Now let's talk about the way forward.
Before we go any further, if you are female, I want you to go look in the mirror. If you're not female, I want you to find a picture of a female you care about. It can be your mom, grandma, wife, girlfriend, friend, sister, teacher, any woman you care about. Now I want you to look at the image you see and repeat after me, "This person is not equal in the eyes of the law." Keep looking at the image, let it really sink in what these words mean, and repeat again, "This person is not equal in the eyes of the law."
Now I want you to do something about that.
This is the text of the Equal Rights Amendment that will grant ALL people, regardless of sex, full Constitutional equality.
The Equal Rights Amendment
Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
We must get the ERA ratified and it is within our power to do so.
35 states ratified the ERA before the deadline imposed by congress expired in 1982. Only 3 more states are needed to get to the 38 needed to ratify the ERA. Then we have to make sure we have the congressional representatives who will remove the deadline on the ratification so that it can move forward.
So here is what you can do.
First pledge your support to doing what's necessary to get the ERA ratified.
http://www.wearewoman.us/take-our-pledge
VOTE
Help OTHERS register and vote
Support ONLY those candidates who show through deeds, not just words, that they support legal and economic equality for all, the Equal Rights Amendment and ballot access for all citizens
It's important to pay attention to who is representing you in both your state legislature and in Congress. Even if you're not old enough to vote, you can contact your representatives, register voters, volunteer to help on campaigns, and talk to others about the issues.
You can also donate or purchase items to help fund the We Are Woman Constitution Day Rally in Washington DC in September. And you can make plans to attend the rally on September 13th.
To move forward we have to make sure that when women look in the mirror, they can say, "I am equal in the eyes of the law." It is only then that we will be free from the fear of legislation and decisions that limit our access to healthcare and our control over ourselves and our bodies.
Help OTHERS register and vote
Support ONLY those candidates who show through deeds, not just words, that they support legal and economic equality for all, the Equal Rights Amendment and ballot access for all citizens
It's important to pay attention to who is representing you in both your state legislature and in Congress. Even if you're not old enough to vote, you can contact your representatives, register voters, volunteer to help on campaigns, and talk to others about the issues.
You can also donate or purchase items to help fund the We Are Woman Constitution Day Rally in Washington DC in September. And you can make plans to attend the rally on September 13th.
To move forward we have to make sure that when women look in the mirror, they can say, "I am equal in the eyes of the law." It is only then that we will be free from the fear of legislation and decisions that limit our access to healthcare and our control over ourselves and our bodies.
Tears of pride!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this piece and am with you. Being in my 61st year of living, I've seen us make progress during the Vietnam war in terms of gaining consciousness. I've also seen us go backwards in the past couple of decades. All that hard work, for nothing? Women's rights and now their speaking of laws on the books that, for example, deny women of birth control? My question at this point is how do we get past this back and forth system. You see, the problem goes way back to pre Greco-Roman times. There is a lot to this, and don't want to bog you down with a long reply. I'd encourage you to read Charle's Eisenstein. He has 3 books that I know of, "The Ascent of Humanity;" "The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Possible" and "Sacred Economics." What he is talking about is fundamental change….he also takes the roots of our modern problems to Greco-Roman civilization. To change and to get out of the pattern we are in, we need to change "OurStory." Not "His-Story" Nor "Her Story" but OUR Story.Great blog, loved it.
ReplyDeleteFive words and a comma need to be added to section 1. "...,sexual orientation or gender identity."
ReplyDeleteI've worn an ERA bracelet since 1972. I have never removed it from my wrist. I will wear it until ERA becomes law or until I die, whichever comes first. I'm now 58 years old and not sure how much time I have. It give me infinite comfort to know there are people like you who will carry on. I will work harder than ever for equality of rights under the law regardless of our male or female parts with inspiration from people like you. You belong in the constitution, Madison! I pledge to do all I can to get you in. LEAD ON!!!!
ReplyDelete