Madam President

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have been thrilled to watch Michelle Obama on her trip to Europe. Michelle is a shining example of the American woman; diverse, intelligent, and accomplished.

Don't forget to wear your green tomorrow!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Birthday Andy and Alex!

Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,
Eternal beauty, or youth, or such.
Just give me a little hand to hold,
And I'll forget that I'm growing old.

I do not ask for cloudless skies,
A life that's free from tears and sighs.
Just give me a little face to kiss,
And anxious moments will turn to bliss.

For what is there, really, that means so much
As little hands that reach and touch,
As little eyes that search and see
Only the best in fragile me?

So let me grow more loving and wise
By looking at life through their wide eyes.
For through these little ones, you have given
This grateful grandmother a glimpse of Heaven.

Author: Barbara Burrows

Black History Month...Celebrating Ida Bell Wells-Barnett

"Is there no redress, no peace, no justice in this land for us? Tell the world the facts."

Ida Bell Wells-Barnet was a well-known journalist and civil rights activist. Ida spent much of her time fighting against injustice and for equality for blacks and women. Ida was a freed slave. After emancipation, she attended college and taught until she was dismissed for writing in protest of segregation in education. Ida went on to become part-owner and editor of a Memphis newspaper where she became most famous for articles she wrote protesting the terrible practice of lynching in the South. Ida’s writings angered many whites in the Memphis where she received death threats and eventually had the offices of her newspaper, Free Speech, destroyed by an angry mob. This did not stop Ida. Her tireless efforts in protest of lynching continued, eventually resulting in the passage of anti-lynching laws in six states. In addition to becoming a renowned anti-lynching activist, Ida successfully campaigned for women’s suffrage and helped found the NAACP. Ida is remembered today as an inspiration to activists and a role model for black women journalists.

Congratulations Lily

Today President Obama signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Lily is a 70 year old woman from Alabama. She worked in a tire factory for many years. Shortly before retiring, she discovered her company had consitently paid her less than men in the same position. Lily took them to court. The jury found her employer guilty of pay discrimination. However, the company took the case to the Supreme Court where they ruled in a 5-4 decision that Lily did not file her suit within the legal time frame. Lily's case was brought to the forefront when President Obama used her story over and over again during his presidential campaign. Although she will never receive a dime, today Lily can take pride in the contribution she made toward leveling the playing field for women all over America. As the girls say, "Lily you rock!"

The new "F" Word

A few days ago a heated discourse began after Anderson Cooper chose a shot of George HW Bush (41) telling a joke about an ugly women and her womb. During this discourse words such as sexism, crude, childish, and misogyny where used to describe not only the joke but the appearance that Anderson and CNN got a major kick out of replaying the joke ad naseum. After much debate, it seems it was okay to tell and retell this joke. Relax; after all, anyone offended must be the worst word of all, the “F” word, the FEMINIST!

Seems today when a woman expresses displeasure with a man making a joke because a women is angry or unattractive and said joke is linked to her womb the women risks being attacked by other females for being, of all things, a “feminist!”

So that got me thinking,"What does being a feminist mean"? After some research, I found that it may well mean you are a female dedicated to protecting a women’s right to contract, own property, vote, be autonomous, control her decisions about her body, be protected from domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape, and have rights in the workplace.

So a few words of caution:

When you complain about equal pay for equal work, you may be a feminist.

When you take your birth control pill this morning, you may be a feminist.

When you take maternity leave without fear of losing your job, you may be a feminist

When you play sports, attends school, and live in the same dorm as a man/boy, you may be a feminist.

When you buy your first car, rent your first apartment, or use that credit card, you may be a feminist.

When you exercise your right to vote and choose the person wearing a pantsuit, you may be a feminist.

When you say no and mean no, you may be a feminist.

When clueless men telling clueless jokes offend you, you may be a feminist.


You can see where I am going with this. Today, I am very thankful that I am actually old enough to understand what feminism is and to be glad it is one “F” word that is still in my dictionary.