Politics | 06/04/2008 9:35 am

At This Historic Moment ... A wOw Reader Quote That Says It All

Comment to Women on the Web Forum: Hillary Announcement Watch at wowOwow on June 3

Frank Peterson - 6/3/2008 5:09 PM

Stop a moment and think about this: a black man in the White House. When I voted for John Kennedy in my first vote for the presidency, the thought of a woman in the White House was so far in the future that few thought about it or even let the possibility into the mind. The same thing about a black man in the White House — unthinkable. Now, 40-plus years later we have both. I find that amazing and incredible and I’m so happy I lived to see this day. I don’t know about the rest of you but that makes my century. That gives me hope, finally, after 40 years of incompetents and snake-oil salesmen in the White House, that the impossible is coming true. That is so incredible that I am stunned and elated by it all. Finally.

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Katherine: well you just found a man who loves women who love to dance—ballroom or the nitty-gritty —C’mon we’ll dance the dust off the rafters :-) And thanks for the good words. :-)

By Frank Peterson on 06/04/2008 5:24 pm

It’s the Frank Peterson love fest!!! Isn’t it a curious thing that a man like “our Frank” just fits in so snugly with all of us women. And here I was just reading a post where a Wendy Wilson was talking about all of us hating each other, and men hating us, and so on and so forth and yet here we are giving Frank high fives, lots of drinks and lots of love and it’s all done with words. Amazing!! Here’s to you, Frank! Many thanks.

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 06/04/2008 5:33 pm

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Phyllis—thank you dear. :-) If I “fit in” it’s because I listen to women and I like women. I like talking with them, being with them, haveing a beer or a glass of wine with them—gimme the company of a woman over a man any day. You are more fun, more giving, and more loving—Annie sure was; all those things and a ton more, She gave me my life back. What more could a man want from a woman? What more could a man give her back but a life’s devotion of love and respect. And love her after she’s gone. I have had a marvelous strange life in so many ways; I should have died so many times in Vietnam, but I didn’t and that was because of Anne; she got me through that, healed my wounds and held me in her heart for 30 years. I knew a woman and I’ve never known another like her.

By Frank Peterson on 06/04/2008 6:06 pm

For Frank: THE MAN WHO LOVES WOMEN An homage to Sidney Pollack It is 1959—the Rebels have won—Batista has flown—the place is in turmoil Libre Cuba signs are everywhere And he sits at a table having one last drink before he, too, flies out And in she walks, slowly, so beautiful— “Were you waiting for me?” she asks “All my life.” he answers— But we know he will never have her and will spend the rest of his life Waiting for her to walk in some door at sometime somewhere. It’s Casablanca in Havana It’s all about nobility, courage, honor, sacrifice and, of course, Love—Here, however, the heroine makes the choice. In all his films the women are strong, passionate, smart and— Lovely to look at. (We even fell in love with Tootsie ) Kisses for you, Sidney , surely you must be one of the lucky men In this world— Loving women — the elixir in life And we thank you. 2003

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 06/04/2008 5:38 pm

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Sydney Pollack—a superb film director. Basically Phyllis, I’ve really only loved one woman; oh there have been flirtations; but once I found her that was it for eternity.

By Frank Peterson on 06/04/2008 5:54 pm

Mugsy - where are you? come on - I know you are biting your tongue.

By Roberta G on 06/04/2008 6:20 pm

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i cannot speak for mugsy, but as you see earlier in my posts, frank does not get the sexism. this space is supposed to be for women of the web. it has largely been about frank. i think frank is a great guy; i think he has no idea of the sexism.

By mary lou s on 06/04/2008 8:09 pm

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Mary Lou, I don’t get sexism eh? I’ve marched in ERA demonstrations with my wife and i was the only man there, and I caught a storm of shit from red-neck assholes and men in suits. I have supported woman’s shelters and taught children there in my off hours from work with Anne and I was the only man there. Don’t tell me I don’t get sexism I have sent thousands of letters to congress supporting women’s rights, Anne and I have brought abused women with their children into our home until we could find a safe place for them. I’ve had drunk irate “husbands’ looking for their wives hit me and I fought back and threw them them the steps while Anne called the cops. I have had to have my phone number changed repeatedly because of death threats; Anne has been threatened and followed and nearly run off the road, as have I. I learned real courage from her and those women. So don’t tell me I don’t get sexism. Don’t ever tell me that.

By Frank Peterson on 06/04/2008 8:24 pm

Frank, you don’t get sexism.

By Mugsy Peabody on 06/04/2008 8:35 pm

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Frank gets sexism, Mugsy. You’re a textbook example of a sexist. You ooze the attitude that one gender is superior to the other - female over male. You’re a misandronist.

By Lorraine Bates on 06/09/2008 5:36 pm

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Roberta G, the title of this thread says, “A Wow Reader Quote that says it all…” The very fact that thsi website for women over 40 chooses to post a quote by a man when there are all these brilliant, talented wonderful writers who are women over 40 on this website does say it all.

By Mugsy Peabody on 06/04/2008 8:33 pm

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And then he gets all gushed over - thanks Mugsy, I knew you could say it better than I. I feel really sad, think I’m going to throw in the wowowow towel; am thinking the founders don’t get it either.

By Roberta G on 06/04/2008 9:52 pm

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They don’t, Roberta. They clearly don’t. They hired a man to photograph them for this website; they have Ms. Whoopi and Ms. Jane and Ms. Lily to give them a little “street cred,” but then they hire a man to run the tech end of things. Even their PR “guy” is a guy. And if you say something, it’s because you’re “shrill” or “separatist” or “divisive” or need to get over yourself in a “post-feminist” world, or you are a feminista or a lesbian (oh, shock horrors). They don’t get it and they don’t care. They’re out to make their million bucks back and then some. End of story.

By Mugsy Peabody on 06/04/2008 10:11 pm

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Roberta and Mugsy - If you are upset that the founders chose something Frank wrote instead of something written by a woman, that is one thing. I disagree that he doesn’t “get it” simply because he is of the male persuasion. I don’t think the WOW site should practice reverse discrimination. One does not have to experience sexism personally in order to know in one’s heart how hurtful, ugly and demeaning it is. I was saddened to see the phrase: “and then they gushed all over him”. What I read were genuine reactions to a contributor many of us have grown very fond of and can relate to through his writing. Please don’t belittle that in your efforts to express your upset over his being chosen to begin with.

By Peg O my heart on 06/04/2008 11:39 pm

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I agree with you. I feel saddened that the legitimate upsets stated on posts that come later on this thread chose a moment that I think is unfair and unfitting to address them. sex·ism Pronunciation[sek-siz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles. Yes, Peg. I think this has been reversed in this instance. I don’t believe that Frank fits a stereotype. I have not found him to be disrespectful toward the women on this site whatsoever. And yes as stated in a later post, sexism abounds and women are so zapped with it that perhaps they have gotten blind to it. Then I’d ask those that are more aware to “teach” and bring these areas into the light of day. Not this way …It’s the type of reactivity and displacement that has held women down further in my opinion. If a known sexist male is featured on this site in a question or conversation then a logical, well-constructed letter to the wow powers that be could be constructed (and another and another, if necessary) Choosing this moment when a male writers contribution is featured to unleash is “kicking the dog,” in my opinion. I don’t know if I articulated this well. To me, a lack of sexism will exist when people are spoken about under a context of “human beings” and the gender thing isn’t a criteria. “Gender-blind” if you will. Then again, I am an idealist. I find the tone this thread has taken much less than ideal. :(

By T S on 06/05/2008 5:49 am