In my state an "anti-bullying" law was enacted which requires the school to be involved even if the behavior takes place off campus.

I'd like to say this is outrageous, but it's far too common to be outrageous. Having worked in Catholic schools for almost 20 years, I know first hand that an e-mail, phone call, and letter campaign directed at the Diocesan Office of Schools and the Office of the Bishop will result in some kind of action. …

Yes, you're right that the two questions are essentially different ones. I meant the second question to lead from the first rather than to rephrase it. You are absolutely correct that being a feminist does not mean one is already free. Your question about collusion in the system is close to my thoughts, except that…

Please point out where I failed to exhibit tact or caution. I grew up in Saudi Arabia. I'm aware that Islam is not simply what I see on the evening news.

Very true!

I don't believe I've degraded the discussion. I've asked an open question about feminism co-existing with a patriarchal religious view. Your point about Islam being more diverse than the two Christian sects I've mentioned is taken. However, it would be naive to ignore that there are entire countries where Islam is…

Wait...Why does he think sanitary napkins are pink? Has he never opened one of those packages in that arsenal of feminine protection he's got stacked up in front of him? (By the way, that phrase "feminine protection" has never made any sense to me, but that's another story.)

The issue here is separating women's religious belief from a patriarchal and misogynist institution. Can you be a Muslim feminist? One could justifiably ask if you can be a Catholic feminist or a Mormon feminist. How much agency can a woman be said to have in a religious culture that pretty much denies it?

The last few days have convinced me that people either understand this issue or they don't and, seemingly, no amount of explanation can make them see a comment like this as problematic.

We took a basic class in elementary school. Once we got to high school we took a course called "Love, Sex, and Marriage" but neither class covered contraception.

The Archdiocese of New York actually requires sex education in their own schools beginning in the seventh grade, so barring the issue with condoms and birth control, I don't really see why the bulk of the lesson can't be taught in the schools which are being rented. It would be interesting to see if the Church pays…

No, because she's supposedly friends with President Obama and the First Lady and she just sang the national anthem at his second inauguration. Look, I could care less what she or her husband does. I don't listen to her music or to his. But if your friend, who happens to be POTUS, gives you a gig like singing at the…

None. I'm not referring to the fact that Sweden (hypothetically) didn't cover Ryan's budget proposals. I'm referring to the fact that, apparently, whatever news you watch in hypothetical Sweden covered Ryan's workout routine.

Everyone didn't just sing the national anthem at the inauguration, though. Hey, I think Cuba should be open to everybody — the US has no problem doing tons of business with China and Vietnam, after all — but this trip is a little tone deaf on Beyonce's part.

You watch stunningly inconsequential news, then.

Wait a minute — you know what exercise system Paul Ryan used, but you honestly don't know anything about his budget proposal, for example? He's pretty famous for that. If you really don't know anything about it then that says more about you and the kind of news you pay attention to than it does about anything else.

You know, I was just thinking that regardless of the money or fame it must be miserable to be as obsessed with the way you look as Gwyneth Paltrow seems to be.

Gates' approach to education is also based on his complete and total lack of knowledge or experience in that field. He believes if he can just force it into the box he's comfortable with, despite the fact that it doesn't fit a business model in so many areas, that he can perform miracles. Americans are rightfully…

Until just this minute I thought I was the only person with anxiety who had the grocery store issue. I can't tell you how relieved I feel reading these comments. I've tried and tried to work out why the grocery store often triggers an anxiety attack and I think it's because it somehow represents everything I didn't…