Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Ladies Choice ~ A Womans Right To Vote In America















Eighty-eight years ago, after long angry battles that raged, arrests, tortured incarcerations, marches, picket lines and a war for equality that drew blood and the attention of the nation, women finally won the right to vote.


HBO created a movie about the women who fought so tirelessly so that all the generations of women after them could have a voice... could live in a society of equality... it's a tough movie to watch, to realize what was sacrificed so that women could step behind the curtain and exercise their choice... their right to vote, to change the nation and the future of our country. I absolutely recommend this Hilary Swank gem: Iron Jawed Angels

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Both of these ladies worked incessantly to get the vote, and both passed away before their dreams were realized.


~Alice Paul~


Lucretia Mott



~Lucy Burns~




“Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the Negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or Negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it. The men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.”

--Sojourner Truth


Whether you vote Democrat, Republican or Independent...
GET OUT AND VOTE
The right to do so was not given freely, it was hard fought and hard won by the blood and tears of our foremothers.
Make their sacrifices and dreams count.


28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Done and done.
Got my little "I voted" sticker, and all.
Primaries over, I can't wait to do it again in November.

Vote early, and Vote often! :)

The world is better for Sojourner, isn't it?

Sameera Ansari said...

What a thoughtful tribute!Indeed,the present generation does not value the rights they enjoy.

Btw,who do you support? :P

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Leslie,

YAY!
Great! Me too. The world is absolutely better for Sojourner. If you aren't really familiar with her, she is *definitely* worth reading about, she had an amazing life, and was an incredible, strong woman.
There haven't been many like her.


Hey Sameera!

I agree; the present generations need to remember where we've come from for many reasons, especially to appreciate those that came before us and gave us what we have now, and to look ahead to the future... can't figure out where you're going if you don't know where you've been.
I don't vote by party, but rather by best candidate. So when I vote, it's for the person who will do the best job in the office, regardless of party.


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

somepinkflowers said...

i so love it when you bring out your soap box,
i do
as
it gives me a chance
to clap loudly!

:-)

my great aunties were of this time
and i wonder
what they would think
today
with so many women active in politics.

yippeee!!

gbchange said...

One of my favorite speeches and I agree, regardless of party or politics we need to vote. Every eligible woman, man and child.

Gayle

rel said...

Scarlett,
I love how you get your point across; no vitriolic diatribe, just calm presentation of thoughts, ideas and feelings.
The right to vote across the board is something to be savored and nourished and will only be stable if practiced.
I've never missed an election vote.
This will be the first time I will vote for a major party candidate.
The right to express freely one's choice is the greatest of all riches!
rel

Virginia Harris said...

Read this for your daughters!

Senator Clinton and Governor Palin are proof that women can and do diverge on important issues.

Even on the question of whether women should vote!

Most people are totally in the dark about HOW the suffragettes won votes for women, and what life was REALLY like for women before they did.

Suffragettes were opposed by many women who were what was known as 'anti.'

The most influential 'anti' lived in the White House. First Lady Edith Wilson was a wealthy Washington widow who married President Wilson in 1915.

Her role in Wilson's decision to jail and torture Alice Paul and hundreds of other suffragettes will never be fully known, but she was outraged that these women picketed her husband's White House.

I'd like to share a unique women's history learning opportunity...

"The Privilege of Voting" is a new, free, e-mail series that follows eight great women from 1912 - 1920 to reveal ALL that happened to set the stage for women to win the vote.

It's a real-life soap opera! And it's ALL true!

Powerful suffragettes Alice Paul and Emmeline Pankhurst are featured, along with TWO gorgeous presidential mistresses, First Lady Edith Wilson, Edith Wharton, Isadora Duncan and Alice Roosevelt.

There are tons of heartache on the rocky road to the ballot box, but in the end, women WIN!

Thanks to the suffragettes, women now have voices and choices! We can support causes and/or become candidates on the left, right and in-between.

Find out how women won! Exciting, sequential episodes are perfect to read on coffeebreaks, or anytime.

Subscribe free at

www.CoffeebreakReaders.com/subscribe.html

Unknown said...

What a wonderful tribute to all those women who worked so tirelessly to ensure woman gained the right to vote.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

SomePinkFlowers,

I think that your aunties would feel like you do, and cheer our successes and learn from our failures.
I try not to pull the soap box out TOO often... but it does need to come out for the really important things.
And this is... *really* important.


Hi Gayle,

Hear, hear!!! Well said, lady.


Dear Rel,

You are always so very kind. Thank you. That's interesting that this will be your first time voting for a major party candidate. I'm curious now who it will be and why.
It is a precious freedom, the right to choose from among us who should lead our communities, states and countries, and what laws we will and won't accept.
One of our greatest riches, indeed.


Hi Virginia,

Welcome. I am interested in reading this, I will check it out.
Thanks for visiting.


Hello there Vanilla!

Thanks! It's meant to compel everyone to get out and vote; no matter who it's for. It is geared toward women, but meant for all.
These women can't have fought so bravely and shown such courage for us to just sit back and pass the opportunity by. It is a gift, and it is our obligation and right to exercise it.
Neither the women, nor their sacrifices, should be forgotten.

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

J said...

Thank you for this. Inspiring words, inspiring quote. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

watched that movie last year and yes, it was a solid one.

every human being has the right to do anything he deems fit.

Kay Cooke said...

We have come so far - still have a way to go, but this post is a great reminder of how far we have come and the sacrafices to get there. Thanks Scarlett!

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Jules,

They are inspiring women! And an excellent reason to get out and vote.
Thanks, lady!


Canterbury Soul!

Wow! So good to see you here, it's been a long time. I'll come over to visit directly.
It's a powerful movie, indeed.


Kay,

Haven't we come a long way? So far. But we have quite a ways to go yet, I think.
Thank you!


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Suburbia said...

So well said. And something so easily forgoten by all of us.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Amen Suburbia, you are so right about that, and this is something that should never be forgotten!


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Jon M said...

Voting is so important...just wish the choice was a bit wider sometimes!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

Sojourner Truth was a great lady, one of our country's first genuine heroines. It is not possible for us to fathom the sacrifices she made, the incredibly rough row she hoed.

Who are we with all our privileges to disrespect her memory by not voting? What a great insult that would be to her memory and everything she suffered so that women who came after her would live in true equality?

Her words are gorgeous. Thank you for posting them here for us to read and marvel at the power and beauty of a woman's spirit.

Clowncar said...

They fought so my daughters could vote. What a wonderful legacy.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Jon,

You are so *very* right! I wish there were more choices not only for the people we vote for, but also the things we vote on.


Hearts,

Thank you, I couldn't possibly have said it better!
AMEN!


Clowncar,

All of our daughters... every one, every color, every religion, every economic level, every single girl.
Thank God.


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

The Passionate Palate said...

I have the movie and haven't watched it, much to my shame. But I so love that you got on your soapbox about this. We cannot forget from whence we came, nor the sacrifices that were made on our behalf. Yes, women need to speak up and vote!

Also, glad to be back...I missed you, too! Thanks for the sweet comment.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

Jeni!

Yay! So glad to see you.
True, we must never forget.
Thank you!


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Eastcoastdweller said...

Excellent post!

It is unbearably sad that Women had to wait so long and fight so hard, for the basic human right of being able to vote.

Then again, it wasn't that long before, that only men of property could vote; and before that, when the only ballot was a gun or a sword.

And there are still many nations, from Byelorus to North Korea, Russia to Zimbabwe, where voting is either a farce or non-existent.

Still, Female suffrage in the U.S. was crucially important. Like the abolition of slavery, it helped to address the patriotic plea: God mend thine every flaw.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Eastcoastdweller said...

Scarlett, may I link this wonderful post on my Sister-blog to Isis, For Love of Woman?

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

ECD,

Thank you so much. What a wonderful reply.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is my hero. That's a perfect quote for this.

Of course you may link to it, I would be honored.


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

exskindiver said...

amen.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

And AMEN again, dear friend.
Thank you Chesca.


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Veronica said...

I like this post. :) Thanks for the good things you said about my blog--I hope you keep stopping by. As far as the "sparkly" bits go--I got the code at http://myspaceoryours.net/ under the "code tweaks" section on the left. Have fun with it! :)

Akansha Agrawal said...

Wow,it's a really powerful way of tugging at people's conscience. I've posted something similar to this, in the Indian context, of course!Check it out if you want to!