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PunkinPi

(4,875 posts)
Fri Oct 30, 2020, 10:46 AM Oct 2020

Kamala Harris knows things no vice president has ever known

In the week before the country potentially elects its first female vice president, I’ve been trying to write a sweeping essay about progress and trailblazers and glass-breakers and what it all means. But what I keep thinking about is this: At some point in Kamala Harris’s life someone has instructed her to carry her keys like a weapon when she walks to her car. Someone has said, Get them out of your purse even before you leave the grocery store. Arrange them between your fingers, and if someone attacks you, aim for the face.

How do I know this? Because this is Woman 101. It’s the first page of the instruction manual teaching us how we’ll need to navigate the world. I have never met a woman who hasn’t heard this piece of advice. And I doubt that in 232 years of male leadership there’s ever been a sitting president or vice president who has. There is something profoundly moving about the fact that Kamala Harris has walked through the world as a woman. That she has thought, talked, purchased, exercised, sought medical care, sought justice, laughed and bitten her tongue as a woman.

...

There is something profoundly moving about the fact that Kamala Harris has walked through the world as a woman. That she has thought, talked, purchased, exercised, sought medical care, sought justice, laughed and bitten her tongue as a woman.

...

We are informed by our experiences. Our experiences sometimes allow us to fill in the gaps that others have missed.

At some point in Kamala Harris’s life, in January, she may stand on a stage in front of the U.S. Capitol, and she may take the oath of office.

But I can’t stop thinking of all the other points in her life she’ll carry with her.

How someone must have told her, once, to use her keys as a weapon in a parking lot. How something like that shapes you. How it hopefully makes you into a person who never lets anyone walk in the dark alone.

More here -> https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/kamala-harris-woman-vp/2020/10/29/2764734c-188c-11eb-82db-60b15c874105_story.html#click=https://t.co/CPi1X7ssgo


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Representation matters. Go vote!
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Kamala Harris knows things no vice president has ever known (Original Post) PunkinPi Oct 2020 OP
Never letting anyone walk home in the dark MaryMagdaline Oct 2020 #1
Thanks for reminding me, I meant to add bolding to that part. ;) nt PunkinPi Oct 2020 #3
Good read...nt Wounded Bear Oct 2020 #2
The key thing - you learn that from your mother when you get your drivers' license The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2020 #4
Yep. nt PunkinPi Oct 2020 #5
+1 crickets Oct 2020 #7
"We women are prey animals" obamanut2012 Oct 2020 #18
My Mom IS Scared of Kamala kwolf68 Oct 2020 #6
My neighbor... tavernier Oct 2020 #15
+1 Lucinda Oct 2020 #16
K & R Duppers Oct 2020 #8
Hi Duppers, PunkinPi Oct 2020 #10
Hi dear friend. Duppers Oct 2020 #11
Yay, glad you guys voted early and it wasn't too crowded. PunkinPi Oct 2020 #12
Where were those keys during the Pence debate? lame54 Oct 2020 #9
Mr. Vice President, angel823 Oct 2020 #19
Nice read malaise Oct 2020 #13
I hope she's in charge of dressing-down Republicans....... KY_EnviroGuy Oct 2020 #14
Wonderful article. Thank you! Lucinda Oct 2020 #17

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,661 posts)
4. The key thing - you learn that from your mother when you get your drivers' license
Fri Oct 30, 2020, 11:52 AM
Oct 2020

along with being sure to look in the back seat before you get in the car and locking the doors as soon as you get in. We women are prey animals and we learn this very early. It's about damn time we had women in government who understand that fact.

kwolf68

(7,365 posts)
6. My Mom IS Scared of Kamala
Fri Oct 30, 2020, 12:00 PM
Oct 2020

"Oh my if that Kamala witch gets in there"

---'What's wrong with Kamala mom"?"

"She's too Liberal"

--'What Liberal policy did she support is it that you don't like?"

Crickets.

tavernier

(12,375 posts)
15. My neighbor...
Sat Oct 31, 2020, 07:24 AM
Oct 2020

All Kamala cares about are blacks. That’s all she talks about. How can she represent everyone?

My neighbor is very nice and kind and generous, but very much racist, so all she hears is what she is looking to hear.
Fortunately she despises rump and has already early voted for Biden. I hope her views on Kamala will change, but I’m not sure. She is in her 80’s and pretty well set in her beliefs.

PunkinPi

(4,875 posts)
10. Hi Duppers,
Fri Oct 30, 2020, 02:35 PM
Oct 2020

her mom was the main influence behind her strength (her parents divorced when she was young). In her book, "The Truths We Hold," she talks about how much of a force her mom was.

BTW, did you vote yet or are you waiting for the big day? Hope you all are well.

Duppers

(28,117 posts)
11. Hi dear friend.
Fri Oct 30, 2020, 10:56 PM
Oct 2020

Our future VP was lucky to have such a mom; moms with the right attitude give their offsprings many advantages, especially confidence.

Yep, yep, we voted 2wks ago at the same place your mom did...& it wasn't crowded this time.

We're ok - hubs is good, still working most all the time.
Hope you folks are good.

PunkinPi

(4,875 posts)
12. Yay, glad you guys voted early and it wasn't too crowded.
Sat Oct 31, 2020, 06:53 AM
Oct 2020

Happy to hear you're okay, tell hubby not to work too hard. We're hanging in there.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,489 posts)
14. I hope she's in charge of dressing-down Republicans.......
Sat Oct 31, 2020, 07:14 AM
Oct 2020

alongside Speaker Pelosi.......... ..........

She and Joe are going to be a huge supporters of women and minorities in America, along with everyone struggling to make ends meet.


KY........

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