OnLine With Zoe

June 30 ~ An Artificial Deadline

Congress decided that June 30, 1982 was the last day to consider if gender equality could be in the US Constitution.  I guess it is like your mom saying if you don’t clean your room by noon, you can’t go to the movies.  If 38 states don’t want both men and women explicitly included in the Constitution by June 30, 1982 then, tough shit.  “The Equal Rights Amendment had a deadline and an extension, Ladies.  We have tried our best to include you but time is up.”

The Madison Amendment, which states that congressional salary changes must take place at the beginning of a term (the coveted 27th amendment), took 203 years to pass.  They seemed to be a bit more lenient with that one.  However, the amendment, which guarantees equality of rights under the law would not be declined on account of sex, got seven years + an extension of 3 years, 3 months.  So lets do the math: congressional salary legislation can take 20 times longer to pass than the ERA is allowed and, apparently, no one will mind.

Math is really not my specialty (don’t tell my boss, as I do the bookkeeping) but, in any event, 35 ratified states, the overwhelming majority of Americans, are now being denied their rights because of a few legislators who want their insurance lobby perks.  We plot and plan every two years with hopes, signs, and signatures that Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, etc. are going to pull a rabbit out of a hat and deliver equality.  And it is one guy, one vote that stops the whole damn from bursting open that would allow the US Constitution to include everyone. 

Why is one guy in State X (write in any of the 15) telling millions of American men and women anything?  Why are we spending millions on the military, killing people in the Middle East so they include women in their constitution?  Why is this whole issue just a snooze?  

Well, WAKE UP AMERICA.  Today is the anniversary of the day you blew it  ~ June 30.   You didn’t clean your room on time; so no equal rights for you.

Congratulations NOW ~ you made the right choice!

It may have been close in numbers but it was not close in any other way.  The two slates that were running for national NOW office were as different as possible within a non-profit, social justice, organization. 

All day long I was writing a little speech, imagining it written on a 3X5 card, standing at a mic ~

This year, the decision could not be clearer.  If you believe that NOW should be an advocacy organization for the Democratic Party, a lobbying body for pro-woman legislation, working in courtrooms and Congress then vote for the incumbent's slate.  (While Kim Gandy may not be running, she is the obvious architect of the Lyles slate).  If you believe that NOW should be a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing, protecting and educating women and girls in their neighborhood, in their community, in their schools then vote for the O'Neil Matson Slate. 

Frankly I was afraid to hope, as the fans of the legislative approach have made significant headway.  They have a penchant for Roberts Rules of Order, bylaws, grievances, closed circles and preferring their primary skill set; litigation and lobbying.  It could be argued that laws are needed to protect women and girls; but it leaves a gaping void in the development and education of FEMINISTS. 

The founders of NOW knew that it all started with an individual and their understanding of human potential.  The entire Second Wave was built through Consciousness Raising, establishing Women's Studies classes and, organically, demanding reproductive autonomy.  Sure Roe V.Wade was a court case, but the hearts and minds of the people had to understand that biology is not destiny for it to get any traction.  We had to know it was the right thing to do.

Classes, actions, meetings, sisterhood - that is what creates feminism.  To those who want to make it all happen in the courts, there are organizations that do just that and I hope you join them, work for them and are fabulously successful.  But NOW was not a private club just for lawyers and lobbyists, it is for girls and boys, women and men who want equality. 

I am hopeful again.  I am thinking that NOW can be MY organization again. 

Proud to Endorse O'Neil/Matson

Principles of NOW Brought to Light

Sent to
Lindsey Horvath
Melinda Tremaglio
Yvonne Golub
Shelly Mandell
And the NOW Grievance Committee

I hope this is the last time that I email to this particular grouping of women as we came together over a most unfortunate circumstance.  The NOW Grievance process may look egalitarian on paper, but in practice is has nothing to do with feminism or matriarchy. 

Frankly, so many extenuating circumstances whirled around this event that it was best to simply draw it down, dim the light and shut the door.  I believe it is really not the responsibility of neighboring chapters to defend the 6 priorities of NOW; it should have come from the National office.  For me, the right thing to do was for the NOW PAC to have made a strong statement last October regarding mixed messages about any high visibility member/leader being seen on a stage with Gov Palin.  In the absence of that intelligence, four very smart women felt compelled to do it for themselves.

It should have remained between them and Ms. Mandell and a non-biased trio of feminists, whose job is supposed to be holding a safe space for a working resolution to organically rise.  As the weeks poured forth, it became murky, crowded and loaded with people pushing in where they do not belong.  Each of us heard terrible gossip that so-in-so was driving this and we were puppets.  Let me be very clear, anyone one who thinks we were puppets, certainly does not know us at all.  At all.

So today I hear that the National Board is all up in arms about a press conference we held today.  Let the hens cluck, they are the ones who formed the PAC, endorsed Barack Obama, would not take a stand on Governor Palin and tried endlessly to insert themselves in the grievance and interfere in the mediation process. 

This press conference did what no one else would do; take a definitive stand on the six principles of NOW
1. stopping violence against women
2. promoting diversity & ending racism 
3. advancing reproductive freedom
4. winning lesbian rights 
5. achieving constitutional equality
6. ensuring economic justice

Back off you meddlers, be silent you gossipers, take note you grievers, be humbled you revenge seekers.  Today 5 women, who really have only one thing in common, came together to speak of their love for NOW. 
Show some respect.

Eulogy for Dr. George Tiller

DELIVERED AT CONGREGATION KOL AMI, WEST HOLLYWOOD, JUNE 3, 2009

Thank you for this opportunity to speak in this meeting of the spirit.  Most often we are speaking at political events, when we make a point to not mention the spirit and soul.  Now, here at this beautiful Synagogue, Congregation Kol Ami, we can talk of the spirit. 

First I want to tell you that when I was forty-four and my reading eyes weren't what they used to be, I missed the tiny stamped expiration date on a birth control product that had been in my drawer for over ten years and, to my surprise, I found myself pregnant.  I went to a clinic in New York and, as required by law, was counseled by a health care worker who happened to be half my age.  I had to tell her that I had used my birth control but did not know that it could expire. 

The next day I came back to be assisted by women, at the door, at the desk, in the OR.  When the procedure was over I put out my hand and said thank you.  The doctor, a bit bemused, removed his glove and shook my hand.  I explained that I had been a free clinic director and I know the danger they live in every day.  I wanted to thank him for his service to women. 
 
I am telling you this to encourage you that if you have had an abortion; please talk about it, give others the opportunity to ask you about it.  Take the opportunity to tell them that it has not destroyed your life.  The decision was neither tragic or trivial.  Peel off the stigma and shame.  Openly discuss that all facets of reproductive health are part of every woman’s life. 

Second I want to tell you in this ecumenical gathering, I am a Buddhist and I do not believe in heaven or hell.  (That’s a relief!)  That doesn't make abortion easier ~ just different.  I believe that an independent soul enters a human body with breathe, as most scriptures describe.

Also I believe in reincarnation. I believe that people are born to the next life based on what they designed through their previous life and the circumstances of their death.  (It is not lost on me that another great soul died in prayer, by a point blank shooting, M.K.Gandhi.) 

I believe that George Tiller’s soul is in that place between the worlds planning the next life.  This is one daydream I hold about Dr Tiller’s soul ~ Sometime in the future a little girl will be born.  She will be healthy and smart.  In  her world, women will have irrevocable domain over their bodies, birth control will be free and reliable, women who become pregnant will be able to make private informed choices with safe, loving care by well-paid professionals.

As a life-long activist, the question always arises, “what is our action item?”  Today’s action item is to create such a world so this American Mahatma, this Great Soul, deserves to come back to.