chickens from Oxfam and Heifer, Intl. for the folks who already have everything.

Both PP and Komen are/were on our direct contribution list as well. the $ to PP have just increased and SKF has gone to zero.

There are some other prominent organizations that need the curtain pulled back on how they split their money between admin and service. The Red Cross is one of them.

You do good work Kath, may all be well with you.

[Alan P.]

"Some things should be off-limits to political gamesmanship and women's health is one of them."

Amen sister!

Unfortunetly, women's health is all of them these days. At least here in St. Louis where the gateway to the west is working very hard on being the gateway to the 1840's.

The true sadness is the heartbreak this is causing to the thousands of women who have benefited from SGK in the past. The women who are being helped right now. I know some of these women. It is tearing them up inside just like the cancer. Being born already, they are of no concern for the "fighters for the pre-born."

[Tom]

Some women at my office (near to Anaheim, CA) formed a fundraising softball team to benefit SGKF, but they were stuck for a team name. I suggested The Mighty TaTas.

But I've lost too many family members and friends to cancer for this PP/SGKF extravaganza to be remotely funny.

With an 80/20 distribution of earnings, it's clear that SGKF has become a business, not a charitable organization. They're in it for the profits.

Intentionally or not, SGKF is violating the spirit of their 501c3 status.

[Reine]

The very name of the foundation, Susan G Komen, includes the phrase, "For the Cure." I believe we all had a right to believe that their focus was on research and, finding a cure for breast cancer. It is now clear that was not the case, and I feel a teensy bit violated by that.

[lil Gluckstern]

Great post, Kathy, I couldn't agree more. Just the presentation Of the SGKF lady, and the PP lady showed a rich Right winger vs. an ordinary working lady. And 20% for research. That's an outrage. I feel a little more than violated; I feel very manipulated. And I am so tired of that.

[Diane Russom Harrison]

I'm done with Komen. Susan Komen's daughter is a friend and I have always wondered why she is not more active within the organization. Perhaps she was not comfortable with the organization; I don't see myself asking her directly. She has enough to deal with already. I do believe that BCRF (the Lauder organization)has a better record when it comes to actually helping women who are underinsured or uninsured. Thinking of you Kathy and praying that all goes well. TaTa's Forever!!!!

[Maryann Mercer]

I'm not sure any 'apology' is enough for all those women who were even temporarily denied the right to breast exams and the other health service PP provides.And it won't change my mind about donations either. What bothers me the most is that SGK assumed there would be NO outcry from a majority of American women, from those who wear the badge of survivor to those who thank heaven that so far their breast tissue is healthy. Pompous tunnel-visioned twits (I would have said tit-wits, but didn't want to insult the Ta Tas).
And I still believe the organization's image is tarnished because of the actions of their EXO and will stay that way until she's sent packing.
Nuff said... And I would have worried more about my lung jumping out of my chest (my 'stripping days' are just a memory..ha) :o) Good on ya for getting a hoot out of the med students.
Thinking good thoughts always...and will double them Monday afternoon and Tuesday and after as well. xo

[A Facebook User]

Maryann, you could have said 'pompous tunnel-visioned witless nits

[Meryl Neiman]

Loved this, Kathy. Nobody talks titties like you!

I ldefinitely learned a lot about SGK over the past few days. No more money from me!

[Linda Rodriguez]

Great post, Kathy! My $ stays with PP from now on.

Love the scene with you and the med students. You are one classy lady! Sending positive, healing energy. I know you will come out on top!

[Harley]

Amen to all of it. I was happy to be able to double my contribution to Planned Parenthood this week. I have always loved them. And Doctors Without Borders. I hope I don't hear any bad things about them. I need to believe they are simply heroes.

I can't stop thinking about the Blind Circus.

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

You guys make a great point - I think one reason the outcry was so massive was that we ALL feel misled here. Komen is an organization that has an emotional as well as a financial investment component.

No organization is perfect, but I agree - I signed a petition asking for the resignation or firing of the Karen Handel from the SGKF. Here is the link if you would like to add your name:

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/fire_handel/?rc=share_email

Isn't it great that old-fashioned petitions distributed with new technology actually made a difference here? I love it!

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

Just saw this and thought, given our discussion, it was worth sharing. I also put it on my FB page.

http://youtu.be/3QPZfcYTUaA

[cindy]

Thanks for keeping us informed I do have a favor to ask, please go easy on all those young resident. They freeze sometimes when they get scared. Besides, that is my job in July but i am thinking maybe we should be a team. Praying for you and will be checking on you this Tuesday. i am only a shuttle away if you or Tom need anything. Love Cindy

[Megan]

All this has been true of SJKF from the beginning. For God's sake, these people license pink-ribbon alcohol - as if it weren't linked to breast cancer. I was gleefully waiting for their pink-ribbon-crusted cigarettes to come out. It's a bad organization, and as you point out, a good portion of what they use their 80% off the top for is to sue small organizations that use "for the cure." What they've done is convince women that there's an "epidemic" of breast cancer, when what there is is an actual epidemic of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. While we all ignore that you're far more likely to die of heart disease.