I am woman hear me roar

I stole this gem of a speech from the sassy savviness that is Kiat back in June, waiting for an opportunity to present itself. As an observer from afar, American politics seem to me like another wing of Hollywood studios, the political drama/dark comedy department. However, as we are all aware of Bush's bizarre sense of politics, we now wait with bated breath as a new President is crowned. As lead actors nominated for their unforgettable roles in this Presidential campaign, I would have enjoyed watching either Obby or Hillary win an Oscar. Now that they've joined forces, their star power will surely clean out the trophies. But let's rewind to that poignant moment back on June 7th when Hillary graciously bowed out:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), the most successful female presidential candidate in history, officially ended her campaign and endorsed Obama yesterday at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC:

"Now, on a personal note when I was asked what it means to be a woman running for President, I always gave the same answer: that I was proud to be running as a woman but I was running because I thought I'd be the best President. But I am a woman, and like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious.

I want to build an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us. I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my mother never dreamed of.

I ran as a mother who worries about my daughter's future and a mother who wants to lead all children to brighter tomorrows. To build that future I see, we must make sure that women and men alike understand the struggles of their grandmothers and mothers, and that women enjoy equal opportunities, equal pay, and equal respect. Let us resolve and work toward achieving some very simple propositions: There are no acceptable limits and there are no acceptable prejudices in the twenty-first century.

(Kiat: That last sentence resonates so strongly with my beliefs it is impossible for me not to feel just a little bit sad that Hillary will not be our next President as well as America's first female President.)

You can be so proud that, from now on, it will be unremarkable for a woman to win primary state victories, unremarkable to have a woman in a close race to be our nominee, unremarkable to think that a woman can be the President of the United States. And that is truly remarkable.

To those who are disappointed that we couldnt go all the way especially the young people who put so much into this campaign it would break my heart if, in falling short of my goal, I in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours. Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you're knocked down, get right back up. And never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on.

All of you were there for me every step of the way. Being human, we are imperfect. That's why we need each other. To catch each other when we falter. To encourage each other when we lose heart. Some may lead; others may follow; but none of us can go it alone. The changes were working for are changes that we can only accomplish together. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are rights that belong to each of us as individuals. But our lives, our freedom, our happiness, are best enjoyed, best protected, and best advanced when we do work together.

As we gather here today in this historic magnificent building, the 50th woman to leave this Earth is orbiting overhead. If we can blast 50 women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House.

Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it. And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time. That has always been the history of progress in America.

Think of the suffragists who gathered at Seneca Falls in 1848 and those who kept fighting until women could cast their votes. Think of the abolitionists who struggled and died to see the end of slavery. Think of the civil rights heroes and foot-soldiers who marched, protested and risked their lives to bring about the end to segregation and Jim Crow.

Because of them, I grew up taking for granted that women could vote. Because of them, my daughter grew up taking for granted that children of all colors could go to school together. Because of them, Barack Obama and I could wage a hard fought campaign for the Democratic nomination. Because of them, and because of you, children today will grow up taking for granted that an African American or a woman can yes, become President of the United States.

When that day arrives and a woman takes the oath of office as our President, we will all stand taller, proud of the values of our nation, proud that every little girl can dream and that her dreams can come true in America. And all of you will know that because of your passion and hard work you helped pave the way for that day.

(Kiat:"Why did she have to wait until her presidential-campaign-ending speech to deliver a speech of lofty and epochal proportions?")

And looking out at you today, I have never felt so blessed. The challenges that I have faced in this campaign are nothing compared to those that millions of Americans face every day in their own lives. So today, I'm going to count my blessings and keep on going. I'm going to keep doing what I was doing long before the cameras ever showed up and what I'll be doing long after they're gone: Working to give every American the same opportunities I had, and working to ensure that every child has the chance to grow up and achieve his or her God-given potential."

(Kiat rounds it off with, "I would be remiss if I didn't mention that, even as I was publicly proclaiming that would be happy with either Obama or Clinton as the nominee, I had always believed that it was a woman's time to be President, and Hillary was the right woman for the job -- strong, determined and passionate. I am disappointed that she lost, but that disappointment will last for a mere nano-second as we now look ahead to a brighter future come January 20, 2009".)

So I want to say to my supporters, when you hear people saying or think to yourself "if only" or "what if," I say, "please dont go there." Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward.

In the immortal words from Angels in America about the bittersweetness of progress which rings especially true in Hillary's could've-should've presidential run: "In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we've left behind, and dreaming ahead."

-->An excerpt from Kiat.net, June 8 2008. For further worldly education, please visit his website http://www.kiat.net/