Patriotic Message to the Ladies

This 4th of July holiday, I'd like to highlight a woman who is one of my personal heroes. Abigail Adams did not let her circumstances stop her from reaching her intellectual potential. She lived in a world dominated by men, and even though it was all but unheard of for a woman to take part in political debates, she did so frequently with some of the greatest minds in what would become the United States of America. She was opinionated, honest, and wise beyond words. Her eloquent letters provide a unique insight into the American Revolution and the formative years of this country.



To give you a glimpse into the nature of her wisdom, here are some of my favorite Abigail Adams quotes, starting with one of my favorite quotes of all time.
★"Well, knowledge is a fine thing, and mother Eve thought so; but she smarted so severely for hers, that most of her daughters have been afraid of it since."
★"Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands...If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation." (She was very disappointed by the fact that this new country, with so many grand ideals, did not provide voting rights for women).
★"I've always felt that a person's intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic."
★"Wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues."



I think there is an important lesson women can learn from this amazing historical figure, no matter what country you're from- don't be stupid! If the greatest aspirations we have for ourselves are to have a great wardrobe and a ditzy personality, we are selling ourselves short. Considering the fact that history has not always been kind to females, and if you look at the world around us you will see that modern society still places us below men in many cultures, you will realize that it is not only our right, but our duty to educate ourselves. If nothing else, do it for the women who never had access to things like a higher education and a political voice.

I wanted to focus on Mrs. Adams as a celebration of the 4th of July because I don't think she gets as much credit as she should. This holiday has become a time of partying, cookouts, and spending time with family, and that's great. But let's not forget the people who came before us, especially when there is so much to be gained from what they had to say. Speaking of family gatherings, my big brother threw a party at his new house this weekend. He stocked up on fireworks to the point that his wife was questioning his sanity, but it made for a great show.















I hope all my U.S. readers are having a wonderful Independence Day! How do you celebrate?