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Blogs by Elaine Olelo Masters
You matter! 8/10/2012 2:16:42 PM
So you can't save the world, but... The problems of the world are so huge right now. Weather: unseasonably hot in many places, huge fires, hurricanes expected. Society: wacko guys shooting dozens of strangers in lots of locations. Jobs: thousands of people worldwide not able to find jobs, others doing work they hate just to feed their families. But there is a bright spot that was fueled years ago by one woman: that bright spot is USA women Olympic athletes!
Maybe you feel hopeless in the face of so much adversity. It's not hopeless. You matter! Let me explain.
Years ago, when I was a little girl in fact, Patsy Mink faced discrimination in Hawaii. Not only was she Asian at a time when America didn't much care for Asians, she was also a woman, unable to go to the schools of her choice, unable to be an attorney where she wanted to be, even though her law school scores were stellar.
When Patsy was elected to Congress, she vowed to do something about that. She was the brains behind Title Nine, the earth-shattering law that schools must provide equal facilities for women and men. Patsy had academics upmost in her mind, and American women have benefitted from the law in the classroom tremendously.
But now we are enjoying another result. In Team America, more women athletes are competing in the Olympics than men. Because they've won so many gold medals, people are calling them the Golden Girls! Without Patsy Mink's efforts, or someone else who had a similar vision, this would not have happened.
So when you look at the mess the world is in, don't despair and give up. Many years ago, a little Asian plantation girl had a vision--and she did something about it! So can you. You matter!