Nancy Pelosi & recent history

Does it seem to you there's not enough celebration?  When Nancy Pelosi officially becomes the first woman Speaker of the House, will you tap dance in the street with me?

Perhaps women in America have been burned too many times by high expectations--a woman candidate for high office back in 1984, the huge march on Washington to secure the future of reproductive rights.  Solidarity, endless effort, then just a memory, souvenir buttons.     

This is different.  We need to enjoy these moments, the exhilaration of being participants in change.

Congresswoman Pelosi is a 66 year old grandmother.  What could that mean about the future of legislation on health care, Social Security, children?  The Democrats' Six Point Plan gives a nod to the first two.  I'd like to know which organizations that supported their newly-achieved majority in Congress will keep them focused on the issue that got them there--ending the war in Iraq.  Your comments would be appreciated.

It is less than twenty days till WORLD AIDS DAY on December One.  Nancy Pelosi has a long history of fighting for Federal dollars for AIDS programs and supporting needle exchange.  On the international AIDS site,  AVERT,  a new word, "condomise,"  about the importance of using male and female condoms consistently and correctly.  Most sexually active older women are unaware that eleven per cent of new AIDS cases occur in people over 50. 

Another Condom Amulet                                                             from my "Safe Sex" collection. 

Crocheted and knitted flowers                                                                in the Freeform technique                                                  developed  by Prudence Mapstone                                                       of Australia.

Comments

[Rhea]

It does call for massive public celebration!

[Alison]

Wow... First? Really? (I'm not American you see... Or rather, I am only recently a citizen. Earlier this year, in fact.) It's rather shocking that it's taken this long. But I'll tap dance, or, I'll certainly try.

Hooray, hooray! America really spoke this last election. And what the had to say really gives me hope.

[sahara]

Once again, reading your blog posts are always informative and inspirational! I'm sending everyone over here!

[MotherPie]

I think we are becoming more feminized as a nation. Just barely. Just beginning.

[Ronni Bennett]

I don't mean to be contrarian, but I think there's no big-deal celebration regarding Pelosi's new position for several reasons:

1. Sahara (comment above) is correct. There are growing numbers of women in high places so that Pelosi's elevation is not all that startling.

2. She hasn't proved that she isn't just another craven pol. They all, regardless of gender, arrive in Washington owing their souls to their corporate contributors.

3. In one of her first moves - trying to ram through John Murtha as her number two - she stumbled badly. She had to have known she didn't have the votes, but she pigheadedly went forward with it. So she may not know how to use the power she now has well enough to be effective.

4. One on the reasons Congress never gets anything done is they work only two-and-a-half days a week. The rest of the time, they are raising money from corporations. There has been nary a word from Ms. Pelosi about full work week in Congress.

And I also think it is huge progress for women that there has been no groundswell of celebration for Ms. Pelosi. It means we have come far enough that it is no longer much of an event for a woman to attain a position of power - at least in politics. We have work to do still in other areas.

[Naomi Dagen Bloom]

all of the above responses are why i decided to blog--to find voices that reflect back on my ideas. sometimes there's a joining in celebration, other times an entirely different take.

contrarian works, ronni, but for this old lady feminist the struggle to change the system by working inside it seems our last, best option. -naomi

[Wordsmith]

I didn't make the 1986 march but was there (Washington D.C.) in April 1989 to march for women's reproductive rights and would gladly march again.

Three cheers for Nancy Pelosi. You go girl!!!