1.) For Every Action there is a Reaction—

2.) Breaking the Glass Ceiling—

3.) There are Still Six Candidates

Two different groups of women, each representing candidates running for Mayor – one who is running for reelection and one who is hoping to be elected to be the next Mayor.

At the Perth Amboy City Hall Circle, Mayor Diaz brought in women politicians and community leaders from different counties and Trenton.

Billy Delgado had local women who supported him. They also met at the City Hall Circle one week after Mayor Diaz’ Press Conference.

This all started with harsh e-mails sent to the Mayor being very critical of her competency.

I want everyone to listen to this VERY CAREFULLY.

Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy. Always consider the source where the criticism came from. It’s up to you to determine the validity of the source.

Criticism can come in different forms, constructive or destructive.

I can’t remember the author of this book but it had to do with successful individuals from all walks of life. If I can recall, one of the individuals in this book was told by someone, “You’ll never amount to anything.” Those words made that individual determined to prove who made those cruel comments wrong.

Getting back to my original thought. One candidate has already broken the glass ceiling. The fact of the matter is: Wilda Diaz is the first female Mayor of Perth Amboy. Nothing can take that away from her and she did take down a powerful man who had been in office for eighteen years.

I know that some of the women that she brought to Perth Amboy to speak were glass ceiling women, too.

The women who spoke in Billy Delgado’s defense were also accomplished women. I bet their are women in Delgado’s group who broke the glass ceiling also.

Success is the one factor that was common in both groups of women. That is something to be very proud of.

Glass Ceiling Women: Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Susan B. Anthony, Shirley Chisholm, Susana Martinez . . . (fill in your own)

We as women are fortunate at least in my opinion that we live in the United States. There are so many other places in the world where women are so mistreated. Here are some examples.

Female genital mutilation or female circumcision, a “coming of age practice” is performed by certain cultures. In a British Newspaper, “The Guardian,” the headline of a July 24, 2010 the article says, “British girls undergo horror of genital mutilation despite tough laws.” The article states, “Cleanliness, neatness of appearance and the increased sexual pleasure for the man are all motivations for the practice. But the desire to conform to tradition is the most powerful motive.”

While in the United States it is illegal. Can you imagine being twelve years old, being mutilated. Often this is done with unclean sharp instruments without any anesthesia. Imagine watching your blood flow out of your body while screaming in unimaginable pain.

We came across a blog entitled, “No Country for Women.” The article is called “It’s a girl!” ”Kill her”. The article written by Taslima Nasreen states “The United Nations estimates as many as 200 million girls are missing in the world today because of gendercide.” Girls are being killed simply because they are born girls. To read the entire article, Google the author, Taslima Nasreen.

In some countries you cannot go out in public unless you are with a male relative to escort you.

Girls walking to school are often spat upon or even have acid thrown in their faces, just because they want an education. Yes, my dears this is happening today.

Or what about the women that are buried up to their necks and stoned to death in the center of town square? The reason being accused of infidelity with just the word of your husband.

And what about forced marriage on minors. Mail Online News states, “Girl of five is youngest UK victim of forced marriage as Home Office looks at prosecuting families,” by Steve Doughty. Need we say anymore.

In an another incident one girl killed herself because a judge forced her to marry her rapist. She was only sixteen.

Honor killings are another problem that is still practiced today. There was one story where a father killed his two daughters because he thought they were becoming too westernized. The father vanished. And this happened in the United States! In this incident, although not everyone in that culture practices this, the father chose to continue it when he came over to the United States. The mother and son approved of what the father of the family did. The aunt of the two murdered girls spoke out against what her brother-in-law did and now the aunt has a bounty on her head.

This has been one the toughest and saddest editorials I’ve had to write. Some brave women have stood up against these practices and we applaud them. We also the applaud men who stand with these women. Some leaders of these countries have condemned these practices too.

Putting aside the controversy between Diaz and Delgado, I am looking forward to hear what all the Mayoral candidates have to say. In case you forgot who the candidates  are, I am going to remind you in the order they were names were pulled out of the ballot box: 1.) Miguel Morales 2.) Wilda Diaz & Ticket 3.)Bob McCoy 4.) Jim F. Aleck (Council) 5.) Frank Salado 6.) Sharon Hubberman 7.) Billy Delgado & Ticket.
All of these candidates are still in the race.

C.M. & K.M.