"I am woman, hear me roar,
in numbers too big to ignore
for I know too much to go back and pretend."
I believe I see a trend this year - women getting tired of the same old shit we have had to deal with for eternity and fighting against it. I'm going to try to pull together what I've seen.
While the state legislatures have been passing new restrictions on women's healthcare and reproductive choices almost as fast as Mitt Romney contradicts himself, one positive action was the slapdown of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. However, that's nothing in the face of the 1,000-plus new rules and regs in the states. Gov. McDonnell of VA is maybe wavering in his support of the pre-abortion rape by medical personel, but that is also a grain of sand compared to the Sahara desert.
The real click for me was getting 20 recs for a comment I made in a diary, something like 'women have always had power, we just never use it'. While 20 recs is certainly not a landslide, it suggested to me there were threads to be pulled together here.
Thread pulling begins after the Fleur-de-Kos.
THREAD ONE
I was first amazed/blown away/impressed/scared with the scathing takedown of dead Joe Paterno, which almost blew up the site. I thought the author WAS SO BRAVE to face the pain over what had been done to her and lay it out there. I was scared for her at the pain/hate she would face, because telling real truth is NEVER welcomed by abusers or their enablers.
The pain and hate came, but was more than matched by the support she received. When she let down the walls that protected her, she freed many others. So very many other stories of abuse, betrayal, wounding.
Roxine picked up the cause, and has been going gangbusters with the Tree Climbers. Childhood abuse is a wound that does not stop bleeding, but over time it may slow to an ooze.
KelleyRN2 is also a big help, here as in so many other places. While I have always thought there is very little more useless than getting medical advice from a newspaper column or radio show, KosAbility completely proves me wrong. Kelley's compassion, the comments from other Kossacks and the occassional housecall make this a healing place.
Let me call this thread:
NAMING THE SHAME AND KICKING ITS ASS.
THREAD TWO
A few weeks ago navajo and others brought forward the need for help for Okiciyap and heating oil in South Dakota. A whole diary could and probably should be written about the Daily Kos Diva, but I'm not that talented. This was (I think) just the most recent of her causes, but she has a long history of fighting injustice.
More recently, another Kossack woman found herself in a multi-faceted disaster and a call for help went out. Vetwife and swampyankee organized a drive and helped hold back the tide. In the comments, another Kossack suggested starting some sort of permanent emergency disaster fund, and is dancing through the legal hoops.
These disasters are fairly regular. The calls go out, and car/rent/headstone/food/vet or doctor bill is paid. This is what a community does. Decent human beings do it because they are decent human beings.
However, some situations make collecting funds for car/rent/headstone/food/vet or doctor bill look simple and easy.
Very recently, Militarytracy wrote about why she despises Rick Santorum. In relating her experiences trying to get help for her son, who was born with a rare disorder that caused severe spine curvature, she was constantly confronted with obstacles. Her husband was active duty military, but she was unable to get effective help for many years. The passage of the ACA helped, she said.
In the comments to that diary, at least 2 Kossacks said they'd terminate pregnancies rather than bring children with diagnosed mental complications into a world under the control of the current Republican candidates. Other commenters said they were very worried about dying before their vulnerable children.
Let me call this thread:
I'M HUNGRY NOW!!!!!
THREAD THREE
More recently legalchic and triciawyse wrote diaries saying WE'VE HAD ENOUGH, NO MORE OF THIS SHIT!!! triciawyse deserves special mention. In her diary (now diaries) she has a NUMBERED list of these offenses. Others have also written of their outrage and anger.
There is misogyny in the world and on this site, and while I certainly don't think I can change anyone's mind, I can sure HR and report them here until they keep that filth in their own nasty heads, not on the screen.
Let me call this thread:
Sparkle, Prince Charming's horse, has thrown a shoe and WE WILL NOT WAIT FOR THE BLACKSMITH.
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I'm writing this for two main reasons. One, to provide recognition and validation for the women stepping up to make changes. Roxine and KelleyRN2, to help heal the pain of the past and present, Vetwife, legalchic, navajo, Militarytracy and triciawyse standing tall now, and going forward. To show them they are not whistling down a well, and also invite others to join them.
I'm not naming everyone I could or should, and I invite people to bring out women in the comments that I've missed. Next week I plan to write about the women who feed our souls, like Sara R and Winglion. Feed free to send in nominations or write something yourself.
As for the men, you have all the other threads. We welcome your support, but this one is to celebrate the double XXs.
As we take hold of our power and change the world.