The zinnias are still blooming. The morning glories are still blooming. One of my rose bushes is still blooming. And the moonflowers are getting ready to bloom again. Every evening I go outside to see if a flower has opened, and if it hasn’t I check again when I first get up. Not yet. But they’re coming.
And there are leaves everywhere. The maples are dropping leaves like crazy. We haven’t begun the raking process, because why bother? There will be more leaves on the ground almost immediately. We’ll wait a bit.
Far from my favorite thing to do.
Yesterday was a tough one; mourning for my dad on his birthday, sinus problems, not enough sleep. But I tackled bill paying and that sort of thing and we finished watching the entire Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries series. We absolutely loved it. Excellent direction, design, acting – everything was pitch perfect.
I feel a post coming on about sexism – subtle and not-so-subtle – in this election. I’ve been focusing on the words that (mostly) male interviewers and pundits use when evaluating or discussing the female candidate for President. It’s really eye opening. Even pundits who I generally agree with and respect often fall prey to it. I don’t even know if they are consciously aware of it. Probably not. But it’s there.
Whatever your political views, being the first female candidate for President of the United States requires an extremely high level of bravery and steely fortitude in the face of the rampant sexism that lurks everywhere. Some of it is overt – but much of it is ingrained in our population. And it’s not limited to men.
Don and I have talked about it quite a bit.
I will say this. I am a proud feminist. My husband is a feminist. And when I see some millennials disparage or discount feminism, I want to shake them. If they don’t see the need for feminism (which frankly, boggles my mind because there is still such a glaring disparity in terms of pay and rights for women), but if they don’t see that disparity in their lives as working women – wonderful. They can thank the feminists who came before them for that. And they’d better hope that a forward-thinking candidate is elected President because those gains could disappear all too quickly.
I once read a post by a blogger that infuriated me. She wrote that she didn’t think “Christian” women should be feminists. This was from someone who had gone to medical school and become a doctor. She was no longer practicing medicine, but no matter. The very fact that she was able to attend medical school came about because of the tireless work of feminists (both men and women) who knocked and knocked and knocked until those doors were finally opened. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
That the male candidate for President constantly talks about women in sexist terms is not open for debate. But I see it in others, as well.
There’s nothing like an election in which a woman could actually become the President to show us that a lot of work still needs to be done.
Hey, I guess I wrote a mini-post about it. More, I think, will come later.
Happy Thursday.
I agree with all of your good points, Claudia, but I’m reminded of all of the conservative-christian-anti-feminism thought processes that were fed to me during my upbringing. I think The best (worst!) explanation I’ve heard for all of the (seemingly, to me) stupidly staunch supporters of this wretched clown was the “lady” who said, “I’m voting for the conservative wagon train, no matter who the lead jackass is!” And how can you counteract that logic…er, lack there of? I certainly hope that better people and minds will prevail.
It’s really unbelievable, isn’t it, Shanna? How can you reason with that kind of mindset?
I have to say I don’t even know how to react to the very idea that a woman who had the opportunity to attend medical school would make such a statement. I am so sick of hearing what a “Christian” woman should not be. And that’s an entirely different conversation – I know.
I was raised with the “conservative-christian-anti-feminism” world too deep in the South. My Daddy – whom I respect tremendously – was a Missionary Baptist minister for 39 years before he passed away and all of my life. I will add that he didn’t raise me with the beliefs of the conservative-christian-anti-feminism world but it was the world that we lived in.
I am blown away every single time that I hear someone that I know, love and respect in this world say that they are voting for that man because of their morals. They believe you must vote with your morals and not your politics. And most of the time their reasoning is based on the issue of abortion and guns. And don’t even get me started on someone being against abortion yet don’t touch their guns!
It continues to blow my mind how little most people that claim to be republican actually know about the world of politics. This is especially true in the South. Being from the South there is so much that I am proud of but there is also so much that I will forever be ashamed of and is the very reason I will not remain in the South. There are so many facts that these so called republicans do not know and when you actually quote facts or show it to them in black and white they still don’t get it! It infuriates me. Sickens me and most of all makes me so very sad.
We all know this conversation could go on and on. Thank you Claudia for the opportunities that you give to discuss this election on your blog. I too am a feminist and am so very fortunate to be married to a feminist. Bless them all!
Have a most lovely day!
Thank you, Belinda. Not being from the South, the information you share with us is very valuable. It gives me a peek into a way of life of which I am fairly ignorant. xo
I completely agree with you both on this – and hearing the perspective from someone raised in the South is especially eye-opening. Thanks, Belinda. We all need to listen to each others’ points of view more often, and yet it seems we’re doing this less and less as a nation. Hence, I’m sorry to say – our current problems.
You are so right, Janet.
I too am from the South. Although I have lived in the Atlanta area for decades, I spend a substantial amount of time in my North Georgia hometown. I am seeing something a bit different than Belinda. There is support for the Republican nominee from some quarters in the rural areas, but several of the ministers from my town are urging their congregations to use their true moral compasses RATHER THAN toeing the party line. Since my home county is so solidly Republican this can only mean they have a problem with the Republican nominee. The support for the unqualified Mr. Trump does not seem to be concentrated in the churches, at least in the area I am most familiar with. I think it is important to remember there is a diversity of opinions in every area of the country. This election is inexplicably close on a national level not region by region.
Very good to know, Kaye. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Thanks from me too, Kaye. That’s about the most heartening thing I’ve heard about this election in months.
Want a big post? Come to Utah!.(I am NOT talking religion) just an over all additude of male supremecy! Some I’m sure handed down from pioneer days,and other history. I have seen women get in and work side by side with men til the job is done! -Judy A-
Oh, don’t get me started on Utah…I won’t be able to stop!
xo
Keep up the good fight out there in Utah, Judy! It has to be difficult!
Last night, while out with two women friends we had the very same discussion about feminism and the deep rooted hatred and fear of women in our culture. It is very frustrating to us that the younger generations of women declaim feminism and say there is no longer a need for a Woman’s Movement.
We were enormously proud of HRC and her performance at the debate. What a smart and classy lady!
Your flowers still look pretty. My mums, sedum and asters are in their glory but everything else is pooped out.
That generation will learn the hard way that they absolutely need a Woman’s Movement. There’s a level of arrogance, or maybe just ignorance, there that astounds me.
Our family has been devoted fans of Phryne and her adventures for several years when it was first shown on one of our PBS stations….. dearly love this character…..Ovation channel is currently showing it; don’t watch it there because don’t like the idea of commercials that might result in possible cuts to show…….we have season one on DVD and are looking forward to season 3 , hopefully next spring……wasn’t familiar with Essie beforehand but her career accomplishments are impressive……for us it is perfection on all sides and at the top of our favorites ……some wonderful interviews on the web with costume and hat designers.
How easily some forget, or don’t understand, or prefer fiction to fact, the ignorant unjust prejudice women faced…..from the suffragettes to the women of the 40’s, ’50’s and 60’s who stepped forward to right these wrongs …….you see many pictures of the landing crafts on WWll D day with the courageous allied soldiers going ashore but it is rare to see the photos of the courageous unarmed women ( mostly nurses) stepping off these same landing crafts going forward to help… doing the right thing often means facing ingrained ignorance which is quite often self perpetuating.
Do love seeing your zinnias…..so many vivid memories of this old fashioned cottage flower… .when I started elementary school in the 1940’s, it was common to see a vase of them on the teachers’ desks.
Best wishes to you and Don. Dianne (you inspired me to be brave and comment)
Season 3 in on Netflix, Dianne – if you have access to that. We just finished watching it. I’m hoping they do a season 4!
You’re so right. How easily people forget about a time that is not all that long ago!
You’ve made some very good points Claudia…and I totally agree. But, then, you knew I would. When I worked for the city as a bus driver…they are now called transit operators….I was one of a group of 8 women out of 200 that drove. I like to think I helped pave the way for today’s women drivers. We were all equal as far as pay was concerned. I also tried to raise 3 sons to be feminists….and I think I succeeded. I guess if the millennials are not concerned with feminism…we have to look inward. Perhaps the Baby Boomer and Gen X generations didn’t do enough. I’m hoping it’s not to late to reverse this trend. I know HRC would certainly do a lot to improve that perception! Really enjoyed the zinnias! ;)
You should be very proud for paving the way for women drivers, Donnamae!
I’m lucky…I was raised in a family where strong, smart women were my role models….my Mom, both grandmothers and a great-grandmother. None of them attended college, and only two of them worked outside the home, but their strength, intelligence, street smarts combined with unfailing support for me shaped my way of thinking and generally who I am today. I’m grateful for my four heroes. I also have an incredible Dad and I had an imposing grandfather…neither treated me any differently from my brothers. They are my two heroes.
Phryne is a favorite in my household too. I read the books long before the series began. The books and series are not quite the same, but I enjoy them both.
Though it wasn’t discussed all that much in our home, I definitely knew I was equal and that I should have all the opportunities that men have.
My mom was feisty and she’d take a stand, but she was of the generation where she still deferred to my dad on any big decisions…although she had a voice and they’d talk over everything. Sometimes I felt she maybe thought Dad was smarter than she was, just because he had a university degree. I’m not blaming her for this, but there was a part of me that then grew to believe I could be ‘rescued’ by a man and lazily give him the bigger load in a relationship. Let him sweat the bigger stuff. (I think they’d call it, in the old days, a Cinderella complex.) So, that’s something I’ve had to fight against in myself. There are a lot of guys still out there who want to (and will gladly) ‘wear the pants’ even though they claim to be feminists. I guess empowered women just make them feel insecure.
I’ve missed out on this whole discussion about younger women dissing feminism. Really? Let them live for awhile in the 1974 workplace of which I’ve detailed in my other comment here in the thread. They’ll change their mind in a hurry.
It’s a shame we have to even use the word ‘feminism’ when the whole thing should simply be about men and women treating each other equally in all things of life. This caveman thing of the male going out to hunt for food while the female stayed at the nest protecting the young was a practical part of survival in an ice age; maybe back then he was taller/bigger/stronger and daunting to a predator, so it just made sense in the family unit. It’s easy to see how the male could be, in the physical sense, the more dominant force. How it’s persisted for so many thousands of years, though, is mind-blowing.
Oh yes. Not all millennials, of course, but many millennials scoff at the whole idea of feminism and think it’s outdated.
O.M.G.
Yep.
I enjoyed your post today, as I always do, but I wanted to ask you if the train and station involved in the wreck this morning is the one you and Don take when you go into the city?? How terrible, I am at work and don’t know any details yet, but just thought of you two when I heard this news!
I hadn’t heard about it, Myra, but I just checked. Horrible! No, that’s a New Jersey Transit train in Hoboken. We take the bus into Manhattan from our home in NY – though it goes right by Hoboken. So many people commute into NYC via NJ Transit. Thank you for checking on us.
I am grateful for what our foremothers have done for us. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have the choice of working outside the home or working in the home. The only choice was home. I think of the movie “Mona Lisa’s Smile”. My SIL and I got into a discussion about this movie concerning the choice one of the girls made. I have done both. I have worked in a job that at the time were mostly men. I was a truck mechanic in the Army for four years. Now I am a homemaker. I like working at home better. I am not having to deal with foul language, sexual innuendoes/advancements and those who drank too much the night before and came to work. Of course that was over thirty years ago. Hopefully things are much better in the Army for women than they were then.
Hopefully they are. You raise an important point: Feminism and the women’s movement are about having a choice. That was something we didn’t have for many, many years.
Claudia,
With all due respect and you know that I don’t always agree with you:), but always feel totally comfortable asking you….and not trying to seem dumb:)….but, what rights do women not have that men do? I understand your concern about the difference in pay, but just can’t think of any rights that I am denied. And, I know you well enough to tell me without making me feel too stupid. Thanks, thanks, thanks.
Isn’t pay enough? And paid leave after having a child or when a child is sick? Many women have no recourse but to continue working. The rights we have and have fought for are often not respected, Terri, and men who are in power feel they have a say in those rights. For example, what we can and can’t do with our bodies.
It’s an attitude that is deeply entrenched. It’s shocking to me in this day and age, but I see it, I hear it, and I’ve run up against it.
Ask any woman who has reported an attack, a rape, and gone to trial, how women are often – not always – portrayed as being complicit in the attack; “they asked for it.” That invariably comes from men. Countless times a day, every day, women face questions about their abilities, their intelligence, their stamina (see Monday’s debate). When women are strong and forthright, they are called ‘ball-busters’ or ‘aggressive and angry’ when a man who expresses himself in the same way is called strong and forceful. I realize I’m veering from ‘rights’ but then again, don’t we have the right, shouldn’t we have the right, to be judged exactly the same as a man? I could list countless cases from this year alone, but I only have so much space.
I’ve heard pundits say Hillary should smile more. I don’t hear them saying that about a man. They wouldn’t. We’re judged on the way we look, rather than the way we work and think and the things we accomplish. We’re harassed in the workplace. (I’ve been there, I know.)
Here’s a tidbit from the other day (this has to do with language used to describe the female candidate for President): Chuck Todd (of NBC) said that the debate “exposed Trump’s lack of preparation, but Clinton seemed over-prepared at times.” Over-prepared? For being President? I doubt that he would be saying that about a man. It’s language, but it’s telling language. And he got a lot of flack for it.
I’ve edited this about ten times! Hope it makes sense. xoxo
Once again, your post and views have made me smile. You have such an eloquent way of expressing your opinions without demanding we all agree…but, I do agree 100% with all
said! I for one, am extremely excited to have a granddaughter witnessing history being made. I think some of us tend to forget, it really has not been that long ago women were denied the right to even vote!!!! It is quite interesting listening to a child give her “take” on this whole presidential election. She is baffled (just as am I) why Rosie O”Donnell’s name is mentioned in political matters! My granddaughter has hit the nail on the head in my opinion. She exclaimed “The Orange One” is nothing more than an overgrown playground bully!!!!
And she’s right! Good for her, Jeannine.
I am a feminist and proud of it! I’ve had to fight for jobs and pay raises my whole life. I see the advances that have been made in my daughters lives and I’m so happy, but there is so much more to be done. I am proud of Hillary Clinton taking on this challenge and holding her head up high.
I hope today is a better day for you. With family here for a few days we talked about my Dad and my brother and both Mom and I cried, but it was a good remembrance. Hugs!
There is a great deal more to be done, Linda!
If the Orange Man is elected, God help us all, our rights to health care and making decisions ABOUT our own health care are definitely in jeopardy. I have always said that if men got pregnant, there would be an abortion clinic on every street corner. And I am NOT saying that to make light of, or any comment about, abortion as a right. Our daughter (43 yo) and all of her friends are staunch in their Feminism. Our son (38) is just as staunch. We are proud of that. I worry more about those who are younger. I can’t understand them or the direction in which they are going.
I would really also like to know how people define “a Christian”. Apparently it includes being mean, belittling others, and bullying. As they say, standing in a garage won’t make you a car, and attending a church won’t make you a Christian. To me it is how we act when no one is looking. It is remembering and living the Golden Rule.
The flowers are lovely. My zinnias are still blooming, also. YAY! Have a lovely Thursday…
They sure will be in jeopardy, Chris. You’ve raised your children well!
So many people label themselves as Christian and all I can see in their particular set of values is intolerance. The Jesus I’ve read about and the God that gave us the Golden Rule didn’t practice that sort of Christianity.
I celebrate the day when a woman becomes president of the United States, however, Hillary Clinton is not the woman for the job!
Why? Because she’s a liar & untrustworthy. She’s in it for the power, not for protecting our country!
I think you should do some research. It’s been proven that Trump lies every 3 minutes. Every 3 minutes. There is no comparison. Trump is incapable of forming a plan or participating in a debate without his enormous ego and narcissism taking over.
If anyone is untrustworthy it is Mr. Trump, who has bilked people out of money his entire career, lied continuously, not paid his taxes, called women and men cruel names, made fun of the disabled – the list goes on and on.
Do you really think, knowing I have a disabled nephew, that I could support anyone who makes fun of a disabled person? That alone would disqualify him. And Hillary has fought for the disabled her entire career.
With all due respect, you’ve bought the fake controversies, the conspiracy theories and the lies that have been spread about her over the years by the Republicans and conspiracy theorists. You’ve drunk the Fox News Kool-Aid. A modicum of research would quickly tell you that they are not true.
You may not like her, but she has spent an entire career in public service which is more than I can say for Trump. Self-service is his mantra.
Donald Trump has never reached out to those in need. He is his bottom line.
As for the lies, you might want to visit this site (which is non-partisan):
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/
or this recent article:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/24/us/elections/donald-trump-statements.html?_r=0
Claudia..I hear this same rant basically put the same exact way..from so many people..however I never hear one word of proof along with this statement from any of them..
You’re absolutely right. And that’s because there is no proof. Ignorance, especially willful ignorance, is not bliss.
I’m so glad I resisted replying to this comment! After all, it’s not my blog, and you can do so much better than I. I think I met this lady in Utah…
Go for it, if you want to, Shanna! I could use the support!
Everything you just said about Clinton is at least twice as true of Trump.
A friend’s mother once said “You live where you live” in effect resigning us to the mores and culture of our physical address. I have to disagree because although I live in a red state,a conservative-narrow-minded-gun-toting state, I depend on books, select media, internet and travel to widen my viewpoint, enlighten my mind and feed my soul. Luckily my husband and I are in total agreement. I am over well over 60 and I am delighted to have a woman candidate, and thought that as her opponent was that GUY….it would be a shoo in. Imagine my dismay.
Mine, too, Melissa. What have we come to?
It’s easy to see, from where we stand now at this age of the ‘senior’, that there’s been change but not enough change in a man’s attitude/opinion of a woman. Too many of them still feel a driving need to be the ‘superior’ in any group of women or group of one woman. (Not ALL men, like Don or my husband; but too many men.)
Earlier in my work life, because I often worked from a position in a company where I had access to information about salary/rank, over and over and OVER again I saw where a woman was passed over for a promotion or making the lowest salary in a pool of men, all of whom were at the supposedly-same pay level for that particular job grade with the same educational background and job experience. I’ve been in meetings where I was the only woman as a staff-support person among managers, having to take notes and listen to conversation that was extremely degrading toward women even if the men were talking with ‘intelligence’ and good language. I started out my business years as a secretary at the start of the 1970s and I indeed was asked to fetch coffee for a male ‘boss’. This was a well-established, national company (of about 90 employees at our district office) which you’d have thought would be progressive but, no, this was not the case. Even then, I thought it was wrong for ANYone to interrupt my work and require me to MAKE and deliver coffee. It had NOTHING to do with my work or my job description! It made me so angry, but I did it because I didn’t want to lose my job. I was still a teen even though a full-time employee. I didn’t know how to stand up to a male supervisor who would insist on taking us young office girls aside in order to tell us dirty jokes we didn’t want to hear. Looking back, it’s just unbelievable.
I eventually left that job to go to another…where the president of the prestigious company (well-known and lauded in his community; refined upbringing and well-educated; handsome and interesting man, elegant and gracious), after I’d been there four years, began to flirt and be increasingly suggestive with me (constantly, persistently; daily). It was so odd, because we were not ‘familiar’ with each other; never conversational; it was ‘all business’. I wore conservative dresses and suits (never slacks); the office environment was very formal/hushed, and idle conversation with other employees was discouraged. I took my job seriously and was a quiet, reserved employee. (On the personal side, I’d broken off a romantic relationship that had been important to me, and I’d reached the stage where I was not needing attention from any male, at home or especially at work.)
So, I was completely bewildered with this unwanted attention (extreme and inappropriate flattery although ‘highbrow’ and never a ‘blue’ word) from my ‘boss’ (who could have ‘had’ anybody, so why me…?…when I’d seen many a beautiful socialite or even businesswomen fawn over him and nearly swoon in his presence). What can I say, I still had a certain naivete (and even awe of this man, which was quickly dissipating). I was VERY confused about the whole thing. I’d handle it a lot differently today but, 30-some years ago, I could allow myself to be intimidated by my personal circumstances: I had a mortgage payment, I was single; I needed my job.
Anyway, when this guy would make his moves, I’d look around, over my shoulder, as if to say, “Is he talking to ME?” I thought at first that I was dreaming; misinterpreting his actions. It’s a very difficult and isolating position to be in, when you’re the young female employee, feeling you’re in over your head, in a situation you can’t immediately get out of and which you did nothing to encourage. (Sounds like a Bill Cosby thing, doesn’t it.) I couldn’t believe the turn of events and didn’t feel anybody else would believe ME (this guy was locally famous; his family was in politics and had a high profile). I had to become very watchful not to get myself in a position where I’d be alone with him although there wasn’t much I could do when he’d call me into his massive work suite where he could speak quietly and no one else could hear what he said to me, even with the door open. I had to go in there, because I was in an assistant position; he gave me work assignments where I had to sit at his desk, go over papers, take instruction. I continued to politely but firmly spurn him (I never wavered; he eventually took the hint but it seemed like ‘forever’). Within a year of this stressful and relentless tightrope, I was then terminated due to ‘downsizing’ but, of course, I knew the REAL reason. I coulda/shoulda pursued it as harassment in the workplace (this guy was a millionaire with a team of lawyers; I was still in my 20s and he was intimidating to me although I’d at one time had so much respect for him) but I just went on to another job, which I luckily obtained within three weeks. And it became my dream job, working for a fair-minded but tough (and hardworking) female vice-president of a mid-size company. The change was welcome. It was relief like I can’t even describe. (I learned so much from her. She was so dedicated and bright. I was subordinate but never made to feel subordinate.)
Over 25 years of working in the ‘white collar’ environment from the 70s through the 90s, it was my experience that MOST male employees became aware of the hazards of sexual harassment in the workplace and became careful of how they spoke, even within earshot of a woman. But for many of them, it was just self-protection. The mindset and attitude hadn’t really changed. So, there’s change…and then there’s change. At least by the mid-90s, when working in the corporate offices of a Fortune 100 company (several thousand employees; 800 people at my location of the corporate HQ), I saw more and more women being promoted to higher positions and, importantly, male employees treating women employees with the respect they’d always deserved, no matter what year or what company or what job level.
We all have horror stories like yours, Vicki. It’s horrifying that you had to put up with them. I often feel the same way. The older Claudia wouldn’t put up with that crap for a second. The younger, more naive, Claudia didn’t know what the hell to do about it. Of course, as time went by, there were more avenues in which to challenge and/or report harassment, but back in the day – there wasn’t. There was a network of men who felt ‘entitled’ to say or do whatever they wanted to any female employee.
It still goes on, of course. More covertly, perhaps. Although the Roger Ailes story tells us that in his case, it wasn’t even covert. Now we’re smart enough to take our phones in and record that offensive behavior. Sigh.
Yeah, I’ve often thought about why I never considered hiding a tape recorder somewhere on me.
Here’s one for you, another story for another time, and I can’t say too much or I give too much away, but I had more than one occasion where I had to speak to Roger Ailes on the phone on behalf of yet-another dude (nutcase) for whom I once worked (thankfully, it was a brief stint). Perhaps you can ‘hear’ my not-favorable impression of the (disgraced) Fox mogul in these words as I type them…
Ooooh! Yuck. Makes my skin crawl.
Tape recorders were fairly bulky in those days, Vicki. Might have been harder to conceal.
Wow! You ladies have all said it so well..I grew up during the womens movement of the 60’s and 70’s…I grew up a Feminest and still am to this day…One thing that bothers me is why men fear a woman in power…what bothers me even more is why some women fear a woman in power…perplexing…A great quote from Gloria Steinem way back when…”The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.”
And to our dear Hillary…help set us free Sister….
Amen.
I truly don’t understand women who are afraid of a strong woman who has power. It’s a reflection on them, I think, rather than the woman or women they fear.
I love Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries! I’m going through them a second time right now. Don’t know what I love more, the actors, the writing, the time period and oh my, her fabulous wardrobe!
I’d kill for that wardrobe! (At least my younger, thinner self would!)
I don’t understand either. Maybe they are just ignorant of history. Maybe they don’t know what feminism is and how hard people worked to get what we take for granted now.
Same with unions. Unions fought for human working conditions and decent wages. Do they think the businesses just did it to be nice?
Exactly, Kay. Why would any worker trash the idea of unions? Don’t they get it?
I totally agree: A LOT of work has to be done.
I’m fortunate to be a teacher because unequal salary is not an issue in this field. A primary school teacher man or woman has the same salary. Kindergarten teachers, women mostly, earn less. Of course! But we are working on it. Women teachers also get 16 weeks of maternity leave, which is not mandatory in our country. Actually, we could vote some years ago, however, the Swiss said no to maternity leave. Can you believe this? Not to talk about equal payment for equal jobs, which is anchored in the constitution but not practiced in the business world.
I still remember the day my mother could vote and voted the first time. 1972 I think. She’s never missed an opportunity. Neither have I.
I wish you and the Americans all the best. This election is a nightmare.
Hugs, Regula
It is the definition of insanity, Regula. Don and I were just screaming about the whole thing. Trump is unhinged and insane.
Hello Claudia
it’s me again. I totally see your point. Trump is not an option. The whole election makes me sleepless in tiny comfortable Switzerland.
The question for me is, at this time and from my point of the world: How much would or does Clinton push for harder actions in Syria? Right as we’re discussing this the whole world is facing an extremely dangerous situation there: While Obama himself seems to be cautious to escalating things in Syria, there are obviously forces in Washington who are ready to follow a harder line.
http://www.nytimes.com/…/john-kerry-syria-audio.html
What about Hillary Clinton: Would she agree on or even force direct military actions against the Syrian army (which would almost certain lead to a direct confrontation with Russia) or not? If she would, this would make her to one of the most dangerous persons on the planet.
Some interesting fact on the linked NYT article: The NYT quotes Kerry with the words «The problem is the Russians don’t care about international law, and we do.». If you listen to the audio though and hear him continue, you hear Kerry say that the US have no legitimation to be in Syria by international law, but Russia does (which is indeed the case).
I don’t know the answer, but Don and I have been watching the atrocities that are occurring in Aleppo, sick at heart and wondering why no one is doing anything to stop it. I completely understand that we don’t want to get in a confrontation with Russia, but at some point, don’t we have to say, “Enough!”? When do we step in, whether through NATO or the United Nations, and prosecute them for war crimes? Because what they’re doing to innocent citizens is a war crime. Sigh. I admit I don’t know the answer Regula.
It’s a war because of the oil. If there wasn’t any, nobody in the western world would even know Syria (the same in the Ukraine due to gas).
If we want to stop this, we have to stop selling weapons to the Saudis and other countries to say the least. But this is not in the interest of economy and politics. No way, you can cut an industry and shut down jobs. No way you can even suggest it as a politician. I mean you can, but your career is over.
And if the NATO takes actions (which would be against Assad), Germany and more will be flat to the ground. I don’t dare think about it.
I believe in diplomacy. I think we should learn to listen and stop talking and looking for the best deal for us. So the UN are the better choice, but you know that their power is limited. However, we should listen to them talking about war crimes. It might be a different view of who’s committed war crimes.
We had a member of the UN, a German, in our classroom a few years back. He talked about Bosnia and Irak first hand. Very interesting and enlightening.
By the way, I don’t trust the media anymore. So much is going on they don’t tell and show us. Actually, we don’t know half of the truth.
Sadly, most people don’t even care. They’d rather shop and take pictures of their food.
But that’s it once and for all. Your blog is not about politics. I respect that!
Angels on your body!
P.S. We cannot have peace in the world if we don’t have peace in our hearts.
Clinton said something in the debate that you’ll never, ever hear from Trump: “I take responsibility for that” (about the email server). Trump is unable to “man up” enough for that. (Or should I say “woman up”?) His ignorance was showing as usual, both during and since the debate. He’s the king of double standards, too, He criticizes Ms Machado for “disgusting” sex tapes (maybe non-existent) while he’s married to a former soft-porn model? Riiight He criticizes overweight women, but “forgets” that he’s overweight himself. HE is the pig, both inside and out.
You’re absolutely right, Marty. He never takes responsibility for anything. It’s always someone else’s fault, or he turns around and accuses the other person of doing what he actually did.
And, lo and behold, there he is making a cameo in a soft porn video made by Playboy. What a hypocrite.