Aaaaaand….here we go with Canadian election madness.

A consortium of television networks has once again decided not to let the Green Party participate in the nationally televised debates for this election.

I call bullshit.

The consortium announced on Monday (as reported at the National Post):

Three parties opposed the Greens inclusion in the debate, the consortium said in a news release, “and it became clear that if the Green party were included, there would be no leaders’ debates.”

(Three parties, meaning everyone but the Liberals, I should add.) The Green Party has a lot of support in Canada, and it deserves to be heard by the same audience as the other three major parties, as well as the Bloc Quebecois. Over 660,000 Canadians voted for this party in the last federal election. Does it sound right to you that they are being excluded?

I want to hear Elizabeth May take on Harper and Dion and Layton…she’s earned the right. It’s undemocratic to shut her out.

If you agree, head on over to Demand Democratic Debates, a site the Green Party has set up to allow Canadians to join in their fight to participate in the nationally televised debates. The petition will be sent to the presidents of the major Canadian networks, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. There you can sign a petition demanding Ms. May be heard at the debates. There’s also a section for bloggers, where you can grab a badge to help the Green Party’s efforts.

(For a concise run-down of where each party stands with respect to environmental issues, head on over to BlogHers Act Canada to read my post, Go Green or Go Home: Canadian Election 2008.)

(Cross-posted at Assertagirl.)

Ooh, ooh, I saw her speech! No, not in Denver, not even live. Bedtime and a 17-YO broken TV prevented that. But no matter, there’s always the computer (for when the house is quiet). If you didn’t catch her, you can read her speech here or listen to it here. Either way, well worth it. I was glad that she referenced an earlier speech of her husband’s where he summarizes so well the importance - and promise - of citizen involvement in our government:

Barack stood up that day and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about the world as it is and the world as it should be. And he said that all too often we accept the distance between the two and settle for the world as it is, even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspirations.

But he reminded us that we know what our world should look like. We know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like. And he urged us to believe in ourselves, to find the strength within ourselves to strive for the world as it should be.

There it is, mamas, the raison d’etre for my grassroots activism, for me speaking up. Because I (like you, probably) see the failings for American families, and am working hard to improve them. Because I, too, see how it should be, and we think that’s how it can be. And boy would it be a whole lot easier to move from is to should with Obama in the White House! Read the rest of this entry »

by Ann Bibby

A single mother in Winnipeg is fighting to regain custody of her children. She alleges they were taken from her by Manitoba’s child and family services agency because of her political beliefs. Read the rest of this entry »

The Maternal Is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood & Social Change
Edited by Shari MacDonald Strong
Seal Press
352 pgs, $15.95
ISBN: 1-58005-243-6

Something definitely changes when you become MOTHER. Besides all the physical,emotional and mental aspects; the sleepless nights, cranky babies, the thought of being able to fit into your pre-baby jeans. You become more aware of the world and your place in it, of what is happening around you. You see things with a mother’s eye. One of the essays, In Albania, by Mona Gable, captures this new view absolutely. Here she recounts her time in Albania as a reporter during the Kosovo conflict-Balkan wars with the new eyes of a mother: “The lens of motherhood would filter everything I was to witness…..”. Read the rest of this entry »

So maybe you’re not a federal employee like I was until last week. Shoot, maybe you don’t even know a federal employee (we’re nice, really). So why e-mail or call your U.S. Representative and ask that she vote for paid parental leave for federal employees? Aside from the whole helping others thing, which is pretty compelling on its own, this is important because it’s a critical first step toward paid family leave for all employees in this country.

Speak Up, Moms! The U.S. House of Representatives votes this week - Thursday, 6.19.08 - on a bill to allow four weeks of full paid parental leave for federal employees. Wow. It’s about time our government set an example in this area. There couldn’t be a better time to e-mail your U.S. Representative with one easy click (all possible with a sleeping babe on the lap!).

Better yet, pick up the phone, mamas, it’s worth the extra effort. To find your Representative’s phone number, just enter your zip code here. If you’re a little nervous to call, do it after hours and leave a message. It still counts! You could simply say: “Hi, I am your constituent and strongly urge you to vote YES on HR 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Leave Act of 2008. Thank you for supporting working families.” Read the rest of this entry »

I personally believe that Mom activists have a much better chance of having their voices heard because of their motherhood status. Given that we would like decision makers to take us seriously when we ask for or speak out against something, chances are we could make them take notice if we speak as mothers rather as activists.

A few days ago, a group of young people presented murals painted by mothers and children to members of Congress, calling for stronger climate leadership. The murals serve as a sharp reminder to Congress that the American public is ahead of their elected representatives on the issue of climate, and are demanding that Congress step up with strong, science-based policy.

One Sky

“We’ve only got one sky, and we’ve got to make sure it stays clean for our children,” said Gillian Caldwell, mother of two and campaign director for 1Sky, a new collaborative national campaign of more than 60 diverse organizations.

But what led moms and children to make these murals? Read the rest of this entry »

Despite my strong opinions on most things (no!) and apparent urge to share them, I continue to surprise myself by failing repeatedly to attend protests. I also don’t post political signs in my yard. Not for any good reason I can think of - or recall, anyway. Recently, though, I’ve been considering changing my ways - mostly to allow my children to experience protesting, to let them see how it can feel to strongly object to something the larger society supports, to stand up for their beliefs, and to exercise a freedom that I don’t appreciate nearly enough.

I thought about it some more one morning this week when we noticed peace supporters waving anti-war signs (OK, giant bed sheets) about a local peace protest. It took my 4 & 1/2-year-old son less than 10 seconds to start pumping the questions: Mama, why are those people holding those signs? What do they say?

Read the rest of this entry »

Well, unless you’re a female civilian contractor in Iraq, that is.

This really made my blood boil.

As a woman, wife and mother, politics is important to me. We live in a country that is struggling. We’re at war in Iraq. Millions of Americans are jobless, have no health insurance and are losing their homes in a mortgage crisis. Our planet is dying a slow and painful death due to global warming, and our gasoline prices are skyrocketing because we live in a society dependent on automobiles. I’ve never been as invested in politics as I am with the 2008 Election.

With so many problems that need to be addressed, many of which are important to women like me, I was excited when offered the opportunity to read The New Feminized Majority: How Democrats Can Change America with Women’s Values, by Katherine Adam and Charles Derber.

As a lifelong Republican, I have often voted in elections based on my values. As a Catholic, my religious morals and values have influenced how I vote on issues such as abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

In their book, Adam and Derber shed light on the assumption that the Republican party is the “party of values”, due to the fact that Christian Conservatives (the right arm of the Republican Party) often define themselves as “moral values voters.” However, Democrats have values, too, but they often avoid any direct claim to morality.

The book begins by explaining the difference between masculinized and feminized values:

Men are socialized into what we call masculinized values that include competitiveness, aggression, individualism and a belief that violence is a necessary tool to solve problems. Feminized values are those in which women are socialized in a given time and place. These values include cooperation, empathy, an appreciation for equality, a preference for nonviolent solutions to conflicts, and community, or the feeling that everyone is a part of something bigger. People with feminized values look at the issues affecting their families and their communities with the goal of “together we can.” Those with masculinized values move through their lives with the feeling “alone I will”.

This book illustrates why feminized values are fueling the desire for change in America, and explains why Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will have a better chance at winning the presidency in November.

Adam and Derber explain that both Obama and Clinton represent feminized values, which are the same values that many American voters, both women as well as men, hold today.

The authors believe that John McCain and the Republicans are thriving on “hyper-masculinized” values, which might explain why McCain doesn’t hesitate to say that American troops could be stationed in Iraq for “hundreds of years.” Masculinized “values voters” often believe military force is the only solution to most conflicts in foreign affairs.

However, the values of American voters are dramatically shifting, and the feminized majority first emerged in the 1960s when ideas about equality, social change and community inspired a new moral viewpoint.

The women’s movement of the 1970s also contributed to the shifting of values in America, at a time when the new wave of feminism reshaped and transformed a new generation of women.

My favorite paragraph from the book offers explanation as to why women’s values are not capitalist values:

Women’s values lead to progressive politics because women are integrated into our social and economic order differently than men. They live in capitalism but are not entirely of it. Women’s values generate a moral foundation for progressive opposition because: (1) women are subordinated in the existing order, and(2) their movement against their unequal position expresses values that can benefit all disadvantaged groups and promote equality and peace.

Women’s values revolve around family, children, health care, maternal rights, a thriving economy, and a beautiful and well-preserved environment. We want our children to inherit a strong country of opportunity and prosperity, not despair and tragedy.

How can America embrace feminized values? The authors offer three steps for a Democratic victory in 2008, and beyond:

First, Democrats need to run a campaign directed towards feminized morality. Second, Democrats needs to renounce the masculinized morality of the current political atmosphere and present a feminized populist alternative. A majority of Americans want to move away from social Darwinist economic policies and perpetual war. Third, Democrats need to motivate disengaged voters to become part of the movement. The feminized majority includes many non-voters and Independents. They are crucial to Democratic victory.

In the Wisconsin primary, I voted for Barack Obama because I was tired of “politics as usual”. I’m desperately seeking change, an end to the war, and to rebuild our flailing economy. For so many years I’ve felt as though the Republican party has pandered to me because I’m a woman to win my vote, only to abandon my values for those that are more masculinized.

Adam and Derber pose the idea that Barack Obama is a more feminized candidate than Hillary Clinton because of his “Yes, We Can” campaign slogan. Obama’s vision for America inspires feelings of community and equality. He sparks a desire for change in our country. In every speech he gives, Barack Obama emphasizes that there is a common good that can and will bring Americans together.

On the contrary, Hillary Clinton faces enormous challenges because she is a woman. It’s difficult to walk the gender line in this presidential campaign, and we shouldn’t completely disqualify her simply because she doesn’t use her gender as a means to win.

Overall, I was very impressed with The New Feminized Majority. It inspired a new way of thinking for me and convinced me that my decision to vote for Barack Obama was the right one. That in itself is amazing.

There’s a company that manufactures American flags not too far from us - in fact, it is the landmark right before the exit lane I should be taking towards the beach - and it’s sort of hard to miss the eleventy-hundred flags flapping in the breeze.Perhaps some people would find it difficult to see the patriotism in that - especially, since they make flags - but, I know that it would be hard to deny that the corporation is probably just following through with some pretty heavy duty advertisement.

What would you say if I told you that NOT all American flags are made, you know, in America?

Well, I did NOT know this to be true and automatically assumed that any and ALL American Flags were:  Made in the U.S.A.

Yeah, silly me.  I should have known better.  I mean, I trusted that my kids’ toys were safe, too.  The reality is that most foreign-made products are more cost-effective.  At least, that’s what I’ve learned HERE over the last few months.

I also learned that many states are passing laws that make it illegal to sell American flags that were not made in the United States.

Then, I got confused.

You see, my father and mother immigrated to America in 1956 for many of the reasons why I find myself so torn about how we Americans treat our flag.

We have the right to burn our flag as free speech, yet there may be a law in place telling American consumers where and how exactly we should buy that same symbol of freedom.

You see what I mean?

It’s one of those complex and contentious arguments that I tend to stay away from - because, my mommy brain does not have spell check or a delete button - but, damned if the American Flag Patch I just sewed on my six-year-old’s girl scout vest didn’t say it for me:

You may need to lower everything on the sash or vest in order to assure the flag is placed in a position of respect.

Symbols are awesome.

I mean, every American child recognizes their country’s flag and is taught to understand the history behind the stars and stripes in school.  As with most things, however, it’s the grown ups that manage to muck it all up.

There’s a story behind our flag.

My parents nearly gave up their lives in search of it.  My brother is willing to fight and defend it.  Not only because it’s his job, but for more reasons that I may never be able to understand.

Keeping those two very simple statements in mind, I believe that the American Flag deserves my respect.

No, I don’t know where our flag was made - and I really don’t think I want to, either - it would only add to the patriotic dilemma I’m going through, at the moment.

But, even my skeptic husband would run out and take down our flag on a rainy day.

[cross-posted at This Full House]

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