August 26

Last October, we had the privilege of being in Seneca Falls, New York. I wrote the following blog on that day. I think that it is pertinent today to re-share it with those who are interested. It matters because today is August 26, 2008. On August 26, 1920, seventy-two years and one month later, the ratification process of the 19^th amendment to the US Constitution was complete.

Nineteenth Amendment

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919.

Ratified August 18, 1920. 

Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. 

Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.   

Find this article here.

While we may have "come a long ways, Baby", we have one heck of a long way to go. Personally, I am rather tired of being a second/third class citizen.

 

Seneca Falls, New York

Last Sunday (Oct 14) while still near Rochester NY, we decided to just do a little sightseeing nearby. So, we headed toward Seneca Lake. Our starting point was in Canandaigua, just south of Rochester and one of the ten or so Finger Lakes in the Finger Lakes Vineyard area of New York.

I saw Seneca Falls on the map and a little light bulb went off above my head. Seneca Falls. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and a whole host of women. Seneca Falls, July 20, 1848. The Women's Declaration of Rights. We stood on the very spot where they and the men that supported them stood.

How sad that we are still not of one mind regarding equality one hundred and fifty nine years later. Realizing that women still cannot be ordained as priests or preachers in many areas of the world (including far too many dioceses within the Episcopal Church), understanding that here in these United States of America the Equal Rights Amendment still has not been ratified and seems unlikely to ever be and knowing that worldwide women's lives are in danger simply because they are women, it was rather disheartening to view the place where so much hope was held.

It makes it simple to understand why so many people remind us, as gays and lesbians, that our time is not yet come. Heck, if we can't even be considered equal simply because we are women, how in the world will a gay man ever be recognized as such? Considering the misconception that gay men are considered "girly" men and hated because they bring to mind that which is considered the "weaker" sex, it really makes one wonder just how in the world will equality ever come.

How much time does it take to understand that "love your neighbor" has nothing to do with sex?

And some still argue that it isn't about Power? Come on…