By Linda Cicoira — If you saw last week’s Eastern Shore Post, you might have been as amazed as I was.
Del. Robert Bloxom’s column contained the world’s worse excuses for his stand against the Equal Rights Amendment.
Virginia did not become the final state needed to ratify this amendment that has been in the works since 1972, despite that the vast majority of Congress favored it all those years ago. It was actually first initiated in the 1920s. Yes, nearly 100 years ago.
One of our so-called modern-day politicians needs direction on how to vote during the General Assembly.
I’m urging everyone — those who agree and disagree — to give Bloxom a call and tell him how you feel. The Accomack and Northampton boards of supervisors were unanimous in their support of the ERA. The poll that the Eastern Shore Post took months ago showed a majority in favor. So, what’s the deal?
The number for Bloxom’s home office in Mappsville is 757-824-3456. He said in his statement that he welcomes hearing from his constituents. He’s hearing from me now and I hope he hears from you.
It is a real shame that it doesn’t seem to matter how hard one works, how many long hours per week one toils, or what one’s responsibilities are, women in Virginia are still treated like their jobs are hobbies or to provide extra spending money.
Many of us have or are working beside men in partnership. Yet we are denied the right to be equal and therefore are treated like second-class citizens. This attitude needs to stop. There needs to be equality across the board for all races and sexes.
What are the leaders of this world thinking? I cannot fathom it. Another year without ratification is barbaric.
And why are equal rights always unjustifiably linked to abortion? The two are separate issues. There is no connection. I am responsible for myself and I want equal rights. At 60 years old, I am certainly not looking for pregnancy or abortion to be happening. If one wants to keep something from occurring, the surefire way to stop whatever they are against is to somehow reason that it will cause the death of a baby.
Last week, Bloxom wrote, “Truthfully, this renewed push for the passage of the ERA is driven by groups like Planned Parenthood and the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL) to increase access to late-term taxpayer-funded abortions.”
That is absolutely absurd. I don’t belong to those groups. I am just trying to live my life. Is this the way your mothers, sisters, and daughters should be treated? I think not.
I have been waiting for my elected officials to understand that as a human being I need to be treated equally. I work, pay taxes and tons of other bills, buy health insurance that costs me more than $900 a month, and have seen a lot of sexism in my lifetime. I thought it had gotten better, but I must have had my head stuck in the sand.
“Women could be eligible for the draft,” Bloxom wrote. Really? Am I missing something here? The draft hasn’t been in effect since 1973. The year after the ERA was turned down. Who exactly is being drafted? If ever, God forbid, we have a third world war, I think we will ALL be wiped out or will be fighting tooth and nail.
He says the ERA will eliminate the Violence Against Women Act, the Title 9 Sports Equalization, and preferential treatment of women in government business contracts. I can’t believe that women are getting preferential treatment anywhere. I don’t want special treatment. I want to give a big Yippee! For equal treatment.
