Copyright © 2007 Henrietta W. Hay
Go Hillary!
February 2, 2007
"Competent, qualified, experienced woman running for President of the
United States."
What would some of the feminists of the past say if they could see
that sentence?
1776. Abigail Adam's: "Well, John. You didn't remember the ladies
as I asked you to do when you were writing the constitution, but we
did it anyway and look what is happening 137 years from now."
1848. Elizabeth Cady Stanton: "I spearheaded the Seneca Falls
Declaration. "We stated the obvious, 'We hold these things to be self
evident, that men and women are created equal.' It has taken 159
years to give a woman a fighting chance at the Presidency. That's too
long to wait."
1890. Susan B. Anthony: "When I l was one of the founders of the
National Woman Suffrage Association, I didn't think we would have to
wait 30 years to get the vote, or another 87 to get a top notch woman
with a fighting chance for the Presidency. Men are so darned slow to
catch on."
1966. Betty Friedan: "When I wrote 'Feminine Mystique' I did not
realize that I was starting a revolution. The second wave of feminism
began when realized that there was more to life than dirty dishes. We
had choices. And now we have a chance at the highest political
office. I wish I could vote."
2007. Henrietta: 'Hmmm. I have a bit of a purely personal problem.
For years I have been saying that I have resolved to live until we get
a woman President. Now at 92 with two years to wait, it's getting a
little risky. Oh well, Go for it, Hillary."
Why has it taken so long for Americans to recognize women as
intelligent, competent citizens, many of whom want to participate in
the government of their country?
John Adams ignored Abigail. Women are still not in the constitution.
We did finally get the vote 50 years after the saves did. A long
effort was made to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, which would have
given us constitutional rights. It failed, but the Colorado ERA
stands.
Women have been heads of state for years in other countries,
including Great Britain, Pakistan, Indonesia, Norway, Chile and India,
among others. But not here.
We have made some progress. A record number of 90 women serve in the
110th Congress: 74 in the House, 16 in. the Senate, including the
Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
It is time for a woman to be President of the United States. The
country is in a mess, and it will take a strong President to get us
out of it. Hillary Clinton has that ability and drive and the
experience.
I think I have heard all the negatives that have nothing to do with
her ability.
OK, she didn't divorce Bill for his infidelity. This is really not
any of my business. Her private life is her own.
She is a woman. Pat Schroeder had the answer to that one. "I have a
uterus and a brain and I use them both."
They say she is aggressive. How many male Presidents have not been?
Instead she is a United States Senator who works well with members on
both sides of the aisle. She is smart well educated and experienced
in the way the government works.
Colorado's Gail Schoettler says, "She does indeed have a very good
chance of becoming the first female President of the United States."
I say, "Go, Hillary."