There Ain't no Sunrise

Like most mornings, this morning the sun shone through my bedroom window.  It warmed my face, shoulders and arms as it gently woke me up.  After taking in the sounds of the peaceful morning and a few stretches and yawns, I realized how much I actually enjoy the sunrise.  As I climbed out of bed and then stumbled into the rest of my morning, I started to remember that the sun doesn’t actually rise in the morning. 

I mean, we all know the sun is at the center of our galaxy, yet the truth seems less likely here on earth.  Every day, when I think of the sun traveling across the sky from east to west, I am mistaken.  My earth centric perspective tricks me into thinking this is real.  How can it be that although I know the truth, my mind refuses to accept it?  I know that the sun does not rise, and that it is the earth rotation that brings the morning, but the language and thinking doesn’t match.

 

This is what being a feminist is like for me.  Every day, I know that men and women should regarded equal, but my male perspective sometimes clouds my judgment.   For instance, during the RNC and DNC, I couldn’t help but to notice the way the speakers dressed, and more importantly how I valued one gender’s voice over another because of their dress.  Ties made me think “professional,” whereas “bare arms” suggested approachability and softness.  The values expressed in the speech is what I should have been paying most attention to, but I couldn’t help be distracted by the dress, and therefore the gender of the person speaking.  How can it be that I know better, but my mind refuses to accept that? 

I wonder how many other people do this.  Are you better at recalling the truth which sometimes hides behind the cloud of oppression?  If so, please offer some suggestions below to help me and others learn your secret.

Until then, I am going to forget about the color, price and style of each speaker’s wardrobe, and listen again to their speeches without watching through my blurred vision. 

And tomorrow morning, when I awake, I am going to think about how I enjoy experiencing the earth rotating towards the sun.  My mind just flipped at that thought!