I always feel a sense of oneness when I look at my River, knowing that beside it there is an equality. The fact I’m a female doesn’t phase “ole man river” for it gives of its bounty, freedom, and beauty to male and female alike.

     I wonder how many women cringed as I did when they read House Speaker S. Vance Wilkins, Jr.’s remarks upon his resignation. “I don’t blame anyone for my troubles. Most of them I brought upon myself. BUT times have changed and the rules have changed and what was accepted in the era in which I was raised is strictly off limits today.”

     Yes, what has been accepted in the era in which he lived and since the beginning of time is how women are treated. How they are regarded as citizens, or fellow human beings. Only Jesus Christ liberated women. The United States Government has a very poor track record when it comes to this minority group, and I do feel women are the largest minority group in this country and most around the world.

     From little things like me having to show my voter registration card when my husband did not to big things like doing the hard work of a farmer’s wife and not being listed as employed. Even on joint tax returns no social security payments were taken out on me but I had to pay taxes on the little money I made tutoring. All’s fair in love and war but all is not fair when it comes to women.

     Harassment to women doesn’t have to always be sexual even though this is the one that is the most prominent. Harassment can be in the form of disrespect, inferring that we don’t have intelligent minds. (Many women are the brains behind their men.) Harassment can be in the form of not having women on the Board of Directors. Didn’t we just recently have our first woman placed on the board of a local bank? Only in recent years have we been thought to be intelligent enough to be in politics. And how about offices in the church? That’s another whole issue. How many women have waited several days for an appliance repairman because our time is not important.

     Small wonder that most women do not trust men when it comes to equality. They’ve done so little to deserve their trust. There may be those who are wondering how I got such a sour attitude about men. Well, it came from experience walking along that “road of life” for seventy-three years, sixty-five of which I was a born-again Christian. I have Christian brothers whom I love and respect in the Lord and many teaching peers. I loved eight brothers, scores of nephews, and hundred of male students. However, love has often had to overlook their prejudice.

     The river moves on and I’m anxious to see what era Delegate Wilkins is saying is not in existence. 

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