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Writer's pictureCatherine Tidd

Remember the Ladies

I have never once owned a political article of clothing. I've never put a bumper sticker on my car, endorsing a specific candidate. In fact, I was brought up to believe that discussing politics was in poor taste; even my parents didn't discuss who they were voting for with each other.


But that was then. And a lot has changed.


I put my ballot in the box today and I still didn't wear an article of clothing endorsing a specific candidate. What I DID wear was a t-shirt I bought at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago.




Part of why I don't wear political apparel is because I generally don't like conflict; politics right now are so heated and, frankly, I'm afraid of some of the extremists out there.


While I felt emboldened by my shirt as I went to cast my vote, I started to get nervous the closer I got. I thought, "I just need to jump out of my car and drop this envelope in the slot. That will take two seconds."


Well, the parking lot was busier than I thought it would be, so I had to park farther than I thought I would. Which meant me and my t-shirt were walking across the parking lot. And that made me nervous.


Of course, nothing happened. I slid the envelope in, walked back to my car, and proudly wore my shirt home.


And then it hit me how sad this whole thing was.


My shirt didn't say anyone's name. It didn't say my political party. But just the words "Created Equal" would tell anyone who I was voting for.


By wearing a shirt that voiced a fundamental right...you'd know my political affiliation.


Now, this is no different from someone wearing an NRA shirt or something along those lines. If I saw that, I would assume someone was more than likely a Republican.


But this. To be EQUAL. Why isn't this a shirt someone on either side would wear?


I long to hear that you have declared an independency — and by the way in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.
 
That your sex are naturally tyrannical is a truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of master for the more tender and endearing one of friend. Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity. Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your sex. Regard us then as beings placed by providence under your protection and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness.

-Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776



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