Fire wheel burnin' in the air

So last Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – Also known as Inauguration Day here in the U.S. – I was in a virtual teacher collaboration all day and therefore not up to speed on the day’s events. Now, I think politics as a whole is a big racket, and that’s aside from the point. As an American, I do understand the excitement and significance of swearing in a new president. I get that many people see change as an opportunity for something new and different, and I don’t disagree. The thing that was so significant to me however, the piece that stood out so strong in my opinion was the videos I watched of Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem.

I cannot say I’ve ever been a fan. I do not dislike her or her music, it’s just not something I’ve really explored. Sure, I like the National Anthem just as much as the next American, but damn, she sang it perfectly from start to finish. Her voice so stunning and beautiful. Her presence so strong and fierce, in front of the whole country, the world even, and yet, as I watched her, I couldn't stop thinking of a quote I remember reading of hers years prior - “I had a boyfriend who told me I’d never succeed, never be nominated for a Grammy, never have a hit song, and that he’d hoped I’d fail”…

This triggered personal memories for me, of men in my own life saying awful things to me about my hopes and dreams. My last boyfriend screamed in my face “Stop talking about having your own business, you don’t even know how to keep books!” (I had merely asked him, a couple weeks prior to give me some business tips and/or help since although I’m good making the stuff, I struggle with the other parts, and he himself had previously owned a business). My 2nd husband told me “It sure would be fun if we could all just sit around and play all day, but that’s not reality so don’t be ridiculous.”, when I shared my wishes to attend grad school for Art Education (I now have a Master’s Degree in Art Education and am commended regularly at my job teaching art to elementary students). My 1st husband laughed at me as he claimed “We can’t have summers off anymore Jenny, it’s time to grow up!” (Did I mention that I’m a teacher now?). My dad, always asking why I didn’t do better (no matter how good I did at anything) trying to be funny even said to me “Why would you want to do that?” when I came home excited with my news of making the cheerleading squad in high school. It’s weird how we know logically these things aren’t true, but we often still carry them in our heart.

I’m not sure why so many men feel the need to put women down. To belittle them. To act as if their dreams are silly or insignificant. Of course I’m not making a blanket statement referring to all men, nor am I suggesting the tables are never turned. I do know that we live in a patriarchal society. I do know statistically, many women put up with abuse; physical, emotional, and spiritual from men on a daily basis around the world. Is it a power thing? Is it a jealously thing? Is it an anger thing? Obviously, I don’t have the answers, I just have more questions.

What I do know is that Lady Gaga says she responded to those cruel words with “Someday, when we’re not together, you won’t be able to order a cup of coffee at the fucking deli without hearing or seeing me”… If ever there were a day for that to be the case, it was last Wednesday. I applaud her. I’m so glad she stood up to him and said those words. I cheer for all women who have proved those nay-sayers wrong. And I wish moving forward that all women who are ever listening to that negative voice inside their head, seed planted by an unkind man, I hope they too remember this story as they picture that powerhouse singing the National Anthem on the steps of the Capital building in our nation’s capital on Inauguration Day for the world to see, and remember their own potential, strength, and truth. Be strong. Be fierce. And please don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Because you most certainly can!

“Like an angel, standing in a shaft of light, rising up to paradise, I know I’m gonna shine”...