To have peace we also have to have equality for all peoples, nations, religions and cultures. We do need to address the racism which remains here in America and all over the world. Women’s and girls’ rights are being denied many places across the world. They are an invisible minority. Women are being beaten, terrorized, even executed. Many females are treated with contempt and violence.
We find that the violence against women is perpetuated by fellow citizens. There are laws to protect women but they are not always enforced. Often authorities look the other way. It is a woman after all.
Women are often denied opportunities for education and work. Women wanting a better life can’t protect themselves from violence and harm. They also can’t protect their children.
Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for. It means standing up for your dignity and the dignity of others. It also means encouraging others to do the same.
Human rights mean that all people are treated like human beings. It means being able to stand up as a woman, a radical, religious, tribal or ethnic minority and being treated the same way as everyone else. Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights.
We need to recognize the gains we have made as women as well as the gaps where women and girls can fall through. We then need to focus on the gaps and filling them logically. Social media has improved things somewhat. But we have 200,000 million fewer women with access to the internet than men who are online in the developing world.
“I have loved and been loved; all the rest is background music.” —Hilary Clinton
To everyone who has worked as an advocate or feminist, you can’t rest on your laurels. Never quit. Never stop working to make the world a better place for all of us to live and thrive. We have unfinished business and we must go forward until all human beings enjoy human rights and full equality.
Since the time of our founding fathers, we have had to work on equality and human rights for all. The founding fathers began our country as a great experiment. They had a dream and they created America from that dream. There were many people who predicted our demise as a nation. George Washington, the father of our country was criticized as being a mediocre surveyor with a bad set of wooden teeth.
People who have bet against America have found themselves to be surprised and dumbfounded. The one issue which caused much debate and angry words was, as it is now, equality between the races. The founding fathers finally agreed to disagree. They crafted America and left future generations to come to terms with the question of equality. This job fell upon the shoulders of Abraham Lincoln. He was assassinated and therefore his plans were not implemented. After the Civil War, there was no slavery but there also was not any equality except for a very few.
These days women are not equal. Black citizens and white citizens are not equal. Middle Eastern people are not equal since 9-11. Poverty has increased here in America as well as around the world. The future brings opportunities to learn our lessons and heed the call of history. We need to make human rights a priority. America needs to stand together firmly and united in pursuit of a more just, free and peaceful world.
“It ‘s supposed to be hard…The hard is what makes it great.” —Excerpted from A League of Their Own.
We need leaders who will lead in a way that will unite us all and renew the American Dream.
idealisticrebel 
Abuse of minority groups can take place at so many levels – not just the physical.
oh yes. You are right. Hugs, Barbara
I’m so glad that you bring forefront the state of the treatment of women throughout the world…It is disgraceful and outrageous yet no one protest in the street for us, not even ourselves.
Women have to start to stand up for ourselves once again. We need to make ourselves heard. Women are raised to take care of others but not ourselves. Hugs, Barbara
You have written a very motivating article. It touched me and offered a path to follow in this crazy world we live in!
You are such a dear and wonderful woman. I am honored to call you friend. Hugs, Barbara
And I you!
an important and wonderfully written post. Such tough battles for many to fight….:(
Happy holiday wishes to you and yours. Hugs, Barbara
Barbara, the standing up by a woman starts in the home. Then once that woman frees herself from bondage, from there, the voices will of free women shall get louder and stronger and that is when real change will be made!! I have goosebumps! Love, Amy
Bless you girl. Happy holidays. Hugs, Barbara
Thank you, Barbara. Same to you! (((HUGS))) Amy
It looks like several bloggers are trying to comment on your post at the same time , and rightly so , as I had to make several attempts to gain access to your site… abuses , racial and against women , and violence seem to be enjoying an unbridled run ; just yesterday , 132 school children were shot dead by the Taliban in neighbouring Pakistan . And the news is all over the media in all its gory detail… may I wish you a very peaceful and joyful holiday season , barbara , with your daughters and grandchildren…hugs…raj .
Yes, there is a lot of evil in the world right now. Our job is to focus on the positive and to look for the good in the world. Blessings and hugs, Barbara
I agree with LadyPinkRose. It all starts in the home. I believe many women sublimate themselves: they let their male family members take control, and so in their male members’ minds, their women are not equal human beings.
This was a great wake-up call, Barbara. Thanks.
God bless you Barb! Wishing you peace and happiness for this holiday season and always. 🙂
Reblogged this on Spirit In Action and commented:
Thank you for writing this! It’s easy for women’s issues to be left out or forgotten in the discussion over human rights. We still have so far to go but I’m heartened by the many people who have never stopped making our world better. From the grandparents still active in creating positive change to the school children creating their own innovative projects-some as young as 5 or 6 years old!
I’m reminded daily that it very often is darkest before the dawn.
Just to let you know, Barbara, on this Christmas Eve, Down Under – I think of you and wish you a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year filled with amazing moments of joy and peace and love. Hugs, Ina
Muslims are boasting that they are for women’s rights,then they must change the Quran (the Islamic book)which considers a woman 1/2 a man.2 women are equal to one man in any trial in the court.She is forbidden to divorce her brutal husband but the husband can divorce his with by saying “you are divorce 3 times”dark ages laws.J