Ultimate Cosmic Power

There are those times when I feel this excitement, when I want to go out and create something, contribute something. Sometimes the feeling comes in the wake of the new and inspiring; sometimes after a period of personal trial. But it's an amazing feeling.

The feeling can sometimes be like a surge of energy, best described by Aladdin's Genie as "Ultimate Cosmic Power!!"

Other times, it's that quiet reminder of my own divine potential.

I came across this video on Youtube sponsored by an international church organization called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have a series of "Mormon Messages" that I find particularly uplifting. This one hit home and I thought it would be nice to share. To clear up any questions as to the religious implications of this video, I'm not attempting to sponsor or support any particular religion. We come together with various beliefs and faiths, and I have a deep respect for this diversity. Though even in our differences, I believe there are truths that resonate with all of us.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Create - Mormon Messages

(Click on the link to be directed to Youtube if the video above is not working)

(Voice of Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.

No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don't need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

You might say I'm not the creative type. If that is how you feel, think again. And remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative being in the universe. Isn't it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God. Think about it. Your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with the beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.

[ Creation is your opportunity in this life... and in the life to come. Start small. Creativity does not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you. You will make the world a better place.]

[Improve]

[Beautify]

[Extend]

[Smile]

[Cultivate]

[Develop]

[Create]

The more you trust and rely upon the spirit, the greater your capacity to create.

Tipping the scales

Okay, before I disappeared, I asked about feminism. Rather than go into long ramblings about the history of various movements, the different "waves", and anything else in tempting lengthiness, I'll just let Wikipedia do what it does best and let you decide whether or not you'd like to read and research further. I will probably refer to a few things along the way, so the Wiki might also come in handy for any needed clarification.

Feminism, not to over simply but to get to the point, added an important clarification to how people would talk about equality and human rights. Principles that revived democracy and the notion "that all men are created equal and... endowed with certain unalienable rights... [such as] life, liberty and property" (later changed to the "pursuit of happiness") forgot to define the word "men" appropriately. The various waves of feminism have fought to emphasize the fact that "men" in our understanding of who is entitled to certain "unalienable rights" refers to every human being. Where philosophies and ideas branch off depend on the interpretation of how these right should manifest themselves.

Whew! Okay, so now that we've got the real root of what feminism is, which includes much of what one of our male commentators mentioned, what's it got to do with anything right now? Are there any outstanding issues? Is there anything left to fight about? I mean, come on... Really, we all have everything we need and are in merry pursuit of happiness, right? Well, it's not exactly time to take up arms, but here are some things to think about.

Are gender roles part of feminism and if they are, how far should it interfere with equal rights?

To comment on this question, I would say when it comes to certain rights and issues of equality, there is no line between men and women to haggle over. Voting rights, property rights, a life free from any form of abuse... these are all things we'd happily agree belong to anyone and everyone. But what about when it comes to custody rights? Are women more natural caregivers and would therefore do better at providing for the needs of the children whose parents are divorcing? Isn't that putting a limit on the rights of the father? Luckily, courts address this issue case by case, but note that for the majority of cases, the mother is given preference over the father. What about maternity leave? While no one would be dumb enough to argue about who's giving birth and who needs a period of time to heal from the physical trauma, there could be a healthy discussion about who is responsible for taking care of a newborn baby. Doesn't the responsibility equally rest on the mother and the father? I know that here in Romania, there is equal maternity and paternity leave granted once a child is born. Does that mean other countries should be fighting for the same thing?

Whether gender roles are a result of nature or nurture, how do you determine when the paradigm needs to change?

For the first time, I have felt the undercurrent of discrimination for being a woman, and it has neither come from one specific cultural group, nor from men alone. Society has a way of hiding limitations on either gender through societal norms and interaction that is sometimes hard to put your finger on. I still have the right to vote, I'm not being openly discriminated against - is there really anything to fight about? Obviously "fight" is the wrong word and in fact, should only be used when horrendous human rights violations are threatening anyone, male or female. But subtle problems still pop up now and then. These take more time to identify and even more time to change, but as the world opens and stretches out to make more connections, we have the opportunity to share with each other bits and pieces of what is necessary to bring about a balanced change.

What things require our immediate attention?

There is no obvious answer to this question. Around the world though, are still numerous human rights causes needing support. Human trafficking, domestic violence, and other cruel and inhumane atrocities happen all the time and seemingly all around us. Does it really have anything to do with us? Does it have anything to do with feminism?

Human Trafficking:
One of the scariest and ever growing problems in the world today; the fact that it exists begs the question why anyone would be on the receiving end of what exploited people are forced to offer. It is an issue of human rights, including the cause of feminism. Society has to work hand in hand with law-makers and law-enforcers to bring about any real change.

Domestic Violence:
I'd like to include any kind of domestic abuse under this category because I see various kinds of abuse where both men and women are keeping the issue alive by abusing one another. It's definitely an issue that in many parts of the world is almost encouraged by tradition and societal norms, older women consulting their sons to beat their wives, wives blaming themselves and running back to abusive husbands. There are also angered women who victimize themselves and seek revenge on their husbands. None of these help bring about change.

Ultimate Message

The point to all of this is, as women, it's not just about fighting for our own rights. We have the power given to us by those early pioneers who ensured that "men" were not the only ones who can bring about change. We all have the power to do something, starting in our own homes and communities; reaching far beyond ourselves and into the lives of those in need. I find myself humbled whenever I get upset over trivial things as I recognize other people are forced to endure much worse.

Feminism is what exactly?

When we hear the word/s "Feminism", "Women's Lib", "Feminist/Women's Movement" I doubt we all react the same. While we are all women, rarely do we see the world through the same focused lens. Some of you are probably rolling your eyes even now thinking "this topic is so boring/controversial/over-discussed/liberal (which holds its own connotation)" while others are all set and ready to discuss the topic thinking "this is something that is so important/understated/misunderstood/ignored".

So, before leading this discussion in a specific direction, I'm interested what established thoughts/preconceived notions you already hold about this topic of feminism. I know several of you out there are well-read on the topic and can offer some insight. Others may have been avoiding this topic, feeling that it will disrupt the balance in the home and/or religion. But, I think together we can discover the complexity (or simplicity) of what feminism really is and what it has to offer us.

Women of 2008

As we look back on 2008 and ahead to 2009, I thought it would be appropriate to honor a few notable women of 2008.

Ingrid Betancourt (Colombia)
Miriam Makeba (South Africa) died this year
Hilary Clinton (USA)
Jestina Mukoko (Zimbabwe)
Barbara Hogan (South Africa)
Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma)
Bettie Page (USA) died this year
Helen Zille (South Africa)
Benazir Bhutto (Pakistan) assassinated

With this list comes the reminder of how many other women, without the public light, go about making a difference for good in the world. Some of them may go unnoticed, but for those of us whose lives they touch, we know who they are and admire them for their strength. Who are some of the women who have touched your life for good?

Happy Holidays!!

The Holidays are approaching and I simply love the various holiday traditions found throughout the world.

What do you love most about the holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.)? What are some of your family traditions?... Cultural traditions? … Religious Traditions?

When "Sex Sells" Too Much

We all like commercials and ads. I’ve had a good laugh or enjoyed a well produced campaign for a particular product. But as marketing and advertising becomes more and more a channel for sending messages to the masses, there is a fine line between selling your product and being respectful. There are times when ads or commercials take you by surprise by the use of the female form to grab your attention. Most of the time, I can make the connection between a slender waist and a new brand of yogurt (though this should not be dictating how skinny a woman’s waist should be). But there are other times when it’s blatantly obvious that advertisers are simply using the female form to take advantage of the old adage that “sex sells”.

The problem, as I see it, is how advertisers use women to grab the viewers’ attention. Take this ad from Melbourne, Australia for example…

The caption says “She loves a cockatoo. Cockatoo Ridge Wines. Why wouldn’t you.” The ad was originally run in the 1970’s and has recently been reposted during a vintage posters campaign. What...? So to be sexy like her, I should drink the wine? Or… to get a sexy girl like her, a man should drink the wine?

It’s definitely not new that women have been linked to wines and beers… take a look at this one from Heineken:

This Heineken ad has a whole series of ads and commercials around a sexy blonde robot who serves you beer from a keg in her abdomen. Does that even make sense? What bothers me most is that the underlying message seems to be that the ultimate woman is a robot who “dumbly” serves you a beer.

Here’s a real atomic bomb BMW "recently" put out which got women all over the world in an uproar. It’s an ad for used BMW cars.

The caption reads “You know you’re not the first.” Since the young woman in the ad has nothing to do with used-cars, you can put the offensive pieces together. Personally, this one definitely crosses the line of appropriateness.

Even the most well-intended organizations can fall victim of using sexy pictures to grab the viewers’ attention. Take this ad from an organization in the USA:

This ad copies the famous U.S. Army recruiting advertisement with a picture of Uncle Sam. But I don’t recall ever seeing Uncle Sam’s chest.

Here’s just one more… one that took me by surprise. Here’s the ad:

The caption is translated as “Is smoking your only pleasure?” - Mihaela Radulescu, followed by contact information to help people stop smoking. The first time I saw this ad hanging larger than life from a bloc near where I live, I thought it might be an ad for lotion, or maybe even laundry detergent (if you really stretched the imagination with all the white around her)… but anti-smoking?? So is the message that this beautiful woman is better than taking a drag on a fag?? Call her and she’ll give you reasons to quit?? I couldn’t help but feel offended being compared to a cigarette and all the other implications of the ad. (For those of us not familiar with Mihaela Radulescu, she is a famous Romanian woman who started using her wealth and fame to fight smoking as well as other unhealthy habits. If you're interested in the other ads she has put out there, you can google her name. But warning... this is the nicer of the two ads I've seen so far. And out of respect for those from Romania, this adverstisement as well as its companion has been highly controversial. I'm not the only one objecting.)

So what can we do as women to improve the way the media and advertisers use our image to promote their products? How can we get the respect we deserve as women? And what can we do for future generations so they can enjoy messages that are more appropriate and respectful?

Family and/or Career

We all have different goals, experiences, and beliefs which help us determine as women whether we will pursue a career, focus solely on raising a family, or balancing the two. Thrown into the mix are also the various social and professional environments which may help or hinder us from realizing that personal decision. How do you, as women living in your various locations, feel about your opportunities to choose for yourself whether you pursue a career, have a family, or do both? What are/were some of the obstacles? Do those obstacles still exist? Was the choice difficult or easy? Are you happy with your current decision, or are you still in the process of deciding?