Women’s Lib, and Rights

This is intended as a piece about a piece of cloth.

And, about sweet spices and Easter and Christmas, and Woman’s Lib, and traditions, and Ft. Rucker women!

Maybe that’s too much for one soliloquy. But let’s see how these seven subjects can be lined up in support of a bit of thinking. A bit of doing.

The women’s movement has been going strong for about ten years now. In recent months we have watched the Woman’s Lib leaders, with the sanction of their misguided followers, adopt outright militant methods to try to get the Equal Rights Amendment ratified.

Many persons have let themselves become so caught up in this idea of “rights” that they cannot see the status of American women as it is. At least not as I see it.

Women who truly want to contribute something to the betterment of this old world should not be out yelling and screaming for “rights.” They should be taking a slow, deliberate look at the influence -- tremendous influence --women have, as women. And, then, strive and work, and accomplish things. Especially things that help to ease the roughness of life.

Let the Libbers take a look at how Ft. Rucker women channel their energies and talents and noble ambition. They do constructive things that result in lasting good. I cite you as a prime example the upcoming Good Friday program to be held at breakfast time, March 24, at the Officers’ Club.

Hundreds of people will be there! Tickets will be sold out weeks in advance. There will be a new Easter play, with music; and a ceremony of making a Cross of flowers. All who come will be encouraged and made glad in their Faith.

This will be possible because 15 years ago a small group of Ft. Rucker women held a little prayer breakfast. And then each year after that other women arranged similar gatherings, until the Annual Ft. Rucker Good Friday Prayer Breakfast became a tradition. An institution.

And that’s not the end of the story. Several years ago another group of wives began sponsoring a special breakfast program in December so that Christmas could be celebrated at Ft. Rucker in a new way.

This Good Friday observance and the Christmas programs have had far reaching influence. There is no way to measure it.

There is no way to measure the other outstanding things Ft. Rucker women do. The annual Christmas bazaar, for instance, provides scholarships which literally change the lives of the young student recipients.

Ft. Rucker women carry out many volunteer activities for the community. Even this HEDGEHOPPER magazine is not to be passed over lightly. Since Sept. 8, 1966, when the first issue rolled off the press, the HH has contributed much in information and entertainment.

As in many undertakings, getting the HH out depends on women willing to be something like links in a chain, serving as they can. In a sense, this is the secret of any woman’s accomplishment. At any given time and situation, she must do what she can. Never mind her “equal rights.

What about the piece of cloth?

You will see that special length of yard goods at the Fifteenth Annual Good Friday Prayer Breakfast. It will be in the play, which is titled A LENGTH OF FINE LINEN.

The plot has to do with how when Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea “bought fine linen” and with the help of a friend bound the body of the Christ in the linen and laid it in a tomb.

Come see this new Easter drama and find out how the women in the story use sweet things -- spices and ointment very costly -- as they “do what they can.”

Doing what she can is enough for any woman, whether she is in a play of long ago or in real life in 1978.

Let those who want chase after “rights.” As for the rest of us let’s do what we can!

Published March 1978. Click your browser’s “Back” button to return.