Happy International Women's Day, my fellow women

     Today, is an incredibly special day. To realize rarely or never, the suffering of 75% of the world's women, is to do yourself a great injustice. To disregard or dismiss your rights and how they came to be, is truly unfortunate. Or what about how much women do and put up with, all over the world, everyday, and since the beginning of time? If the women who chose to risk their lives and reputations for something greater than themselves, never did, then what would we be and how would we live? We must honor them, and we must honor ourselves. We are powerful together. And the leaders, have paved the way for us to lead. Through all and any pitfalls and struggles, I have never for a second, wished that I wasn't born a women. But don't take it from me. Below, I composed a series of inspirational quotes from women and men. I hope you will take the time to read these enlightened statements.

- 'Women's characteristic life experience gives them the potential for two things: a very special kind of intelligence, social intelligence, and a very special kind of courage, social courage. The courage to cross the lines drawn between us, which are also the lines drawn inside our heads. And the intelligence to do it safely, without a gun, and to do it productively.'

- 'Allowing men who plan wars to plan peace is a bad habit. Common sense dictates that women should be central to peacemaking, but the people who typically negotiate peace settlements are overwhelmingly men.' 

- 'Male negotiators sometimes worry that having women participate in the discussion may change the tone of the meeting. They're right. During the Northern Ireland peace talks, the men would get bogged down by abstract issues and past offences. The women would come and talk about their loved ones, their bereavement, their children and their hopes for the future. These deeply personal comments helped keep the talks focused. The women's experiences reminded the men that it was people who really mattered.'


It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.
-- Jenny Craig



The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.
-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross


The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.
-- Amelia Earhart


Thoughts mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire are powerful things.
-- Napoleon Hill


To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson


Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
-- Mark Twain


Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drown your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
-- Steve Jobs


I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.
-- Helen Keller


    As well as, if this topic is of particular interest to you, Simon Fraser University's Segal School of Business is hosting a conference on this most important day. It's on 500 Granville Street from 5:30-7:30pm. The event is titled Role of Feminism in Pro-Democracy Uprisings in Middle East. I'm going to be there. I hope some of you will come check it out.


These are things that men and women should think about everyday, not just one day a year. Feminism is not this crazy thing it's known to be around here. It's as simple as being aware of the problem and caring. On this day, you should ask your mother or grandmother how much things have changed and what they experienced throughout their lifetime. We still have a long ways to go. If ever you do not chose to lead, speak out or stand up, then never, ever forget where you came from and how that came to be.

Tuesday March 8th, 2011
-Savis