Hello, Fellow Suffragettes and Suffragents!
As I started this particular post for my blog, I was ready to rummage through the skeletons in the Republicans' closets...I'm still doing that, but, since my ethics and morals refuse to allow me to do otherwise, I'm going to be fair and show you something interesting I learned about the Republican party..and it's surprisingly nice..although it was back when the party was first started. don't misunderstand. I still don't like the Republican Party - NOW. Back then, it would have been a different story. Let me explain.
So let's start at the beginning:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Republican_Party
http://lindasuegrimes.suite101.com/women-and-the-republican-party-a67082
The Republican party was formed in 1854 by anti-slavery activists. It was, interestingly enough, created shortly after the Suffragette movement was formed. They quickly started championing for women's rights, causing many women to become Republican.
Now. Imagine the tables are turned..the Democrats are the bad guy, and the Republicans are the good guy. I know, it's hard to think about, but when the Republicans first formed, they did so to protest the tie between the Democratic party and the KKK. You see, back then, the Democrats were the bad eggs. Ironically enough, especially with what's going on in 2012, the Republicans were the women's biggest and most vocal supporter. And even more ironic? It was the Republican party who passed the "Equal Suffrage Amendment".
Their Slogan back then? "free labor, free land, free men." What did it mean? It meant that workers should be paid, not slaves. It meant that the rich were no longer going to be allowed to buy up all the good farmlands.
With Lincoln in power in 1860, the party set about saving the Union, getting rid of slavery and the Reconstruction.
But, by 1870, the party started to suffer. In-house fights over what the party should be representing, as some thought that they had accomplished their original goals and should move on to other things. The party ultimately began to support business, high tariffs, high profits and high wages. They also supported the Unions. The Republicans started taking credit for any business boom that happened.Within a few decades, the original goals of the party had been abandoned.
Women:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_motherhood
http://gopwomen.blogspot.ca/2009/05/history-of-national-federation-of.html
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/jofreeman/polhistory/repubfem.htm
http://hiphoprepublican.com/politics/2009/06/03/republican-womens-history-jeannette-rankin/
After the Woman's Suffrage Movement had succeeded, there was no more use for a woman to be involved in politics. Women were sent back to the home and told it was their "civic" duty to have children, teach them the Republican way. The sons were taught about liberty, government and business, while daughters were taught to stay home and learn domestic duties. Women had the rights they had fought so hard for, but not every woman took advantage of them. In all fairness, some Republican women did use their newfound power. Susan B. Anthony was one, Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in the House, Margaret Chase Smith, the first female nominated for president of the United States.
Some of the most important women in regards to the Suffrage Movement were Republican. And so, they DID do something good. Not anymore.
Where did it all go wrong? When? It all went wrong when someone picked up a Bible and translated it to suit their own needs. Now, this blog is not about bashing Religion. Far from it. I'm a Christian. I grew up in a family full of Ministers, male AND female. What I am thoroughly against is Zealotry, Bigotry, Hate, Fear-Mongering and twisting words in a book to satisfy some dark need to control people.
Fast forward to the last decade or so:
Here is a link to read. It was written in March 2012:
And another:
And one more:
Theses articles talk a little bit of how the GOP is now known to some as the "American Faith Party ". Some people have started to infer that GOP now means "God's Own Party".
The right-wing zealotry really began to show it's ugly head around the 1970's. The first few main "hate groups" were formed in the 1970's: The Eagle Forum, Focus on the Family, Christian Voice, Concerned Women for America and Moral Majority.
These groups all had themes in common: They were anti-abortion, anti-woman, anti-rights, anti-homosexuality.
In the 1980's, the following "Hate Groups" were formed: Washington for Jesus, Family Research Council, Christian Coalition and Liberty Counsel.
In the 1990's: American Center for Law and Justice and Alliance Defense Fund
In the 2000's: National Organization for Marriage
And there are more popping up every day. These are ALL hate groups, as defined by the Southern Poverty Law Centre: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/hate-map
Some are probably wondering: Why are they choosing to sign all these restrictive laws now? Why not before? Because up until 2010, the Republicans did not hold enough States or power in order to get these laws in, out and signed without a huge struggle. They laid low, they plotted, schemed, made nice with the constituents. And in 2010, after pulling the wool over their voters' eyes, they gained majority in more than 19 of the Democratic-governed States. That gave them the power necessary to accomplish their goal. And accomplish it they did. They have passed over 1200 restrictive laws on women ALONE. Since their rise to power. With more on the way.
And, I fear, should Mitt Romney somehow manage to worm his way into the White House, we are doomed. The GOP will have even more power. More power to overturn Roe vs Wade and so much more. I see the United States going from a free country to more like a dictatorship. And we all know how that ends. It won't be pretty, ladies and gents. And I very much do not want to see that happen to my American friends.
Oh, and should you hear a Republican go on about how they are "protecting women", you can tell them, "Oh, that's so 2 centuries ago!"
I leave you with some definitions that I equate to the GOP.
The definition of a Religious Terrorist:
- (Religious terrorism) Religious terrorism is terrorism by those whose motivations and aims have a predominant religious character or influence.
- zeal·otnoun /ˈzelət/
zealots, plural- A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals
- A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals
Tomorrow's blog will be about the April 28 March Against The War On Women. Also Saturday, April 28th, I will be tweeting and blogging throughout the day about what is happening with the march. Monday, I'll be blogging about Mitt Romney and the skeletons in his closet, and again, since I'm an ethical person, I'll include Obama's. We'll see who the better person is.
So my friends, again, you inspire me, you teach me every day. Thank you.
Please feel free to comment. Because to be informed, you need information! All are welcome, but trolls and abusers will be dealt with swiftly.
With the greatest of Respect,
An Ordinary Woman
April 26, 2012
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations without my approval.
(Picture Reference: http://www.historicalstockphotos.com/details/photo/1061_to_begin_with_ill_paint_the_town_red.html)
No comments:
Post a Comment