"All men are created equal," states the Declaration of Independence. From the very beginning, women were denied equality in the this country. It has taken over two centuries for women to win the right to vote, to have alleged protection under the law, to earn 77 cents on the dollar that men are paid, and to gain control over our own bodies and destinies.

 

And now, nearly 250 years later, we are seeing our rights being stripped away, one by one, by mean sprited misogynistic right wing religious super- conservatives.

 

Several new state laws dictate that before a woman can get an abortion, she must (without her consent) be subjected to an internal sonogram by means of shoving an apparatus into her vagina and up to her uterus. I don't know about you, but I call this RAPE. Legislated, officially sanctioned rape.

 Rationalizing his state-sponsored bill mandating vaginal probes, Virginia Republican Delegate Todd Gilbert declared that a women already consented to being "vaginally penetrated when they got pregnant."

 

A parallel rule would be that if a man wants a prescription for Viagra, he must undergo an anal probe or an electric shock to his penis to see whether he really can't get it up. As if this would ever in a million years happen.

 

The latest outrage is a Colorado bill working its way through the state legislature that would allow an employer to fire a woman if she uses contraceptives. That is, unless she can document that she takes them for health reasons and not for birth control.  

 

While Virginia is pushing legal personhood recognition for an unfertilized egg, women, the creators and bearers of eggs are being denied our personhood. This is really scary, like something out of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

 

In a review, Kathleen A. Cameron describes the book as "a vision of a fictional theocratic regime that reduces the value of women to reproductive commodities. This depiction is a disturbingly accurate account of the status of women in the Middle East and other parts of the world, [but worse,] in many ways it reflects political, legal, and cultural doctrines, ideologies, and practices [right here] in the U.S."

 

 

To her credit, Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) loudly demanded, "Where are the women?" before she and several other democrats stormed out of the hearings. This, I believe was a total mistake. Better they should have stayed and created a rumpus.

 

The one proposed woman witness in favor of subsidized birth control, a third year  law student at Georgetown University, a Catholic school, was ruled to be "not appropriate and qualified." by GOP Chairman Darrell Issa who defended the exclusion of a woman from his all-male panel on contraception.

 

But the outrage didn't stop there. Rush Limbaugh then excoriated her on national radio:

 

"What does it say about the college co-ed [Sandra] Fluke who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex? What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. [. . .] If we are going to pay for your contraceptives, and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."

 

And while Congress keeps trying to defund contraception, Representative  Dan Burton (R-IN) has proposed a bill to provide contraception for wild horses. (You can't make this stuff up.)

 

In South Dakota, Republicans proposed a bill that could make it legal to murder a doctor who provides abortion care. (Yep, for real.)

Can this war against women get any worse? Oh, yes! Maryland Republicans ended all county money for a low-income kids' preschool program. Why? No need, they said. Women should really be home with the kids, not out working. low-income kids' preschool program. Why? No need, they said. Women should really be home with the kids, not out working.

 

Wisconsin just passed a law to repeal the Equal Pay Enforcement Act for women. The shocker? The bill to repeal was authored and sponsored by a woman: Rep. Michelle Litjens, (R-Oshkosh).

 

Another female turncoat collaborator with the enemy of women is journalist Liz Trotta, who, in a Fox News report on sexual abuse of women serving in the military, asked "Well, what did they expect?"

 

That same old outrage of blaming rape on the victim. Unlike short skirts and revealing blouses, combat fatigues are hardly alluring. So according to her, the mere fact of having breasts is invitation and excuse enough for molestation. Maybe we should bind our breasts. And our feet, too.

 

 

 

Are you angry enough yet? You've heard the saying, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." Well, ladies, it is time for some serious fury! Protest the war on women.  

 

The Queen proclaims, "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!"  

(The little ones they think with.)

 

With blessings of righteous indignation and well placed fury,

 

Half the population of this country are women, and we will not be sent back to the Dark Ages, and we will not be denied our rights.

- Carolyn Maloney

By Eve Ensler  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am over rape.

I am over rape culture, rape mentality, rape pages on Facebook. 

 

I am over the thousands of people who signed those pages with their real names without shame.

 

I am over the hundreds of thousands of women in Congo still waiting for the rapes to end and the rapists to be held accountable.  

 

Please keep your comments coming. And do feel free to make suggestions about content you would like to see. Or anything else, for that matter. It is a joy to connect with you.

Loved your "Love Your Body" and "Have a Love Affair with Your Self." I too had a major clean-up in recent weeks. It is our summer here: lots given away, moved around, thrown out. Making way for a new world - personal and collective. Along with much sadness and all kinds of emotions and insights, I also have developed some healthy new attitudes! My seasonal ceremonies help me process all this, as you would understand. Thank you,

- Glenys, Australia

 

Loved all of this issue's information and suggestions to be in love with one's self and when we do, how could we not be in love with others?! Thank you for the loving reminder about focusing on what we love about our bodies. I guess I need to go on and embrace these XL tata's! Thank you,

- Linda, SC

 

I, too, agree with you about women. Only when they become rulers, then Humanity will be happy. When the first globally suppressed writer becomes world leader, women get political power. You give publicity to my status as writer. Voltaire's Poor Brahmin.

- Katrpati, India

 

I was so disappointed to see you write that Etta James was born to a "low life mother" and to only speculate who her father might have been, but no mention of him not acknowledging Etta or being there for her either. I found it interesting that you would denigrate her mother in such a way when you are espousing that women should love themselves. Clearly Etta's mother was born into a world that did not allow her to love herself or the child she bore. Without really knowing her mother's history, it seems judgmental and unnecessary in an newsletter about loving others as you would yourself. After reading your words about Etta's mother, I found your whole blog on "Love Your Self..." a bit disingenuous.

- Cynthia 

 

Dear Cynthia,

 

Thank you for sharing your reaction to Etta James' obituary. I appreciate your honest appraisal, and I am truly sorry that you were disappointed, so I would like to clarify a few things.

 

The description I used of Etta's mother was taken from her (Etta's) book. I would not presume to denigrate her mother on my own. That was Etta's opinion and her words, (which really should have had quotation marks around them - one of a couple of unfortunate editing oversights in this issue). I agree that her mom did not have a positive Self-esteem, and Etta's low Self-image surely was born from her mother's example and rejection.

 

But aren't you assuming and judging that her mother did not love her child? My own grandmother abandoned her five children in a desperate escape from a brutal husband. Women are often pushed to the edge, causing terrible consequences for their kids. But it doesn't mean that they don't love those children, just that they do not have the emotional wherewithal and/or strength of character to raise them.

 

Please understand that I was not judging her mom, nor Etta for that matter, but rather telling her history. And I was not speculating about who her father was. That was what she grew up hearing. I did say that she never knew him. Does that not mean that he wasn't in her life, whoever he might have been?

 

And finally, the newsletter was not about loving others as you would love yourself, but the opposite - being able to love yourself as you would love others. Something that neither Etta nor her mom was able to do. A sad story all around. Thanks again for writing me.

 

- xxQMD

 

Thank you for the clarification on all fronts. All the best,

- Cynthia 

 

Loving myself is a daily struggle. So many years of built up negative programming has made loving, liking, and respecting myself an unheard of possibility. So imagine my delight when I received this issue in my in box. I have reread it many times already and will continue to do that until it starts to sink in. With grateful appreciation for your support,

- Charlene, ME

 

Why is it so hard for us to say that we love ourselves? I guess we were raised to believe that was not polite and lady-like. Your book really helped me to claim that feeling of Self-love. It has taken a long time and a lot of practice, but I can say it now. I love me! Thanks for inspiring that courage to feel good about who I am.

- Dorothy, GA

 

I find that a real benefit of aging is that I am much more tolerant of what I always used to call my faults. It's not that I don't care how I look or how I act, but I can be much more gentle and less judgmental with myself now. I can gladly trade a few wrinkles for that new peace of mind.

- Janice, MN

 

Thank you for all the work you do for women.

- Lee, NJ 

 

- Rita Mae Brown

 

 

Adrianne, NY; Alison, TN; Amy, NY; Bebee, DE; Berenice, NY; Betty, AL; Chrissie, NY; Dana, CA; Dani, WI; Dominique, NM; Dee, NY; Glenys, Australia; Jo, AZ; Judith, NY; Karen, NJ; Kathleen, PA; Kay, NY; Kazuko, NY; Kimi, NJ; Lorie, KY; Lydia, CO; Lisa, PA; Lucia, TX; Mari, VA; Mary, MD; Naomi, DC; Pat, MA; Patsy, NY; Pearl, NY; Roberta, NY; Ruth, NY; Sandi, NY; Sandy, CA; Sharon, NY; Shirley, IN; Sherli, CA; Sid, PA; Smriti, CA; Susan, MA; Susan, NC; Terri, FL; Wicki, NY; and Yvette, NY; who are in the process of healing themselves from illness, accident, injury, or surgery.

 

Amy, NY; D. Barbara, NY; Carol, NY; Glenys, Australia; Joanne, NY; Kimberly, NY; Kimi, NJ; Linda, NY; Linda, NY; Maureen, NY; Meryl, NY; Dee, NY; Patricia, Australia; Regi, CA; Sheryll, CA; and Svetlana, NY; who would benefit greatly from some spiritual support.

 

Ali, VT; Annie, NY; Chrys, NY; Deni, NY; Erica, New Zealand; Gaetana, NY; Gail, NY; Hemetra, PA; Kathrine, Denmark; Lois, NY; Marla, NY; Nancy, NC; Roslyn, NJ; and Sharon, FL; the caregivers who are in weary need of care themselves.

 

May Their Spirits Rest in Peace:

De-Anna Alba, CA

Marie Colvin, England

Theresa Conroy, OH

Rosemary Frye, MN

Tonya Thelma Grant, NY

Barbara Grier, FL

Shirley Guenthner, CO

Whitney Houston, CA

Nancy Osborne, FL

Gayla Preston, OH

Lenore Andrea Simon, MI

Rebecca Seip, IL

Donna Wilshire, NJ

 

With Heartfelt Condolences:

Annmarie, IL

Deb Frietag, OH

Carolyn Gage, ME

Barbara Gerber, FL

Connie Hoffman, MI

Maureen Kenman, OH

Donna McBride, FL

Lea Pierce, CA

Carol Peterson, CO

Diane Scholten, IL

Linda Siegel, NY

 

Prayer requests:

 

My cousin, who is like the sister neither of us, both being only children, never had, could use your healing energy. She has a history of intermittent respiratory issues as a result of her asthma and extreme allergies, but for the last 2 or 3 years had been "kvelling" (it's Yiddish. If you don't know what it means, that's OK) about the fact that her latest protocol had kept her OK. It is unwise to tempt the gods. (I don't know about the goddesses.) She is back in the hospital with such bad laryngitis that she literally has no voice and fits of coughing that have totally exhausted her. She is negative for whooping cough, Legionnaire's disease or any of the numerous other things one tests for, and her lungs don't seem to be brewing pneumonia, but it has already been a couple or three days. She is in Springville, NY.

- Beverly, FL

 

There's a community in Dexter, OR (15 miles from Eugene) that is dealing with aggressive mining of a butte. So, I would ask that "Friends of Parvin Butte" be added to the circle of care. Thank you.

- Lynne, OR

 

One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion.

- Simone De Beauvoir 

 

To:

To the citizens of the United States of America

 

From:

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 

 

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)   

 

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy). Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.  

 

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect: 

 

1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut'  without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (Look up 'vocabulary').  

 

2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

 

3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. 

 

4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse. 

 

5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler, although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public. 

 

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour. 

 

7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it. 

 

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar. 

 

9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. Australian beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion. 

 

10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater. 

 

11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full Kevlar body amour like a bunch of nannies). 

 

12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the Australians first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

 

13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad. 

 

14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776). 

 

15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality  biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season. 

 

God Save the Queen!   

  

 

Photo: Chris Levine 

 

I received this as a forwarded anonymous email.