Really? Why?

I think I like this gal, Juliette Ochieng (thanks to Rosemary)

...Those against the proposal raised some valid concerns—there are things here on Earth that require more immediate fiscal attention--though, in my opinion, their reasons often lacked vision. But that’s not what this post is about.

In a particularly heated point in the exchange, McDonald managed to silence her male colleagues by invoking that great silencer of American men everywhere (a paraphrase; pen and paper will be on my night table from now on): “You men have to let the woman speak now!”

Really? Why? Was her opinion more important, more valid just because she’s the owner of a vagina, a uterus, a set of ovaries and a set of breasts?

The frightening part is that the guys did shut up and let her speak.

Now, as many know from reading my musings, I spent two decades in the military and, were those that have known me to give a description of my personality, I’d imagine that the phrase “shrinking violet” would never come up. There have been times in which I’ve had to exert some assertiveness and aggressiveness to allow myself to be heard. Such is life for a woman who works among mostly men. However, what got me about McDonald’s tactic was that she felt that she deserved to be heard solely because she’s a woman, not because she had a unique perspective on the subject discussed...