"Let it rain, let it rain down on me/ Let the rain fill my hand, let the rain set me free." -- Let It Rain by Melissa Ethridge
Nothing could be more precious or fundamental to American citizenship than freedom. Exercised responsibly it's basic to our Constitution. The concept that women have equal rights is somewhat new relatively. Brave and intrepid pioneers have organized and fought for female suffrage, property ownership, credit, professional involvement and advancement. The integration of women, like minorities, into full social, political and economic participation has been painful and controversial, as well as envigorating and healthy for a nation, and world, growing toward an ideal unrealized.
In my case, the goal was education (an honors degree in Psychology earned partly by working full-time and part-time), home ownership (a mortgage-free house purchased in 1978), credit (maintained with excellent ratings through mortgages and credit cards), professional expertise (computer programming, design and management), and business ownership (partnership in a painting contractor enterprise and sole ownership of a commercial, now non-profit website organization).
In this odyssey, I've hit "the glass ceiling" -- that invisible and complex barrier to achievement and advancement for women -- variously. Like many, I've attempted to balance home, family and friendships with excellence in different fields. The number of ways this goal has dissolved in disarray -- and three divorces -- would comprise a novel, echoing analogous experiences of others who've wished to express all of their talents and abilities equally.
My most recent dissolution against stereotypes and roadblocks came about on calling 911, recently installed on my phone in the home I'd owned for two decades. Rather than listening to my legal and peaceable request that my (now ex-) husband be convinced to leave, since his behavior was abusive, harassing and criminal toward me and my property, deputies arrested me. They, and others, ignored statements that the house belonged to me (under Virginia law I was sole owner, having purchased it prior to the marriage) and that self-defense was not assault. With "priors" consisting of two parking tickets, and in response to a call for protection for myself and my property, I was charged with assault and put "on bond to keep the peace" with the man who refused to leave or cooperate with my website businesses. He continued to engage in criminal activities toward me and my property. Finally I was forced to abandon it, until litigation returned it, vandalized, to my possession.
Taking away the freedom of the homeowner, in and on her own property, attempting to criminalize her in reaction to a legal request for assistance, is irresponsible at best, murderously sadistic at worst. That the legal system behaved with such callous disregard for the life, liberty and property of a 53-year-old woman whose internationally-awarded website extolled the commercial and natural attractions of the region (Shenandoah Valley) is nearly incomprehensible. Perhaps it's a measure of the innate hostility and hatred of change -- not just the integration of women and minorities into society, but also new technologies.
In 1997, the concept of an internet-connected computer in every home and business was as alien as the reality that one of the first successful websites was created and managed -- in design, coding, promotion, and material -- by a woman. Its early success in garnering advertising support, and compatible websites hosted on its server, as well as appreciative links from other sites and positive hardcopy reviews, couldn't be attributed to 16-hour work days, experience and expertise. Something had to be wrong! It must be stopped and examined in great, intimate and well-documented detail.
The intrusive consequences of this series of events left me feeling like a totally violated individual. My freedom had been stolen. I'd been booked, mugged and fingerprinted. My house and personal possessions had been ransacked. My credit had been compromised. Much of what belonged to me had been looted. A corporate-sponsored website, which went on-line 18 months after mine, even claimed to be "the original Valley's home page."
Freedom is not unconstrained. Although in theory we are "free" to rape, rob and pillage -- typical warzone behaviors -- in reality these "freedoms" are crimes. The obligations of representatives of legal systems -- deputies, magistrates, attorneys, judges, juries -- are to discourage and punish illegal behaviors. Engaging in illegal behaviors -- arresting a homeowner requesting protection from uncivil and illegal behaviors and attitudes -- incites rage from all involved. This increases the likelihood of criminal and violent activities.
A criminal justice system that feeds on itself by behaving criminally, encouraging anger and explosive argument, is not serving either the law or constructive and productive activities within the community. It is depleting the very resources, despite gender or ethnic origin, needed to build and work toward healthy futures within families, neighborhoods and businesses. It is regressive rather than progressive, restrictive rather than lively, deadening rather than vibrant, sick rather than healthy, monstrously inhumane rather than legally civil.
We create our nation and world one step at a time. The consequences of blatantly abusive, harassing, violent behaviors and attitudes ripple outward in dismay, distress and ruin. Only activities of real individual and civic responsibility by each person and organization, and an honest redress of grievances could hope to stem a tide of horror and harm, grief and nightmare, despair and terror.
The author publishes "A Country Rag" (http://www.countryrag.org). She volunteers for Washington County's Museum, the Environmental Action Group, Jonesborough World Music Festival, and as co-chair of the Green Party of Tennessee (http://www.greentn.org).