There has been a whole lot of nasty going on in United States politics (and in the country as a whole), but something historical happened last night, and I want to take a minute to acknowledge it.
Last night at the Democratic National Convention, the Democratic Party nominated Hillary Clinton as their candidate for president. She was the first woman ever nominated on a major party ticket. Women gained the right to vote in this country in 1920, and it took a freaking constitutional amendment to get that right. Perhaps one of the most powerful moments of the roll call (the part where each individual delegate states who they wish to nominate) was when an elderly woman who was born into a world where women couldn't vote proudly cast her her vote for Mrs. Clinton.
Like Hillary Clinton or not, one cannot help but recognize the significance of this nomination. This is a big step forward for women in the United States. Whether she wins the election or not (and frankly let's hope she does, because the alternative is, at best, frightening), it's a huge nomination.
When I was a kid, being president was a man's job. Specifically a white man's job. The 2008 election removed white from the unofficial job criteria. Now in 2016 we have removed man from the unofficial job criteria for president. Kids today can look at our country's leaders and visualize themselves in that role someday. How cool is that? I couldn't visualize myself as president when I was a kid.
Last night made me proud to be an American.
In November I will report to my polling place and proudly cast my ballot for Hillary Clinton. I'm not voting for her because she's a woman (I don't particularly care what gender our leaders identify with, as long as they are good leaders), or because she's a Democrat (I'm proud to be a registered democrat and mostly vote that way, but I vote with my conscience on the issues, so sometimes it means I vote for another party's candidate), or because I agree with all of her platform (I don't!). I think that she is a competent leader with a proven track record and feel that she's the best candidate to lead the United States for the next four (or more) years.
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Related, if you are an American citizen who is over the age of 18 and you aren't registered to vote, you still have plenty of time to get registered in time to vote in the November election. If you don't know how/where to register, I'm happy to help you figure it out. This will easily be the most important election of our lifetime. You owe it to yourself to do your research and have a say in it!
Here, here!
ReplyDeleteWell said. How extraordinary that a woman who was born at a time when women couldn't vote could vote for the first female presidential nominee. How sad that it has taken so long in a country that claims it's all about opportunity. I'm watching and wishing I had a vote too - for all my friends in the US, for my nieces who have to live there, and for me too, because whatever happens, it will undoubtedly affect us.
ReplyDeleteMy grandma, born in 1914 just like the lady I mentioned, told me the story of walking four miles on country roads into the village with her mom, brother, and two sisters so her mom could vote for the first time. Apparently my grandma's father refused to drive her because he didn't think women should be able to vote. So she bundled the kids up and headed to town because it was that important to her. She never took the right to vote for granted and neither do I. One time she told me that she didn't think she'd live long enough to see a female president but hopefully I would.
DeleteI to am saddened that it's taken this long. But I have hope that going forward leaders will be based on their ability to lead rather than their gender identity, race, sexual orientation, etc.
I wish you had a vote too! She's not perfect, but she's a hell of a lot better than the Republican nominee.
I am glad she is nominated and hope she will be elected!
ReplyDeleteIn my country, women were only allowed to vote as of 1970... and in one canton (district) only as of 1990. So you were ahead of us big time :-)!
1970?!?! Wow!
DeleteI totally share in this sentiment. I feel very annoyed at women that don't like her and also fail to see how significant this is.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Even if you don't like her or don't think she would make a good president, you should at least be able to recognize the historical nature of her nomination.
DeleteHear, hear!! :)
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