Maya Angelou taught us:
“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
The GOP showed us who they are (and it surely wasn’t the first time but it should’ve been the last) when they kept an admitted sexual assaulter as their nominee.
Who they are is the Gross Old Predator party. These white men of power and privilege have declared War on Women.
That is not hyperbole. Their reaction to multiple accusations against Kavanaugh, the refusal to investigate, the rush to the vote, these are their battle strategies and they are winning this war against women.
And women are proving their strategies right because we are letting them do it. We voted these guys in and then we surrendered. From the Battle of Anita Hill to the Battle of Hilary Clinton, we surrendered our power and let them win.
Because, much like Dorothy, we always had the power. She had the red shoes and we had the blue votes. The difference is Dorothy didn’t know she had the power, so she had an excuse. We have no excuse. We knew we had the power of the vote AND we are the majority. If we vote, we can win. We just didn’t care enough to use our power.
Fight back for all the women who were forced to stay in abusive relationships because they did not have the resources to leave and no one cared enough to help.
Time’s up on that bullshit. It’s time women fight back.
Fight back for all the women who are suffering this week because they too have been assaulted and denied justice.
Fight back for all the women who have been dismissed at work for not playing ball with the boss.
Fight back for all the women who were forced to stay in abusive relationships because they did not have the resources to leave and no one cared enough to help.
Fight back for all the women who have been victimized by a society that lets “boys be boys” for their entire lives, expecting women to just bend over and take whatever is done to them.
Fight back for the women who may someday find themselves pregnant and be denied the right to decide for themselves what to do because the GOP took what used to be a private medical decision between a woman and her doctor and made it political because they knew that strategic change would keep them in power.
Wake up women. The men in power are playing you. They’re making you believe you have to accept being subservient. They’re making you believe that your issues are not as important as theirs. They even got you to accept that your body wasn’t yours to rule.
You want equal pay, equal work and equal rights. You want equal respect. You want domain over your own body , just as men have. When you are assaulted you want justice but the GOP is declaring you insane or liars or opportunistic. Why? Because if they allow you justice, you may take power.
The’ve maintained power by denying you justice and equality. They are scared that you will take it.
Do it! Damn it! Do it! And talk to your friends and family.
No R votes. No R support.
The War on Women ends this November. But only if you use the power that is yours.
The GOP has shown you who they are.
Show them who you are.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Debby Drezon Carroll
A mom, grandmom, writer, book author, teacher, and advocate for the vulnerable in society. She is a supporter of civil rights, education and serves her community and country.