Tag: #Kamala Harris

The Roots of Black History Month

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The Roots of Black History Month

The Roots of Black History Month

As It Celebrates It’s 100th year

By Wes Hessel & Catherine Rees-Hessel

 

Black History Is More Than A Month, But It Started As A Week…

Black History Month is recognition and commemoration of the contributions of African-Americans to the history of this country. This celebration started when a group of men – Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, George Cleveland Hall, William D. Hartgrove, Jesse E. Moorland, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps – founded the ASNLH (Association for the Study of Negro Life and History) in September of 1915. Just over ten years later, Dr. Woodson created the forerunner of the current celebration – Negro History Week  – in February of 1926; he chose a week in which the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were celebrated.

Gained Momentum And Spread…

Black History Week became Black History Month with a proposal from the leadership of the Black United Students at Kent State University in February of 1969 – one year later, Kent State celebrated the first Black History Month.  In 1976, President Gerald Ford, as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration, urged the American people to “seize the opportunity to honor the too often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”  In 1987, the United Kingdom celebrated its first Black History Month in London, and Canada followed suit in 1995, by officially recognizing February as Black History Month, to honor black Canadians.

Learned Man Who Raised Awareness

Dr. Woodson was himself the son of a slave and although he did not begin his high school education until the age of 20, delayed by his need to earn a living in West Virginia coal mines, he went on to study at Berea College, the Sorbonne, and the University of Chicago.  Woodson eventually earned his PhD at Harvard. At that point, he was only the second African American to achieve this advanced degree, his predecessor being none other than the imminent and renowned, W. E. B. Du Bois.

Back Before You Knew It

The first documented person of African descent to come to what became the United States was a member of Ponce de León’s legendary expedition in search of the fabled Fountain of Youth.  In 1513, Juan Garrido, a Spanish-African conquistador is the first known free African to have arrived in the new world. But Garrido was the exception, within 50 years slavery was well established, with the Spanish bringing slaves to St. Augustine (now Florida), as early as the town’s founding in 1565.  The city is considered the oldest European-founded continuously-inhabited settlement in what is now the mainland 48 states.

Nothing New

Various peoples of Africa were brought to the “New World” as slaves, bought, sold, and treated like the property they were considered to be, not the persons of rich culture and tradition they had been.  The “first” African slaves brought to what is now the United States is typically thought to be a load of captives from what is now Angola, sold to Jamestown Governor George Yeardley and Abraham Piersey, the colony’s trade minister, for food, near the end of August 1619.

Color Inside The Lines

The mistreatment of people of color in our nation is certainly nothing new – there is a long history of subjugation and abuse. After the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862, suppression and subversion of human rights, Jim Crow and separate but equal became the “law” throughout the south where white hooded riders lynched and murdered blacks who didn’t tow the line. Yet African-Americans time and again have proved to be instrumental in our history and innovation.

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I Resolve to Resist in 2026

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I Resolve to Resist in 2026…

I Resolve to Resist in 2026…

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. I resolve to resist everyday until the horrible orange haired old man is out of office and out of our hair.
  2. I resolve to stand against racism in all forms – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  3. I resolve to stand up against sexism and stand up for feminism – I resolve to resist everyday.
  4. I resolve to never forget January 6th – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  5. I resolve to never forget the Epstein files and who they name – I resolve to resist everyday.
  6. I resolve to stand firm against fascism – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  7. I resolve to never wear a MAGA cap or anything else associated with the Trump menace – I resolve to resist everyday.
  8. I resolve to protect the rights of my LBGTQ brothers and sisters – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  9. I resolve to wear something pearl for Kamala everyday until she is in the Oval Office – I resolve to resist everyday.
  10. I resolve to never call Donald Trump “president” – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  11. I resolve to never call The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts or anything else “The Donald” renames to inflate his already supersize ego, Trump anything – I resolve to resist everyday.
  12. I resolve to maintain that it’s the Gulf of Mexico – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  13. I resolve to call out Trump lemmings for voting a narcissistic, child molesting, rapist, convicted felon into the highest office in our country – I resolve to resist everyday.
  14. I resolve to be an actual follower of the teachings of Christ, not a blatant hypocrite – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  15. I resolve to give a center finger salute to the Trump Towers and Hotels – I resolve to resist everyday.
  16. I resolve to ignore the hype and not hyperventilate at the mention of MAGA madness – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  17. I resolve to use actual common sense, not right wing foolishness – I resolve to resist everyday.
  18. I resolve to campaign against all Republicans in every election – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  19. I resolve to object to tariffs that don’t help build our economy – I resolve to resist everyday.
  20. I resolve to support former Presidents Obama and Biden in all they do – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  21. I resolve to never call Melania “first lady” – she is the complete opposite of a lady; I resolve to resist everyday.
  22. I resolve to write to my political representatives and other government officials to resist the Trump-Vance administration – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  23. I resolve to advocate for and donate to liberal causes – I resolve to resist everyday.
  24. I resolve to protect children, animals, and the environment – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.
  25. I resolve to fight for impeachment and a 25th Amendment unfit declaration – I resolve to resist everyday.
  26. I resolve to vote blue – my 2026 resolutions will make a positive difference in our nation.

Don’t You Remember?

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Don’t You Remember ?

Don’t You Remember ?

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

I loved the break out hit when the band originally known as Jefferson Airplane became Starship – we are musically reminded “We Built This City on Rock and Roll.” Jefferson anything brings on music that I love and that song is my favorite of theirs. This brings me to another thought regarding memory, as we remember a very dark twenty-four years ago. “Don’t you remember” we built this nation on democracy and toil, not dictatorship and racism.

“Don’t you remember” the first term of Donald Trump? As a college student in 1985, I danced on my chair at the Pittsburgh PA Civic Arena to the tunes of Starship and Night Ranger, full of hope for the future despite the fact Geraldine Ferraro would not be our first female Vice President on the Mondale-Ferraro ticket. I loved this intelligent, beautiful, and Godly woman. Disappointed they lost the election, but still I knew in my heart we one day would have a female in office. Then another major and frightening disappointment when Hillary Clinton lost to an incompetent and delusional opponent.

Hope was restored after Trump’s disastrous first term, when President Joe Biden brought us our first female VP,  the intelligent, kind but tough, beautiful Kamala Harris. I cried for twenty minutes after she proudly said “…so help me God” – the glass ceiling was finally broken and we were never going back. My heart broke when President Biden bowed out of the 2024 election, but right here in Chicago, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz accepted the Democratic nomination. A winning team and our first female president, finally. Then the unthinkable occurred – without all the votes counted, it was announced that Donald Trump, the most incompetent non-president to ever hold office, had been re-elected.

“Don’t you remember” Trump’s horrific first term, with millions dead from the COVID pandemic? “We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll…” We built this country on honesty and broke away from a king in 1776 – there is no king of America. “Say you don’t know me or recognize my face” – well, remember my face and my words, because I will not be silenced by a dictator. “Say you don’t care who goes to that kind of place” –  I care who goes into the White House, that’s for sure. “Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight” – we sure do need our hip waders dealing with the MAGA s..t, but we will not sink in our fight, not now, not ever. “Too many runaways eating up the night” – we won’t run, we face the night without fear.

“Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?” Our radios bring bad news each day, but when “The Donald” is finally impeached, we will dance the mamba in the streets and party ’til dawn. “We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll, built this city, we built this city on rock and roll”, not on hatred and toil. “Someone’s always playing corporation games, who cares they’re always changing corporation names“, while the GOP gives tax breaks to the biggest corporate structures, taking food and medicine away from those in need. “We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage, they call us irresponsible, write us off the page“, but we will never be written off, Mr. Trump, we will continue to resist.

“Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember? We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll…” Impeach the convicted felon before he does more damage, before more billionaires receive more tax breaks, before Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security cease to exist.

“We built, we built this city, yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city (Built this city)”

“Don’t you remember” when our nation was strong, proud, and a world leader, not a laughing stock? We just remember what we were and can be again, just as we must remember 9/11, when our nation gathered together in the face of hatred and terrorism; we survived and thrived. We can do it once again, as long as we remember that America is a democracy, a melting pot of humanity, built on the strength of our values, not the weakness of hatred. We built this country on morality, diversity, and hope.

“We built this city

We built this city on rock and roll

Built this city

We built this city on rock and roll

 

Say you don’t know me or recognize my face

Say you don’t care who goes to that kind of place

Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight

Too many runaways eating up the night

 

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

Someone’s always playing corporation games

Who cares, they’re always changing corporation names

We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage

They call us irresponsible, write us off the page

 

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

It’s just another Sunday in a tired old street

Police have got the choke hold, oh, then we just lost the beat

 

Who counts the money underneath the bar?

Who rides the wrecking ball into our guitars?

Don’t tell us you need us ’cause we’re the ship of fools

Looking for America, coming through your schools

 

Don’t you remember? (Remember)

Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

 

Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll

We built, we built this city, yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city

We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)

We built, we built this city (Built this city)”

Who is Kamala Harris?

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Who is Kamala Harris?

Joe has passed the torch to Kamala Harris.

Who is Kamala Harris?

Editor: A previous version of this article appeared during the 2020 presidential campaign. I thought it might be a good time to replay the article about Kamala Harris’s life story.

By Cate Rees-Hessel

History in the Making

Joe Biden made history in 2020 with his selection of the bright, beautiful, and tenacious Kamala Harris as his running mate.  Now in 2024, Biden has stepped back and turned the campaign over to Harris who is about to become the first woman ever elected president of the United States. As President Biden points out, “There is no door Kamala won’t knock on, no stone she’ll leave unturned, if it means making life better for the people.”  Our beloved Joe originally met Kamala Harris through his son Beau when the younger Biden was Attorney General of Delaware.  Joe valued his son’s respect for the strong-willed Harris.  Kalama and Beau became friends when Harris was the AG for California and the two worked together on financial institution reform.

Day One

Biden knows Ms. Harris has demonstrated her ability to be a leader from day one.  As the Attorney General for the state of California, she ran one of the biggest governmental legal organizations in the world, and was a member of the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees when she served as Senator from California.

Rooted in Community and Excellence

Women of all races and walks of life identify strongly with this spirited heroine.  Kamala Devi Harris is 5’ 2” of pure energy and strength. This pretty, petite powerhouse has stood for justice since she was a child.  Harris is an East Bay native, deeply rooted in the area, She was born October 20th, 1964, in Kaiser Oakland Hospital, Oakland, CA.  Her name Kamala, means “lotus” and refers to empowered women.

Mom and Dad

Her parents were immigrants and academics. Donald Harris, her father, is an emeritus professor at Stanford University. Her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris, worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  Shyamala attended the University of Delhi, completing her undergraduate degree when she was only 19.

A Family Of Activists

Kamala’s grandmother,  Rajam Gopalan, who married at the age of 16. Rajam was considered an upper-caste wife.  She used her elite class status to help disadvantaged women in India. She was famous for driving around in a Volkswagen Beetle, announcing through a bullhorn how underprivileged women could access birth control.

Grown to the Sky

Kamala holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from Howard University. Ms Harris  received her law degree through Hasting College Legal Education Opportunity Program for Students from Adverse Backgrounds.   She was elected as the Attorney General of California in 2010. She was reelected in 2014.  In 2016, Ms. Harris became the junior senator from California, making her the third female senator from California, and the first South Asian American senator and the second African-American woman elected to the United States Senate.

In the Beginning

Harris has always fought for our nation’s good. She has worked tirelessly for the American people, a lifelong leader for civil rights and public safety.  Kamala’s political career spans decades, and her exposure to activism started early.  Her parents, met at UC Berkeley and shared a  passion for civil rights. When Kamala was still a toddler her parent’s took her to numerous campus protests.  As a toddler, fussing little Kamala was once asked what it was she that she wanted – having already attended several civil rights rallies, the adorable, precocious tyke replied, “fweedom”.

A Childhood Like So Many Others

When she was only seven years old, her parents divorced.  Kamala was raised by her mother in a yellow duplex in Berkeley, along with her little sister Maya.  As part of integration, Kamala from the first grade,  was one of a group of students bused to Thousands Oaks Elementary School, a very prosperous upper-class Caucasian neighborhood.

Movin’ On Up

Maya and Kamala attended both an African-American Baptist church, as well as a Hindu temple, at the same time.  Ms. Harris was influenced by her grandparents when she visited India as a child.  Her grandmother was an activist and her grandfather was a government official of high-rank, both educating and fighting for the rights of the Indian people.  She attended high school in Montreal, where her mother taught at McGill University, and also held a position at Jewish General Hospital as a cancer researcher.  13-year-old Kamala, along with younger sister Maya, successfully led a protest outside their apartment building due to the policy that prohibited children from playing out front on the lawn.

Been There, Done That

Harris had wanted to be a lawyer since childhood.  Harris interned for Senator Alan Cranston of California, worked as a press aide at the Federal Trade Commission, and even served as a tour guide at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  Her role models include Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, and Constance Baker Motley.  Kamala advocates for abuse victims, and works to educate the public that certain behaviors such as dress and music do not necessarily equate to gang membership.

Apples Fall Close to the Tree

Her sister Maya received a B.A. from UC Berkeley, and then her law degree from Stanford.  She was in charge of her sister’s 2020 presidential campaign, having worked in television as a commentator and as an executive director of ACLU for Northern California.  Maya’s husband, Tony West, served during the Obama administration as an Associate United States Attorney General, and now is the Chief Legal Officer for Uber Technologies, Inc., in San Francisco.

The Fruit Begins to Show

The stunning and stylish Ms. Harris joined the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha while at Howard University.  Also, during her time at the school, she ran her first campaign, for the freshman representative position on the liberal arts student council, and was also a member of the debate team.  Howard taught an excited Kamala that you can be many things – the homecoming queen can also be the valedictorian, channeling Elle Woods.

“What, Like It’s Hard?”

Daily after classes in law school, she helped potty-train her niece. Recalling the experience in 2018, Harris said, “I’m dealing with this brutal stuff, dog-eat-dog in school, and then I would come home and we would all stand by the toilet and wave bye to a piece of shit.  It will put this place in perspective.”  She passed the bar exam on her second try in 1990. The same year, she joined the Alameda County Prosecutor’s Office in Oakland, as an Assistant DA.

Working to Keep Victims From Being Victimized Further

She was recruited by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office to help end teen prostitution.  Ms. Harris’ goal for these young women was to view them as victims, not criminals, selling sex.  She has always advocated for women and children. She was instrumental in developing the San Francisco Department of Public Health program which enables emergency rooms to identify evidence of sexual abuse.   Kamala is the co-founder of the Coalition to End the Exploitation of Kids, pushing the strengthening of laws to end profiteering of those under age.  Her efforts produced San Francisco’s very first safe house for minors to escape sexual exploitation.  Ms. Harris’ creativity and influence has resulted in punishment for perpetrators victimizing youth.

Getting on the Right Track

Even when she receives criticism, she does not back down from her principals.  Kamala insists that it is imperative to be “smart on crime.”  “Back on Track” is a program, she helped design for non-violent lower-level drug traffickers. The program offers life skill and job training, with the chance to avoid a prison sentence.  Only 10% of the program’s graduates had repeat offenses, contrasted with the typical recidivism of 53% for those with drug convictions.  Her rehabilitative program is more cost-effective than jail time.  She refuses to consider offenders as lost causes.

Attending to the Heart of the Matter

Ms. Harris also targeted the truancy of elementary school children when she discovered that nearly 95% of those murdered before the age of 25 in the San Francisco area happened to have dropped out of high school.  Those who were very often absent while in grammar school were more susceptible to leave high school prior to graduation, typically by age 35 ending up dead or jailed.  She developed programs to assist parents with school attendance.

Raising the Bar

In 2003, Kamala Harris ran against her former boss  to become the first African-American female elected DA in California.  Within her first three years as the District Attorney of San Francisco, conviction rates increased from 52% to 67%.  She endorsed her friend Barack Obama when he ran for the Senate in 2004, and in 2010 she went on to win the race for the state’s top attorney.  Attorney General Harris filed a successful civil enforcement action citing “widespread misconduct” on foreclosures against OneWest Bank.

Fashion and Plate

The fashionable and funny presidential candidate often sports pearls and has an extensive collection of Converse sneakers, including platform versions and All-Stars.  Her unique style rocks; a high-low mix of classic attire.  Rumor has it she enjoys a good burrito, and loves cheeseburgers, but admits we need to establish more healthy eating habits, reducing red meat consumption.  She also recognizes the importance of American families being able to put food on the table.

Food Network Calling?

Kamala loves to cook.  In a video she shows Senator Mark Warner the proper way to assemble a yummy tuna melt.  She can roast a chicken with the best of them, using salt, pepper, chopped herbs, lemon zest, and minced garlic, trussing the poultry and allowing it 24 hours in the fridge. Then rubbing it with butter or oil, and slow-roasting it at 325 degrees for at least a couple hours, making a sauce of the drippings and using the leftovers for a scrumptious chicken salad.

Wife and Stepmom

She is married to prominent entertainment attorney Douglas Emhoff. When they married, Harris became stepmom to Emhoff two children. Harris and Mr. Emhoff met on a blind date set up by a friend. Harris is tough and courageous, yet still has a big heart – her two stepchildren affectionately call her “Momala.” JD Vance’s recent attacks on stepmother’s as less than real parent’s has set the political scene on fire.

Making History

She is also resolved and resilient – in 2017, under her persistent grilling,  AG, Jeff Sessions remarked she made him “nervous” after only three-and-a-half minutes of her Senate interrogation. The exchange went  viral. Another viral moment came during the intensive questioning of Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court Justice confirmation hearings in 2018.   During the 2019 Democratic Presidential Debates, Joe Biden quipped to Kamala Harris to, “Go easy on me, kid…,”  Six months later he chose this amazing woman to make history as his running mate, making her the first female and minority Vice President in U.S. history.

‘Beeing’ Herself

The lady Donald Trump referred to as, “nasty” and a “DEI”, we call, “insurmountable, decisive, intelligent, and caring”.  Kamala allows us to see her fun-loving side. One video shows her  attired in leggings, a jacket, and sneakers, dancing like everybody’s watching, and we are.  On November 3rd, my leggings, jacket, and sneakers are ready to join our new President-elect in a victory dance – “you go, girl….”

Joe Biden, Passes the Torch

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Joe Biden, Passes the Torch

Joe Biden has done a lot since being elected in 2025.

Joe Biden, Passes the Torch

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

Editor: As we adjust to a new political landscape I think we should spend a few minutes and a few words reflecting on Joe Biden, the most influential president of the last century.  Here’s a list of  what Joe’s done for this country. I and many historians believe his incredible legislative record will stand the test of time. So, here me go, a long list of what Joe has done over the last 3 and 1/2 years for the American people. This list of course does not include his accomplishments as a Senator or Vice President, those accomplishments will be addressed on another day.  Kamala Harris will bring a younger face to Biden’s policies but she supports most of them and will push for more legislation to help working and middle class families. VOTE BLUE.

  1.  Joe brought us the much needed infrastructure bill.
  2.  Joe was Vice President to our first black president, Barack Obama.
  3. Joe brought us our first female and multi-racial VP, Kamala Harris.
  4. Joe wrote and continues to champion the Violence Against Women Act.
  5. Joe has worked tirelessly to preserve Social Security for seniors and Medicaid for impoverished and disabled folks.
  6. Joe has fought his entire career for women’s rights, equality, and reproductive freedom.
  7. Joe won the largest plurality in history with his 2020 victory over Donald Trump.
  8. Joe guided our country back from the pandemic with the least economic damage of any nation in the world.
  9. Joe despite interference from the Supreme Court is working to eliminate student debt.
  10.  Joe is standing up for renters rights, advocating for a cap on rent increases, and other needed national standards.
  11. Joe got insulin prices capped at $35.00 for Medicare participants and is working at the same for other insulin dependent citizens.
  12. Joe has worked ceaselessly to expand healthcare to all Americans, today providing healthcare for more Americans than at any other time in our history.
  13.  Joe has been pushing for legislation to force billionaires pay their fair share.
  14.  Joe and his beautiful wife, Dr. Jill Biden brought class and elegance back to the White House.
  15.  Joe’s passion to address climate change, has brought money and attention to the problem including the US rejoining The Paris (climate) Accord.
  16. Joe has brought new respect to our service members. While Trump, the convicted felon, called our service members “losers” and “suckers.” Joe has worked hard to secure benefits for our veterans one such being the passage of the PACT Act.
  17. Joe Biden has stood with the LGBTQ community defending and expanding their protections.
  18. Joe never once held a Bible upside and then tried to sell “The Bible” for $60 bucks apiece. I think you can pick one up free just about anywhere.
  19. Joe is a mature silver fox, not crazy like a fox.
  20. Joe’s humor does not include insulting others.
  21. Joe is respected by world leaders, except for Putin, Kim Jung Un and  their ilk
  22. Joe cares about the war in the Ukraine – he is not Putin’s puppet- he has rallied NATO members to send money and weapons to the Ukraine to repel Russia’s invasion.
  23. Joe is working every day to end the fighting in Gaza, standing up to Hamas, and helping to end anti-Semitism in the United States.
  24. Joe is not a 34 count convicted felon, nor is he under indictment for any crimes.
  25. Joe stopped his busy work to empower little boy who stutters; an affliction that has plagued Joe since childhood, to stand tall and be proud and keep talking, you could become president one day.
  26. Joe respects people and is kind and considerate, not brash and rude like the other candidate.
  27.  Joe is truly pro union and proved it by being the only president in history to walk the picket line last year with striking UAW workers.
  28. Joe against all predictions brought unemployment to a record low, creating 15 million plus good jobs.
  29. Joe Biden has made creating “good-paying jobs,” including bringing work from overseas back to America, a central theme of his economic agenda at home.
  30. Joe has been pointing out Trump’s horrifying and insane Project 2025 plan. If you plan on voting you better read it; scary stuff.

 

Older and Wiser

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Older and Wiser

Enjoying life is important to staying happy and healthy

Older and Wiser

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

The Last 3 Weeks

The last three weeks have been torturous for Democrats. Joe Biden, one of the greatest presidents of the last 100 years has been under fire because he’s old. The drumbeat to pass the torch to the next generation became too loud to ignore and he has stepped down and endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris. Well, we just wanted to remind folks that many people do their best work well into their 80’s.

Age is Just a Number…

Folks in their 70’s, 80’s, and beyond are still going strong. Here are 80 examples of individuals still rockin’ it; capable, determined, and resilient:

  1. Betty White was entertaining audiences until the age of 99 – this Golden Girl let nothing stop her.
  2. Dick Van Dyke – still vital and funny at 98.
  3. Carol Burnett – still as lovely as ever and doing MeTV promos at age 91.
  4. Barbara Eden – pretty as a picture at 92.
  5. Mary Kaye Ash – was still keeping her skin care empire in the pink at 83.
  6. Patrick Stewart – as sexy as can be and still captain of his ship at age 84.
  7. Engelbert Humperdinck still has the pipes to croon the most romantic songs and tour at 88.
  8. Kent McCord (Jim Reed on “Adam-12”) at 81 is still doing voice overs, and involved in the Screen Actors Guild; he and his bride have been married 62 years.
  9. Clara Peller – she brought us the iconic “Where’s the Beef?” line forty years ago, starting her acting career at the age of 81; prior to that she was a manicurist and beautician for 35 years.
  10. Eric Estrada – as handsome as ever, still acting, and assisting law enforcement to help keep children safe at age 75.
  11. Robert Redford – good looking and active activist at the age of 87; as part of his very lengthy resume, he had a role in two Marvel films, the most recent in 2019.
  12. Randolph Mantooth, age 78, and Kevin Tighe, 79 – they continue to advocate for EMS and paramedicine, which their acting work helped create, and recently were working on producing a paramedic reality show.
  13. Rick Springfield – sexy, handsome and tearing up concert stages at age 74
  14. Angela Lansbury – was still acting, beautiful, and elegant at age 97 before she passed away in 2022.
  15. Julie Andrews – beautiful, regal, and still going strong at 88.
  16. Carol King – the phenomenal lady is still lovely and melodic, entertaining audiences at 82.
  17. Barbara Hale – known to many as Della Street, was still very vital at age 94.
  18. Della Reese – an ordained minister and actress until age 86.
  19. Anthony Fauci – now age 83, sustained us through the COVID crisis; director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 38 years until 2022.
  20. Jonas Salk – director of the virus research lab at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School when he created the polio vaccine; at his Salk Institute, he was diligently working on an AIDS vaccine until his death at age 80.
  21. Stanley Sacks – at age 100, has been practicing law for 75 years in Norfolk, Virginia.
  22. Warren Buffet – he has complained he doesn’t pay his fair share in taxes; at 92, and has been CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, number 7 on the Fortune 500 list, for nearly 60 years.
  23. Roger Penske at age 84 has been CEO for 25 years at Enterprise Products Partners.
  24. Joe Grier, at 99, is working full time at Victory (a Planter Company), making molds for awards and trophies.
  25. Mike Nussbaum – Had the pleasure of sharing appetizers with him at a Chicago Shakespeare reception; at age 99 he was the oldest working actor in America.
  26. Sara Dappen – per oldest.org, at age 92, finally retired from McDonald’s.
  27. Michelin Star sushi chef Jiro Ono – still active at age 97.
  28. Dolly Saville – at age 99, retired from her work as a barmaid at Britain’s Red Lion Pub.
  29. Jim Clements – in Essex, England, worked in the office of a security firm until age 100.
  30. Irving Kahn – retired from investment banking at age 109.
  31. Eileen Kramer – still dancing as a performing ballerina at age 108 – check her moves out on Youtube; she began dancing over 80 years ago in 1943.
  32. Senator Dianne Feinstein – retired last year at the age of 90.
  33. Walter Bingham – at age 99 was the oldest working journalist, in Israel; a heroic Holocaust survivor.
  34. Governor (Republican) Kay Ivey is running the state of Alabama nearing age 80.
  35. Buddy Guy – still touring, singing the blues at age 88.
  36. Dolly Parton – been performing since 1956, this beautiful lady is 78.
  37. The legendary Victor Borge continued to perform until his passing at age 91, having done so for 83 years.
  38. Magda Olivero – opera diva still belting out arias at 96 years old.
  39. Margaret Tunes – was still singing age 104; an African-American beauty that made her Met debut at age 55.
  40. James Ivory – director and screenwriter; won his Academy Award at age 89 in 2018.
  41. George Takei – strident activist, writer, and actor, 87.
  42. Barry Manilow – sensational singer/songwriter; still touring at age 81.
  43. Pope Francis – living a life worthy of Christ, while overseeing the Catholic Church at 87
  44. Robert Di Nero – actor, including recent Oscar nominee for “Killers of the Flower Moon”, father, and family man, recently on the cover of People Magazine, at 80.
  45. King Charles – monarch of the United Kingdom and cancer fighter at age 75.
  46. Lou Zambelli – at 87, still works 7 days a week at the family fireworks plant of the Zambelli pyrotechnic dynasty, manufacturing custom specialty shells (per the company’s website).
  47. Mel Brooks – still active producer/director at 97 years young.
  48. Quincy Jones – continues to produce music at age 90.
  49. Berry Gordy – producer and Motown founder, still going at 94.
  50. Al Pacino – still sexy as ever at 83.
  51. James Earl Jones – still intoning that signature bass in acting at 93.
  52. David Attenborough – another icon at age 97
  53. Michael Caine – still a silver fox at 90.
  54. Martha Stewart – the lifestyle maven, still creating and absolutely beautiful at 82.
  55. Joan Collins still stunning at 90.
  56. William Shatner – 93 and literally out of this world (in sub-orbital space) just 3 years ago, the oldest person in space.
  57. Kim Novak – still lovely and working at age 91.
  58. The “Hart to Hart” favorites still shine – Stephanie Powers at 81, and Robert Wagner, recently active in a recurring role on “NCIS”, at 94.
  59. Willie Nelson – still making music at 90.
  60. The two remaining of the Fab Four – Ringo Starr, 83 and Paul McCartney, 81.
  61. Gene Hackman – still can hack it at 94.
  62. Rita Moreno – full of energy at age 92.
  63. Morgan Freeman – the legend, active actor at 87.
  64. Gena Rowlands – still full of life at age 93.
  65. Eva Marie Saint – one of my favorite actresses; absolutely beautiful, gracious, and talented at 99.
  66. Clint Eastwood – age 93, ‘nuff said.
  67. The powerhouse pair, Lily Tomlin at 84, and Jane Fonda at 86 – both still activist and actors.
  68. Chuck Norris – 84.
  69. Tippi Hedren – vivacious vigor at age 94.
  70. Bob Newhart – still playing the ultimate straight man at 94.
  71. Robert Duvall – acting at 93.
  72. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are both 80 – still tearing up the stage…
  73. Buzz Aldrin may no longer be in orbit but still active at 94.
  74. Ellen Burton – very pretty and present at age 91.
  75. Joel Grey – still the incomparable man, also at 91.
  76. Ruth Westheimer – continued to prove a good sex life keeps you young, up until her recent passing at age 96.
  77. Senator Bernie Sanders – still advocating for American people at age 82.
  78. Harrison Ford – ever the rakish rogue, now just the silver fox version, continuing his career at 82.
  79. Hellen Mirren – the perennial great actress, who was on the runway during Paris Fashion Week this past October, now 78.
  80. Judi Dench – another ground-breaking female, who had even taken on the classically male role of James Bond’s boss “M”; won an Oscar two years ago, still working at age 89.

 

 

Who Would You Rather Run the Nation?

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Who Would You Rather Run the Nation?

I'd rather be Joe Biden than Donald Trump

Who Would You Rather Run the Nation?

Editor’s Note: Over the last couple days most of the political talk shows have been rehashing Joe’s poor debate performance. I think it involved terrible optics. Why did his people allow him to be facing away from the camera? Whoever it was on the presidents team that okay’d the studio lighting should be horsewhipped. And the total incompetent that was responsible for Joe’s make up should be fired.  So much of what happened was visual. In response to all the negative chatter Cate Rees-Hessel and hubby Wes Hessel wants to have a word with you. 

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

 

Winner, and Still Champion…

After the first presidential debate, I must say that I honestly feel President Biden won. Why? Because he actually answered the questions, didn’t whine or insult like a spoiled brat, and he was honest. Would you rather have a slow talker that tells the truth, or a fast-talking felon as president? Yes, it comes down to this.

A Real Leader

Joe had a cold – his voice was a bit soft and raspy, but his answers were solid. He spoke slowly with his stutter, but that has never stopped him from being an effective leader. He has even helped empowered a little boy who has a stammer challenge, because Joe Biden is a good man. He cares about America. Even if you felt his lost his train of thought at times during the debate, many of us need to pause to think in order to give an intelligent answer. Taking a moment to compose yourself is not a sign of weakness, especially when you’re not feeling well from a bad cold – our President got the job done, because he is a professional. “The Donald” was arrogant, spewing the same old hate instead of giving legitimate answers.

Run, Joe, Run…

After the debate, our president said he walks a bit different, does not debate as well, but knows he can continue to run our nation because he is mentally and physically fit. He quipped that he is not a young man – that is stating the obvious – but I truly feel he does not look or act his age at all. When he accepted his victory in 2020, Joe jogged to the podium like a man half his age – that was only four years ago. I can recall President Obama stating that before his presidency he was a much younger man. The office can age a person, but President Biden is still as strong as ever.

Breakfast (Lunch, and Dinner) of Champions

He was on fire when he gave the State of the Union a few months back. One slow talking debate does not mean he is not able to continue being a strong leader. Donald Trump is only three years younger than President Biden. Just look at them – it’s clear Joe is in better shape than Trump, and that’s without the hair and makeup jobs that Trump has used for years. President Biden eats nutritious food, not a diet of junk food; he exercises and does not have the stress of a possible jail sentence like the Donald has.

Running Mate

Joe Biden also has a very capable vice president if Lord forbid something were to happen to him. Kamala Harris is a very capable woman that can run the country well. Trump has not even chosen a running mate – Lord only knows whom our president would be if Trump’s felony convictions or poor diet catch up with him. Rumor has it Marco Rubio may be his choice, and frankly Marco scares me with his extremist mind set and Tea Party-type association.

Just a Number

Age is just a number. Patrick Stewart at 84 is a fine actor, intelligent and powerful and still a little bit sexy. Engelbert Humperdinck is still entertaining audiences live at age 88 with a clear voice, moving about the stage with vigor and grace. Carol Burnett is still on the tube for MTV at 91, and Dick Van Dyke is going strong at 98 years old. And Clint Eastwood is still directing movies at 94. In fact, his recent thriller “Juror #2” should be released around Christmas. The number of capable senior citizens that continue to handle challenging careers is growing.

The Right Choice

I am voting for the silver fox, in the ever so cool Aviators. Joe Biden, is one of the best presidents to ever serve this country. Joe Biden is the first real working man’s president. Joe Biden knows what its like to worry if there will be enough money to make it through the month. He will stand up to terrorists, foreign and domestic. His administration has created a record number of jobs, cares about the environment and women’s rights, including reproductive freedom. Women with unsafe pregnancies that are approaching death’s door before they can get the medical treatment they need, can rely on Joe Biden to save their lives. He will protect the children already on this Earth with nutritious school lunches, quality child and health care.

Clean Up Man

Are prices higher than before Joe Biden took office? Yes, they are because during Trump’s reign of terror, the pandemic raged unchecked, leading to rampant deaths and economic collapse. Americans are back at work now, thanks to the hard work of Joe and Democratic lawmakers, and it’s only a matter of time before prices begin to decline, but only if President Biden remains in office. Trump gives tax breaks to big business and the ultra-wealthy, not caring if Americans can put food on the table.

…vs. Sell His Soul

Maybe you don’t like President Biden, perhaps he is not your first choice for whatever reason, but please recognize he is the only choice, because the alternative(s) is unthinkable: a convicted felon that holds the Bible upside down and then tries to sell them for sixty dollars apiece. A racist that tries to claim a connection to the African American community because he is now a convicted criminal, and wears gold sneakers that he is also peddling. That is the biggest insult to the Black community that I can even imagine. And his claim that immigrants are stealing “black jobs” should outrage us all. And then the rarely mentioned third candidate Robert Kennedy Jr, who is an extremist anti-vaxxer who claims a now dead worm ate a portion of his brain. Oh my. The choice is clear, Joe gets four more years.

What a Leader Looks Like

The real man of God is the one who prayed during his inaugural speech, attends church on a regular basis for worship of the Higher Power, not himself, and does not participate in “locker room talk”. A convicted felon cannot vote, so how can one run for political office? Donald Trump, the person that wants to be president, has lost his right to vote – think about that. He didn’t belong in the Oval Office before, and he certainly does not now.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

President Biden respects women – he wrote the Violence Against Women Act; he respects our military – his son served. He’s created a record number of good jobs, brought unemployment down, is daily working to protect our labor force and our unions. Joe stands up to large corporations, getting them to pay their fair share of taxes. He got insulin capped at $35.00, finally affordable for those that need it to control diabetes. Allowing Medicare (the government) to negotiate drug prices is another big Biden win.

Oh, Sleaze…

Donald Trump brought us the first “lady” with a belly button staple, President Biden brought us a beautiful Doctor of Education, a true lady. There is no doubt about it the Biden’s have brought class and dignity back to the White House. The Trump era had a mice infestation and a chief rat in the Oval Office. Don’t let our nation go back to being the laughingstock we were during the orange monster’s “presidency”. Trump had the audacity during the debate to refer to the Biden era as an embarrassment – this is surely the pot calling the kettle gray. There’s a reason, well, dozens of them, why he wasn’t reelected. Donald Trump promised a bloodbath if he does not win; don’t let that bully scare you, vote blue and the authorities will stop the violence. He promise to be a dictator from day one should on itself be disqualifying.

Democracy in Action

America is a democracy. We have the best economy in the world after the pandemic because Joe Biden took office – he is the clear choice. President Biden promises to stay in the race after this debate, because one debate does not define a President. A record of making a needed infrastructure bill happen, decreasing student loan debt, limiting rent raises for tenants, saving social security for our seniors, these things define a good president. “When you get knocked down, you get back up” – President Biden got right back up; ninety minutes does not define a presidency.

Go, Go, Go, Joe…

I agree with my girl Jill, there is no one I would rather see in the Oval Office than her husband, a President for the people, not a criminal puppet of Vladimir Putin. Let’s go Joe, four more years; there is still more work to be done, and you are the man to do it.

“Go, go, go, Joseph, you know what they say

Hang on now, Joseph, you’ll make it some day

Don’t give up, Joseph, fight till you drop

We’ve read the book, and you come out on top…”

(Go-Go-Go Joseph, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Andrew Lloyd Webber)

 

 

Kamala Harris, An American Story

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Kamala Harris, An American Story

Kamala Harris, fulfillment of the American dream. Vote Blue 2024 Biden/Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris: An American Story

 

By D. S. Mitchell

Preparing For The Challenge

Kamala Harris is a leader. You see it in her demeanor, in her confidence. Her story, her views, and how her education and work have prepared her for the challenges of her job as the first female vice president of the United States should be explored and written about. An attorney,  a fierce prosecutor, California Attorney General, senator, social leader, best selling author, and Vice President of the United States; all by the age of 58.

Early Examples

Harris grew up watching her parents forge ahead into unknown territory, and—by her own admission—her yearning for something meaningful started at a young age. Harris’s mother Gopalan immigrated from Chennai, India, to study at the University of  California-Berkeley for her doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology. She met and fell in love with Donald Harris, a Jamaican-born economics major earning his Ph.D. Rather than returning home to marry someone of her family’s choosing, Gopalan stayed in the United States. Together Harris and Gopalan had two daughters. They raised their daughters immersed in their two combined cultures in a new land and instilled in them respect for activism and academia.

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12 Reasons Trump Was A Flop & Joe’s Not

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OPINION:

12 Reasons Trump Was A Flop & Joe’s Not

Joe Biden won the largest victory in U.S. history

OPINION:

12 Reasons Trump Was A Flop & Joe’s Not

By Anna Hessel with Wes Hessel

We are admitted President Joe Biden supporters. We just wanted to take a couple minutes to thank Joe for not being Donald Trump and point out 12 reasons Trump was a flop and Joe’s not.

COVID Catastrophe

  1. COVID was out of control during the Donald‘s limp excuse for a presidency. He denied the severity of the illness, having fired the pandemic preparedness team put in place by the Obama-Biden administration. Millions died, the economy shut down; life was on hold, and we all suffered. Once President Joe Biden was sworn in he immediately arranged for free vaccines, free COVID tests, and we all received the highest amount of stimulus payments since COVID began. He  instituted a needed mask mandate during the first portion of his administration to arrest the spread of the disease. Now, although COVID still exists, it is far less severe, now it is closer to the flu that the Republicans claimed it was, when it was actually deadly. Life is finally nearly normal again. Thank you, President Joe Biden.

The Real Illegal

  1. Jack Smith currently has Trump federally indicted, facing thirty-seven counts in the (1)stolen documents case, not to mention the recent (2)guilty verdict in E. Jean Carroll‘s civil defamation and sexual abuse case, and (3) AG Alvin Bragg in NY city is after him for the Stormy Daniels payoff. (4) Latitia James the NY state AG has filed a $250 million dollar civil suit against Trump, family and company alleging wide spread fraud. (5) Fani Willis, Fulton County, Georgia, DA is amassing evidence for her looming criminal election interference case against the former president, indictments expected in August 2023. And, (6) Jack Smith again, looks like he has been busy investigating the January 6th events orchestrated by Trump. And if that’s not enough to keep Trump busy there is (7) Jack Smith‘s fake electors investigation.
  2. Trump instigated an insurrection. Trump invited the insurrection because he didn’t want to let go of power. He couldn’t admit he was a loser. No other president in history has done anything like this. In the United States; the loser steps aside for the victor.

The People Have Spoken

  1. President Biden received more votes than any other presidential candidate in history, yet Trump is still claiming the election was stolen from him. He tried to claim victory before the votes were even counted. Trump tried to discredit or invalidate the votes of 80 million Americans.

An A– And Class

  1. Forty-five decided to skip President Biden’s inauguration. Trump left his vice president to attend, skulking out of D.C. like the coward he is.
  2. The Donald held up a Bible he does not read in front of a church he does not attend. To worsen the image, he held the Bible upside down. Joe Biden, however, went to church before he was inaugurated, and said a sincere prayer during his inaugural address.
  3. Trump wanted to waste taxpayers’ money on dictator-style military parades, but Uncle Joe is a military serviceman’s father and placed wreaths and flowers on graves.
  4. Forty-five gave our nation the first staple in her belly button first woman. Silicon free, Mrs. Biden is a beautiful, gracious, an accomplished educator with a doctorate in education. There is no comparison between the two. Notice I was unable to use the word ladies here, since I only consider Dr. Biden a lady. President Biden is also responsible for the first female Vice President Kamala Harris, a woman of color and class. Our First Gentleman, Doug Imhoff, is a fine man of Jewish faith, strong in a world of sickening anti-Semitism.
  5. During the Trump regime, there was rioting in the streets, a global pandemic, and rampant racism, not to mention sexism and other blatant discrimination, but Joe Biden respects all races, all religions, all genders, and all sexual preferences equally. Joe served as second in command under our first black President, they helped to make America great together. Saving the auto industry and passing the ACA (Obamacare) health care bill are just two of their very many outstanding accomplishments. Joe also respects women – our President is responsible for the Violence Against Women Act. Forty five “grabs ‘em by the p—-“.
  6. The Bidens have have been married nearly 45 years – Joe is a widower who has loved wholly two women, separately, never cheating on either; Trump has committed adultery on a number of occasions yet the right wing “Christians” worship the Donald; as a liberal Christian, I worship God, and respect President Biden. These same Trumpster lemmings have overturned reproductive freedom, when in fact many of these men impregnate women without any responsibility, expecting them to carry pregnancies, and raise children with no support at all. A child should never be abused by circumstance, that’s not pro-life. It does take a village to raise a child for eighteen years, which “pro-birth” Republicans don’t want to acknowledge.

The Right Way, Not The Right-Wing Way

  1. The Donald is strongly supported by the far right gun lobby. Joe is all about sensible gun laws, against assault rifles, and a proponent of universal background checks. With gun violence destroying families and neighborhoods we need a man like President Biden to end the slaughter.
  2. Forty-five’s dictator buddy, Vladimir Putin has declared war on the Ukraine, and invaded a sovereign country for no legitimate reason. While Trump is hiding out in his bunker, our President is visiting the Ukraine because he is a man of compassion and courage. It makes no sense to me why President Biden’s approval rating is between 41-49% depending on the poll, in my view he saved the country. He ran against 45, beat him handily thus stopping the Trump madness. I can go to church, the library, the hairdresser, theaters, shopping for groceries, no longer having to shelter in place or, in most cases, wear a mask anymore in public. Unemployment is at a low, and most of our nation has medical care, not just a moneyed few. America is back working and thriving. The war in the Ukraine, and the Chinese economic collapse has caused inflation; President Biden does not set gas or food prices, he is trying his best to rebuild our economy. America’s welcoming arms are open wide again. Our nations citizens are working, living once again without fear of a deadly pandemic. We are back in the Paris Climate Agreement, the threat of climate change’s potential future devastation recognized, because we have a President that listens to science while still trusting the Lord. I personally thank God for President Biden. He has my full endorsement for his re-election campaign. My spouse and myself, we are a proud Biden-Harris household. God bless our President and God bless America…Go to Biden Victory Fund and support Joe and Kamala with some hard cash to build a better America.

Celebrate Women; Every Day of the Year

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Celebrate Women; Every Day of the Year

Women contribute to society every day of the year.

Celebrate Women; Every Day of the Year

By Anna Hessel with Wes Hessel

 

History In the Making

Women’s History Month 2022 is now behind us, but women’s contributions to society continue, so we are recognizing some of the Women’s History Month themes of previous years in honor of the confirmation of our first female African American Supreme Court Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.  The theme for 2022 is “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope”, which pays tribute to frontline workers, medical professionals, and caregivers.  The 2021 Women’s History Month topic saluted the strength of women in times of difficulty.

Glass Is Trash

During 2020, festivities for the centennial of women’s suffrage had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, therefore 2020’s theme, “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced”, was extended through 2021, as we celebrated the election of our first female Vice-President, Kamala Harris. The intent was to pay respect to the ladies that paved the way for women’s voting rights.  Now that the second highest office in the land has had its see-through ceiling shattered, the view to the top looks clear for breakthrough when President Biden hands over the reins.  Ladies, we should make sure we are wearing cute shoes and watch where we step, as there is glass everywhere, and more to come.

Breakouts

Barriers are falling and walls are continuing to be breached.  As Douglas Emhoff put it, “I may be the first Second Gentleman, but I know I won’t be the last.”  The foundation for more is being laid in part by the man who wrote and pushed through the “Violence Against Women” Act.  Dr. Jill Biden has a doctorate in education. Ms Biden is the only First Lady to continue her career while her spouse has led the nation.  But there were leaders before them who led the way.  Shirley Chisholm was the first woman of color elected to Congress, then the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination for president.  Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman to be a major party candidate for Vice-President.

Working From Within

The 2016 Women’s History Month theme was “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.”  This sisterhood of political pioneers have opened the doors of diversity for our nation.  The National Women’s History Project for that year honored the often undervalued and overlooked women in government leadership and public service.  This collection of amazing women has stood on the forefront of change, and their dramatic influence on public policy and the assisting of building viable organizations and institutions have helped lead the way to a more democratic, safer, and stronger America.

Above And Beyond

These women have fought to insure equal opportunity for all.   With diversity of experience and tireless dedication to community service, each of these public leaders, have succeeded against seemingly insurmountable challenges.  This company of ladies and their ability to create non-partisan policies and all-encompassing solutions, in addition to their determination, art of collaboration, and amazing skill sets, will serve our nation today and inspire our future generations.  We applaud these women for their unyielding courage and faithful service.

Women In Front

Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman”.  Behind every successful woman is one or more women who succeeded before them, breaking ground or building up new progress.  And these were not always just in the advancement of women’s rights.  Most of us know of Madame Curie, and her ground-breaking radiation work.  But what about Tabitha Babbitt, a Shaker who came up with the prototype for the circular saw?  Or Nancy Johnson, who patented the original hand-cranked ice cream freezer.

Intrepid Inventors

Josephine Cochrane created the first dishwasher to achieve commercial success, with the first use of water pressure to scrub.  Sarah Boone improved the portable ironing board to the familiar wedge shape of what we use today for our pressing engagements.  Alice H. Parker created the first natural gas central furnace.

Men Don’t Have A Monopoly

Elizabeth Magie gave us “The Landlord’s Game”, the forerunner of what we now know as probably the most recognized board game ever, “Monopoly”.  In its design she made social commentary on property owners of her time in their treatment of tenants and materialistic priorities, as well as the benefits of home ownership.

Science This!

The first female scientist hired by GE, Katharine Burr Blodgett, developed the first method to put one-molecule thick coatings onto glass or metal.  This made possible non-reflective glass, which is used for lenses on common items such as eyeglasses, cameras, microscopes, and other optics, as well as picture frames and the like.  She also invented screens during World War II to protect troops from toxins in smoke.

Even More Data

In 1944, data processing pioneer Grace Hopper worked with Howard Aiken to create the Mark I computer at Harvard, then later came up with the computer slang “bug” and its companion, “debug”, after finding an errant moth had caused a system problem.  She was also on the team that developed COBOL.  Architect Eleanor Raymond collaborated with biophysicist Maria Telkes to build the first solar heated home in 1947.

She Didn’t Just Play A Spy…

And Hedy Lamarr didn’t rest on her acting laurels – her work with George Anthiel in 1941 created a “Secret Communication System” that depended at least in part on frequency-hopping for security.  These innovations and further work on her part gave us the beginnings of “spread-spectrum” technology, which became the basis for fax machines, cell phones, GPS, Wifi, and other related wireless communication advances.

Create Like It’s 1966

1966 was a bellwether year – in it Marie Van Brittan Brown patented the first closed-circuit TV security system. Again in ’66, Stephanie Kwolek invented-Kevlar. Kevlar is one of the most important synthetic fabric fibers ever created. She developed the process while working on strengthening material for auto tires. It is still used for tires, and brake shoe linings, boat hulls, flame-resistant clothing, and many other composite materials.  It’s most significant use has saved countless law enforcement and military personnel; which we are extremely thankful for – the bulletproof vest.

Dr. Jackson, Dr. Jackson…

The first black woman to receive a M.I.T. PhD, Shirley Jackson, helped develop modern communication technologies such as touch tones, call waiting and caller ID, and fiber optic cables, in addition to solar cells.  And she was the first woman to head one of the major technological institutions, in her case Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

They Figure In

Since this article is about women, we can’t forget women in American history; explorer Sacagawea, original First Lady Dolley Madison, abolitionist Sojourner Truth, women’s suffrage advocate Susan B. Anthony, famed authors Louisa May Alcott and Harriet Beecher Stowe, Red Cross founder Clara Barton and fellow super-nurse Florence Nightingale, aviatrix Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart, poet and author Julia Ward Howe, civil rights activists Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, just to name but a very few…

Wells, Wells, Wells…

Women have typically had to be multi-taskers – many took this to levels of great feats.  Ida B. Wells was a women’s rights and civil rights activist (one of the founders of the NAACP), while also wearing the hats of teacher and investigative reporter, particularly focused on the horrors of lynching.  She, working with Frederick Douglass and other African American leaders, orchestrated a boycott of the 1893 Columbian Exposition, since Blacks were not permitted to enter the exhibit areas.  Ms. Wells also advocated for school integration, and helped found many African American clubs, particularly for women of color.

Working It In

Contemporary to Ida B. was housing reformer, women’s suffragette, social work pioneer, and political administrator Jane Addams.  Harriet Tubman made a career out of multiple jobs – in addition to her famous slavery freedom trips, she was a spy for the Union, abolitionist, and political advocate.

Multi-mavens

Multiple talents aren’t just a precedent of years gone by – what about actress, director, and producer Penny Marshall?  Or dancer, choreographer, singer, and reality talent judge Paula Abdul?  Queen Latifah handles music (including songwriting), acting, and producing, equally well.  While we’re on the subject of entertainment, we can’t forget Cher and Madonna.  Then there’s the lifestyle mavens such as Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray, and Ree Drummond.  And, of course, there’s one lady we only need one word for: Oprah.

Sporting It

Great women of sports also abound.  Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias excelled in baseball, golf, track and field, and basketball.  In the 1932 Summer Olympics, she received two gold medals for track and field events, then became a golf professional, and went on to win ten LPGA major championships.  In 1951 she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, and she was married until her death in 1956 to George Zaharias.  Babe is seen as a lady ahead of her time.

They Have the Drive

Ms. Zaharias has been followed by other outstanding female athletes, such as a professional from Sweden who is considered to be one of history’s most stellar lady golfers: Annika Sörenstam.  She has received numerous awards, including H.M. The King’s Medal, AP Female Athlete of the Year 2003-2004, Bob Jones Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  Nancy Lopez’ exemplary career was also precedent setting.

Tennis Anyone?

The dynasty of the Williams’ sisters in tennis is one of the great dominations of a particular sport.  And before them was the legendary Billie Jean King, who even beat out Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes”.

Leading From The Front

The 2017 theme was “Honoring Trailblazing Women In Labor And Business”; these are ladies that have been successful in challenging women’s roles in the paid labor force and businesses.  Although women have always been part of our workforce, they are often been underpaid and undervalued.  One well known example was popularized by the movie “Norma Rae”, which was based on events in the life of Crystal Lee Sutton.  She was a strong labor leader who fought for unionizing as a way to gain better working conditions.

Do Something…

Here are ways we can continue to commemorate women’s history:

  1. Involve yourself with female supporting groups that empower girls and women
  2. Create a brand-new book or movie club on-line, or join an existing one
  3. Treat a special lady that you receive inspiration and friendship from to a mocha latte, lunch, or bouquet of flowers
  4. Invite female entertainers, speakers, writers, and other professionals to online events
  5. Utilize all social media outlets to encourage women
  6. Utilize intersectionality to understand women of all walks of life
  7. Take an online class that highlights women’s history
  8. Help involve children and teens in art, writing, performing, and reading women’s history related material
  9. Support STEM/STEAM initiatives targeted at encouraging young women in science and creative pursuits
  • Write a play, article, song, book, or poem about women, or read one

Color Purple And White

Let’s all wear purple, the international color which symbolizes women, and white, which represents women’s suffrage, to highlight those ladies who have contributed and continue to do so.  We will keep using our voices for the advancement of female equality.  For more information, visit www.womenshistorymonth.gov.  In the words of Elle Woods, “What? Like it’s hard?”