You are very right on that, Deni. It is a question that doesn’t hit the “top 1000 things to be concerned about.” And I chose a really low number. :)

A funny thing came into my e-mail today and it made me laugh. I wanted to share it hoping it would add a bit of levity to this pretty serious subject and give an illustration of women’s savvy. Women Who Know Their Place Barbara Walters of Television’s 20/20 did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan several years before the Afghan conflict. She noted that women customarily walked 5 paces behind their husbands. She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands. From Ms. Walter’s vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to walk even further back behind their husbands and are happy to maintain the old custom. Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked, ‘Why do you now seem happy with the old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?’ The woman looked Ms. Walters straight in the eyes, and without hesitation, said, ‘Land Mines.’ MORAL OF THE STORY: BEHIND EVERY MAN IS A SMART WOMAN.

Beautiful, beautiful poem. I can’t imagine the pain of parents who have lost a child. I know I cry…every time… when these losses come into my awareness. The thought of losing one of my children has a way of making just about everything else seem inconsequential.

No doubt…

Ha Ha Ha…Here I am double thumbs up-ing the yin energy and I use the expression “a-men.” Cracked myself up on that one.

Amen to that…

I agree with you, Maggi. I would fully support a female president. I don’t think Hillary is the one, either. However, I agree she does deserve tremendous credit for her perseverance, tenacity and how it will affect the future for women. I’m glad that you made that point. Both sentiments can be genuinely held for Hillary.

Okay…I’m on a learning curve with this. My mistake. :)

Ok, Mugsy. I resign. For all that I really like within this site’s community, the edge it has is just not for me. I will go back to my own little world now.

Depends on how you look at this I guess. Yes, Philip. In many ways on a relative scale, this certainly is a great place to live. However, can you see that the very things that make it great are in jeopardy? I will show some restraint and not digress into “freedom” and it’s erosion. And I’ll only note that we’re tanking compared to some other nations in terms of our education system. (check me on this…I said I’d just note it but the stats are there). And so on… But if I look through the lens of how people live and are treated in certain other parts of the world, I totally get you and feel beyond grateful that this is where I live. I just want my children to be able to say that when they are adults and their children…etc.

Thank you, James for this perspective which is consistent with statistical fact. And what a self-possessed, balanced and thoughtful kind of man you appear to be. Such a sharp contrast from some others that share your gender.

tee-hee. Are we talking “chicks” as in the vernacular or those cute little yellow fuzzy critters with beaks? As for your p’whipped reference, the only men I have ever heard use that expression were survivors of that very thing (poor babies) and not a one was highly educated. No, rather they were in desperate search of a “mommy” not a woman and resentful of the need/dependency. Hey, come to think of it, this underscores the plight of the male narcissist. Ugh…I hate myself for stooping to your level already. You had to know in advance that your comments were going to be provacative so I will now sign off and go kick myself twice. Once for lowering myself and two for responding to your initial post and giving it the attention it didn’t deserve. I must repent…

Ta-daaaaa…A challenge presented to Bean (respectfully) Bean, Consider writing a post about something (anything actually) that is not disparaging, hostile or abundant with contempt. How about the “if you were an appliance” piece…

Yikes! What kinda female folk have you been hanging out with, Dr. Klein. You forgot to mention that women seem to have cornered the market on chocolate.

Yikes! What kinda female folk you hanging out with, Dr. Klein?