Do not hold back with the cheering! I was always so annoyed/embarrassed every single time that my mom was in the audience at a choir concert, awards assembly, and graduation because she would whistle so loudly that I could hear her over everything.
She's gone but I can still hear her and I'm not annoyed or embarrassed anymore.
how wonderful! congratulations to your daughter and also to you for raising an amazing young woman. shameless cheering, tacos and cake all sound like a wonderful way to celebrate. (my two older grandsons just graduated from college this year; the youngest graduated from high school. so there is plenty of celebrating going on here as well.)
Congratulations to your daughter! My twins are the same high school class, and it's disconcerting (to say the least) to see them graduate into a very different world than the one we graduated into. But they are tough, resourceful, and full of energy and heart. Cheering/crying required!!!!
This is where we are: >>People on the left often debate how to finesse messaging to bring men aboard. They worry about how Democrats are “losing men.” So we have to worry about the tone of our voice as we beg for our lives. Recently, a man emailed me to say he supported women’s rights, but he didn’t like my tone and maybe I should consider that women would be better off if we were nicer.<<
American men are exceptionally misogynistic. Any progress in the last 50 years to sway this bias has been utterly undone by the Fox propaganda machine (their exemplars of women are their very own female employees - "suffer the abuse in silence, please") and the worst president in our nation's history. Of course there is also a new wave of young misogynists being groomed by social media. If you haven't seen Adolescence, then you are missing a very important story about the young males of our time. But at the end of the day the balance of power and violence remains pretty similar to 200 years ago: Men are afraid women will laugh at them and women are afraid men will kill them.
As a male Democrat I would assert those excuse-filled men Lyz is referring to have created their own form of ADHD, with social justice and its required homework and practice being ignored for the bright shiny objects like big bombs and the squirrel-infested White House’s attempts at generating civil unrest. I am guessing they also see the 19th Amendment as being an inconvenient reality for the fight for equality. A whole bag of dinguses.
Thanks. Keep up the good work. As you know, white men (and men in general) aren't going to swoop in and save the day. We don't live your experience. That's why we need more women and minority representation in the decision-making halls of our government. You are your best advocates.
That doesn't excuse the idiots who have stopped supporting women's freedom. Perhaps when contraception is taken away, they'll begin to understand.
I'm starting to think it comes down to who has bodily autonomy? Not women, not babies, not children in school, not immigrants, not trans people. This othering is the foundation of fascism. It makes me sick.
I'd argue that men -- Netanyahu, Musk, Trump, Cuomo -- who only truly care about themselves and their own power will never see any women as worthy of anything but exploitation. But otherwise, 💯!
I would like to send this article to my editor for publication on the editorial page. Is that possible? A guest editorial? Is there a cost? I draw editorial cartoons for the North Scott Press, Eldridge, Iowa. I can pay out of my own pocket if you would allow this to be published in NSP. I'm just not familiar with how this process works. Furthermore, I could assist you at no cost with illustrations and graphic arts. As a father of a woman living in Des Moines with her wife and daughter, your words need to be heard.
I remember when I first started teaching college classes. I started in Ethnic Studies, and students would often say that if Black people and people of color would stop being so angry maybe they might be listened to. I asked them to consider that maybe folks were angry because they cared, not just because they were feeling argumentative. This is why CRT has the tenet of racism as normal and everyday - it's the same with sexism. It's such a "natural" state of being that people (not just men) can't imagine anything else.
Keep preaching. It’s been said that no one changes until the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change. This certainly was true for me. It took many years and a lot of pain to dismantle my belief system and the version of Christianity that had buttressed it for my entire life. When I began to take seriously my belief in the equality of all beings, a process that eventually led to us walking away from all that had been our life for fifty years, women’s voices like yours anchored me. I knew that I had to change and I needed help in overcoming decades of ignorance. Reading many women authors (especially here in Substack) was water for my thirsty soul.
So again, keep preaching; you never know who is listening. The truth does indeed set us free.
The perverse logic that dictates that we have to be quiet about our grievances and unit behind the country's "leaders" because we are at war has a long history. Many wars have been started or prolonged for no other reason than to stifle or divert the opposition. Enough of that BS!!
Thank you, Lyz, for all you do! A hero for our age!
My daughter graduates high school today. This democracy needs her, though I don’t see a lot of evidence these days that this country deserves her.
Congrats to your daughter! I hope that all y'all have fun plans to celebrate the occasion, even with all of everything else going on.
There will shameless, embarrassing cheering and then tacos and cake!
Do not hold back with the cheering! I was always so annoyed/embarrassed every single time that my mom was in the audience at a choir concert, awards assembly, and graduation because she would whistle so loudly that I could hear her over everything.
She's gone but I can still hear her and I'm not annoyed or embarrassed anymore.
My dad was a crier, and it embarrassed me hugely. But, I am my father’s daughter. There will be cheering and also crying.
how wonderful! congratulations to your daughter and also to you for raising an amazing young woman. shameless cheering, tacos and cake all sound like a wonderful way to celebrate. (my two older grandsons just graduated from college this year; the youngest graduated from high school. so there is plenty of celebrating going on here as well.)
Congratulations to you and your grandsons!
thanks, asha!
Congrats to you and yours - my oldest graduated college in May as well. Godspeed and cake!
thank you and congratulations to you as well!
Congratulations to your daughter! My twins are the same high school class, and it's disconcerting (to say the least) to see them graduate into a very different world than the one we graduated into. But they are tough, resourceful, and full of energy and heart. Cheering/crying required!!!!
Congratulations!!!
This is where we are: >>People on the left often debate how to finesse messaging to bring men aboard. They worry about how Democrats are “losing men.” So we have to worry about the tone of our voice as we beg for our lives. Recently, a man emailed me to say he supported women’s rights, but he didn’t like my tone and maybe I should consider that women would be better off if we were nicer.<<
Can we have a party that doesn't throw anyone's right under the bus? Please? Anyone? Someone?
I really want to get day drunk with you and bash the patriarchy. You should have a retreat to do this!
I'll bring chocolate, cheese and a 3M Post-It® sticky pad to track our thoughts!
"[W]hen there are wars and people storming the Capitol, we ha[ve] to be focused."
My man, let's take away your rights and see where you specifically direct your focus you absolute Dingus.
American men are exceptionally misogynistic. Any progress in the last 50 years to sway this bias has been utterly undone by the Fox propaganda machine (their exemplars of women are their very own female employees - "suffer the abuse in silence, please") and the worst president in our nation's history. Of course there is also a new wave of young misogynists being groomed by social media. If you haven't seen Adolescence, then you are missing a very important story about the young males of our time. But at the end of the day the balance of power and violence remains pretty similar to 200 years ago: Men are afraid women will laugh at them and women are afraid men will kill them.
yep. i've quoted that last sentence frequently. because it's true.
As a male Democrat I would assert those excuse-filled men Lyz is referring to have created their own form of ADHD, with social justice and its required homework and practice being ignored for the bright shiny objects like big bombs and the squirrel-infested White House’s attempts at generating civil unrest. I am guessing they also see the 19th Amendment as being an inconvenient reality for the fight for equality. A whole bag of dinguses.
That thing about “staying focused” like… you ARE focused? On the things that you think are foundational to an actual democracy?????
Thanks. Keep up the good work. As you know, white men (and men in general) aren't going to swoop in and save the day. We don't live your experience. That's why we need more women and minority representation in the decision-making halls of our government. You are your best advocates.
That doesn't excuse the idiots who have stopped supporting women's freedom. Perhaps when contraception is taken away, they'll begin to understand.
I'm starting to think it comes down to who has bodily autonomy? Not women, not babies, not children in school, not immigrants, not trans people. This othering is the foundation of fascism. It makes me sick.
I'd argue that men -- Netanyahu, Musk, Trump, Cuomo -- who only truly care about themselves and their own power will never see any women as worthy of anything but exploitation. But otherwise, 💯!
Do NOT tell us about our tone. Good grief. Maybe we should smile more too?
I would like to send this article to my editor for publication on the editorial page. Is that possible? A guest editorial? Is there a cost? I draw editorial cartoons for the North Scott Press, Eldridge, Iowa. I can pay out of my own pocket if you would allow this to be published in NSP. I'm just not familiar with how this process works. Furthermore, I could assist you at no cost with illustrations and graphic arts. As a father of a woman living in Des Moines with her wife and daughter, your words need to be heard.
I remember when I first started teaching college classes. I started in Ethnic Studies, and students would often say that if Black people and people of color would stop being so angry maybe they might be listened to. I asked them to consider that maybe folks were angry because they cared, not just because they were feeling argumentative. This is why CRT has the tenet of racism as normal and everyday - it's the same with sexism. It's such a "natural" state of being that people (not just men) can't imagine anything else.
Keep preaching. It’s been said that no one changes until the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change. This certainly was true for me. It took many years and a lot of pain to dismantle my belief system and the version of Christianity that had buttressed it for my entire life. When I began to take seriously my belief in the equality of all beings, a process that eventually led to us walking away from all that had been our life for fifty years, women’s voices like yours anchored me. I knew that I had to change and I needed help in overcoming decades of ignorance. Reading many women authors (especially here in Substack) was water for my thirsty soul.
So again, keep preaching; you never know who is listening. The truth does indeed set us free.
The perverse logic that dictates that we have to be quiet about our grievances and unit behind the country's "leaders" because we are at war has a long history. Many wars have been started or prolonged for no other reason than to stifle or divert the opposition. Enough of that BS!!
Keep doin' what you are doin', Liz!