Clara N.'s column
Entries14 June, 2010, 20:36On sex, lies and videotape
Some weeks I feel like I have woken up on some alien planet where the absurd and nonsensical rules are the norm and the nonsensical rules. Morality police in Iran... sorry, the US.My first revelation was that, like many Islamic states, the United States uses criminal penalties to police the morality of its citizens. The perpetrators may not be publicly flogged or stoned to death, but the principal remains the same.Suzanne M. Corona of Batavia, NY, was caught having sex on a picnic table in a New York park at 5 p.m. with Justin Amend. As Mr. Amend was not her husband, police decided that a charge of public lewdness was not sufficient and slapped her with an adultery charge. If convicted, the 41-year-old mother faces a $500 fine or up to 90 days in jail. Amend got off more lightly as he allegedly did not know Corona was married.Section 255.17 of the New York State penal law states, "A person is guilty of adultery when he engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse."Turns out that not only is adultery illegal in several states, but so is fornication (sex outside of wedlock), oral sex, and a variety of other activities that millions of unsuspecting and otherwise law-abiding citizens engage in regularly.When kinky sex goes wrong ...sueLast year, actor David Carradine of "Kung Fu" and "Kill Bill" fame was found dead in his hotel room closet with ropes tied around his neck and genitals - a likely victim of auto-erotic asphyxia. The medical examiner hired by his family determined the actor died from "accidental asphyxiation". During 2003 divorce proceedings, an ex-wife claimed Carradine had a long history of "deviant sexual behavior which was potentially deadly."Now his wife, Anne, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the production company of the film he was working on at the time. Mrs. Carradine claims that her husband's death could have been avoided if the French company had provided the actor with "all the best amenities" and "sufficient assistance." She claims the company was negligent as the assistant responsible for his schedule and transport in Bangkok left him behind at the hotel after failing to reach him. Carradine was later told that he would have to "make his own arrangements that evening" as the assistant was already across town.So somehow the company should have understood that if they left an adult male of substantial means in a decent hotel, he wouldn't simply order room service or a cab to take him to the restaurant, but would pop into his closet for a bit of a sexual adventure and hang himself in the process. Perhaps the Carradines should have insisted on a clause in the contract requiring an assistant to be by the actor's side at all times with a knife to cut him down if he turned purple. America needs to bring back personal responsibility.No photos please - we are the policeAbsurdly, law enforcement can monitor the sex lives of US citizens, while citizens may not monitor - or rather, record- law enforcement officers fulfilling their professional duties in a public space. Anthony Garber learned this after he filmed and posted to YouTube a video of a Maryland police officer pulling him over for speeding on his motorcycle. The video shows a non-uniformed man pulling in front of Garber in an unmarked vehicle. The man gets out of his car, pulls a gun and aggressively approaches Garber before identifying himself as a police officer. Just days after the video was posted on YouTube, police arrested Garber for violating state wiretapping laws according to which it is illegal to videotape anyone without their consent.This is a warped use of the law that is meant to protect citizens from frivolous tapping of telephone conversations. The camera was fully visible on Garber's helmet and the police officer was acting in a public space where he should have no expectation of privacy. After all, there are thousands of cameras following our every moves in shops, on streets, at ATMs; even police cars have cameras attached to them. And not one one has ever asked for my consent.Video footage has provided key evidence in several cases where police officers have been convicted of abuse. Just a few months ago in Maryland, John McKenna was severely beaten and left unconscious by three police officers. The police charged McKenna with disorderly conduct and assault saying he "struck police officers and their horses causing minor injuries." McKenna's injuries, they claimed, were due to a horse's kick. Video shot by a bystander - as it now turns out illegally - clearly shows Mckenna simply dancing along the street celebrating his school's basketball victory when he is rammed against a wall by the three officers in riot gear who proceed to pummel him with their batons.Police officers sometimes lie, video camera's don't. Being allowed to hold those officers accountable is important in a democracy.Hopefully, this week I will wake up in a place less absurd.
Entries14 June, 2010, 20:36On sex, lies and videotape
Some weeks I feel like I have woken up on some alien planet where the absurd and nonsensical rules are the norm and the nonsensical rules. Morality police in Iran... sorry, the US.My first revelation was that, like many Islamic states, the United States uses criminal penalties to police the morality of its citizens. The perpetrators may not be publicly flogged or stoned to death, but the principal remains the same.Suzanne M. Corona of Batavia, NY, was caught having sex on a picnic table in a New York park at 5 p.m. with Justin Amend. As Mr. Amend was not her husband, police decided that a charge of public lewdness was not sufficient and slapped her with an adultery charge. If convicted, the 41-year-old mother faces a $500 fine or up to 90 days in jail. Amend got off more lightly as he allegedly did not know Corona was married.Section 255.17 of the New York State penal law states, "A person is guilty of adultery when he engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse."Turns out that not only is adultery illegal in several states, but so is fornication (sex outside of wedlock), oral sex, and a variety of other activities that millions of unsuspecting and otherwise law-abiding citizens engage in regularly.When kinky sex goes wrong ...sueLast year, actor David Carradine of "Kung Fu" and "Kill Bill" fame was found dead in his hotel room closet with ropes tied around his neck and genitals - a likely victim of auto-erotic asphyxia. The medical examiner hired by his family determined the actor died from "accidental asphyxiation". During 2003 divorce proceedings, an ex-wife claimed Carradine had a long history of "deviant sexual behavior which was potentially deadly."Now his wife, Anne, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the production company of the film he was working on at the time. Mrs. Carradine claims that her husband's death could have been avoided if the French company had provided the actor with "all the best amenities" and "sufficient assistance." She claims the company was negligent as the assistant responsible for his schedule and transport in Bangkok left him behind at the hotel after failing to reach him. Carradine was later told that he would have to "make his own arrangements that evening" as the assistant was already across town.So somehow the company should have understood that if they left an adult male of substantial means in a decent hotel, he wouldn't simply order room service or a cab to take him to the restaurant, but would pop into his closet for a bit of a sexual adventure and hang himself in the process. Perhaps the Carradines should have insisted on a clause in the contract requiring an assistant to be by the actor's side at all times with a knife to cut him down if he turned purple. America needs to bring back personal responsibility.No photos please - we are the policeAbsurdly, law enforcement can monitor the sex lives of US citizens, while citizens may not monitor - or rather, record- law enforcement officers fulfilling their professional duties in a public space. Anthony Garber learned this after he filmed and posted to YouTube a video of a Maryland police officer pulling him over for speeding on his motorcycle. The video shows a non-uniformed man pulling in front of Garber in an unmarked vehicle. The man gets out of his car, pulls a gun and aggressively approaches Garber before identifying himself as a police officer. Just days after the video was posted on YouTube, police arrested Garber for violating state wiretapping laws according to which it is illegal to videotape anyone without their consent.This is a warped use of the law that is meant to protect citizens from frivolous tapping of telephone conversations. The camera was fully visible on Garber's helmet and the police officer was acting in a public space where he should have no expectation of privacy. After all, there are thousands of cameras following our every moves in shops, on streets, at ATMs; even police cars have cameras attached to them. And not one one has ever asked for my consent.Video footage has provided key evidence in several cases where police officers have been convicted of abuse. Just a few months ago in Maryland, John McKenna was severely beaten and left unconscious by three police officers. The police charged McKenna with disorderly conduct and assault saying he "struck police officers and their horses causing minor injuries." McKenna's injuries, they claimed, were due to a horse's kick. Video shot by a bystander - as it now turns out illegally - clearly shows Mckenna simply dancing along the street celebrating his school's basketball victory when he is rammed against a wall by the three officers in riot gear who proceed to pummel him with their batons.Police officers sometimes lie, video camera's don't. Being allowed to hold those officers accountable is important in a democracy.Hopefully, this week I will wake up in a place less absurd.
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