ethical dilemma

I was faced with a sort of dilemma at my internship last week.

The other intern and I are tasked with working on important press releases, importing them into a service we use to send out these press releases, and then of course sending them to our large mailing list of local businesses, local news, local donors, and often state and national businesses, news services and other important and influential people. Therefore, it is obvious that what we send out must be excellent--carefully edited to the point of perfection, even if it must be completed during my lunch hour or before I go to bed.

Many people do not understand the importance of public relations, sometimes even those who work in it. So much of PR is writing, at least a significant portion of the area I am working in.

I was assigned a very important press release to be sent to businesses, universities, and non-profits across the country. While uploading my work into the web service to prepare it to be sent out, I came across a press release the other intern had written. Not to be judgmental, it was horrendous. My friend remarked that Google Translator could have written a better article. While this release was not planned to have the national scope as mine and a few others we have worked on, it was still meant for many important people--those that affect the success of the business.

I was busy working on my release that had to be sent before I left for vacation. So I didn't have much time to spend working on the other. I have never been a tattler, and I can't abide people that just cause drama and trouble for everyone around them while trying to make themselves seem better. So because of this, unfortunately, I did nothing.

While on our web service a week later, I saw that my boss's boss had edited the release, so the problem was solved. But it was the first situation I had encountered in my various internships and jobs in which I truly did not know what to do.

Thoughts? I know I have PR readers, but I also know this is something everyone encounters at one point in their careers.

Oh Thursdays....

I don't know if I'm the only one...

But Thursdays are really long. Like dreadfully lengthy. I'm done with classes at 3:30.... and that leaves the rest of the day. The whole  l   o   n   g  day.

How to Occupy Yourself When You're Crazy Bored and Thinking of Someone You Won't Be Able to See for Weeks:

~This man holds the key to my heart. Yep. Him.

~Or this man. Sometimes I can't decide. And as if all of his general cuteness or this wasn't enough to put you on Team Peeta, this should be enough.

~I'm quite positive that I could not be any more excited for this movie. If I needed another reason to go see Anthony Hopkins play Alfred Hitchcock, the movie also stars Kurtwood Smith and Toni Collette. I'm in.

~Speaking of Hitchcock, I love Jimmy Stewart. (It's not that random of a connection--Rear Window anyone?). Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is truly one of the greatest movies. And I have an idea--we should require our Representatives and Senators (and the President and the Supreme Court too, just to be safe) to watch this clip every morning before "work." Our country just might be a better place to live--a place of freedom and liberty, a place that protects and fights for the lost causes, a place that loves its neighbors. Watch the movie. Plus, he says "crick" instead of "creek." Love him even more.

~New Parks & Rec tonight! Finally a new episode. My life just hasn't been the same since hiatus. Oh, how I love Amy Poehler and want to be just like her. (And marry a husband as simultaneously sexy and hilarious as the one she's got. But that's beside the point). Amy Poehler is a strong, funny, intelligent woman, just like the character she plays on the show. Love her! (Also, back on the husband note, if I can't have a man like Will Arnett, I'll take one like Phil Dunphy).

The War on Women

 

There are people who, despite their equal numbers throughout the world, are still treated like second-rate citizens. This group is constantly vilified and debased and judged for their decisions.

This group?  Women.

Women are and have been belittled by men, made to be objects for pleasure and servitude throughout history. But this has improved. The worst part is that now, women are condemning other women. Those that should be allies are turning against each other.

Yes, this post was inspired by the Hillary Rosen debacle. For those that have been living under a rock, Hillary Rosen recently said that Ann Romney has "never worked a day in her life." But this post is not a partisan comment. It's a comment about women--and my heartbreak that the people who are responsible for creating our world do not have any refuge from the storm.

Yes, there is more to the story. Rosen was remarking on the Romneys' perception of being out of touch with normal Americans. Yes, that fact might be true. But that's not the point right now.

As an LDS woman, I feel that there is no better use of my time on this earth than to be a mother. But that is my personal choice, based upon my religion and how I feel about myself.

Why is it okay to belittle and condemn women for how they choose to live their lives?

Ann Romney (all personal and political feelings aside) is an amazing woman. Raising 5 children and 16 grandchildren, surviving breast cancer, living with MS, and still being involved with church and volunteering, is work. She has truly led an accomplished and successful life.

So has Hillary Clinton (again, all political opinions aside). She attended Yale Law School, was the first female chair for Legal Services Corporation, and was twice listed as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the United States. And that was thirty years ago. She has been a senator, First Lady, and is now the Secretary of State.

Despite your political views, it is obvious that both of these women are successful. It just depends upon one's definition of success. One can remark about Ann Romney's "inexperience in the real world", or one can condemn Hillary Clinton for only having one child, and bring up the failures of her marriage.

But as women, we should all support each other.

These problems exist everywhere. It is not just one side of the aisle condeming the other side. These judgments come from every angle. Friends who choose to marry and have children are belittled. I am criticized for working hard to go to graduate school.

"Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world. It is past time for women to take their rightful place, side by side with men, in the rooms where the fates of peoples, where their children's and grandchildren's fates, are decided." -Hillary Clinton

She's got it right. And the thing is, these "rooms where the fates of peoples....are decided", are everywhere. In our homes, our businesses, our governments. Wherever we want them to be.