How is it possible that Rosa Parks is the first woman to lie in state?

[geekgrrl]

It is 2005!! I know we are still behind other democratic countries in terms of the percentage of women in government- but weren't there other important American women who would have lied in state before?? I am just shocked.I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, but I still. What about Eleanor Roosevelt? Susan B. Anthony? Jane Addams? There must have been other women who deserved this honor.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Roosevelt's family didn't request it.

I read that this AM.

[Captain Hilts]

3. I think ER was the first woman to have flags fly at half staff upon death.

I didn't know you had to request lying in state. I know you had to agree to it.

[whatever4]

2. Shhhhhhhh

That was a state secret!

Sorry, the bitterness is showing....

[brainshrub]

4. Are you bitter that Rosa Parks is in state?

Can you elaborate?

[whatever4]

11. No

No, sorry I was too cryptic. I'm bitter that she's the first women, and that except for here on DU, I find few people talking about it. It's on the same level as trivia. Women = trivia. That's why I'm bitter, caustic past acid burns.

It's wonderful to see it as a topic here. :)

[onenote]

5. its a pretty short list

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051027/ap_on_go_co/parks_lying_in_state_list

Not to defend it, because certainly there have been women whose contribution to the nation merited the honor, but until Rosa Parks, virtually every person who has been accorded this honor was an elected official or a military person. The only exceptions appear to be Pierre L'Enfant and the two Capitol Hill policemen who were killed a couple of years ago.

onenote

[geekgrrl]

6. out of the 29 non-presidents who have had this honor- only 1 is a woman

info from wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie_in_state

[onenote]

8. actually, only around 19 non-presidents have had the honor

Total of 29 including Presidents.

onenote

[geekgrrl]

12. yes I see that- but still 1/19 is incredible. n/t

[Totally Committed]

7. This country still dislikes us, distrusts us and disrespects us...

And I'm talking BOTH Parties. The Republicans are just far more overt about it. Until we have autonomy over our own bodies, this will be so.

It has nothing to do with morals, or intellect, or humanity. We are second-class citizens now, and will be until we have the same rights and autonomy that RICH, WHITE, WEALTHY, MEN do.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

9. Here here!

[geekgrrl]

10. Yes- sexism is not a "non-problem" here like some think it is.

The low percentage of woman in government shows this. It still boggles my mind we haven't had even a female VP- let alone a president. I'd love for Hilary to change that!!

It is still widely held that woman belong at home- doing the work there even when hold outside jobs. And taking care of young children. I just noticed "Parenting" magazine isn't for parents- it is for mothers "what mothers care about" or something like that.

Some of the women who fought for women's right to vote certainly should have laid in state. But, other than that women just have been held back from being in the positions in govt to bring that honor.

[Totally Committed]

15. And yet, look at Hillary, since you brought her up...

In order to make herself as appealing as a male candidate, she has calculatedly decided that instead of approaching leadership from a more female-centric position, she would simply out-men the males in the field.

Not only does her Iraq War vote mirror those of most of her fellow male Senators, her plan is basically Bush's plan, but with even MORE troops. And, to show the boys in big biz she can run with the fellas who do their bidding, she not only adopts the corporate-loving ideas and ideals of the DLC, she joins the DLC and LEADS the damned thing. So, to make up for the fact that her genetalia is all wrong for the job, she decides to show them she can be as big a bad-ass as anyone with the right genetalia. With these beliefs and practices firmly in place, we might as well just vote for a Republican male and be done with it! She is no better.

I don't ant the first Female POTUS or V-POTUS to be just a Republcian male in a dress. I want the kind of leadership a truly female woman would be able to give. Compassion for the poor and less fortunate... TRUE equality for the classes, sexes, and RACES... And, for gawdssake, PEACE! All the economic and diplomatic concerns would fall into place with this sort of mind-set.

I will absolutely oppose Hillary Clinton for President. She is just another white Republican prick, without a prick.

[geekgrrl]

17. I don't believe there is anything inherently better about men OR women

I just want equality of opportunity for women. Yes, you could say that many women in leadership positions "act like men" to get there- but what makes that acting like a man? And what inherently does a woman act like? Don't say peaceful, mothering etc... b/c that is not universal among women. Look at the support our troops groups like "Operation MOM" vs anti-war moms like Cindy Sheehan. I am just saying it isn't so what is thought to be "male" and "female" isn't so black/white.

Yes, I am also disappointed with some of the stances Hilary has failed to take. Kerry also voted for authorizing using force against Iraq as a last resort just like Hilary did- but he had ideals just like she has that I think would make them both great leaders. Her work on universal health care alone makes me like her. I would disagree that she is no better- but that is just my opinion.

[Totally Committed]

21. Women "Better"? Maybe not... but, testosterone is a mind-altering hormone

at times. Wars, weapos, glory, vanquishing the enemy... ugh. I am so DONE with that mindset. I could scream.

The way women see things and do things and lead, when they are allowed to, is more respectful and egalitarian, and PEACEFUL. There is no testosterone churning up the need to go out and make war against anyone who pisses near our territory.

Women like Hillary and DiFi, and Jane Harmon, and all the other female hawks of our Party just see this as a way to be "one of the boys", and therefore, maybe more electable, or corporate finance-able.

Barbara Boxer is a perfect example of the way women lead differently. She is pro-peace, pro-littleguy, pro-equality, pro-choice, and pro-human rights, and she has the guts -- the "balls", if you will -- to say it loud and proud and challenge anyone or any policy that she sees as not correct. She doesn't give a flying fig who doesn't like what she has to say or how she says it. She does the right thing. Moral courage is what I'm interested in in a leader. Male, female, who cares. It just seems that more women than men are able to lead this "other" way. So, not "better", necessarily (although I think it is better in every way), but certainly different.

[sufrommich]

23. Well, estrogen is a mind altering substance,too

What is to stop someone from using the very same analogy you are using to argue that a woman is so programmed to protect her offspring that she may be more inclined to strike when feeling threatened.Hence more "warlike".There are plenty of men in leadership positions who take the position that Barbara Boxer takes,are they freaks of nature?Please there is enough that divides us in this country and in this party,let's not use a caustic type of kneejerk feminism to make our point.I'm not interested in stereotyping men or women.We have sons,fathers,husbands,etc. and they are not the enemy or the source of all evil.

[sufrommich]

20. What exactly is "the female centric"

form of government?Margaret Thatcher?Indira Ghandi?Golda Mier?
To insinuate that women who don't pass some sort of fuzzy gender specific test in order to be considered "real politicians" is almost as degrading as lumping us all into whatever stereotypical category a true misogynist could dream up.I'm a woman and you don't decide for me what the litmus test is for political consideration.We are not the borg.

[Totally Committed]

22. See post #21... eom

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Well, That's Only Natural. Can't Trust A Woman!

I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Just wanted to get your blood flowing on a Monday morning.

My wife and i had this same conversation on Friday. Thought it was weird that this is such a rarity. Good on Rosa.
The Professor

[Benhurst]

14. At least Rosa Parks starts the tradition off on a sound footing.

We don't need to start honoring warmongering, reactionary women any more than we need to honor warmongering, reactionary men.

Ms. Parks' selection may have come late; but at least it was a good one.

[Fleshdancer]

16. She's the first woman and only the 2nd African-American

we have a looooong way to go baby.

[Benhurst]

18. Who was the first African-American?

Justice Thurgood Marshall?

[onenote]

19. I think it was Jacob Chestnut

One of the Capitol Hill policeman shot and killed a couple of years ago.

Supreme Court Justices do not lie in state in the Capitol. They lie in state at the Supreme Court building. The only exception was Taft, who was both President and a Supreme Court Justice.

onenote

[Benhurst]

24. Thanks. I should have remembered that about Supreme Court

justices.