Monday, October 22, 2012

Susan B. Scarecrow and the Little Pink Box

No, this isn't my yearly tour of the straw folks in my home town. I do plan to give that tour later in the week, but this morning, I'm just going to give you one little peek.

Then, I'm going to yak about it. 

You see, the tour is a little different this year. Usually, the scarecrows represent the individual businesses or their owners. This year, however, they represent their personal heroes.

This one sits outside the bakery of a friend of mine. 
Can you tell what it is? 


It's Susan B. Scarecrow, 
the female voter. 

I thought it was a clever idea, especially coming from a small business owner who just happens to be female herself.

Just in case you haven't noticed, we're in the homestretch of another election cycle here in America. In a little over a week, those of us who haven't done so already (and maybe some who have) will head to the polls to choose the next leader of the free world. Daunting task, when you think about it.

And just in case you haven't noticed, there's one voting block that  is more coveted than any other one this year.  It's the woman's vote. It's true, ladies. They want us. They really, really want us.  We are woman. Hear us roar.

I'd love to take that as a compliment, but I can share just a bit of my heart with you?

I wish they wouldn't. 

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad they both want my vote. I'm glad they think it's valuable.  I just wish they wouldn't consider me to be part of a block. 

You see, when  I look at that picture  up there, I can't help but wonder if that's exactly what the political world sees when they look at me -- a brainless prop all schtuffed with fluff -- a female, with no individual thoughts or personal passions outside that little pink box.  

Maybe I'm the cheese who stands alone here, but I just don't find that flattering.  I don't think it's empowering either.  

It probably wouldn't bother me so much if that little pink box weren't so, well... little. It seems to hold about three issues, and there isn't  even room for those issues to stretch out a bit.  As I said, it's a very small box.

I'm not saying that I don't care about those issues. I do. I actually have an opinion about all of them.  No big surprise there... I have an opinion about everything. It's just that I don't care about them to the exclusion of others.

Unless there's a mouse in the house, I consider myself to be a pretty strong woman.  I was raised by a strong woman, and I worked hard to raise two strong women as well. We pay attention to what's going on around us. We watch the news and read the editorials.  We have opinions about things like energy and the environment; education and national defense. We know what's going on in the Middle East.

We also pay the bills.  We care about the economy and the national debt.

If those things don't fit inside the little pink box, maybe we need a bigger box.

Or maybe... just maybe... we don't need the little pink box at all.

And speaking of boxes. Time to step down off of this soapy one and get back to cleaning toilets.

I am woman. Hear me roar.

*****
So what about you? Are the traditional women's issues the most important ones to you? Or do you like to expand the little pink box.?




32 comments:

Denise said...

I couldn't agree with you more. I know "they" think the only thing we think about are our body parts and the various "uses/missuses" of said body parts. Give me a break please. I cannot believe we are the only women in America that have enough brain-power to think about the big picture and the many issues facing our nation.

I vote Debbie for president!!!

Amy Kinser said...

This woman is voting!

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Yes: Don't bind and gag me, confine me, limit me, or put me "in my place." I am an American citizen. I am a voter-- which, by the way, absentee vote I did last month. I am a valuable contributor to society.

Love it when Susan B. "Debbie" gets on her soap box.

~ Kelley

Sue said...

I have always disliked labels, "women's", "black", "blue color" and on and on. I don't know why any one falling into one of those boxes would like to be categorized and labeled and told how they think. Drives me crazy! As usual you put it so well, thank you.

Jennie said...

I'm thrilled to have the right to vote. I'm tickled (pink even) that women cared enough to fight for that right long ago (I'm not sure we'd be able to get it together today to make that happen). But, I totally agree. The traditional women's issues are very important to me, just like *all* the rest of the issues. (On a related note, I wish the vote was far less about "women's" bodies and parts and more about the REAL issue.) And I love the little aside about "maybe some who have"...you are too funny! I'm glad to see you in the blogging saddle, when you can. I can totally relate - but you have most certainly been missed. Blessings to you and yours! We all have much to be thankful for!

Barbara F. said...

I am ashamed to admit, that there have been elections where I did not exercise my right.....just didn't like any of the candidates, and that was how I made myself 'heard', to only me. Kinda dumb, I know. Issues affect all of us regardless of our sex. xo

Merlesworld said...

What you need is a woman running the country, we have one, England had one and new zealand had one even India had one, our views and talk is more to the point and I think they do a pretty good job.
Merle......

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

No little pink box for me either! I voted this morning, and like my hubby said... 'I wish I could vote in every county in Texas!'...

I've never had so many opinions about everything as I do these days. I care, and so do so many other women.

I need to clean toilets too, and kitchen floor too, so instead I went and voted and then went shopping! Hear me roar. :)

Vee said...

My box is much larger than three issues. And I don't like the way one of the candidates is speaking about my gender in the least. He assumes too much that candidate.

Debbie said...

Oh I totally agree...I know few women who don't care A LOT more about many issues than those in the little box! Great post!

Always Nesting said...

Love this post. Well said.

Anita Diaz said...

Of course, very well said Debbie as always!

Anita Diaz said...

...and Debbie, just the thought of recovering the chaise wears me out so I'm not even thinking about it!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Women's issues are the least of this nations problems, they are not even a blip on this voters radar...Well Yakked once again!

Carol

Chatty Crone said...

Glad to hear from you girl! And this is so true.

I am listening to the debate right now.

Listen, read, and vote! I am.

Linda W said...

Well said, Debbie. Like Ms. Polka Dot, I agree that women's issues are the least of this country's problems.



Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

I can't wait to vote!

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

While neither candidate is 100% my cup of tea :) I voted early and only wish I could vote often.
Thankfully I have a brain, can see which way we are headed and did my part to try and stop it.
Insightful as always you are!

Maryann said...

I am with you on this one, all the issues out there effect my life in some shape or form...please don't limit me to what you think I should care about

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Debbie, you "roared" well! My box is red, white, and blue ... and FULL of issues; "women's issues" don't even make it to the top of the box. I'll be voting this week.

Ann said...

I have never agreed with "so-called women's issues."

At one point I even questioned my own gender because none of the media's "women's issues" were MY issue.

I am thrilled to see that I am not the only woman who's issues don't fit in an itty bitty pink box!

I LOVE to vote at the polling sight. After years of absentee voting due to living overseas, it's FUN to go in person and I never tire of it!

Great blog, again, Debbie!

Cheers!

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Morning Debbie,
What a good post, like when you just share your heart!! lol
I couldn't agree more......
and most of the things I am hearing touted as womens issues shock me and make me shake my head in disbelief........and if these are really the issues, I think some of those women need to do some reading up on what the real problems are in our nation...............
Blessings, Nellie

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Oh and yes, I have already voted......would not have missed it
for the world. It is the one great thing we can do for our nation other than pray!
Have a good day,
Blessings, Nellie

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

What a great post and so well written! You'd better believe I'll be voting. xo

Denise at Forest Manor said...

I'm so glad you wrote this post, Debbie -- Well Done!! As one political pundit of the feminine persuasion worded it, "Vote with your Lady SMARTS instead of your Lady Parts." I couldn't agree more. I think we'll probably hear lots of women roaring at the voting booths this November.

I'll definitely be voting, and as Francie said in her comment, I only wish I could vote often.

Have a wonderful week, Debbie. :)

Denise

Susy said...

Hi Debbie ~ so glad the words of my post inspired you, as they did me. We all need a little push from time to time. (:

And I loved the enthusiasm of your soap box speech. Well said.

Shanee said...

Way to preach it lady! Very well said. I too dislike being labeled or fenced in on what issues matter to me. I am American so all the issues affect me and I will vote accordingly. Thanks for firing us up. Have a great week.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Excellent! Very well said, Debbie. You are woman, and I hear you roar. The Susan B. scarecrow is so cute, but I don't think that little box is what Susan B had in mind. thank you for pointing that out. Good job. laurie

bj said...

I've already voted. !!!! ROAR.......

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I can not help but notice there is an election soon...drives me crazy though. Women are important this year

Angel said...

Well said! And I agree with Denise, wish we could nominate Debbie for President!!!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

My great grandmother was a suffragette in the Deep South (and I mean DEEP as in her state never ratified the women's voting ammendment), so voting has always been very important to me. I'm with you, Debbie. My concerns don't fit into any pattern or box. I'm across the board with concerns. But right now I have a concern for anyone over 50 who has lost a job. As I age, my heart is increasingly for the elderly and their issues (widows were always close to God's heart), issues which are not cute and cuddly and issues (and elders) a lot of people would choose to ignore. Shuffle them off to old folks homes and let them be someone else's problem. Not! And I'm concerned that pols are trying to talk out of both sides of their mouths where Medicare is concerned. Do they think we are blind?. They obviously hope so. What they do has an effect on seniors living on a fixed income and could make the difference in them getting the medical care they need or eating or being hot in the summer or cold in the winter. And sometimes it seems that TPTB don't give a rip.

My father, a chemistry major, used to say there is a law of cause and effect and particularly so with politics and lawmaking. You do something over here, and you feel it over there. They really do think they can get away with things with no accountability. WRONG-O! God sees all, and we feel it.

I don't know what I'm talking about, but I'm yaking just because I am ready to go to the polls and cast my vote. It might be one vote, but it's one vote for the Lord (in my book)!

Love you...

XO,

Sheila

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