It seemed like it started with the Women's March. And then it seemed like it started with the James Woods allegations. Then, Harvey Weinstein. Then, Kevin Spacey. Charlie Sheen. CK Louis. Ray Moore. Al Franken. #MeToo.
But it didn't. It never started, because it never stopped. Since Eden, women have been fighting for equality. We've been fighting for the opportunity to be heard - to be treated like *gasp* equals.
Human history is written on the back of oppression. Women, regardless of color, religion, or economic status, have been a consistent target for as long as there's been written history.
We have been both the vessels for gods and kings, as well as demons. We have been made all-powerful and infantilized at the same time. Make up your minds.
During the Revolutionary War, women both held down the forts and defended them when the men grew weary from combat. During the Civil War, more than 400 women disguised themselves as men and went to battle. And, when we weren't doing that, we tended to the wounded and dying. We kept the homes safe. We emerged from The Antebellum with a nod of gratitude and sent back to the work of having babies and cleaning houses.
During WWI and WWII, women took over the roles of Police Officers, Switchboard Operators, Telegraphers, Mechanics, and Drivers - all while maintaining the home and raising children. During WWII, more than 100,000 women joined the Armed Forces. No accurate records were kept as to how many women were injured and killed during the wars, and when they were over, the surviving women holding down jobs in the previously male-dominated workforces were asked to step aside and hand those jobs back over to the men. We proved our strength, patriotism, and dedication, and yet, we had to fight for the right to vote. We were held political prisoners and subjected to torture, violence, and ridicule.
We railed. We starved ourselves. But, we won.
There exists this ongoing paradox of needing women desperately to benefit the U.S., to stuffing us back into our boxes when our country wants quiet. But there's never quiet - because women are not the problem. We are the solution.
In this era of "President Pussy Grabber" we have, once again, had to up our game and stand in unity. At least 16 women have come forward to speak out against Trump's abuse of women and children.
One by one, women have been coming forward with their stories of sexual assault by Hollywood bigwigs, politicians and other public figures. And one by one, we are discredited and re-victimized. Save for CK Louis and Al Franken, no apologies or acknowledgments have been made public. Therefore, it is assumed that we are all lying. Because it's so hard to believe that women are being victimized in America.
We are back to the never-ending beginning.
This blog won't be nearly long enough to cover all the injustice - all the hypocrisy. And, maybe that shouldn't be the point anyway. The point is, during times of extreme struggle in America, women have saved us. And, they are saving us again.
Recently, we have celebrated the public office appointments of two transgender women: Danica Roem and Andrea Jenkins. Oklahoma, notoriously "Red", won a Democratic seat in the state senate.
Other political heroes like Elizabeth Warren, Maxine Waters, and Claire Warner are railing against corruption and injustice. They are guarding the fort 2017 style.
This is what we do. We see shit going down and we march - we fight - we speak. That's been the case since Lilith first rebelled against Adam in Paradise. The difference this time is; we won't be going back into the box. This is a new Revolution. The current state of our country has woken the mama bear in all of us.
So, fifty years from now, history will remind a new generation of the time that women saved America again. Don't give up. Speak. Rail. Believe.
That's all I had to say.
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