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July 16th, 2009
Santa Cruz, California
Received by FAB
I am here, Jeannette Rankin.
You are quite correct, that I gave you thought impressions of my
opinions as you have been reading my biography, Jeannette Rankin,
A Political Woman.
The authors imply that it was somehow a fault that I never developed
satisfying personal relationships. Several quotes from others who
knew me, and even one from myself, seem to indicate that I was very
selfish, only thinking of myself. I'd like to comment on this, as
I am the one person who would know, particularly in light of my
existence in this spirit world, where everything is naked.
I did make that disparaging comment about myself, because I did
not think much of myself personally, as an individual. I only thought
of the causes that moved me.
But I must say that I was richly rewarded over there for the single-minded
devotion I lavished on these causes. They consumed me and left no
room for intimate personal relationships.
It is a fallacy to assume that this was necessarily a fault. Had
I not been passionately so involved, I guess you could make that
assumption.
But my soul was totally dedicated, and this dedication was totally
sincere, and was not some sort of neurosis or rejection of some
personal need. No, it was an expression of who I was, and what I
chose to do with my life. I found my purpose for living, and followed
it all throughout my life. I think people who would criticize this,
need to have their heads examined!
I gave you in thought the connection to your grandmother, who felt
that when a person becomes an adult, marriage and having children
are to be pursued without question. You see this as a very harmful
and narrow-minded prejudice, which you reject totally as folly.
So, in the same way, I see it as folly to discredit a person's
lifework just because preconceived ideas about relationships are
upheld. You have felt that there is a certain unfair judgment of
me, and I concur.
Now, I want to make it clear that certain things I said and did,
did rise to face me. But as to my exclusionary commitment to my
political career, and to my causes, they all brought me happiness
and peace of mind, for in those ways, I helped to make a better
world.
You see me as a pioneer who blazed a trail for others in the future.
Well, that is quite a true perception, and humanity continues to
move forward.
And, at the right time, something will happen in our beloved country
that will fulfill my purpose, and all who have loved and fought
for justice and truth.
Jeannette Pickering Rankin (June 11, 1880 – May 18,
1973) was the first woman to be elected to the United States House
of Representatives and the first female member of the Congress sometimes
referred to as the Lady of the House. A lifelong pacifist, she voted
against the entry of the United States into both World War I and
World War II, the only member of Congress to vote against the latter.
To date, she is the only woman to be elected to Congress from Montana.
In 1940, Rankin was again elected to Congress, this time on an
anti-war platform. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, she once
again voted against entering a World War, the only member of Congress
to do so, saying "As a woman, I can't go to war and I refuse
to send anyone else. It is not necessary. I vote NO." However
she did not vote against declaring war on Germany and Italy following
their declaration of war on the U.S. Instead, she voted merely Present.
By the end of her term, Rankin's antiwar stance had become so unpopular
that she did not seek re-election. During the remainder of her life,
she traveled to India seven times and was a devotee of Gandhian
principles of non-violence and self-determination.(Source:Wikipedia)
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