True Representation: The Debates 2
Dear Readers,
I wrote what follows in response to all the commentary on Senatory Clinton's emotional moment before the New Hampsire primaries. I was truly dismayed by those individuals, and women in particular, who criticized her for this. It is deeply gratifying to me to see her portrait on the January 21, 2008 issue of "Newsweek" magazine with the caption: "I found my own voice." All of us women can identify with that almost accidental way of feeling we've slipped into a more genuine voice when, suddenly, we're listening to our authentic selves! I know that when it happens to me, I am just as surprised as any one of my listeners! This small commentary was published on the NYTimes website two weeks ago:
This was a bonding moment. We need bonding moments with our leaders–we need to feel and identify with them and feel that they identify with us. That is the true basis of “representation.” We need to feel that our leaders “represent” us as a people as well as our views on the issues. It may not be as rational as going strictly on a candidate’s record but it is a biological fact.
We women know that, in the workplace, our emotions do not serve us and we strive to keep our emotions in check for fear of being perceived and denigrated as “emotional.” We find tears welling up and we run for the ladie’s room. All of us have experienced moments when a colleague’s unexpected expression of caring touches and breaks through our carefully-maintained reserve. All of us women know that our very competence is questioned if we show emotion and, therefore, we don’t “let our hair down” at work. It’s a sad reality. We women, all of us in public life, walk the edge of that sword.
Senator Clinton experienced a spontaneous moment. It was the kind of moment all professional women experience from time to time–woman to woman. It’s not rational and it’s not planned and we women know it. Senator Clinton recognized that this moment when someone expressed a real caring for her as a person, not as a candidate, not as the invincible Hillary, but as an extraordinary woman–also spontaneously released her to experience that deeper well of emotional caring and commitment that drives her dedication and careful preparation, her caring and commitment to her work on behalf of this country.
In my view she is one of the truly heroic figures of our time and we will be very fortunate indeed if we have the good sense to elect her and give her the opportunity to do the great work for which she has so conscientiously prepared to take on on our behalf.
That's it.
I have much to say about her revelation, "I found my own voice!" However, I will save that for another time.
Thank you again, dear readers, for joining me here and thank you again to my special helpers for all you do on my behalf and on behalf of my work.
I wrote what follows in response to all the commentary on Senatory Clinton's emotional moment before the New Hampsire primaries. I was truly dismayed by those individuals, and women in particular, who criticized her for this. It is deeply gratifying to me to see her portrait on the January 21, 2008 issue of "Newsweek" magazine with the caption: "I found my own voice." All of us women can identify with that almost accidental way of feeling we've slipped into a more genuine voice when, suddenly, we're listening to our authentic selves! I know that when it happens to me, I am just as surprised as any one of my listeners! This small commentary was published on the NYTimes website two weeks ago:
This was a bonding moment. We need bonding moments with our leaders–we need to feel and identify with them and feel that they identify with us. That is the true basis of “representation.” We need to feel that our leaders “represent” us as a people as well as our views on the issues. It may not be as rational as going strictly on a candidate’s record but it is a biological fact.
We women know that, in the workplace, our emotions do not serve us and we strive to keep our emotions in check for fear of being perceived and denigrated as “emotional.” We find tears welling up and we run for the ladie’s room. All of us have experienced moments when a colleague’s unexpected expression of caring touches and breaks through our carefully-maintained reserve. All of us women know that our very competence is questioned if we show emotion and, therefore, we don’t “let our hair down” at work. It’s a sad reality. We women, all of us in public life, walk the edge of that sword.
Senator Clinton experienced a spontaneous moment. It was the kind of moment all professional women experience from time to time–woman to woman. It’s not rational and it’s not planned and we women know it. Senator Clinton recognized that this moment when someone expressed a real caring for her as a person, not as a candidate, not as the invincible Hillary, but as an extraordinary woman–also spontaneously released her to experience that deeper well of emotional caring and commitment that drives her dedication and careful preparation, her caring and commitment to her work on behalf of this country.
In my view she is one of the truly heroic figures of our time and we will be very fortunate indeed if we have the good sense to elect her and give her the opportunity to do the great work for which she has so conscientiously prepared to take on on our behalf.
That's it.
I have much to say about her revelation, "I found my own voice!" However, I will save that for another time.
Thank you again, dear readers, for joining me here and thank you again to my special helpers for all you do on my behalf and on behalf of my work.
posted by Knowing Woman at 1:20 PM
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