"Don't listen to me, listen to yourselves."

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Gloria Steinem is such an incredible woman- what an inspiration. I've always loved her, but T and I just watched a documentary about her -HBO's "Gloria, In Her Own Words"- and wow! T is completely on board with her, and I am more moved than ever. I love that she is strong but also owns her beauty and sexuality; I love that she entered the women's lib movement organically but felt called to participate in and shape it ever-increasingly; she's giving and selfless but simultaneously strong and self-honest; she never suggests that women be anyone but who they are BUT also demands that we demand respect for just those attributes. I intend to write my first Em-i-lis Essay in tribute to GS but need to get my thoughts in order first. Suffice it to say that I feel that for so many of us women, her path is ours, her struggles towards self-actualization our own, her weaknesses and strengths ones we all share, her regrets those we might have made or make. And those things are what make us real, what make us sentient beings, women of depth, with much to offer and the confidence to realize that always we also can learn and receive much. Compromise, reflection and change are, in their most sincere forms, not flaws but opportunities, not flip-floppiness but honesty. And to demand equal acknowledgement and treatment of those characteristics is just.

Hilarious quote of the day

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Do y'all read Gail Collins? She's a freaking riot, such a smart woman. In seemingly every Op-Ed of hers I've read, she has managed to include mention of Mitt Romney driving to Canada with the family dog strapped to the roof of the car. Today's was no break from the routine. But that wasn't even in the top three funniest parts of her column pitting Mitt against Rick. In reviewing the fact that three of the Repubs at the recent debate blasted for Perry for supporting the inoculation of girls against cervical cancer, Gail writes: "This is a big deal for some social conservatives, but it's still interesting to think that we have presidential candidates who believe that they could score a stunning upset victory on an anti-cancer-prevention platform."  Har!

If you didn't read the article, here's a link.

On the flip side of the funny coin was this article about individual actions against global warming not even coming close to making a dent in the enormous problem it is. Written by the unfortunately first-named, Gernot Wagner, it's an excellent piece about what we'll really  need to do, how we'll really need to behave, to force the reparative policy changes that are necessary to mend our Earth. Depressing as hell for us eco-defenders but an honest call to action.

The bread was pretty good- austere in a whole-grainy kinda way but not dry and a great base for oozy jam.