Before I launched into these thoughts, first allow me to say that I firmly believe in the fact that man and woman are equals. Deserving of the same opportunities, same wage scale, and same rights as those given to men. In the 1960's, I grew up in the Navy during the civil rights movement. On my first naval vessel as a young seaman, the leading Petty Officer in my Division was Boatswain Mate 1st Class, John Payne, prior to his Naval Service, he had been raised in Georgia and was white. The Assistant Leading Petty Officer in the Division, was also a Boatswain Mate First Class, C.C. Anderson. He two was from the State of Georgia and was black. They set the example for civil rights, in the four years that I served with them them, the subject of race or equality never entered their leadership or personal lives. Carl Anderson would become my mentor.


Moving forward to the 1970's and completing my sea duty, I volunteered for Navy Recruiting duty and was assigned to a one man office in western Colorado. I recruited in the small ranching communities of western Colorado as well as the Ute and Navajo Indian Reservations. At this time, the opportunities were very limited in the naval service for women. They could not be assigned to duty aboard a ship or aircraft squadron that deployed to sea and only a few entry level jobs were made available to them. These jobs were predominantly in the clerical and personal service ratings, with very few openings. The one question on medical questionnaires that I will always remember was asked only of the women seeking enlistment. The question being, "have you ever had sexual intercourse?" If they answered "yes" to that question, it was automatically disqualifying. No such question was ask of the men seeking enlistment. During these times, there were no single or married mothers that were accepted for enlistment.


Approximately 1973, a movement started across our nation. Ladies started taking off their bras and throwing them in the wood stoves, fireplaces, or any other type of fire they could find. It commonly became known as the "Woman's Liberation Movement". Although, it did take some time, doors started opening for women in career fields and equalization. In time, the Navy would also change and eventually open up all jobs for women, assignment to ships, and actively began recruiting them. Although greatly improved, the women are still not seen as equal to men in many areas. In 1984, the first woman was nominated as the Democrat Party nominee for Vice President. Despite, the leadership and organization of the "Women's Liberation Movement", the election was lost to the Republican Party.

This morning upon awakening, I discovered that the entire equality movement for women was a pretense and was intended to apply only to the chosen few. The news of the morning, including that first woman Vice President nominee Geraldine Ferraro who stated that the same leadership that supported her would not support Governor Sarah Palin. Simply because she did not have the experience to hold the office, a mother of five and should be there to care for her children. I can only assume, that the movement that started thirty five years ago was not intended for all women, only those selected few that had passed the litmus test of the movement leadership. Geraldine Ferraro was the Vice President nominee and ran with Walter Mondale in 1984. Loosing by a landslide to President Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush. She would later loose two campaigns for the U.S. Senate but would serve as the U.S. Ambassador in the Clinton Administration. This past year, she was a staff member on the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Being in favor of equal rights for all, I can only assume if you have a "D" after your name instead of a "R" or "I", you are eligible for additional support of the movement leadership. If not, then you are just a woman and should stay home. Perhaps, this same group would like you to relinquished your right to vote, unless it is on a Democratic ticket.