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2011 - Year of the Woman

I can't remember a year in my lifetime where women so commanded every facet of media than in 2011.  From music to movies, politics to news stories or just every day life.  Women stepped to the forefront in 2011 like never before.  Many men made news because they couldn't get out of their own ways, but women seemed very content in taking over this year. 

Nowhere was this more evident than in the music industry.  Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Rihanna continued to shine. We lost a wonderful talent in Amy Winehouse.  There is always Taylor Swift, but I'm going to remember this year for the newcomers.  Florence & the Machine and Katy Perry made a splash, but nobody commanded our attention like the incomparable Adele.  At 23 years old, her soulful and powerful voice drew us in.  While overplayed by now, Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You are instant classics.  Let's just hope the pipes don't rust, because we'd all be losers if that should happen.

Nobody drew more attention than alleged and probably baby killer Casey Anthony.  America was mesmerized by this petite, somewhat attractive monster in a way that is seldom seen.  I personally was sickened by the amount of time people spent following this case.  She is only a celebrity, because dim witted society made her one.  So when she's making millions telling her tale, it will be because of society, not the media.

Our political saw the rise and quick fall of wild eyed Michelle Bachmann.  The republican presidential hopeful started off with a bang announcing her candidacy in, where she stated was, the birth place of John Wayne.  She was later embarrassed to find it was actually the birthplace of infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy.  Bachmann's odd run and even odder reasons for running seemed to gran our attention, but then she did what so many politicians do to kill their hopes.  She spoke.  While I personally can't stand the woman, she does represent a wonderful thing.  We didn't all shake our heads and say "oh no, not another female candidate."  The only unfortunate thing is that the last two who have tried were embarrassments their gender.  I hope the third is a charm.  Plus, we always have Hillary Clinton.  Another who I personally dislike, but have to respect how far she has come.

Continuing in politics, there is the triumphant rehab of Gabrielle Giffords. An Arizona Congesswoman who was shot in the head.  Her story is inspiring and sad.  She has become a symbol of courage and fortitude.  She also showed us, that despite our political beliefs, they all dissipate when acknowledging the will to survive.

There were the huge celebrity weddings of Kate Middleton & Kim Kardashian.  Although their sisters tried just as hard to steal headlines.  These weddings reminded us of other famous weddings with similar parallels...Princess Diana and Dennis Rodman.

There was also a few relative unknowns who deserve recognition.  Elizabeth Warren, who should be running the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  A task force to regulate banks interaction with the public.  One of Obama's biggest mistakes to date.  There is also Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has kept Germany's economy one of the strongest as the rest of Europe is in rapid decline.
Tennessee Volunteers women's basketball coach Pat Summit is one of the greatest coaches in the history of sports. She found she has the early symptoms of dementia and decided to keep going.  She told her team there will be times where she is not herself, but she's not quitting because of it. 

So with all the women who have dominated the news and the cultural landscape.  Is it possible to have a woman of the year in the year of the woman?  I think there are two.  You won't know there names right away, but they are historic.  Their story isn't only about their gender.  It is about everything that is important to us in this country.  They are New Yorkers and that is why I chose them.  Their names are Phyllis Siegel and Connie Kopelov.  They were the first homosexual couple to be legally married in New York state.  They have been together for 23 years and Siegel is in her late seventies.  Kopelev is in her mid 80's.  This isn't about sex.  It's not about tax fraud.  It's not about anything other than freedom to live one's life the way they would like to.  It's about freedom.  We have hundreds of thousands of men and women dying in other countries to protect these freedoms, let's not disrespect what they are doing by telling people in our own country what is right and wrong based on our opinions and religious beliefs.  Isn't that half the battle we're fighting in foreign lands?

I for one am happy that so many women are making an impact.  As a boy, I know my father taught me how to throw and hit.  He taught me much about history and spelling.  He taught me right and wrong, but it was my mom who taught me  how to feel.  About compassion and caring.  How to love and how to hurt.  We deny women certain things in this world.  We tell them they are too emotional and think with their hearts and not with their heads.   This year, maybe more than ever, I've thought with my heart and not with my head.  I may not be better off, but maybe I am.  I know this.  When I think about the people I love.  When I smell something that takes me to a special moment. When I listen to Adele's Someone Like You, I hear it with my mind, but I feel it with my heart and that was taught to me by a woman.  Seems fitting this year.

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