Toast Jeannette Rankin on first Patriots Day
While Jeannette Rankin existed, Patriots Day does not. More about Patriots Day later.
Monday marked the 73rd anniversary of Congresswoman Rankin's sole vote against the Declaration of War against Japan. Facing hisses and calls for her to change her vote to make it unanimous, she said "I can't go to war (as a woman) so I can't send anyone else." Then she ran from a mob out for blood; hiding in a phone both and calling the cops to save her.
If that was all she did in life she'd be a minor historical footnote. But Rankin, born in Montana, was a true groundbreaker. She got a BS in biology at a time few women attended college. Eschewing both a normal career and family, she joined the suffrage movement, organizing the NY Women's Suffrage Party and serving as lobbyist for the National American Women's Suffrage Association, facilitating suffrage victories in Montana and Washington. Improbably securing election as the first US Congresswomen ever (Montana), when women couldn't vote nationally, she cast the only female vote for universal suffrage. Then in April, 1917, Rankin was one of 50 members of Congress voting against President Wilson's Declaration of War against Germany in WWI. The majority vote for senseless war was one of the worst decisions in American history.
Monday marked the 73rd anniversary of Congresswoman Rankin's sole vote against the Declaration of War against Japan. Facing hisses and calls for her to change her vote to make it unanimous, she said "I can't go to war (as a woman) so I can't send anyone else." Then she ran from a mob out for blood; hiding in a phone both and calling the cops to save her.
If that was all she did in life she'd be a minor historical footnote. But Rankin, born in Montana, was a true groundbreaker. She got a BS in biology at a time few women attended college. Eschewing both a normal career and family, she joined the suffrage movement, organizing the NY Women's Suffrage Party and serving as lobbyist for the National American Women's Suffrage Association, facilitating suffrage victories in Montana and Washington. Improbably securing election as the first US Congresswomen ever (Montana), when women couldn't vote nationally, she cast the only female vote for universal suffrage. Then in April, 1917, Rankin was one of 50 members of Congress voting against President Wilson's Declaration of War against Germany in WWI. The majority vote for senseless war was one of the worst decisions in American history.
Her nay vote sealed her defeat in 1918. She spent the next 22 years working tirelessly for peace and the rights of women and children. In 1940, the cause of peace made her run for Congress again. She won and got the chance to vote against our last declared war. Bounced from Congress again in 1942, Rankin soldiered on for her causes of peace and justice for another 31 years.
That brings us back to Patriots Day. Let's change Veterans Day to Patriots Day. Then it will not only honor our veterans and servicemen, but all the patriots who have worked for peace, justice and human values. Veterans Day has degenerated into a shameless commercial for the war party and their endless wars of empire. By including patriots such as Jeannette Rankin, the millions of us peace loving non military Americans will have our day of honor.
posted by Walt Zlotow at 7:08 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home