The Portland, Ore. seen on television today depicts the city as the hipster-hubcap of the US – some say it's "the new San Francisco." This is fairly accurate; however, for those from the mass-gentrified city, we know a different version. In the 90's Portland was the poor-man's version of Seattle: a run-down town, responsible largely for the meth-epidemic in the early 2000's and the current heroin epidemic.
"Poor-man's" should really be read as "poor-women's" (despite the genderless etymology of "-man" as a suffix). My below-the-poverty-line neighborhood in Southeast Portland around the infamous 82nd avenue was not a hipster-hubcap but had become a single-mother-safe-haven. It was an area within city-limits that provided housing of 2-4 bedrooms with a front and back yard for under $1000. Each house on our street was filled with kids - all of whom I still talk to - as well as one-parent (in 90% of cases). That one parent was always a mother. These moms banded together, providing one another aid in a time of financial crisis, while the rest of the country thrived in the prosperity of the 90's. The for the most part extinct idea of communal feminist living in America still existed here.
These moms took Summer afternoon shifts in watching the neighborhood kids play outside, they recommended custody tactics, would split the cost of major holiday meals like that seen on Thanksgiving and Christmas, to host a festival that joined the households. The PTA at our local elementary school consisted of 50 or so single-mothers, led by our beloved female principal, Mrs. Keeny. These meetings discussed the well-being of the children at our school, but side conversation was often filled with mentions of music by Alanis Morissette, the weekly adventures of Ally Mcbeal and Dana Scully and finally, Hillary Clinton: the woman who (along with my mother, aunt and grandmother) is responsible for the foundation in all of my ethical, moral and societal beliefs.
Hillary Clinton, the 2016 presidential candidate with "the biggest balls," has earned the title for her fearless efforts as a politician. The main focus of 90% of the media's attention has been directed at the biology behind the candidate – she possesses ovaries. I'm glad our journalists can tell the difference in the male and female reproductive organs, but what they can't do is give a good reason as to why her gender is relevant. The ineptitude to do so is answered best with, "because it's not."
Hillary being a woman is not the reason she's fearless, risk-taking, innovative, smart, efficient, productive, caring, and well-rounded. Hillary being all of those things, however, is what makes her the best candidate for presidency/the one with "the biggest balls." I support her candidacy 100% and that support is based on not that she's a woman but based (partly) on that she's helped women for over 20 years - as well as every other group of individuals that have been oppressed by our patriarchal government - women, the poor, the sick, minority groups, the undereducated, the LGBTQ society, the disabled, etc. Hillary has always had the courage to not just root for, but stand up for the underdog. This is called courage when one is in politics, because standing in solidarity with any group for any reason other than political-party association is taking a risk. You risk losing votes as a result of your support in anything that doesn't mimic our engrained misogynistic, ways.
These ways are the ways of a country built on "four fathers." Our constitution is signed by men, and the faces on Mount Rushmore are far from resembling the likes of Hillary, Sonia Sotomayor or any other pioneering woman in US politics. From Rushmore to the star-reaching, phallic trophy that is the Washington monument, this country is "man's land."
Those reading this are either nodding in agreement, or wanting to ask, "if it's not because she's a woman standing up for women, why are you advocating for her? You say there's hope in Hillary, what is the basis of this?"
My hope in Hillary is not because she is a woman, and not just because she stands up for them, but because of her vast political career and the changes she has made in our country. Hillary didn't just give single-mothers someone to root for in the 90's, Hillary has been giving groups a leader for decades. She is the fearless candidate, compassionate and experienced. She is a leader for you everyone.
This fearless candidate – known at the time as Hillary Rodham – gave a commencement speech in 1969 at Wellesley College (where she was senior class president) that mentions the emotion and her take on it,
"Fear is always with us but we just don't have time for it. Not now."
She has practiced this belief in a political career now spanning 40 years. Shortly after the speech at Wellesley she became one of only 27 women to graduate from Yale Law School in 1973. This comes from a class of 235. It should also be mentioned that she didn't just attend and graduate Yale Law, but she graduated with honors. The fearless candidate then made her way to Washington D.C. where she found work under Senator Walter Mondale and joined a group of attorneys working towards a decision to have President Richard Nixon impeached over Watergate. It should be mentioned that she was the ONLY woman counsel on the congressional team investigating his participation in the burglary and cover-up at the Democratic National Committee's office. Her strong efforts in exposing and impeaching Nixon were unbelievably risky in terms of gaining a political following. She was a woman in 1973 going after the president. Public opinion didn't matter to the future Clinton – what mattered was the unethical and immoral, not to mention illegal, practices of our president.
Hillary married Bill shortly after, and he soon became governor of Arkansas. Despite women's roles in politics at the time, as well as universally, Hillary continued to do the work she believed was more important than just maintaining the image of the Governor's wife. In joining Rose Law Firm she helped to create the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families organization – which is still standing strong. Her support of children and making sure they remained a top priority for this country has never dwindled. She took further steps during her term as First Lady in helping Senator Ted Kennedy create the State Children's Health Insurance Program. In 2007 Kennedy had this to say,
"The children's health program wouldn't be in existence today if we didn't have Hillary pushing for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue."
In 2010 Clinton introduced the Global Health Initiative – aimed to improve medical facilities, reduce the spread of HIV, and lower infant and maternal mortality rates. In support of children and children's health she has also promoted nationwide immunization against childhood illnesses, helped create the Adoption and Safe Families Act and the Foster Care Independence Act. She also increased research funding for childhood asthma.
While keeping children's health and well-being a focal point, Clinton also managed to navigate help towards very serious, but at the time very overlooked, women's as well as men's health problems. Hillary pleaded for women to receive mammograms – which is now covered by Medicare, and brought in more research funding for prostate cancer. She was one of the first to lead expeditions in investigating what is now known as "Gulf War Syndrome." She also took a lead role in investigating health issues for first responders to the 9/11 attacks. She also created an office on Violence against Women at the Department of Justice.
Hillary's belief that internationally we must all come together on some level was seen in her work as Secretary of State – she is the MOST-traveled secretary of state, ever. In four years, the Atlantic reported, Hillary traveled 956,733 miles, spent 2,000 hours on the road and visited 112 countries. No other Secretary of State has come close to reaching those numbers. Hillary, for twenty years, has been working hard to help unite political forces across the globe.
In her quest to bring political forces together, she included the Middle East – an area that we seem to almost seek conflict with. Clinton dispatched Jake Sullivan on a mission to begin international negotiations over the country's nuclear ambitions. The results of which are still not finalized, and have a June 30th deadline – but the effort is still unbelievably brave and noble on the part of Clinton. The United States has a horrible reputation globally and Clinton has done what no other politician was willing to do – by increasing a US diplomatic presence – in repairing our relationships internationally. When crisis broke out in Egypt and Libya, Hillary helped the US navigate a plan to give aid in the revolution in Egypt and the ultimate use of military force in Libya as means of an intervention.
Unlike many politicians, Hillary has acknowledged that in order for change to be implemented, it can't just happen on a national scale, it must be international. She would start her global campaign (what the majority of the general public knows her for) in women's rights in China in 1995. Clinton addressed the UN, getting straight to the point,
"We are to find common ground so that we may help to bring new dignity and respect to women and girls all over the world."
In her travels Clinton has introduced the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review process to the State Department – this seeks to empower women worldwide. Her global campaign has been detailed and complicated. Hillary (after the Bush Administration) has essentially had to rebuild American Foreign Policy from the ground up. In a speech to State Department employees, Clinton said,
"There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development. And we are responsible for two of the three legs. And we will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States."
The development and diplomacy Clinton spoke of in terms of foreign policy is being pushed not just globally, but here in the US. Clinton on many occasions has advocated for the Hispanic population in America, and continues to do so. She has sought to make it easier for Hispanic immigrants. If Hillary is elected she promises to push congress in passing a comprehensive bill that provides full and equal citizenship for immigrants living in the US illegally. She has vowed to take executive action if Congress does not act.
This is a woman who served as Senior Class President at a prestigious university, graduated with honors from an Ivy League law program, served as chair for the Arkansas Educational Standards Committee, worked on the committee for migrant workers in 1971, worked on presidential campaigns for Barry Goldwater, Jimmy Carter, her husband and herself, was named one of the 100 most powerful lawyers in America by the National Law Journal in '88 and '91, served as the first lady for eight years, served as a US senator from New York, and served as US Secretary of State. To say Hillary Clinton is qualified to lead this country is to make a huge understatement.
Hillary is not a candidate for women; Hillary is a candidate for everyone. A politician brave enough to not just speak of equality – but brave enough to dedicate a career towards it. When discussing Hillary as a candidate and possible future president – let's not discuss the fact that she's a woman, let's discuss the things that actually matter.
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