Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump Book Review

If our history books have proven one thing, it is that women are underestimated. We have so much power to change the world. But for that change to happen, that power must be harnessed and our voices must be heard.

In 2021, Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump by Jennifer Rubin was published. Rubin tells the story of how American women, from 2016 to 2020, fought for our country while you know who sat in the Oval Office. The story starts in the fall of 2016 when he who shall not be named won that year’s Presidential election. Many presumed (myself included) that Hillary Clinton would be the winner. When the results were announced, shock, rage, and fear ran through the nation like a bolt of lightning.

Instead of taking to our beds and filling the proverbial hole with food or alcohol, we banded together. Organizations like EMILY’s List helped first-time political nominees from across the political spectrum run in their various districts. Not all of them won, but the fact that they threw their hats in the ring was enough to light the fires.

She spends several chapters towards the end of the book focusing on the female nominees who ran for President in 2020. Though we did not get America’s first female President, the fact that Kamala Harris was chosen as Vice President was enough to see that progress has been made. Though we know that the war for equality has not been achieved, the battles we have fought and won are victories in their own right.

This book should be required reading for every female (and anyone with a uterus by extension) above a certain age. Standing on the shoulders of previous generations of feminists, the women chronicled are history makers in their own right. Though there are those who would keep us down (I’m looking at you, SCOTUS), we have still found a way to rise up.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump is avaliable wherever books are sold.

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The SCOTUS Ruling on the NY Gun Law is Wrong and Dangerous

To say that gun control is a divisive issue is an understatement. Where one stands on whether or not firearms should be regulated speaks volumes.

Earlier today, SCOTUS ruled that the highly restrictive concealed-carry handgun law in New York State was unconstitutional. In laymen’s terms, the judges said that licensed gun owners can carry their hidden weapons into public spaces.

The majority ruling stated the following:

“Because the State of New York issues public-carry licenses only when an applicant demonstrates a special need for self defense, we conclude that the State’s licensing regime violates the Constitution,”

This decision is both wrong and dangerous. At the end of the day, gun reform is about safety. The 2nd amendment is as solid as it ever was. We shouldn’t be afraid of completing day to day activities ( i.e. going to school, grocery shopping, seeing a doctor) because some politicians are beholden to their NRA donors.

The majority of Americans want reasonable gun control. The problem is that until those in power listen to the people, we will continue to lose our loved ones to unnecessary violence.

Domestic Supply of Infants is Not That Hard to Understand

The difference between being seen as breeding stock and a fully-fledged human being with responsibilities, dreams, ambitions, etc comes down to one word: rights.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito made a very damning and unnerving statement in the body of the leaked draft of the opinion that could potentially overturn Roe V. Wade. Buried in the footnotes is a quote from a 2002 CDC report about adoption within the United States.

“Whereas the domestic supply of infants relinquished at birth or within the first month of life and available to be adopted has become virtually nonexistent.”

I’m going to let NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and the late George Carlin take it from here.

What bothers me are two things. The first thing is that it opens the door to a slippery slope. Abortion is low-hanging fruit to these people. What’s next? Losing access to birth control? Taking away the ability to marry for LGBTQ couples and biracial couples? Undoing the 19th amendment and the 14th amendment?

The second thing is that this opinion is based on rulings that are centuries old. I’m not a lawyer, but it seems to me that they are grasping at straws, finding any legal theory (even the archaic ones) that they believe will support their cause.

Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about SCOTUS judges. Their appointments are for life. But we can vote for Democrats at every level. They are the only ones who are both working for the people of this nation and fighting for the freedoms that we all hold dear.

Is Anyone Truly Surprised that Amy Coney Barrett is the Newest Member of SCOTUS?

When it came to making major decisions, the process would obviously be easier if it was made via strictly impartial facts. But impartiality is impossible. Most, if not all of the time, our beliefs and experiences color the final outcome of our decisions.

Last night, in a surprise to no one, Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in as the newest member of SCOTUS.

Her rushed confirmation hearings, combined with taking the oath of office a week before the election is the living, breathing embodiment of court packing. Those in the Republican and conservative movements wanted to grab as much power as they could while it was theirs to take. If the blue wave comes as expected (and hoped for), the Democrats will have control of the White House and Congress.

There are two problems with her confirmation. The first problem is that there are no term limits on the members of the Supreme Court. While there is talk of creating term limits, it is just talk at this moment. Justice Barrett is forty eight. This means that she could be on the court for the next thirty to forty years. She could be ruling on cases that will forever change the trajectory of this nation.

The second problem is that with the election so close, some are predicting a reboot of the 2000 Presidential election. Those of us who are above a certain age can easily remember the chaos and uncertainty during that period. In a worst case scenario, the argument could make its way up to SCOTUS. I wouldn’t put it past you know who to ensure that the judges he appointed give him another four years in office.

At this point in time, we can only guess how the election will end and how Judge Barrett will rule. I hope with everything I have that when all is said and done, we become a better nation. But hope, as it often does, springs eternal.

Thoughts On the Recent Supreme Court Rulings

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. However, that does not mean that I as an individual citizen has to agree with every ruling.

Though it is not written in stone, it is a tradition that all Presidents release copies of their tax returns and/or financial statements. Since you know who won the election nearly four years ago, he has come up with every excuse in the book as to why the paperwork has not been made public. Today, SCOTUS ruled that the tax returns have to be released to prosecutors in regards to the cases building against him in New York.

On the surface, the decision by SCOTUS (including you know who’s choices to join the court) seem like a 100% victory. It’s not, the fine print says that much. But it is a giant step in the right direction. The big baby is not immune from prosecution and must conform to the laws like anyone else.

The other ruling concerns the constant determination by the right (and the current administration by extension) to deny a woman her right to contraception. Instead of directly denying a female employee access to birth control, they are leaving it up to the prerogative of her employer.

If you can, imagine the following scenario: a pregnant woman goes to her doctor for a routine checkup. She is told that there has been a change to the fetus. It is no longer medically viable. She could carry the pregnancy to term, but there are risks in doing so. She could also end the pregnancy, but her employer does not believe in abortion. If she chooses an abortion, she will have to pay a potentially outrageous sum out of pocket because of her employer’s beliefs.

Does that sound right to you? It doesn’t sound right to me. From my perspective, the only thing my bosses should be worrying about is my ability to do my job. My personal life (medical decisions included) are frankly, none of their dam business.

Happy Thursday.

Thoughts On the SCOTUS Abortion Ruling

For a millennia, men have controlled everything about women, our bodies included. It is only in the past century or so that we have fought to take back the control of our bodies that was ours in the first place.

Yesterday, SCOTUS ruled in favor of blocking an anti-abortion law in Louisiana. In a nutshell, the law said that doctors were prohibited from performing the procedure unless they had admitting privileges at a local hospital.

On the surface, the law does not sound all that bad. It sounds almost preventative, waiting for the day when something goes wrong and an ambulance would have to be called. But, looking at the fine print tells another story. It closes all but one of the remaining abortion clinics on a technicality, putting the lives of the female residents of Louisiana at risk.

What is interesting is that Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberal members of the court. In doing so, it is my perspective that he is looking to the future of this country. It is a future that true equality exists between the sexes and women are finally seen as fully-fledged human beings.

It is only a small step. But when small steps come together, they can lead to major change.

This Is Why Women Don’t Report Sexual Assault

There are numerous reasons as to why women do not go to the police after being raped or experiencing sexual assault.

Last night, you know who publicly mocked Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when they were both in high school. This is after he stated that he believed Dr. Ford to be a credible witness.

Am I surprised? No. This type of speech from him has unfortunately become part and parcel of his Presidency.

The problem is that his speech only reinforces why victims of rape/sexual assault, especially women, are afraid to come forward. At best, they are mocked. At worst, they are accused of lying and ruining the life of the man or men they have accused.

While it is true that there are some accusations of rape/sexual assault are false, the majority are not. When some say that the man’s life is ruined by the accusation, what about the woman’s life? What about the life long emotional trauma, the PTSD, the shame, the anger, etc?

When someone says that as a child, they were sexually abused by a member of the clergy, I would hope that they are believed. It is the same thing with women who are brave enough to go to the police when they are raped or sexually assaulted.

The only way to end the stigma is to report rape and/or sexual assault. The problem is that the shame of the act permeates our culture, especially on the part of the female accuser. His speech last night helped to make the problem worse.

P.S. Did anyone else find Judge Kavanaugh’s emotional reaction during his hearing to be bothersome? A judge, especially a member of SCOTUS, must the calm, mature and most of all, above partisan politics. His accusations, to me at least, felt like a ten-year old who was caught doing something and took a temper tantrum instead of admitting what he did wrong.

History Is In Our Hands

Ghandi once said the following:

A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”

While any potential confirmation to the Supreme Court is potentially history making, the potential confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh will forever mark America for generations to come.

Will we be a country that recognizes the accomplishments and humanity of women, and finally put to bed once and for all the idea that women are somehow beneath men? Will we live up to the progressive ideals that is part and parcel of our image as a country that not only respects it’s citizens (regardless of sex), but also gives them opportunities to thrive?

Or, will be go back to the days when women were second class citizens, deprived of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, especially if that goes against what is considered “proper” for a female?

History is in our hands. We have the opportunity (and the vote next month) to confirm if we are willing to do the hard work to move forward, or if we are content to live in the past?

Reasons Why Christine Blasey Ford Should Be Believed

Throughout much of human history, women have been second class. Seen only as submissive help meets to the men in their lives, they had no rights and were often viewed as property. Part of being viewed as property or second class was being forced into an unwanted sexual act that very often left the woman in an emotionally and physically traumatized state.

Thankfully, things are starting to change. One of the women who is helping with this change is Christine Blasey Ford, a high school acquaintance of Judge Brett Kavanaugh who accused him of forcing himself on her when they were teenagers.

Below are the reasons why Dr. Ford should be believed:

1. Her testimony will have a way in determining if Judge Kavanaugh is ultimately confirmed to join SCOTUS and possibly change the course of American history for the better.
2. Her testimony will undo the damage that was done to Anita Hill testified about her own sexual assault experience at the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing 27 years ago.
3. Her testimony will prove once and for all that the time doesn’t matter. Those who force themselves sexually on another person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of whether it is 36 hours or 36 years since the attack.
4. It will encourage past and future victims of rape, sexual violence and sexual assault to come forward and be public in their accusations.
5. It will make those who are thinking of committing such acts think twice, knowing the repercussions of this kind of offense.

As of today, Dr. Ford is scheduled to testify on Thursday. Until then, we can only wait and maybe speculate as to what Dr. Ford may or may not say.

I believe her.

 

Thoughts On The Brett Kavanaugh Sexual Assault Accusations

Brett Kavanaugh‘s nomination to SCOTUS has been controversial to say the least.

The latest controversy is the accusation of the sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford, who was a high school classmate of Judge Kavanaugh. Dr. Ford has accused the judge of forcing himself on her when they were teenagers in the early 80’s.

Naysayers could argue that if the accusations are true, they are the act of a boy who was drunk, young and foolish. The judge is a 53-year-old married man with young daughters, hopefully time and experience has matured him.

However, sexual assault is still sexual assault, regardless of how long ago it was. Unlike other positions in the government, the appointment to the Supreme Court is for life. As a citizen, I need to know that if he is confirmed, he will do what is right for the country and not act in a partisan nature.

As a woman, I need to ask the men on the Senate Judiciary Committee the following question: how would you react if a woman you loved was sexually assaulted. What if it was your mother, your sister, your daughter, your wife, etc? Would you be so blase or or would you take a hard look at your conscious before making a decision?