Charlie's Angels

I do not have a "process" per se on how I write my blog but there is a method to my madness. I usually get blog ideas as I am going through my days or in talking to people, sometimes from global or local events and mostly of whatever is floating in my mind.   There are some that will never make it past the start stage because they may feel more personal than a public forum merits.  As an idea pops into my head I tend to save the title as a draft - it does not mean it will be the following blog, some have been there for a year or more, but eventually it will feel right for me to take it on.

Last week it was Farah Fawcett's birthday and it got me thinking of my childhood.  I loved Charlie's Angels - I mean full on wanted to be her or the Cheryl Ladd character,  always vied to be it when my friends and me played it.  I wanted her hair, not likely to happen with my particular brand of curls and texture, and at the time my lack of tools and stylists but hey it was awesome hair.  For me and those of my generation (sigh) the TV show not the movies will always the one we think of when we hear Charlie's Angels  - the movies were entertaining.

I loved Charlie's Angels because contrary to some commentary I have seen I found them my first feminist role models.  They were the package deal I wanted to be - they were good looking, well dressed, drove kick ass cars and they took care of themselves, were not always on the hunt for a husband and while Charlie (and that voice "Hello Angels..." still so nice to hear) was their boss really they could 1) hang up on him if they ever got pissed off which they didn't 2) he gave them a case and let them decide how to solve it.  What is more empowering than that?  Actually the hair was empowering, it was not that straight Marcia Brady hair, it had movement, it had texture and it was different hair for all 3 of them because women are not all alike.   They were dressed and undressed and while those hard core (get to them in a bit) feminists derided them they couldn't care less - they were kicking ass.   The supporting cast were men - not men they wanted either - Bosley was a nice, safe companion there to ensure they had the funding and coverage to do what they did best.   In the same vein I liked the Bionic Woman too - she was Steve Austin's equal.

I wanted to be like that - able to do what I wanted to do, not chasing to be a Mrs unless I was ready for it, not defined by other people's standards of feminism or lack thereof.  I applaud Carol Burnett for this too - she appealed to my funny side.  She ran the show.

I do not hate men - I actually like them quite a bit,  cannot remember a time I did not since I do remember liking them when I was say under 5.  I like them but I do not need their permission I need their partnership and support, whether as lovers or friends or family as much as when they have the power to hire or make laws.  I need them to see me as an equal and acknowledge that I know what is best for me and when I don't I will own that decision.   I need from them what I need from my female friends, unconditional affection and straight talking support.

So as I was writing this and thinking of the Farah hair along come two women who really should be the feminist role models they have fought hard to be - Madeline Albright and Gloria Steinem who decide to tell us as women what I hate hearing from the ultra fundamentalists.  That they made a choice for us - that if we do not listen to it and vote for Mrs. Clinton then (Madeline Albright said it folks) there is a "special place in hell" for us.  Really?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One as an atheist that really means nothing to me and two if I did believe wouldn't that statement alone guarantee her a quick ride if not permanent place to the spot?  Really Madeline -- you are telling me that if I make a choice that differs from the one you tell me,  you know better than I (based solely on the person's gender) what feminism is?   Now Gloria I am not sure what drives you to your political candidates but for me I do not support any politician to meet men - because that implies 1) I do not know the issues 2) my sole guiding principle is Tinder 3) I have not ever chosen a candidate because a man liked him nor did I not vote for one because a man liked him.

We all need to remember democracy is the idea that you choose a leader not based on their ethnicity, race, belief system or lack of one, gender or who they are sleeping with (as long as it is consensual). I am not the "establishment" because I question Bernie's plans but I am part of it and so are all of us who choose to vote that in itself is not a good or bad thing, it is a fact.  Stop telling me as a grown woman who I need to choose and rather give me the information on your platform that I will use to make up my own mind.

So to get back to Charlie's Angels, Farah was on for only one season and yet for those of us familiar with the TV show she seems as much of the fabric as those who were there for the many seasons.  That is because of her hair that moved, her real life where she said she wanted more pay and chose to leave when it did not happen and because with the other Angels she knew how to handle whatever Charlie or the situation threw at them.

I leave with this "Hello Angels ... we have a situation, we need to ask of our next President how are we going to get on the same page as a nation when we have seen politicians for years using the divide and conquer routine so that we can prosper not for the next 4 to 8 years but for the next 40 years and beyond.  Angels you have to vote and ask politicians to answer to you, you do not have to justify your ability to make your choices".