PRIDE and Honor

Tomorrow is the 141st birthday of our namesake, Jeannette Rankin.  Her tireless work for peace and justice and her courage to stand for what is right – even if that meant standing alone, continues to inspire us. But I imagine she would not want us to stop at inspiration alone.  She would ask us to do more and work harder, to follow her lead and persevere for an end to war and violence, the restoration of civil liberties, a government accountable to the people and dignity and human rights for all people. 

This month is also PRIDE month with events and remembrances around the state. I know Jeannette’s feisty spirit will be there at every one marching still for justice. All across the country change is happening for LGBTQI+ rights, but the struggle is far from won. Just hearing the controversy this week in the Florence-Carlton school board meeting, it is clear there is much more work to do to crack the shell of indifference and hatred and remove the barriers of misunderstanding. The folks in the LGBTQI+ community teach us about perseverance and courage in the face of hatred and injustice just like Jeannette did. PRIDE is about celebrating that courage and standing proudly with our friends to say we will not tolerate the injustices they confront.  We will work with them to make the world a different place where everyone is free to be who they are. Jeannette Rankin never tried to fit the mold that was assigned to women in her day.  She stood out with courage and vision.  I think she asks us to do the same.

Author: Betsy Mulligan-Dague | JRPC Director