My miniature tribute to HRC

I believe in the separation of Church and State, and until now I have believed in the separation of Authors and Politics.

But I find it impossible to hold my tongue at this historic moment, when, finally, the United States has joined Norway, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Brazil, and others in accepting a woman as leader of their country. Here’s a list of the 22 female leaders currently in power. South Korea? Trinidad? Chile? All before us?

America is touted by many to be the greatest country in the world, but as a 30-something-year-old woman in the seventies with a doctorate and professional employment, I couldn’t get a credit card in my own name. My female students were not allowed into veterinary  school. (The rationale was that they couldn’t lift heavy animals. As if any nonsuperhero male could!)

When I tried to file a legitimate claim about an unfair salary practice, I was told by the head of Human Resources at a large company, “You’ve done such a good job. Do you really want to make a fuss now?” He then explained that the man who was awarded the raise I was due was supporting a family.

I’ll stop there, with other examples on request.

Is Hillary the perfect candidate? Of course not, but which of the 43 male presidents has been? Any one with many years of service has a mixed record. Hillary has dedicated her life to public service, championing the causes of children and families, and she deserves the same credit and opportunity as any other American.

African-American males got the right to vote 50 years before any female. I was afraid we’d have to wait 50 years between Barack Obama and the first female president. But we’re already on our way!

If mixing my writing life with my political life costs me friends or readers, I’ll have to accept that. But this is The Real Me. Thanks for listening.