Monday, January 31, 2011

"Aint I A Woman?"

I want to end January, 2011 with the words of Sojourner Truth. In the mid 1800's she was one of the bravest women in history...

by Sojourner Truth

Delivered 1851 at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio

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 your 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.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

My New Calling

I believe there are no accidents in life. A great example came my way this morning. A thread I started on the honesty/dishonesty of President Obama upon listening to his SOTU the other night morphed into something quite different on Facebook. At first I was kinda frustrated about it.

Next thing I know, I got a link from a friend regarding healthcare. It took me to her personal website where I watched her getting shouted down at a town hall in New Jersey where she lives. She is a major voice in the healthcare reform effort in the U.S. As I watched this video I found myself getting that old sense of passion that has been absent in my life for the past few months. Maybe because I don't know as much about what's going on, as I do around disability issues, I've stayed out of the fray on this.

As I was responding to her message that contained the link, I realized that there is a direct relationship between disability and healthcare. I wrote about the many times I've attended Dr. appointments, hospital visits, and low income clinic fiascos. I wrote about what happened to my friend who died prematurely as a result of being denied treatment for colon cancer. It all began to make sense to me.

Now I have something to jump into with both feet! I have a lot to learn about how the healthcare reform effort is working (or not), but I'm a willing student. EVERYONE HAS A HUMAN RIGHT to affordable healthcare, that won't cause them to make choices around seeing a Dr., purcahsing the medications they need, buying food, or paying their bills. It's really a no brainer, but sometimes it takes a while for my brain to work properly.