Update on the Florida State Phallic Symbol
James Taranto in "Best of the Web" reports on a Tampa Tribune article about a rally to revive the ERA. The funny part was this:
Dozens of veterans of the women's equal rights movement, state lawmakers and relative newcomers to the cause gathered at the [Florida] state Capital [in Tallahassee] to renew the call for ratification of the 24-word statement. In unison, many repeated the text from memory: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."
OK, this may not seem funny yet. To understand it, you have to picture the building in front of which they chose to hold their rally. Picture hundreds of women rallying for women's rights, then picture that occurring in front of this building. LOL.
By the way, I am not a Constitutional scholar, but can anyone tell me what women can't do now that they could do if the ERA were passed?
BridgetB:
"...but can anyone tell me what women can't do now that they could do if the ERA were passed?"
Not a thing. I am a (independent, single, educated) woman and there arent any freedoms being denied me that arent equally being denied of any man :).
March 15, 2005, 5:17 pmKory O:
Use a unisex bathroom? ;)
Seriously, I agree with BridgetB.
March 16, 2005, 7:26 amJason Bontrager:
I wonder if it might not have something to do with the morphing of "rights" from restrictions on government actions (Congress shall pass no law restricting X) to positive entitlements for individuals (right to X [X being a job, an education, health care, whatever]). But the connection is too vague in my mind right now for me to draw any clear conclusions.
March 16, 2005, 10:05 amerp:
It's been ages now but I remember reading something about how passage of this amendment would be detrimental to women in ways that aren't all that obvious, like rape victims wouldn't be allowed to remain anonymous and other things like that.
March 17, 2005, 3:58 pmtrumwill:
They'd get the right to be drafted. Does that count?
March 31, 2005, 1:40 pm