I met Ms Huerta and her daughter in 2017. She was speaking on a charter cruise I was on. Powerful woman. And she has done what other powerful women have done. Share her secrets to help other women. What a burden she must have carried for many, many years. And what courage she has to speak up now.
I’m just might start to regain the respect I used to have for the Times before they became so timid about politics. I hope this is the beginning of an upward trend. Let us be an example to the cowards on the other side that we can confront the bad side of people we thought were good. Without conflicting the good cause and the bad acts.
It is heartbreaking when we find that someone we respected and celebrated was so capable of abuse. He did some great things, but this we can't forgive this. On the other hand, the news highlights the incredibly important work of Ms. Huerta and all the people involved in the United Farm Workers and other organizations that support the crucial work of agricultural workers.
Well said Jen, I'm hoping the NYT continues its recent focus on solid journalism. This was shocking news but not surprising given the patriarchal nature of our society, indeed most of Western societies, that has always existed. Civil rights movements are not exempt from those influences. I'm hopeful that with the incredible and inspirational courage of Ms. Huerta's example there will be continued and long overdue recognition of the great harms that have been done by our patriarchal structure.
Thank you. And, for what it's worth, this resident of the Southwestern U.S. has always regarded Delores Huerta as an equal leader of the farmworkers' movement.
Jen's suggestion that Chavez's name be taken off street signs, plaques, buildings, must really have the president horrified, trembling with fear. Let's get his name off EVERYTHING.
Jen so beautifully written. Thank you for showing that separating the individual but honoring the farm workers and their efforts is what we focus on. Had Chavez been alive he would have been dealt with.
We clearly are not done with "ME TOO." I spent 42 years working with the victims of sexual assault. That takes us back to when the first child abuse statutes were put in place. And while some things have changed (quality of investigations and treatment) nothing at all has changed. I am sick at heart that men (and sometimes women) in all levels of government, entertainment, organized religion, the aristocracy, sports, etc. etc. etc. continue to view women and children as chattel. There is something very very wrong with a culture that perpetuates such a problem. I do blame it on patriarchal systems (religion, politics, and yes, labor unions) and the patriarchal systems that fail to protect victims (FBI, law enforcement, prosecutors and the judiciary). Thank you, Jen for your response to the report. We need to continue to acknowledge the depth of the problem before we can figure out how to improve things.
Horrifying, vile, disgusting -- but not one bit shocking. Thank you for commenting so thoughtfully about this breaking story. I'm keeping Ms. Huerta and all the victims in my thoughts tonight.
Yes, agree, but as a single gay man who researched gender issues in the workplace for over 40 years, I would like to remind myself that what we are dealing with his a culture of toxic masculinity and largely subliminal social indoctrination that has persisted for millennia. We are only scratching the itch by denouncing, arresting, or imprisoning those men who have been caught crossing the movable line of socially acceptable behavior towards women (although legal strictures serve as an excellent deterrent). The effective solution is bound to be long-term and diffuse and will affect everything from social mores to social media, from boardrooms to schoolrooms, from “holy” matrimony to conversations on a bus. It will be an ongoing project that will never be finished. I am entering my 80th year of working on myself.
Thoughtfully written Jen and a bit of a shock! Growing up in a farming community, I was fascinated with this movement despite the farmer’s obvious objections. Much respect to Dolores Huerta & the other survivors.
No one is perfect. We must always remember, "When people in positions of power — even those whose work has been previously honored — abuse others, they must be held responsible. When the individual has passed away, we must strive to correct the mythologies of their historical record."
Never, ever turn our backs on those who have suffered at the hands of those who thought that they could exploit their positions of power to abuse those who did not feel that they had the power and strength to fight back. When we allow one person to be exploited, we are allowing all peoples to be exploited.
The common denominator: powerful men.
Not trans men, not drag queens, not immigrants. Just men.
Most women can relate.
I met Ms Huerta and her daughter in 2017. She was speaking on a charter cruise I was on. Powerful woman. And she has done what other powerful women have done. Share her secrets to help other women. What a burden she must have carried for many, many years. And what courage she has to speak up now.
Some of those places commemorating Chavez should be renamed to honor her.
Organizations and municipalities are already working on it
Great!
I’m just might start to regain the respect I used to have for the Times before they became so timid about politics. I hope this is the beginning of an upward trend. Let us be an example to the cowards on the other side that we can confront the bad side of people we thought were good. Without conflicting the good cause and the bad acts.
It is heartbreaking when we find that someone we respected and celebrated was so capable of abuse. He did some great things, but this we can't forgive this. On the other hand, the news highlights the incredibly important work of Ms. Huerta and all the people involved in the United Farm Workers and other organizations that support the crucial work of agricultural workers.
An abuser being held accountable? What a refreshing idea!
Sadly, he died without being confronted. Huerta was brave to self-reveal, but somewhere there are two children who will never know their parentage.
I wish the Republican Party would learn a lesson from the farm workers and civil rights groups lightening quick response to this.
Well said Jen, I'm hoping the NYT continues its recent focus on solid journalism. This was shocking news but not surprising given the patriarchal nature of our society, indeed most of Western societies, that has always existed. Civil rights movements are not exempt from those influences. I'm hopeful that with the incredible and inspirational courage of Ms. Huerta's example there will be continued and long overdue recognition of the great harms that have been done by our patriarchal structure.
And it is frightening and dreadful to realize the white nationalist "christians" want to again subjugate women.
Thank you. And, for what it's worth, this resident of the Southwestern U.S. has always regarded Delores Huerta as an equal leader of the farmworkers' movement.
Jen's suggestion that Chavez's name be taken off street signs, plaques, buildings, must really have the president horrified, trembling with fear. Let's get his name off EVERYTHING.
Jen so beautifully written. Thank you for showing that separating the individual but honoring the farm workers and their efforts is what we focus on. Had Chavez been alive he would have been dealt with.
We clearly are not done with "ME TOO." I spent 42 years working with the victims of sexual assault. That takes us back to when the first child abuse statutes were put in place. And while some things have changed (quality of investigations and treatment) nothing at all has changed. I am sick at heart that men (and sometimes women) in all levels of government, entertainment, organized religion, the aristocracy, sports, etc. etc. etc. continue to view women and children as chattel. There is something very very wrong with a culture that perpetuates such a problem. I do blame it on patriarchal systems (religion, politics, and yes, labor unions) and the patriarchal systems that fail to protect victims (FBI, law enforcement, prosecutors and the judiciary). Thank you, Jen for your response to the report. We need to continue to acknowledge the depth of the problem before we can figure out how to improve things.
Horrifying, vile, disgusting -- but not one bit shocking. Thank you for commenting so thoughtfully about this breaking story. I'm keeping Ms. Huerta and all the victims in my thoughts tonight.
Yes, agree, but as a single gay man who researched gender issues in the workplace for over 40 years, I would like to remind myself that what we are dealing with his a culture of toxic masculinity and largely subliminal social indoctrination that has persisted for millennia. We are only scratching the itch by denouncing, arresting, or imprisoning those men who have been caught crossing the movable line of socially acceptable behavior towards women (although legal strictures serve as an excellent deterrent). The effective solution is bound to be long-term and diffuse and will affect everything from social mores to social media, from boardrooms to schoolrooms, from “holy” matrimony to conversations on a bus. It will be an ongoing project that will never be finished. I am entering my 80th year of working on myself.
Thoughtfully written Jen and a bit of a shock! Growing up in a farming community, I was fascinated with this movement despite the farmer’s obvious objections. Much respect to Dolores Huerta & the other survivors.
Well done. This response is appropriate and well-reasoned. Thank you.
No one is perfect. We must always remember, "When people in positions of power — even those whose work has been previously honored — abuse others, they must be held responsible. When the individual has passed away, we must strive to correct the mythologies of their historical record."
Never, ever turn our backs on those who have suffered at the hands of those who thought that they could exploit their positions of power to abuse those who did not feel that they had the power and strength to fight back. When we allow one person to be exploited, we are allowing all peoples to be exploited.