After the Kavanaugh hearings a Philadelphia area woman submitted a letter to the editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the NY Times. They didn’t run it.
Here it is (shortened for space):
“SOS”
“I was born in 1948. In the 1950’s I led an idyllic childhood.
“I remember Ike and I was horrified by Kennedy’s death. I did not particularly like LBJ and hated that he was sending my generation to be decimated in Vietnam, but was encouraged by civil rights progress.
“I was astounded by Watergate and cheered when Nixon resigned. I liked Ford and was sorry he did not get re-elected.
“I thought Carter meant well but was not very effective.
“I was too busy raising my children to pay much attention to Reagan.
“I thought HW was ultimately qualified and was sad when he lost, but I was extremely disillusioned by the Anita Hill hearings.
“I was disgusted by Clinton’s morals but thought he was an OK leader.
“I thought W was an inarticulate, unintelligent leader, who drove us into war and debt, but that he basically was a good man.
“I was thrilled by Barak Obama’s election and felt calm, optimistic andrelaxed during his presidency.
“Throughout my life I felt our Ship of State was steaming ahead,progressing with the environment, civil rights, women’s rights,reproductive rights, and was highly respected throughout the world.
“I had confidence in our country’s leaders and rarely felt anxious about my future and the future of my children and grandchildren.
“Since 2017, I have a constant feeling of dread. I feel anxious and Iam losing sleep. I have tried to disengage from the daily disruptions, but every day brings new fears about our future.
“I feel our noble Ship has been hijacked by pirates who do not have a clue about sailing and are determined to run us aground.
“I am afraid our Ship is off course and may even sink.
“Please, Save Our Ship.”
This woman is a 70 year old retired pediatric occupational therapist, a mother, grandmother, and happily married wife of 46 years. 2017 was the year Trump and his pirates took over the ship.
Now, to a song written by a 32 year old college dance teacher in San Marco, Texas in response to Trump’s Kavanaugh comment: “It’s a very scary time for young men.” It went viral on Youtube last week, shortly after which she performed it LIVE on Jimmy Kimmel. (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/lynzy-lab-performs-a-scary-time-jimmy-kimmel-live-1151936). Here are the lyrics (also shortened) :
“A Scary Time for Boys”
“But it sure is a scary time for boys.
Yeah gentlemen! Band together. Make some noise
It’s really tough when your reputation’s on the line
And any woman you’ve assaulted could turn up anytime
“Yeah, it sure is a scary time for guys
Can’t speak to any women or look them in the eyes
It’s so confusing: is it rape or is it just being nice?
So inconvenient that you even have to think twice.
“I can’t live in an apartment if it’s on the first floor
I can’t be wearing silk pajamas when I answer the door
I can’t have another drink even if I want more
I can’t make you feel invalid, unseen, or ignored
I can’t jog around the city with headphones on my ears
I can’t speak out against my rapist after 35 years
I can’t be taken seriously if I’m holding back tears
And I can’t ever speak earnestly about all my fears
“But it sure is a scary time for dudes
Can’t text a girl repeatedly asking for nudes
Can’t make her have sex when she’s not in the mood
And what gives her the right to give you attitude??
“Yeah, it sure is a scary time for men
Girls like to act like you’re to blame and they’re the victims
Her dress was short and she was drunk, she’s not so innocent
Thank God your Dad’s the Judge and you won’t be convicted
Oh wait…that’s right…
“It’s not such a scary time for boys
They’ve always had the upper hand, they’ve always had a choice
It’s time for women to rise up,
Use our collective voice
The day to vote’s November 6, so let’s go make some noise
Go Vote!”
One person remembers a gentler time, when leaders assuaged fear instead of triggering it. The other doesn’t speak to a gentler time; she just yearns for it.
Neither names Trump or others. But there’s another, bigger connection between them: they’re scared – for themselves and the country.
Why tell you about just two scared people – miles, years, and cultures apart?
If you’re scared too, vote on Nov. 6.