linwatson's blog

In a column dated August 13, 2010, Gail Collins of The New York Times reminds us that August marks the 90th anniversary of women being granted the right to vote. She also reminds us that before that August 90 years ago, there was a 70-year “slog” of “Adventure! Suspense! Treachery! and “Drunken Legislators!” not to mention a US Senate that resisted year after year. Thus, each state had to ratify the right to vote triggering a massive effort in each state by women of all persuasions. It came down to Tennessee and one vote. It looked as if women would lose once again when Representative Harry Burn received a telegram from his Mother in which she told him to be a “good boy” and “do the right thing.” He did the “right thing” and the Tennessee Governor signed the bill on August 24, 1920. Two days later, the Nineteenth Amendment became national law, one hundred and forty-four years after the Declaration of Independence.

I was completely caught up in the moment on Tuesday, March 23, when President Obama signed the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” and later when he thanked a larger crowd who had worked to make it happen. I was struck by the real joy reflected on many tired faces, the child-like exuberance in the room – feelings that only occur after a long struggle and when success is at hand.

Though I felt a part of the celebrations as a citizen of the United States, I was deeply saddened that Western North Carolina did not have their official representative present. Now I know some are happy about that, but I am not. I felt wiped out as Heath Shuler continued to cast “No” votes against health reform.