Man! I Feel Like A Woman!

It's Super Tuesday and if I hear one more time Hillary Clinton referred to as "Hillary" while Barack Obama is referred to as "Obama" my head may explode. Trust me, I am not going to get "confused" and think that Bill is running for President so I wish the media would either refer to her as Clinton...or refer to Obama as Barack (I'm not picky, either choice would be more respectful that what is currently offered up).

My stepson, who is 16 and seems particularly interested in this election, perhaps because his older sister can vote this year, asked me who I was going to vote for. Normally, I don't share this with the kids in an effort to make any household political discussions be about issues vs. personalities, and also so I can offer up alternative points of view to stimulate their thought processes (easier to do if they don't know who I voted for or will vote for). But the last time he asked, I said "Clinton." He wanted to know why, so I told him because I am in favor of supporting a woman for President. He became indignant (as only 16 year old boys can do), huffing and puffing that I should only support the BEST candidate for the job, not base my selection on gender. I agreed, but noted that should the candidates be fairly equal in my view (and they are) I would absolutely choose a woman in order to advance the cause of what some call feminism, but which I like to call equalism, or sometimes humanism.

Thus was borne a "teaching moment." I reminded him that for 225+ years Americans deliberately and consciously chose male Presidents and believed that this was how our government ought to be. That even today, many Americans will NOT vote for Clinton and their decision will be based solely on her gender, whether they admit it or not. That while I'm not comfortable with the "it's our turn" rhetoric (that is not a good reason to choose a woman President), I am comfortable noting that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Let's not elect another man for President and expect a sea change in our country. After all, so much of what I read seems to indicate we Americans want some changes - and I don't think we're insane (well, most days I don't think so...but that's a post for a different time).

I'm sure I didn't change his mind - but as long as I get him to think, I am hopeful that I am raising a son who will be a humanist in the long run. He is nothing if not open-minded. Last year, his stepsister (my daughter) was making preparations for a small sweet 16 dinner with family and friends, about 35 of us. It was not lost upon my son that this was going to cost some money, and knowing that boys don't typically have these kinds of parties, confidently asked if he could "have the cash" in lieu of a big birthday bash.

His dad and I laughingly declined, and he challenged us: "Well, what do I get if she gets this big, expensive party?" I told him this: "You have the privilege of earning $1.00 for every $.79 that your sister will earn throughout your lives. I'm sure that will more than make up for that which you believe you lack right now." As a math whiz, he quite quickly calculated the benefit - and conceded the point.