Full Moon, Two Nights in Harlem

From my window, the view across the street toward   Grant Houses, as in Ulysses S. Grant.  Built 1957,  same year as the place I moved to 12 years ago, a middle-income co-op named for the neighborhood, Morningside Gardens.  When we first returned to the City, I was fascinated by the history of the place.  I heard about what it had been like for people who had lived here since the beginning.  My hope was that my son would write his next book about it and preserve histories of mostly-women who had lived through so many changes in their lives and surroundings.

Instead, being a different sort of scholar and his own person, he wrote the first history of New York City's public housing.   Important as a remarkable record of what visionary policy wonks were able to accomplish in another time.  Though there were major players from 20th century women's history who figure in the story, I did not get what I wanted.

This is a roundabout message to my peers, those other "older women" the MSM keep telling us about, the ones who threaten not to vote.  Because they are so devoted to the possibility that a woman might be president, that they would squander the possibility for a change in the White House.  Women,  get over it.  Let's spend our energy on getting more women into Congress. 

Tell me that you' ve learned once again how hard the work of feminism has been, will continue to be.  Women you admire like Eleanor Roosevelt would always use the privilege of the vote to continue the work. 

This post dedicated to Heart at Women's Space where the picture of the moon over her garden reminded me what we share... and as thank-you to her blog for thoughtful FFC, frequent feminist conversation. 

 

Comments

[Sis]

Hi Naomi

I think when the Suffregettes worked to gain our right to vote, it was just that: a right. Not an obligation, not a legal requirement. Not voting is a vote, although it's probably more effective to spoil one's ballot which is what I think the Clinton supporter are planning to do; writing her in spoils the ballot, no?

I'm not American, but if I were, and my choice was spoiling my ballot or Barack Obama, I'd be spoiling my ballot. Why? Because he was there when all the women hating slurs were made against her (and therefore, me and you) and did not speak up. Did not even put out a statement, saying no supporter of mine derides women that way, or something. Not only that, he shows us that he thinks that way too.

So I don't think it's a get over it thing, any more than racism is.

By the way, I'm half-breed.

[M.E.]

Great comment by Sis! I agree totally. But I definitely will not do anything (like not voting for the democratic candidate, jerk he/she may be) that will advance the republican candidate's cause. i hate it when they (the MSM and the repugs) have maneuvered us once again so that we're between a rock and a hard place.

[M.E.]

p.s. i seem to remember grant's house when i was going to college up your way 10 years ago. or was it hamilton's??

[Lydia]

Naomi,
Thanks much for your comments and questions to ponder at my blog. I am thrilled to find your blog! My husband and I were married there at City Hall.My first post on Old Post Card Wednesday was the Municipal Bldg. http://writerquake.blogspot.com/2008/05/its-old-post-card-wednesday.html
I'll so enjoy visiting your space to read more about the city and your life there. I agree with you that we should be setting our sites on greater representation by women in Congress.

[goodgirlroxie]

Oh, Naomi! I am so glad you stopped by my place and left a message!!! What a beautiful site you have here.

Please consider reading my two commentaries about why I support Sen. Obama. And rest assured, I'll be back!

From JFK to the Obama Campaign: A Journey From Disillusionment to Hope:
http://goodgirlroxie.blogspot.com/2008/04/yes-we-can.html

Another 'E Pluribus Unum' Moment for Barack Obama:
http://goodgirlroxie.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-order-to-form-more-perfect-union.html

Namaste, Sister!

[Claudia Snowden]

Hi, Naomi,

I just caught your excellent interview on Women's E-News Congratulations! A wonderful piece on a fantastic elderblogger!

[Mary]

This is so depressing - this whole election question. I can't believe that it deteriorated to mudslinging when this is such a unique moment in history. Not voting doesn't seem the best way to exercise our rights.

[janinsanfran]

I would advise all New York women thinking about voting to go visit the statue of Eleanor Roosevelt at W. 72nd St. and Riverside and meditate on her and politics. She was a great woman and a fighter. Blanche Weisen Cooke wrote a wonderful political biography of her. The statue's pose is based on my acquaintance Diana Jaicks, Eleanor's niece. Diana fought for many causes and never gave up -- never stopped participating even though some folks she (and I) worked for were pretty difficult causes.