Insomnia is often a plague, but it can sometimes be instructive, if it doesn’t last too long. I had a case of it last night. I read an entire two hundred-page novel—reading usually does the trick, but not this time--then curled up to try to get some sleep. When it was obvious that my eyes simply would not shut, I turned on the TV and switched to FoxNews. Thankfully, there was no Jacko or Iowa Caucus coverage, however there was a re-run of Saturday’s offering of “[Steve] Forbes on Fox.”
Amazing are the things that one’s mind focuses on with lack of sleep. This show--about money, of course—was moderated by David Asman. (I always like to see him, mainly because he has this great aura: as if he’s discovered some wonderful, glad secret of the universe). Naturally Steve Forbes was there, some other nameless men and a woman named Elizabeth McDonald.
When my sleep-deprived mind was paying attention, the subject was President Bush’s proposed Moon/Mars missions and the possible consequences on the US economy. All perspectives were addressed with some passion on both sides. Those against the proposal raised some valid concerns—there are things here on Earth that require more immediate fiscal attention--though, in my opinion, their reasons often lacked vision. But that’s not what this post is about.
In a particularly heated point in the exchange, McDonald managed to silence her male colleagues by invoking that great silencer of American men everywhere (a paraphrase; pen and paper will be on my night table from now on): “You men have to let the woman speak now!”
Really? Why? Was her opinion more important, more valid just because she’s the owner of a vagina, a uterus, a set of ovaries and a set of breasts?
The frightening part is that the guys did shut up and let her speak.
Now, as many know from reading my musings, I spent two decades in the military and, were those that have known me to give a description of my personality, I’d imagine that the phrase “shrinking violet” would never come up. There have been times in which I’ve had to exert some assertiveness and aggressiveness to allow myself to be heard. Such is life for a woman who works among mostly men. However, what got me about McDonald’s tactic was that she felt that she deserved to be heard solely because she’s a woman, not because she had a unique perspective on the subject discussed.
She used her femininity to figuratively emasculate every man on that panel and those men, being well-indoctrinated into the feminist code, let her do it.
I heard nothing that McDonald said after that and I distinctly recall the words “STFU, B” coming out of my mouth.
We American women are very powerful, likely the most powerful women on Earth ever. We can be nearly anything we want, ability and desire existing. There is much of which we are in control, including how we relate to and with men. With that in mind, we have to ask ourselves many questions. The most important one we all need to ask ourselves is this: do we need to exert and/or increase our power at the expense of the power of the men in our lives?
I say no, mainly because the power which we women possess is different from that of men; the two should offset each other, rather than clash against each other.
However, watching McDonald wield her own power to beat men down, reminded me of how often the contemporary American woman does this.
I was embarrassed for the guys and lost at least a few more hours sleep being PO’d.
