Liz I’m with you on newspapers, I read 7: NY Post, NY Times, NY Daily News, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Financial Times, Law Journal and Asbury Park Press. I read different newspapers for different reporters, sections and other reasons. I enjoy the actual newspapers so that I can get my fingers dirty. I like looking at the whole page at once, advertisements and all; you can’t do this on the internet. We are lucky to be in the New York Metro area, we still have so many newspapers. But alas, I feel that we are becoming the minority in terms of reading paper and papers. I remember my grandfather coming home with the Herald Tribune, The Mirror, The World Telegram and Sun and sometimes the Journal American, all now gone from the scene. I was always fascinated with gossip: Ed Sullivan, Leonard Lyons, Earl Wilson, Walter Winchell, Hy Gardner, Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons. This is back when children would read, even if it was gossip and sports, it was reading.

Women must have the ERA amendment to gain the equality with men that gains them the equality and respect they have earned. Once the amendment is enacted women will have the equality that will open the executive doors wider for them. The ERA amendment now needs the leadership of those women in power positions to get it passed as one of the first acts of the new Congress. The time for women is now. They have waited for too long and accomplished for too much for them to miss this opportunity.

Looking out the windows towards the woods that start merely 40 feet away is the field on which the Revolutionary War Battle of Monmouth took place Sunday June 28, 1778. The battlefield has beautiful overgrown and old trees. And on that Battlefield I picture General Washington on his white horse sword in hand shouting directions to the troops. This is combat I think to myself. And then I see a woman bringing water to the battered and tired soldiers. The woman in the combat zone is Molly Pitcher. Yes this really is what happened many years ago out my window and so it goes and women still need the ERA amendment so that they can be equal to men under all laws. Women were always in combat.

Mary, Mary quite contrary - most men just want to be appreciated by the woman they are with. Men are very simple.

Did you hear the joke about the rope? Skip it.

Whoopi - My wife and my mom love you and watch The View. My daughter 12 saw you on Broadway this summer and then saw you on the street outside the theater - she loves you. I am totally perplexed as to why you and the women on The View as well as the women who run and own this web site just don’t seem to care about the ERA Amendment. I know you must realize that after Black men got the right to vote it took all women Black, white etc another 50 years before women could vote. Obviously the Amendments that gave the Black man the right to vote did not apply to women. There is a need for the ERA Amendment. Why are you and your friends so quiet when you finally have a real chance for equality. My theory is that once a woman gets to the pinnacle and has power and money like those of you on The View, or those of you who own this web site or the women reach the House or Senate you don’t want to rock the boat - even for equality. Imagine if Martin Luther King, Thurgood Marshall. Marion Anderson and others did nothing.

The problem with the states still ratifying the prior ERA Amendment is that there is a 2 year ratification period on that amendment. It is easier to just start the process again and put the pressure on the male elected officials to get it done now. An old objection was that women should not be drafted and should not be in combat. There is no draft and as you aptly say women are in combat. As a matter of fact my house backs onto the battleground where the Battle of Monmouth took place during the Revolutionary War. It was during this battle that Molly Pitcher brought water to our soldiers and she was in combat back then. There is no excuse other than men not wanting women to be equal. I am totally perplexed by the total failure of the women in Congress to act on this issue immediately. Perhaps when they get to Washington they start thinking and acting like men and forget about their sisters.

When will we all once again think about the rights of all women to be equal to men? Now is the golden opportunity for women to get the ERA Amendment passed. I am talking about equality for all women in America. If you don’t need the ERA Amendment then why is it introduced into Congress each session? If you do need the ERA Amendment I advise women to sound a wake up call to the women in the House and Senate who are avoiding this issue. You now have the best opportunity ever to get the ERA Amendment passed by Congress as soon as the new President is inaugurated. You women are the majority without equality, either I am wrong or something should be done ASAP. President Obama who has two daughters should make this an important point in his inaugural address. Peace, love and equality.

Frank I am telling you the truth I would love to stop these dance lessons tomorrow they cost a small fortune you even have to buy the trophies if they win a competition. There is absolutely nothing in dance for me other than the pleasure of seeing my children happy. I do not watch them practice, I am not a big dance person. You assume too many facts and then make your conclusions based on your own wrong assumptions. My life is not dance.

Thank you Donna - you are correct and children who are on school teams usually spend 2-3 hours of after school time practicing. Yes my girls did ask for the lessons. I pride myself on my parenting and have written a book to help teenagers “AIM HIGH! 101 Tips For Teens.” The wonderful Liz Smith - I say this with great respect - who has done more than anyone else I know over the last 30 -40 to encourage literacy and reading has been kind enough to give “AIM HIGH!” a special review in the Book section of this web site. “AIM HIGH!” is only sold on amazon.com but I hope that one day a corporation or foundation will distribute it to every 7th grader. Thank you to all the members of wowowow.com who have purchased the book for teenagers. Peace and love to all this holiday season.

My only fear is that the 3 state strategy as yet unattainable after 30 years will cause nothing but more delay because of lawsuits that will keep the amendment in the Courts. There was a 2 year ratification limit on the old ERA amendment. Why start a battle in the courts and especially the US Supreme Court when you can start anew and avoid court battles. Let the Congress and states show their true feelings so that voters can get all the anti-women representatives out of office as Americans would do with any other bigots.

I have faith in the power of women to get the ERA amendment passed. Let the women who own this web site and this web site www.wowowow.com become the voice for the ERA amendment. Other powerful women should join in as well. In the 30 years since the last attempt many things have changed and now there is a Democrat President and Congress and they all preach equal rights. The amendment should start from the beginning since the old amendment if ratified now will only bring lawsuits. Don’t worry about the opposition and this shouldn’t be a name calling contest. Since women now serve in combat there are very few excuses for not having the amendment. Men wouldn’t want to be drafted either and there is no draft. Let this country show the world that we believe in democracy for women and men and they both have equal rights. There is no better time than now and women should concentrate on the passage and not concentrate on the negative past. This is a new day in America and all people should have equal rights and opportunities under the laws. Women have to start this and then the men will join in. There can be no stopping women in 2009. There should be a group of very prominent women quickly and quietly organized to announce an immediate effort in January to get the ERA amendment passed. Today, as opposed to 1980, there are many women with the money who are able to mount this campaign whether they are actresses, politicians, corporate heads or other wealthy women. Where are the elected women in congress hiding and why don’t they bring on this amendment? Hello!!?? There should be full page ads taken out in newspapers and on radio and television a few weeks before the inauguration along with other publicity making all women aware of the need for the amendment and telling the President and Congress to make this a first priority since the majority of the country - women - have second class status. How can this country or a Secretary of State Rice or Clinton preach and call for women’s rights when women in America are not equal to men. Women should rise up to challenge the new congress to immediately pass the amendment or else. Or else those who do not vote to pass it will be challenged by women candidates in the congressional and senate elections in 2 years. As a man I doubt these male politicians have the nerve to not vote for passage (unless they plan to retire). The next step are the states, where Governors and state legislature representatives should also be challenged to ratify the amendment quickly or else. Or else many of these people will face challenges from women in 2009 state elections and the 2010 elections. The women in Congress must join in and take a leading role, Democrats, Republicans, liberals and conservatives, we are talking about human rights. Women have to convince other women that the time is now. I believe that with a surge of effort and publicity coupled with a sound plan and leadership the amendment can be passed by Congress by March 1, 2009 and ratified by the states before summer or at the latest before the 2009 state nominations and elections. Black and white women elected President Obama and the women in Congress. There is a time for everything under heaven and now is the time to see if these elected officials believe in equality for women as well as men.

Yes I have more faith in the power of women to get this done. Let us just say for example that the women who own this web site and this web site become the voice for the ERA amendment. There has to be some organization of other powerful women as well. In the 30 years since the last attempt many things have changed and now there is a Democrat President and Congress and they all preach equal rights. The amendment should start from the beginning since the old amendment if ratified now will only bring lawsuits. Don’t worry about the opposition and this shouldn’t be a name calling contest. Since women now serve in combat there are very few excuses for not having the amendment. Men wouldn’t want to be drafted either and there is no draft. Let this country show the world that we believe in democracy for women and men and they both have equal rights. There is no better time than now and women should concentrate on the passage and not concentrate on the negative past. This is a new day in America and all people should have equal rights and opportunities under the laws. Women have to start this and then the men will join in. There can be no stopping women in 2009. There should be a group of very prominent women quickly and quietly organized to announce an immediate effort in January to get the ERA amendment past. Today as opposed to 1980 there are many women with the money to mount this campaign whether they are actresses, politicians, corporate heads or other wealthy women. Where are the elected women in congress hiding and why don’t they bring on this amendment? Hello!!?? There should be full page ads taken out in newspapers and on radio and television a few weeks before the inauguration along with other publicity making all women aware of the need for the amendment and telling the President and Congress to make this a first priority since the majority of the country - women - have second class status. How can this country preach a woman’s rights when women are not equal to men here in America. Women should then challenge congress to immediately pass the amendment or else. Or else those who do not vote to pass it will be challenged by women candidates in the congressional and senate elections in 2 years. As a man I doubt these male politicians have the “balls” to not vote for passage (unless they plan to retire). The next step are the states, where Governors and state legislature representatives should also be challenged to ratify the amendment quickly or else. Or else many of these people will face challenges from women in 2009 state elections and the 2010 elections. The women in Congress must join in and take a leading role, Democrats, Republicans, liberals and conservatives, we are talking about human rights. Women have to convince other women that the time is now. I believe that with a surge of publicity and a sound plan and leadership the amendment can be passed by Congress by March 1, 2009 and ratified by the states before summer or at the latest before the 2009 state elections. Black and white women elected President Obama and the women in Congress. Now is the time to see if these elected officials believe in equality for women as well as men. Equality for all Americans - power to women!!

Thank you for your kind comments, we were neighbors for 8 years when I lived in Rancho Santa Fe and ate VJ Donuts and watched the surfers. Have a great Thanksgiving, we try.

Nice speaking with you again. It can pass the new session of Congress if the women insist upon it passing. Your mom would have been very proud of you. Women are the majority and all you have to do is tell these men you are going to vote them out of office when they are up for reelection. They don’t want to lose power and their cushy jobs.