One of the most dynamic, and active constituencies in the Progressive movement is today, as it always has been, women.
Over the course of our short tour as an online radio show, women have been among our most dedicated listeners, donors, supporters and members. I am a "numbers geek", and I make it a point to know such things as this, especially when my time is so dedicated to the end result of PPTS. Rachel Maddow (among many other Progressive women) is a "numbers geek", too, so I feel like I'm in pretty good company--just at opposite ends of the Totem. I don't mind.
While the above statement is true across the nation, it is especially true across the Progressive Southern United States. While we may not hear of, or from them on the national scale as often, or as loudly as some other regions, have no doubt that Southern Progressive women are standing up, and engaging their communities to become the change they seek every single day.
Women are a powerful constituency, as well. (You thought it was only YOUR women, huh!) Women have a much more equal distribution across the annals of history than most might realize when it comes to those imperative moments of change in our communities, our States, and our nation.
One need look no further than our very own White House to instinctively understand the power of woman in America. Our intelligent and lawyerly First Lady is arguably the most elegant, intelligent, and "cahones-bustin'" female to ever serve in this usually-ignored, sometimes low key, non-paid job. Michelle Obama is a fierce and deep patriot, a sometimes (when necessary) ultra-fierce First Spouse, and a legendary and loving First Mom. By her gracious example, in all of these roles, the First Lady typifies not only the many roles the 21st Century woman must master, but she shows all women how to do them very, very well. A partner in many roles, yet subservient in none, America's First Lady has returned to America an appreciation and respect for what is, in fact, a majority of our citizens.
The show has highlighted the activities and activism of the Progressive woman on many shows in our short history. On Sunday, August 12th, 2012 we will highlight three (3) more of them.
There is a really big deal happening this month for American women, and especially for Progressive women in America. It's a gathering...a huge gathering. We will tell you about it from the two Progressive women who created the idea, and will bring this amazing gathering into reality on Saturday, August 18th, 2012.
Another woman will be featured during our second hour this week. She has been, for decades now, causing gatherings, writing about gatherings, and reporting on the national news about gatherings. We will talk to her about the past, present, and future of journalism, and the woman's role in it.
Follow me just below the squggledoodlethingey fold, and I'll tell you more about it.
Sunday, August 12, 2012 2:30PM-4:30PM (Central Time)
This past week, I was privileged to witness the successful landing of the Mars rover "Curiosity", a one-ton, vehicle-sized moving laboratory. In less than nine Earth years, the United States of America, beginning with nothing more than a blank piece of paper, begat our presence on a foreign planet.
The same nation, in more than 300 years, has still not recognized the equality of more than 50% of its population. Yet, in this past twelve months, legislation has been penned more than 1,000 times in our land to restrict their rights, remove their access to equal pay, deny them insurance based upon their gender, consented by our national silence to pay them an average of 77% of the dollars their opposite gender citizens are paid for the same work, consider their gender as the only perquisite to deny them needed health insurance due to a "pre-existing condition" (without accountability), defund the primary health access point for millions of their numbers, deny their children health care and remedial necessities (such as nutrition, pre-school education and immunizations), and refuse them access to discussions regarding their own personhood, right to privacy, and their right to make their own personal healthcare choices.
The umbrella phrase generally used by them in these days is "The War ON Women!" I do not believe ANY creditable source would legitimately argue the veracity of this phrase. Since 1701, American women have been disenfranchised in virtually every conceivable way, from the right to own personal property, to having parental rights over their own children, to the right to serve on juries, the right to vote, and the right of self-determination in their personal medical matters.
The "War ON Women!" now seeks to reverse every single one of these gains. Yes, every one of them. On our show, we have consistently used a slightly different phrase: "The War FOR Women!" We have highlighted those who are leading the battles in this unnecessary, unrequested war. On this Sunday's show, we will highlight three of those warriors.
The first two will join us for our first hour. They are founders, and leaders of "We Are Woman!", a grassroots organization that has gone national--very quickly. From their own website:
Alaina LaTourette was raised in Syanon, CA, an experimental community where she learned to view people as individuals rather than differentiating by race, gender, or religion. Those values stayed with her and have gone on to influence her parenting, advocacy, and activism. Alaina participated in three previous women's rights marches in Washington, and is one of the founders of We are Woman. She is a Lead Coordinator, helped secure the permit and is working on Planning and Logistics.
Wendy Cartwright cites Hillary Clinton and Rosa Parks as her role models. She believes strongly that no one should be afraid to stand up for his or her rights and beliefs and that it is our responsibility to fight this fight for both the women who came before us, and the next generation. Wendy is an active participant in numerous organizations in Florida including as a member and supporter of Occupy Tampa and Planned Parenthood. Wendy, along with the other founders, is part of the initial planning team; establishes processes with a focus on organization and reaches out to others via social media and email.
We Are Woman! is sponsoring a national rally on the West lawn of the U.S. Capital on Saturday, August 18th, 2012, from 10AM-4PM (Eastern Time). YOU should be there!
The website has a forum for every state in the Union. Right now, there are still extremely affordable housing accommodations and transportation opportunities available for attendees. There will be nationally recognized speakers. And, our show is trying to coordinate with others to insure live coverage of all, or at least some of the rally, and offer those speakers and attendees an opportunity to speak to our listeners. Hopefully, we will have a Special Guest (or several) who will join us on our next episode on Sunday, August 19th, 2012 to give an after-action report on the event, with future plans made known.
If the grace and eloquence of their volunteer staff, in preparing for this interview be any thermometer, this group is a very class act. It's been 300 years. It's time, and the time in NOW!
In our second hour, we will have as our Special Guest Sharon Cobb, a documentary filmmaker, NBC/MSNBC news correspondent (Southeast US), writer, blogger, professional (and award winning!) journalist--and all around pretty nifty lady. She also just happens to be one of the most well-known songwriters in Nashville, Tennessee. Her beat, however, is the same as ours.
We'll talk about her life, her work, her passion, and her future today. This is a Progressive woman you will want to meet, and meet again. She has a lot to say. A lot of it may very well surprise you. That has never slowed Sharon down, and I can pretty much guarantee it won't slow her down on our show: I wouldn't allow that!
While she no longer works for the news networks, she is very much involved with the current day Southern Progressive movement. You have undoubtedly seen her "camera" work, but you may not have seen her self-funded, independent documentary which focused on the de-funding/refunding of Tennessee's TennCare program. What Tom Brokaw has lost, PPTS has gained for this special time.
Today, I was watching the photographs from "Curiosity" download and become visible before my eyes. It was an absolutely incredible time for me. And, by the way:
A woman was commanding the rover and it's cameras today.
We're on the air!
We'll see YOU there!