It’s been less then 100 years since women had won the right to vote.  That struggle wasn’t easy and women didn’t win the right and privilege overnight.  Today, if it even be suggested that, that right be taken away, we would see every woman in America rise up and say "oh hell no".

But why is it then that it is still necessary to struggle to maintain the rights that those who’ve come before us have fought for and won?  Regardless of which side of the issues that we stand on, common sense would deem that we should be able to come to the middle and agree, that it is not okay to give up those rights and that it is not okay to have them slowly eroded from us, regardless of the rationale.

Do the ghosts of  Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul and Margaret Sanger walk this earth shaking their heads collectively, having watched the progress that has been made through the years, only to see it slowly wither away?  They would understand the desire of many men to remove these rights, but would they understand how many women would allow them to slip away?

She is 89 years old, and if you saw her now, you'd never give her hopes to go another month let alone another year.  Her husband died thirteen years ago and for a few years, she was able to make it on her own, with her husbands meager retirement, a small sum she was getting from his social security and healthcare through Medicare/Medicaid.

Once living by herself, she eventually moved in with her daughter, who helped provide care, until she reached a point where she was a risk to herself.  She spends her days in a nursing home now, her health and declining mental faculties made it necessary for her to have round the clock care.  Her moments of dementia are more often and longer then her moments of lucidity.

In the year 1981, women were struggling to be accepted as equals in the military.  Under an act of Congress, women were not allowed to be in positions that would send them into combat.  Because of this, the standards for women in the service were different then it was for their male counterparts.  

It was that year, that I was assigned to be a member of the squadron mobility team.  If you're not aware of what it meant to be mobile, it meant being ready to provide support in a wartime or disaster scenario.  I found this to be the first instance of many, where I had to raise my voice in protest.  Follow me as I explain.

How to Co-Exist Peacefully While Feeding Your Addiction.

Ok, I'll admit it, I've become addicted.  First it started off with a way to keep our families updated, then it progressed to maintaining entries on my weight loss, then it was recipes and cooking.  It get's worse.  It wasn't enough, not nearly enough.  I haunted the crafters blogs, and then, oh my, EBay's, and now I've plunged into the deep end and it's politics.  Yes, DKos, feeds a daily addiction.  I can't get enough of blogging and diarying.  It's the first thing I bring up in the morning, even before going to the bathroom and getting coffee.  It's up all day at work.  It's what I go to when I get home from work.  And this morning, I joined another blog.

It was my husband that introduced me to it.  He made me co-dependent.  I would sit and watch him, listen to him while he commented, created his own and then, stepped into DKos.  At first, I stayed away from where he posted, it worked for awhile, but then he whispered to me "join Daily Kos".  

It's funny how an aritcle or news of a law can trigger a memory.  Today, such an article I read, brought back such a great memory.  I was 20 years old and the base I was stationed at played host to the Special Olympics that year.  Hearing this, I took a days leave and volunteered to be a "hugger".  If, you're not aware of what a hugger does, it's spend the day with the person and provide encouragement and hugs.  

When I arrived, we waited to receive our "ward", there were three of us left, two friends and myself.  A couple had brought back a little girl, cute little thing, blonde hair in pig tails and a big, beautiful smile.  She was six years old.  Apparently, she was a little to "spirited" for the couple to handle and the three of us were asked to be huggers for this one little girl.

Follow me while I tell you about my day with "Jenny" and why Ryan's Law is important for kids like her and her family.

I remember coming home that day from work, when my husband met me at the door and told me that we invaded Iraq.  Unlike many Americans, I didn't buy into the claims of the WMDs, the terrorist link or the pre-emptive war rational.  And despite the fact that Hussein was an evil man who needed to be gotten rid of, there were other ways to do it.  However, that wasn't my first concern, the question I had was "what about Afghanistan?".

My concern was that Iraq would overshadow Afghanistan.  After all, we knew that the Taliban was harboring Al Qaeda, we knew there were terrorist training camps located here.  Once we knew who attacked us, we knew where to hit them.  And when we did, the world was behind us.  

I knew then, what we are seeing, or should I say, not seeing now.  The focus had shifted from our war on terror to the war for oil.  How eerily prophetic my question was to my husband that day.  

I would have loved the opportunity to sit down for a day and talk to Margaret Sanger.  To sit and listen to her, as she recounted her struggles, her beliefs, her work.  Despite the controversy that surrounded her on some issues, I would have loved to have found out what made her tick.  I would have loved to have the opportunity to have met her.  More importantly, I would love to have those who wish to push back or compromise on reproductive rights to have met her.  

For those who are not aware of just who Margaret Sanger is...

Note:  I know you're out there lurking, waiting to see what we're bitching, griping, complaining, asking about.  You're our elected officials, you're the candidates who are looking to get our votes in primaries, you're the one's who influence policies in your county, state, and the federal government.  I know you're there, I know you're taking notes.  I'm putting out a call to you to come and address us, address me on issues that concern us, concern me, a mother of a voting age young adult.  

I'd like you to meet my daughter, she's an intelligent, articulate, enthusiastic and caring 18 year old who graduated from high school two weeks ago.  She's excited, she's going to college in the fall.  She wants to be a doctor, not just any doctor, but an obstetrician.  She wants to bring babies into this world, and she wants to do right for women, for others, for the world.  Like every mother, I'm concerned for her and her future.

Please help me understand, please tell me where you stand.  Are you going to fight and perserve the advancements that women over the decades have done to help YOU get to where you're at or...

Note:  Not should Pro-life support gay rights, but should gay rights systematically support pro-life.

A few days back, I created a diary regarding a poll result from Winthrop University and ETV that had been published in the June 1st edition of The State Newspaper.  The story and poll reflected how the majority of South Carolina's pro-life leaning voters, were not completely against abortion, especially when it comes to special circumstances.

One reply that I had received asked us to debunk a letter to the editor in the June 1, 2007 Washington Blade.  The letter titled, Abortion issue blurs mission of gay groups, addressed another letter or response to an article written on May 4, 2007, It's not a gay issue.  I looked at the letter and said sure, I'll give it a try, however....

Or Why I Lean Left

The feeling of utter desperation came over her as she set on the bench waiting for the bus to arrive.  In one hand she held an expired bus transfer, in her arms, her 6 week old baby.   She had spent her last dollar to make the trip down to DHHS and now, after a futile day, she wasn't sure she would be able to get home.  

With her savings gone and now no money coming in, she didn't know how she was going to feed her baby. She was running out of formula, and there was barely any food in the cabinets for herself.  DHHS told her there would be a six week processing, they had to file for child support against her husband.  They directed her to the unemployment office, but she couldn't file until she had a doctor's release.  "How do I get to the doctor when I have no money to get there".  She'll never forget the shrug from the man behind the desk.  So here she sat on the bench, waiting for the bus, hoping the driver will have compassion on her and let her ride, biting back the tears that threatened to flow.

As the GOP candidates gear up to discuss abortion and terrorism again, and American's contemplate whether Paris Hilton will do her full time or not...

"You'll see him there daily, on an island in a busy intersection.  He's an elderly man, maybe in his 70's or 80's, carrying an infant carrier on his chest with a baby doll inside and a sign that says "Say No to Abortion".  Every time I pass by him, I shake my head.  Not once do I recall anyone honking in agreement to his protest."

You would think, given South Carolina's penchant to focus on conservative and religious issues, that sentiments like the above would be common among voters.  As the current administration began to stack the Supreme Court with conservative justices, people on both sides of the abortion debate in South Carolina held their breath.  It was assumed that, given Governor Mark Sanford's (R) pro-life stance and the clout of the religious right in this state, South Carolina would be one of the first states to establish laws that would challenge Roe V. Wade.

With the exception of a law passed in 1994, establishing an one hour waiting period and the 2007 ultrasound law, no real move has been made to challenge or attempt to "get rid" of the current right-to-abortion law that is on the books at this time.  Perhaps a recent poll conducted by Winthrop University and ETV explains why.

It's a quiet Saturday morning in my house.  At the time of this writing, both my husband and daughter are sleeping peacefully, and I'm content, enjoying the quiet time.  It gives me a chance to catch up on the news and the events.  While reading the article Faith adopts key role in 2008 campaign (AP, 6/1/07), XM radio just happened to be play My Sweet Lord on their Top Tracks station.

I found myself chuckling over the irony of this.  Reading an article on faith and politics, while listening to a song of praise on a rock station.  As it normally does, my mind began wondering, as I pondered the article and why the candidates openness about their religious beliefs is a good thing.  Before you scoff, before you belittle me or label me, follow me after the fold as my thoughts unwind...

It's the beginning of summer in the south.  Throughout the state of South Carolina, schools are letting out for the year, high school seniors are walking across auditorium floors and stadiums to receive their diploma's.  Children are anxious to sleep in and swim, and parents are groaning.  And on Wednesday, May 30th and Thursday, May 31st, the South Carolina State Senate came together to discuss the failing public education system in South Carolina, and despite their good-hearted attempts, once again left behind the children of South Carolina.

As the msm tittered around about John Edwards $400.00 haircut, John McCain's leisurely stroll through the markets of Baghdad, whether Fred Thompson's role as a racist attorney would effect his campaign or that Hillary was singing off-key to some rap song, mothers like myself were doing more important things...some news worthy and other's not so news worthy...

I am more then willing to admit that I cringe each time a politician opens his or her mouth about seeing to the needs of our countries veterans - regardless which side of the aisle it comes from.  Needless to say, when Barack Obama spoke on Monday about our countries lack of mental health services for our returning military men and women, I once again became skeptical....