At this year's Women's Equality Day Reformed ceremony in White Plains on August 15 - celebrating 88 years of women's voting rights since August 26, 1920 - Regina Riely of the WEDR Committee spoke these prescient words:
"True feminism, as lived by these women (the early feminists - Mott, Stanton, Anthony), recognizes a moral order that is changeless, and yet attuned to the here and now. The woman was and is the guardian of and the most influential model of ethical behavior by her openness to life, despite the sacrifice it entails: protection of progeny, physical strength and moral courage, speaking truth, giving and receiving love. Depending upon her guardianship and the path she chooses, the morality of civilizations stand or fall. In whatever other role she occupies, the dignity of every person from conception is obvious to her, and through her actions, obvious to others."
Thank you, Sarah! You are the embodiment of true feminism!
Regina'a comments concluded:
"Put in historical context, Mott, Stanton and Anthony were concerned with the human dignity of others, and that drew them into the abolitionist and temperance movements of the mide-19th century. Their fight for this moral order translated into the stiriving for women's suffrage, a pre-requisite for equality under the law. At the crossroads they chose a path with a new direction, feminine dignity, and the American feminist movement began."
(For full commentary go to LifeNet's 2008 August Archives for WEDR)
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