100 years of votes for women in the UK - a big THANK YOU from me!
It did not come easily however, and was the result of a long campaign known as women's suffrage and the women who stood up for their rights, were known as suffragettes. There are many famous suffragettes such as Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst, Millicent Fawcett, Marion Wallace Dunlop, Emily Davison and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson to name but a few. They faced imprisonment, humiliation and force feeding to get their voices heard.
So today I would like to publicly thank all the women (and men for there were many of those too) who valiantly stood up for what they believed to be right so that I could live in a freer, fairer country.
I am indeed, indebted to them, their struggle and their success. It doesn't matter what politics you follow, that is not the point here - I just wanted to say 'thank you' and send a message of appreciation, 100 years on.
In researching some quotes, I found a lovely one which said:
“What draws men and women together is stronger than the brutality and tyranny which drive them apart.” - Millicent Fawcett
I love this and I think it's a great thought to carry though the day - we are all stronger together and we would do better to focus on our similarities rather than our differences. For that is what humanity is about.
So today, whatever you do, focus on the things we all have in common rather than the things we do not; focus on the positive rather than the negative, and send your appreciation forth for all that has gone before, that has led us to where we are now.
And in my more light-hearted moments, I like to think of the great words, of Aunt Eller in the musical Oklahoma:
"I don't say I'm no better, than anybody else,
But I'll be damned if I ain't just as good!"
The truth can be found in many unusual places, yes?!
Thank you all.
Gail
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I’ve always said that any kind of mistreatment or indifference to other people for any reason is uncalled for. And overlooking our differences is like someone telling a joke and only a few get the punchline. Good article Gail. Tom
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Hi Gail, That is certainly something to be celebrated. The suffragettes were very brave in their quest to change things for the better. Equality should be a basic human right, and in many parts of the world women are still oppressed or disadvantaged. Let´s hope for greater enlightenment and change for the better for them. Best Alan
Hi Alan. Thank you for your comments and I totally agree. It's a shame that there is still so much to be done in this issue - but even then, it is not just women, but children, different ethnic minorities, etc etc. basically we all need a good dose of tolerance and unconditional love! )