What is it about inspirational songs and such that can just get to you? A year ago I sang in a choir that was part of a performance by Ann Reed. If you are unfamiliar with her she is, I suppose you would say, a folk singer. She hails from MN. I don't want to say her music is only for lesbians because it isn't, but that is more or less how she got started. But she has gone on from there. Now, her music speaks to all. Back, I don't know when, she wrote a song called "Heroes". I encourage you to take a listen. It is absolutely wonderful. She tells of how after the song came out, teachers, young girls, classes as a whole would write her to tell her the impact the song had on them. It is so incredibly powerful. All the "Heroes" are women.
She gave this performance again this past weekend. I could not sing this time so enjoyed it from the audience. She is not alone in this presentation. She has 4 incredibly gifted women who sing as well, a bass player and a pianist. The choir enters mainly at the end and sings some songs that celebrate women. Thru speaking and song she/they tell the stories of women. The whole premise of the performance is to make us stop and look and listen to stories about these heroes. A hero is someone who fights for a cause. These heroes all happen to be women. Take a look at the list of heroes and think about it. These are all women that did something that affected history, changed history,made history.
At the beginning of the show she asked about heroes we might have now or had. The only woman that still appears regularly on any list is Eleanor Roosevelt. The women on her heroes list are amazing. At one time I wanted to read about them all. Maybe I should put that on my bucket list, to read at least one book about each of them.
I really can't say why hearing this song affects me so. I think mainly I am just so in awe of what can be done and the fortitude that these women had at their particular time in history. They worked with people, mainly men, that despised them or gave them no credit at all. They worked against incredible odds, most of them.
What is it that gives some people the vision and the drive to persevere when the odds are so bad?What helps them keep their head up and march on knowing that what they are pursuing is the right thing to do? Are there women out there doing it today? Not the Lindsey Lohans or the Taylor Swifts. Do we have a Barbara Jordan or a Shirley Chisholm? Who can the young ladies, the women of the future look up to and say "Yes I can"? Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman?? I think not. Maybe Hilary Clinton, Barbara Boxer maybe. Even I, at 60, can't pull any to the front of my brain. Where are the women who aren't stars, athletes, or hookers?
They say that the political climate has become very woman unfriendly. I would have to agree. As women we have to take care of ourselves but we also have to care for the young women who are our future. We have to let them know that "I can do that thing which I think I can not do..."
It's not about beauty and looks, a tiara or needing a man to survive. That seems to be the focus in today's society. These young ladies must work to gain confidence and an inherent sense of self worth.
I'd like to see a female president before the end of my lifetime. At the rate we're going, we probably won't have any women in any party with authority. But we must! In 8 years, 2020, we mark 100 yrs of women having the right to vote. There are heroes out there. We must look for them and when found, support them in any way possible. Take the time to listen to this wonderful song and look for your heroes. WL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLgooJDqqHs
