Topic of the Week

Iron Jawed Angels

“The stakes are too high

-Barbara Jordan

In honor of the presidential election here in the states this week, I’m resending an important newsletter.  Please take the time to read it and please pass it on.

I’ve just returned home from a long trip, and this morning, as I sat down to relax and watch a little TV, I was pleased to find a repeat of the movie Iron Jawed Angels on HBO. The movie is about the struggle of the suffragists who fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment allowing women the right to vote. I encourage each of you to see it. It provides a powerful reminder of what courageous men and women can do when they are willing to take a stand for what they believe in.

During a presidential election here in the States, Iron Jawed Angels is a relevant story. It’s about two defiant women who pushed the boundaries of political protest to secure women’s voting rights in 1920. As I watched the movie, I thought about a statistic – more than twenty million single women did not vote in the 2000 presidential election – a number that reflects more than enough votes to sway the result.

Watching the movie again inspired me to encourage you to get informed so you can exercise your right to vote in a responsible way. To start, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can I name the three most important issues that matter to my family and me?
• Do I know where the candidates stand on these issues?
• Do I know which issues I’d like to see addressed first?
• Am I listening to my own voice or the strong opinions of others?

During a campaign, it’s easy to be influenced by the superficial mud-slinging that often occurs while missing the deeper questions of how our current challenges will be addressed. Don’t be fooled. Visit the website of each candidate (see the Take Action Challenge below) and spend time reading about their plans to tackle the issues that matter most to you and your family.

And, please remember to vote. So many of you have made the quality of your lives an important priority. And, when our lives have improved, our consciousness is raised and we make wise choices that have a positive impact on the world. On November 6th, you have an opportunity to make a choice – a choice that very few people on the planet have. Regardless of your political position, please exercise your right to choose. Your voice does make a difference.

For more info on voting, visit here.

Finally, check out Iron Jawed Angels for the inspiration you need to stand up for what’s important to you!  You’ll find a link to the movie below.

Take Action Challenge

If you haven’t already done so, please visit the website of each candidate and learn about their positions. You’ll find them here:

http://www.mittromney.com

http://www.barackobama.com

This week’s video is part one of Iron Jawed Angels – you can find all twelve parts on YouTube.  Look here.