The Garden Island Embraces Jones Act Reform
Police seek man on video at the scene of a suspicious Kona Church Fire
Ige Returns from Washington, Holds News Conference
Tourism: Visitors, Expenditures Drop
UHERO: Economy in 2015 will look a lot like 2014
Ige: Feds Should not Rush Hawaiians on Tribe
AP: While in Washington, Ige also met with Sally Jewell, the secretary of the interior, who said the department is working on sorting out legal issues regarding whether Native Hawaiians could be federally recognized.
"I had expressed to her that I believe that it's very important that the Native Hawaiian community be given the time to determine what the nature of their sovereign nation should be," Ige said.
read ... Ige Talks After DC Trip
'Knives are out': Gabbard faces backlash for taking on Obama over 'Islamist' extremism
FOX: She was Hawaii's golden girl after winning a seat in Congress with support from top liberal groups, but now that Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been critical of President Obama, her political reputation in the bluest of blue states is taking a hit.
That isn’t stopping the twice-deployed 33-year-old Army veteran from continuing to challenge the president, her home state's favorite son, over his refusal to identify terror groups like the Islamic State as driven by "radical Islam.”
“Every soldier knows this simple fact: If you don't know your enemy, you will not be able to defeat him,” Gabbard told FoxNews.com. “Our leaders must clearly identify the enemy as Islamist extremists, understand the ideology that is motivating them and attracting new recruits, and focus on defeating that enemy both militarily and ideologically.”...
The editorial board of the online political news journal Civil Beat, owned by eBay Founder Pierre Omiydar, said "the bright-red Right" is promoting her criticism but she is not "presenting serious policy arguments." ...
Bob Jones, columnist for the Oahu-based Midweek, wrote a scathing piece suggesting Gabbard should be challenged in 2016. "I take serious issue when somebody who's done a little non-fighting time in Iraq, and is not a Middle East or Islamic scholar, claims to know better than our President and Secretary of State how to fathom the motivations of terrorists, or how to refer to them beyond the term that best describes them -- terrorists," Jones said.
Gabbard acknowledges the political risks. “I'm not naïve,” Gabbard said. “It could hurt me politically, but I don’t worry about it because that's not what I care about. ... Our national security and the future of our country is infinitely more important than partisan politics or my personal political future."...
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who directed the Defense Intelligence Agency, said this should not be a political issue. “[Gabbard] has taken a very courageous stand in a party that just refuses to face reality,” he said.
Decorated intelligence officer and noted specialist on Islamic law, Stephen Coughlin, who authored the book "Catastrophic Failure: Blindfolding America in the Face of Jihad," set for release in March, also sided with Gabbard. “Rep. Gabbard is correct as a matter of history, she is correct as a matter of current events, and she is correct of published Islamic law.” ...
While Gabbard has many detractors, she has a growing number of supporters, including a former Hawaii GOP congressional candidate who spent seven years in a POW camp in Vietnam.
“It is encouraging to see a bright young woman like Congresswoman Gabbard in politics in Hawaii, speaking up the way she is doing,” said retired Lt. Col. Orson Swindle, who was awarded 20 military decorations for valor in combat including two silver stars and two purple hearts....
Some analysts believe she has stirred up controversy in preparation to challenge U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in the primary election. When asked by Fox News if she will run for U.S. Senate, Gabbard said “no.”
“Anyone who thinks I'm playing politics with national security issues clearly doesn't know me,” Gabbard said.
read ... Malia Zimmerman
Local Media Still Acts Like Chris Butler Cult Does not Exist (biding their time?)
Ige Finally Agrees to Release Names of Secret Advisors
CB: Gov. David Ige on Thursday released the names of the people on his transition team who have been advising him on key decisions to appoint members of his Cabinet, including the highly controversial nominee Carleton Ching.
The governor’s transition team includes Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui; former vice president of Hawaiian Electric Co. Robbie Alm; real estate attorney Gordon Arakaki; Ige’s campaign manager Keith Hiraoka; University of Hawaii vice president Dan Ishii, who served as an assistant to former Gov. George Ariyoshi; Ige’s longtime office manager Joyce Kami; the governor’s Chief of Staff Mike McCartney; and Lorrie Stone, a land use attorney who is married to developer Jeff Stone.
Most of the names don’t come as a surprise. Civil Beat previously reported that Alm, Arakaki, Hiraoka and Stone were part of the governor’s inner circle. And it’s a given that Tsutsui and McCartney would have a hand in the appointments.
But what is interesting is how long it’s taken to receive the full list of transition team members. Civil Beat first asked for the names in January.
At a press conference Feb. 12, Ige evaded the question twice, saying that there are “a number of people” on his team but that he makes the final decisions.
At a second press conference Thursday, he again gave vague answers as to who is on his transition team, saying that he takes ultimate responsibility for choosing Carleton Ching and other nominees. He finally agreed to share the names after Civil Beat asked why he hadn’t released them after weeks of requests.
He said he couldn’t think of a reason not to share them and wasn’t aware that reporters had been asking for the list for so long....
read ... Finally
Caldwell vs Caldwell on Rail Tax
PBN: This 0.5 percent surcharge was supposed to expire at the end of 2022. The Legislature must act now, the mayor has testified, or the city, in the face of mounting cost overruns, won't be able to issue further contracts because it won't be able to demonstrate that it can pay its construction bills.
But a funny thing happened when legislators rightly asked Caldwell to tell them the final price of rail. In late January, he said it was impossible to give a total because the contracts hadn't been put out to bid. By late February, however, he said the city does have an idea of what the total price will be, but doesn't want to disclose it lest it tarnishes the bidding process.
Which is it? And why does the city think it can ask taxpayers for a blank check?
The 20-mile rail system that initially was estimated to cost $5.16 billion is now facing cost overruns of up to $910 million, taking the total cost to about $6 billion. That's $300 million for each mile. If the city knows a more accurate figure, we'd love to hear it.
read ... Liar Busted
Hannemann eager to calm the talk about rail's future
Borreca: ...Caldwell only wants more excise tax money, but Hannemann fears the drama.
All this new uncertainty is scaring those who support rail, encouraging those who hate rail and making people think it will never be built.
"We are losing support by the day by asking for a tax extension that is not needed right now," Hannemann said in an interview.
In two MidWeek columns and in the recent interview, Hannemann is telling Caldwell to stop scaring people into thinking he will either fund rail with property tax increases or just stop the project if he does not get a forever tax increase.
"We need some flexibility, we need some time. I think Caldwell is playing a very dangerous game by threatening to stop the project or raise real property taxes," Hannemann said.
The former two-term mayor, who since Honolulu Hale has lost elections for governor, Congress and governor again, said Caldwell needs a new strategy.
"I think we are trying to push the wrong strategy to get this done," he said. "They need to show some credibility, and the credibility is in building the first 10 miles. The people in Hawaii need to see that this project is going to get built."
Related: Mufi: HART Crying Wolf When there is no Crisis, Feb 25 2015 Column
read ... Hannemann eager to calm the talk about rail's future
Mufi: HART Should Wait on Tax Hike Until First Segment of Rail is Operating
MW: ...the sooner HART can complete the first segment of rail from West Oahu to Aloha Stadium, the better off the project will be. The public needs to actually see it, ride it and experience it. It would be the visible and tangible evidence “the train is happening” that is conspicuously missing. Every effort should be expended to ensure this before the 2018 targeted opening date. It would be a defining experience and game changer that would give tremendous momentum to the project’s extension and completion.
My sense is that the public would react in two ways by posing a couple of questions right up front: What’s it going to take to build rail quicker, and how soon can rail be extended to where I live?
Bob Jones: Ige’s pro-rail but doesn’t understand why the city claims it needs more money from the Legislature right now, this session.
read ... Tax Hike Delay
KHON: Waikiki Tax Hike a Trojan Horse to Develop Natatorium Area
"My thought, and among other people, is that they have ulterior motives, and that would be in the Kaimana Beach area, perhaps the Natatorium" said Dr. Jeremy Lam of the Kaimana Beach Coalition. Those 'ulterior motives' according to Dr. Lam, would be commercial encroachment. The vague language of the bill could allow for development in the area.
"That's certainly not the way we see it. The only reason we included it is because the whole beach is contiguous and it should be considered together" countered Egged.
Opponents say, there's no need to do so.
"It still doesn't make sense because there's no sand replacement problem at Kaimana to Kapahulu Avenue" said Lam.
Nor is there any sand--eroded or otherwise--at the Ala Wai Harbor, as Michelle Matson of the Oahu Island Parks Conservancy, pointed out in a conversation with Hawaii News Now. She also noted that the mauka side of the canal is included in the district, as is the Waikiki Yacht Club, which is outside the boundary entirely.
Opponents would like the Kaimana area to not be included in the district, and remain skeptical.
"We still question about the other improvements they could make, and we would prefer it to be specific for the sand replenishment" noted Lam.
The matter is due in front of the zoning and planning committee in April.
read ... Sneaky Developers
Ige Urges Support for Ching
CB: Gov. David Ige sent state senators a letter Thursday urging them to support Castle & Cooke lobbyist Carleton Ching to lead the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
“I have nominated Carleton Ching to lead DLNR because he has the skills, experience, management style, desire and dedication to be an effective steward,” Ige wrote.
The Senate Committee on Water and Land plans to take up the controversial nomination March 11. After that, the full Senate will vote whether to confirm Ching.
PDF: Letter from Gov. Ige on Carleton Ching
read ... Ching
PUC to issue order after solar letter, HECO apologizes for confusion
KHON: “Is an order from the PUC very serious?” KHON2 asked.
“Well, I won’t speak for Hawaiian Electric, but I think I can tell them this is something more than a Christmas card,” said Randy Iwase, PUC chairman. “We could’ve responded by letter and said, oh shame on you, but we thought, I did at least, feel that it was much more serious than that.”
Iwase could not go into much detail about what the order to HECO will say, but he said it will address some of the issues raised in the letter to potential solar customers on the Big Island.
“Including reiterating the state’s policy that there should be interconnection of PVs unless there are technical, safety or reliability issues and not that they filed a matter before the PUC,” he said....
In the letter to Big Island residents, HECO said until the PUC makes a decision on changes to its solar program, it would not approve interconnections....
According to HECO, only 50 letters were sent to potential solar customers on the Big Island and right now there are no plans to send the letter to those on Oahu and Maui....
read ... Only 50 Letters?
Pushed out of Waikiki, Chinatown, Predatory Bums Head West
CB: The mayor declared the laws a success as he spoke to a crowd of about 150 invited supporters and high-level government officials in Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu.
“Through this compassionate disruption, providers have told us there’s been a great uptick in people moving into shelters,” he said referencing the sit-lie bans. “We’re making a difference.” ... (But the Billionaire's website is hell-bent on keeping the homeless on the streets so they can be used to make you feel guilty for whatever he wants you to feel guilty about. So the rest of the article desperately attempts to 'prove' that sit-lie hasn't forced some homeless to finally accept shelter spaces.)
The Institute for Human Services, the largest shelter on Oahu with about 300 beds, had about 50 available beds for single men before the ban took effect. The vacancy level actually increased slightly in the months after enforcement began. There are now about 40 available beds.
For single women and families, there has been zero availability since September, according to the statistics.
The statistics contradict statements that IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell made to the media earlier this month. IHS has supported the city bans.
“The evidence that this is working is that people are coming into the shelter,” said Mitchell. “We have a higher number of people who are in the shelter.”
The IHS communications staff didn’t respond to Civil Beat’s requests for an interview with Mitchell.
In an emailed statement, IHS spokesman Kimo Carvalho said that “shelter census data alone is not a reflection of people moving off the streets.”
read ... Predators, not Victims
Lawmakers Consider Automatic Voter Registration
CB: ...Common Cause Hawaii and FACE applauds Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran and Rep. Karl Rhodes for introducing legislation (Senate Bill 150 and House Bill 401) to enhance voter registration at the Department of Transportation, as is required under federal law. These bills have caught our attention as an innovative approach that would help to streamline the voter registration process.
Under the original proposals, everyone whom the DOT knows to be eligible to vote ought to be identified and automatically registered to vote by our elections officials, after being given an opportunity to decline registration. The original bills introduced by Senator Keith-Agaran and Representative Rhodes to establish automatic voter registration would mean that Hawaii could potentially see a voter registration rate of 90 percent or higher, based on estimates from other democracies that use similar systems. (This is a best case scenario; other factors and reforms contributed to this.)
This “Motor Voter Automatic Registration” policy reform could boost registration in underrepresented communities and capture nearly every eligible citizen in the state. This program would complement Online Voter Registration and Late Registration, and make Hawaii a “model state” for voter registration access in the country.
Sadly, both bills have been watered down to the point that they do little to enhance our voter registration process....
Yet our low voter participation threatens exactly that situation. By some measurements, our entire nation is already falling into a more oligarchic form of government. A recent Princeton study which caught a lot of attention last year says we are already there.
read ... Automatic
Bill Legalizing Marijuana for Children Clears Senate Committee
CB: Senate Bill 879 to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday after it received testimony from supporters and opponents about its potential effects on children.
People caught with less than one ounce would face up to a $100 fine, instead of a petty misdemeanor as they do now, under SB 879. The bill now moves to the full Senate.
Two other decriminalization bills were rejected Thursday. Senate Bills 666 (yes, '666') and 708 would have also decriminalized marijuana while establishing a $100 civil fine. A bill that would have reduced marijuana to a schedule II drug on a state-level was also deferred.
Another decriminalization bill similar to SB 879 is still alive in the Senate. SB 596 would also decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. Just one decriminalization bill was introduced in the House, but it was never scheduled for a committee hearing.
Over a dozen marijuana decriminalization supporters spoke in favor of SB 879 Thursday, but it was opposed by law enforcement, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and some concerned parents.
Opponents complained that minors aren’t even mentioned in the bill, which might result in them facing no penalty if caught with pot. Sen. Will Espero said that’s not the bill’s intention, and (insert excuse here).
“This proposed bill would establish a policy that it is OK for our children to possess up to 50 marijuana joints,” James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr., interim president and CEO of Hawaii Family Advocates, said in written testimony. Aiona was the Republican candidate for governor last year.
Capt. Jason Kawabata of the Honolulu Police Department’s Narcotics/Vice Division also worried about the implications of the bill for children, and said that it isn’t as comprehensive as it should be. HPD is not opposed to establishing a civil fine for first-time offenders, but it does want to see substance abuse counseling required as well, he said.
Kawabata added the bill should include provisions to ban smoking marijuana while at work, driving or visiting public parks — similar to alcohol open-container laws.
“We ask that you have these other laws in place first,” Kawabata said.
The Honolulu prosecutor’s office was strongly opposed to the bill. Marijuana is still a harmful, federally-controlled substance, and decriminalization wouldn’t reduce law enforcement costs as stated in the bill, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tricia Nakamatsu said.
“There is no cost saving, really,” Nakamatsu said. “There’s going to be a lot of costs associated with the civil violations as well.”
SB 879 cites a study by (the potheads at) University of Hawaii that (are willing to do anything to help keep you kids doped up so they) estimated the state could save up to $9.3 million a year in marijuana possession enforcement costs. (Just like that UH 'study' claiming that gay 'marriage' was going to make us all rich.)
read ... Another Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Clears a Senate Committee
Mass Hysteria: Aquarium bills set for Judiciary Committee hearing
HTH: On tap is House Bill 873, which began as a ban on the sale of aquatic life but instead was altered to set up a limited entry system for aquarium fishing permits and bag limits. The current system imposes no limits on permits or harvest.
Following the passage of a second reading on the House floor Feb. 18 and revisions by the House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources &Hawaiian Affairs on Feb. 12, the provision sets up an aquarium fish conservation program within the state Division of Aquatic Resources.
Among other monitoring activity, the program will develop certification requirements and conditions of eligibility for aquarium fish permit holders.
Additionally, permit holders will have to satisfy regulators that they have the facilities to keep their catch alive and healthy, under the bill’s provisions. The legislation requires a fatality rate of 1 percent or less for all aquatic life collected.
Also slated for consideration by the Committee on Judiciary today is HB 511, which prohibits harassment of people engaged in fishing, including collecting for aquariums. HB 483 would allow for state inspections without probable cause of the boats and catch containers of commercial fishermen and wholesalers within the West Hawaii Regional Fishery Management Area. The legislation, aimed at poaching, lack of enforcement and the burden of establishing probable cause, also is being mulled in the Judiciary Committee today.
Stronger bills — one that would have banned aquarium fishing for 10 years and another that would have outlawed the sale of fish that have been treated inhumanely — never made it out of a Feb. 12 Ocean, Marine Resources &Hawaiian Affairs Committee meeting.
Several pieces of the legislation were introduced and backed by Big Island lawmakers. They have generated thousands of pieces of testimony.
read ... Aquarium bills set for Judiciary Committee hearing
Kym Pine's Adopt-a-Park Proposal Before Council Committee
SA: Councilwoman Kymberly Pine introduced Bill 58 (2014), which would make it easier for groups to donate equipment and other capital improvements as was done in Makaha. Pine applauded Caldwell's proposal. "The parks initiative would work hand in hand with the Adopt a Park bill," she said.
The bill is being heard in the Council Parks Committee on Tuesday.
Nekota said she embraces the idea of community groups donating capital improvements; she is working with Pine to get the bill passed.
read ... Bill 58
Restaurants account for 14 percent of Hawaii's employment
PBN: New data released by the National Restaurant Association shows that Hawaii's restaurant workforce represents 14 percent of the state's overall employment — 88,700 jobs in 2015 to be exact — the second highest in the nation.
Hawaii follows behind Nevada at 16 percent, and is ahead of Florida at 10 percent.
The high percentages are likely because the three states are prime tourist destinations.
According to the NRA, restaurants can account for up to a third of sales from tourism, particularly in the fine-dining arena.
As of 2013, there were 3,250 eating and drinking places to choose from in the Islands.
This year, Hawaii restaurants are projected to register $4 billion in sales.
read ... 14%
Feds Pressure Hawaii on Cesspools
KHON: Last year, Gov. Neil Abercrombie left office without signing new rules into law that would have ended the practice. The law could have forced property owners with cesspools to upgrade the next time the home went up for sale.
This week when Gov. David Ige sat down with the Environmental Protection Agency, he had some explaining to do.
"The EPA definitely has an end in sight for cesspools," said Ige.
Homeowners and realtors on several of the neighbor islands balked at the proposed changes. They maintain forcing them to get off cesspools would be a financial hardship....
On Friday, lawmakers will take up two bills: one to allow homeowners to tap low-interest loan to upgrade their systems and another to ban any new cesspool construction....
read ... Cesspool
Inflation 1.4% in 2014
SA: Honolulu inflation was mild in 2014, rising just 1.4 percent, and finished below the U.S. rate for the first time in 11 years, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The U.S. consumer price index was up 1.6 percent last year.
Increases in electricity (2.6 percent), food (2.2 percent) and shelter (1.2 percent) were partially offset by a 6.6 percent drop in apparel prices and a 2.3 percent decline in gas prices.
read ... Inflation
Seawater AC Minimal Savings for Maximal Capital Expenditure
PBN: The company estimates that, on average, customers could save anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent on their annual cooling costs. It is in the process of finalizing its permits and hopes to start construction in March 2017 and be completed in about 18 to 20 months....
(If) completed, the system will pump cold seawater from more than four miles offshore into a cooling station behind the former Gold Bond Building on Ala Moana Boulevard. The seawater will pass through heat exchangers, cooling off freshwater circulating in a closed pipeline system that, in turn, will cool downtown buildings. Construction will include the installation of 15,000 feet of pipeline from the cooling station to Downtown Honolulu, creating about 1,000 construction jobs and a dozen or so permanent positions.
read ... Not That Good, Really
US refiners may seek Jones Act waiver amid strike, Torrance explosion
P: An ongoing labor strike and an explosion at a major California facility may compel US West Coast refiners to seek a Jones Act waiver from the Obama administration, arguing that the region could soon face gasoline shortages, sources said this week.
While the application process is confidential, government sources said that no company has formally applied for a Jones Act waiver. But market and legal sources said ExxonMobil is considering such a request amid climbing prices and supply shortages.
read ... Platts
Marad Claims Loose lips could sink Jones Act ship orders
JOC: Merely suggesting that U.S. domestic ships might be built overseas is enough to jeopardize U.S. orders for ships in Jones Act trades, U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen told a congressional budget hearing Wednesday. (If only ....)
“Even the discussion of potentially changing the build requirement is enough” to make financiers wary of backing U.S. shipyard orders, Jaenichen said at a House Coast Guard and maritime transportation subcommittee hearing.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tried unsuccessfully last month to attach an anti-Jones Act amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline authorization bill. McCain has pledged to keep trying to change the 94-year-old law, which he said raises shipping costs....
The Jones Act is a bulwark of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, which otherwise is largely reliant on Navy work. Jaenichen said U.S. shipyards currently have orders for 33 commercial vessels -- 25 for the energy trades and eight container, roll-on/roll-off or combination vessels for domestic liner services.
If potential changes to the law continue to be suggested, “some of those projects on the order book today may not occur,” Jaenichen told representatives....
VIDEO: Hearing
read ... Be Silent or Else
EPA Releases Hawaii Emission List
SA: More than half of Hawaii's total toxic emissions — 1.7 million pounds — went into the air, according to the EPA, followed by 442,000 pounds that were released into the water, followed by 234,000 pounds that went into the land. Other releases were disposed in other facilities, and some chemicals were recycled, used for energy recovery or treated and contained.
The combined 3 million pounds of toxic material that entered the islands' environment in 2013 contributed to the 4 billion pounds that were released around the country, according to the EPA.
Some 66 percent of all toxic emissions ended up in America's land, 19 percent was released into the air, 5 percent ended up in water and 10 percent was transferred to other facilities, according to the EPA.
LINK: Details from EPA
read ... Emissions
Former HPD major arrested in pedestrian death in Mililani
SA: A retired Honolulu police major was arrested Thursday on suspicion of negligent homicide in the pedestrian death of Mililani resident Shari Afuso.
Charles T. Duncan, 72, also of Mililani, was released, pending further investigation. He has not been charged.
read ... Arrested
Dobelle drops lawsuit, citing legal fight's cost
SA: Former University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle has withdrawn his federal lawsuit against his last employer, Westfield State University, and the state of Massachusetts, saying the legal fight's cost was too great....
In motions filed in federal court this week, several of Dobelle's lawyers sought to withdraw from the case, citing an "irreconcilable difference" and a failure to pay bills in their effort to drop him as a client....
Two lawsuits in state court remain pending. Dobelle is suing claiming breach of contract and demanding payment of his legal fees. The state attorney general's office is suing to recover nearly $100,000 in public funds it alleges was misspent by Dobelle.
read ... Dobelle Can't Afford to Sue Anymore
44 Convictions, Lifelong Criminal Latest Alleged Escapade--Burglary While on Work Release
KHON: The inmate, Andrew Kaoihana, was supposed to return to OCCC early Wednesday morning.
But instead of working at his job, the 54-year-old was arrested, along with Shawn Kekumu, late Tuesday night for burglary and resisting arrest.
Prison officials are still trying to figure out why they were not told that Kaoihana didn’t show up to work.
“Did you get a call from the employer?” KHON2 asked Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman for the Department of Public Safety.
“We’re still trying to get reports,” she said. “There are a lot of components to this to see what actually happened.”
KHON2 also took a look at Kaoihana’s record. He has a list of 44 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, escape and violating parole.
He was actually due for a parole hearing soon.
read ... Soft on Crime
Psychologist: Army Homosexual Rapists are Really ... uh ... Heterosexuals
AW: Experts urged Army leaders to reach out to male victims of sexual assault, saying people must not look at sexual violence as exclusively a women’s issue.
Jim Hopper, a psychologist and researcher, and Russell Strand, a retired Criminal Investigative Service special agent, spoke about an aspect of sexual violence not often discussed: sexual assaults on men.
The men spoke during the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program Summit, Feb. 19.
The numbers of males sexually assaulted in the military are sobering, they said.
“(About) 10,800 men are sexually assaulted every year in the military,” Strand said. “(Roughly) 8,000 women are assaulted.”...
A large number of men are affected, and being men, few ever report the attacks, Strand said. Only 1,134 men reported attacks – roughly 13 percent of those attacked. With women, 39 percent reported attacks.
So 87 percent of men attacked are not reporting it, and “these are real men in real pain,” Hopper said. The pain is compounded by shame. Being sexually assaulted brings additional levels of shame to a man because it works against the ideal of what it means to be a man, he said.
And it brings fear.
“There’s fear of those memories, there’s fear of being violated, there’s fear that someone might know what happened to them,” Hopper said.
Men who have been assaulted this way believe they are not worthy of respect, Strand said.
“Most people who sexually assault adult men are heterosexuals,” Hopper said.
(Real homosexuals are only the 'good' gays you see on TV. Any bad gay must actually be a heterosexual. If you believe this self-contradictory statement, you truly are brainwashed.)
read ... Homosexual Rape
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