...when good wo/men do nothing.

If we look back across time, different social programs designed to combat poverty, hunger, abuse, and other issues often fall short of hyped up expectations. Idealists eloquently draw hopeful agents of change into rhetoric that doesn't have a whole heck of a lot of substance. When it comes time to roll up our shirt sleeves and dig in to make change happen, there is no map to follow. The game plan has only one or two plays and when those plays fail, no one knows exactly what to do next.

Helping each other can be hard work. It is hard work for a lot of different reasons. One reason though, is that helping is  hard because the helpers have; wait for it...control issues. We want to control how our "help" is used.

If I am a conservative pro-life Christian, my time and my money had better not go into programs that support abortion. If I am liberal and pro-choice, I don't want you to pay for programs teaching abstinence (because I don't believe they work). If I am Muslim or Jewish, I don't want my money to pay for Christian evangelists who insist on conversion before they offer aid. If I am going to help, I want to control what happens to my money.  I want to know my donations reach the people.  I am not making a donation so high-brow executives can have $50.00 lunches. I could go on and on.

We want control. I say we, because I definitely play a part. I don't care much for the ideological battles of religion, but I care a great deal about where my money goes. Not that I begrudge anyone that $50.00 lunch. I do; however, take issue with my money being used to pay the tab.

Okay. So we like control. Enough said. Now, get off of it. Define your needs and issues. Get clear what you will and will not support. Do your homework. Find an organization you feel good about supporting, and give. Time, money, cast-offs, you pick. You believe in what you believe for a reason.  With that belief, you have tremendous influence.  If you remain silent in words or in action, someone...somewhere...loses out.

The question isn't about whether or not you make a difference; the question, is how will you use that difference?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good (women) men to do nothing." Edmund Burke knew what he was talking about.

change the lives of women, change the world
T.

What do Junior High and Health Care Reform Have in Common?

Right now Republicans are shouting REPEAL, REPEAL (revenge, revenge). Democrats are saying...Oh Yeah? Bring it! Someone's cutting gas lines. Our representatives have police protection. A University Professor with Parkinson's is verbally berated by men in white shirts and ties "here...I'll pay for you!"...throwing dollar bills at him.

Anyone else feel like we are back in junior high? A nation of freedom and open debate. A country founded on those inalienable rights; whatever!

In the meantime, maternal mortality in the U.S. is higher than in some (of what we call) 'third world' countries. 1 in 6 U.S. women will experience some form of sexual violence in her lifetime; under 25 and you are at the greatest risk.

Oh, and here's a little story... A bright, intelligent woman in her early fifties complains repeatedly of a series of symptoms. She tells her doctor I think I am menopausal and I'd like to discuss bio-identical hormone replacement. The doctor says, your lab work says you are not menopausal. She says it's been two years since I had a period. The doctor says the lab work says you are not menopausal. This goes on for over a year. Finally, the doctor says here's the name of a therapist...make an appointment. The woman makes the appointment. The therapist suggests the woman might want to get a second opinion. The woman does.

Two years after experiencing life-impairing symptoms the second opinion says let's try you on some bio-identicals. The symptoms all but disappear. Two years. That's a long time to struggle; needlessly. But, it's only hormones...right? The struggle nearly cost this woman her job.

Maybe all this junior high locker room health care reform craziness would be better channeled into authentic changes in health care. If a woman's body was sacred there would be no 1 in 6 statistic on sexual violence (which is likely an underestimate). A woman paying attention to the signs of her own body would be respected. Pregnant women would not die because because they were engaging their reproductive function. The authors of Half the Sky comment that if men started dying as a result of engaging in their reproductive function, medicine would be falling all over itself finding a solution! Think about it, a man engages in sex. His partner becomes pregnant. He keels over dead. Damn skippy we'd be looking for a solution!

I am sure that we need to do something with the health care system. I am the last person to even suggest what the Washington D.C. solution should look like. However, those of us down here in the trenches can be making our own changes in health care by adding just a wee bit of respect into the mix.

change the lives of women, change the world.
T.

Minivan Mamma's: The New Counter-Terrorism Task Force

There are roughly 152,819, 203 million women in the U.S. according to the 2006-2008 Census Bureau survey. Approximately 27% are under the age of 20.

There may be as many as 12.5 million women/girls in Afghanistan. Because there hasn't been a solid census in Afghanistan since 1979, these numbers are projections of projections. This is probably a high estimate (given the number of women who are murdered in honor killings, etc.).

Remember these numbers. I'll come back to them at the end.
_______________________________________________________

In the book, Half the Sky, the authors report on a Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting that took place in (2008). In this meeting, there was an unusual agenda item.

The Joint Chiefs talked about terrorism...not unusual. They also talked about the plight of women and girls in countries like Afghanistan. That's an odd agenda item for a bunch of military power-hitters. Why would all that brass want to chat about whether or not Afghani girls were going to school? Why would the Joint Chiefs care whether or not Afghani women could financially support themselves? Their children?

Fascinating thing, this is. You see, there seems to be a strong correlation to terrorism and the education/independence of women. Raise the education levels of the girls and increase the number of women who can eek out a survivable wage, and the seeds of terrorism are less likely to germinate. Huh? Go figure!

I'm not a fear monger by any means, but terrorism is a continued threat to U.S. military and civilians. I am doing something about that. By supporting aid to women and girls in Afghanistan, I am advancing the education and personal sustainability for girls/women in that country.

I am an army against terrorism. So are you. This is not idealism, the numbers back me up.

Based on those statistics at the top, if only 10 percent of U.S. women over the age of 20 offer financial support to Afghanistan's women and girls, every single female in Afghanistan will be matched (statistically anyway).

Yes, there are problems with the aid actually making it to every single girl and woman. The point is, if those of us who can offer support actually do it, then 10 percent of the women in the U.S. have conceivably done a better job curbing the growth of terrorism in Afghanistan than the military. If you can spare about $25.00/month, you are a member of this force. That's about all it takes to directly sponsor a woman in Afghanistan through organizations like Women for Women International. There are dozens of ways to make a difference, this is just one.

Think about it.

T.
change the lives of women, change the world


Resources for this blog:
Kristof, N. & WuDunn, S. (2009). Half the sky. New York: NY. Alfred Knopf-Random House, Inc.

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_S0101&-ds_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_&-redoLog=false

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=20554

We're Number One! We're Number One!...Oh, Wait. No we're not....

Did you know that in a recent study of gender equality, the U.S. ranked 27th?

http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/11/best-countries-women-lead-cx_mk_1112gender.html

Twenty-seventh. This means there are 26 nations that got a better rating than we did.

In the next 60 seconds, how many countries can you name? No cheating, try it from memory (put your kid's globe back on the shelf)!.....Did you get 26 different countries? I didn't. Sad to say, I have to stop and think after I hit about 15. That means there are at least ten countries with greater gender equality standards and lifestyles than I can even easily remember.

Now that is a sobering reality! Sometimes we forget to look in our own backyard for the problems and the solutions. We think globally and in so doing, we forget there is work to do at home.

Recently, I learned a little something about myself. If I am involved in a global effort that is also a personal effort, my daily awareness is higher. So I have taken an extra step. Rather than just donating financially to aid organizations, I have signed up to support a specific woman through Women for Women International. I haven't been matched to a sister yet, that should happen in the next couple of weeks.

What fascinates me, is that the woman who receives my support will know who I am. She will get my letters (hopefully). She will receive my financial aid. We will know each other. I have considered doing this for months but held off. I kept wondering, do I want that kind of commitment? Do I have time for it?

Then it hit me. If I have time to read about the staggering reality of women in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo...I have time to write a letter. What I was really afraid of, is that it wouldn't make a difference. That my time, money, and effort would disappear into the abyss of oppression.

And then it hit me harder. That is exactly why this oppression still exists. Women like me who have a few resources are afraid of wasting the resources so we hang onto them. Women in the Congo and Afghanistan would die for what I squander on my occasional soy hazelnut latte at Starbuck's.

Today is a beautiful, sunny day. Today I choose to live with my eyes wide open.
T.

What's the Marine Kore?

The Marine Kore is a figment of my imagination that I fervently hope becomes a reality. When I think about the men and women in the U.S. armed forces, the Marine Corp represents the soldiers in the trenches. The front line. Marines clear the beaches for everyone else to follow. They take big hits and carry deep honor. No Man Left Behind.

Kore is another name for Persephone, a Greek Goddess who was kidnapped by the God who wanted her as his consort. Her mother, Demeter was enraged (or deeply grieved depending on which version of the myth you read). In Demeter's grief and searching for her daughter, the Earth fell into a frozen state of eternal winter. Nothing grew. Nothing came to life. Nothing changed. Eventually, Persephone is the one to create balance between life and death. She shares her time as Queen of the underworld and as a Goddess who walks the Earth.

When she's out in the world, the Earth blossoms into Spring and Summer. When she returns to the underworld, the Earth falls into Winter.

Persephone, or Kore, runs neither from reality nor from her power. She brings transformation and recognizes what is at stake. She is not a silent captive. Like a third of the women (& girls)around the globe, Kore is a victim of violence. She is not; however, a victim. She creates a solution. Kore wins, and with her; the world wins.

The members of the Marine Kore are already out there. They are the women and men who have something to say about the horrifying oppression of women. My hope is to muse, inform, educate, activate, and from time to time rant a bit.

I am keenly aware that this is just one blog among thousands of blogs. If no one reads She Speaks, well...it was worth a shot! However, if someone does read then maybe someone will speak a little more and someone will do a little more and the Marine Kore will grow. There are effective and dynamic ways to fight the worldwide tyranny and oppression of women without ever leaving home (not that leaving home is a bad thing). Right now, this is just a blog. Maybe someday it will be something more. If remains just a blog though, and it makes even a small difference somewhere, for even one girl or woman...then the Marine Kore has done its job.

We change the lives of women, we change the world.