I’m old enough to have been the only girl on the math team. I’m old enough to remember that there seemed to be few career choices open to me that I found appealing (librarian? nurse? teacher?). I’m old enough to still loathe my undergrad honors thesis advisor for making a pass at me and getting away with it (it appears it was my fault for wearing a skirt to class). I’m old enough to have been the only female transmitter engineer at my radio station, and then one of only two female engineers working at my TV station (both of us, hired on slots reserved for female “trainees”—even though I was already qualified, experienced, and trained). I’m old enough to remember wearing my MIT sweatshirt home from grad school and being asked if my boyfriend went to MIT. Needless to say, I’m old enough to be thrilled that a woman is in the running for president (and I’m younger than she is).
The sad part is that Hillary Clinton is just not progressive enough for me. Trusting W and supporting the war! Not admitting that colossal mistake! Co-sponsoring a ridiculous attack on First Amendment rights to criminalize flag desecration! (what about criminalizing Cheney and his gang of actual criminals?!) Not fighting the Patriot Act tooth and nail! WTF????
And so I plan to vote for Edwards when NY’s primary rolls around. Yes. Absolutely. Whether he’s still trailing by then or not. Obama’s an impressive guy, but his plans (and hopes) are just not specific enough for me, not with Edwards in the race. Edwards is a great candidate for my issues, practically all of them.
But wait! Today, in an NPR story, the chants of: "Iron my shirt! Iron my shirt!” by boisterous males in a Clinton audience led me to experience such a flood of rage that I thought for a moment that I was back in the 70’s (nooooooooooo). To my shock, I realized that (more than anything else!?!) I want to live in a world where the president of the US could be a smart woman. Even though I’m happy now, and I love my life and my achievements just the way they are, I’m still furious at what I had to put up with to get here.
IF I hear any more of that shit between now and February 5th... IF I’m still mad enough when I close those curtains in the voting booth... How could I not vote for this woman?