Guest Columnist Cara McCurry
Everyone has a song to which they turn for motivation and courage - a song whose melody and rhythm are so personal and moving as to inspire us to shoot for the moon. The fear of "what-ifs" and all second-guessing evaporate. Swelling cadences fill up the spaces of doubt and caution. The role of women in politics is a relatively new concept. It took a few strong and assertive characters to forge a path for all American women to pursue a career in politics if they were so inclined, to voice their opinion, and have a more equal role in our nation. To this day it takes a lot of courage for a woman to integrate herself into American politics. The biggest hurdle is the first step: getting elected. When running against a man, a woman must go the extra mile. Let's face it. Our history has shown that a man is more likely to win a race when running against a woman; therefore, a woman must take advantage of all opportunities that would set her apart. As all contenders usually are, a female candidate needs to be very personable. It is important to be seen. It is important to listen. Everybody wants to feel like what they have to say is significant. Good listening skills make a good impression. And it is even more imperative to be oneself. The public can tell when you're putting on a show, and that is typical politics to them. A female candidate must find that song that speaks to her and let the courage and confidence become apparent to the voters.
I have played sports all of my life, and there have been a handful of coaches for whom I would have worked until I dropped. They were everything from smart to inspiring to hardcore stubborn. They stirred me to give 110%. It was hard work, and there was a lot of sacrifice involved; however, throughout the entire experience, I felt good about what I was doing. Though punishment meant running and sprinting until we threw up, it was okay. We were taught to take responsibility for our actions, and it was a relief to serve punishment. I use this analogy because it is quite simple. We are expected to take responsibility for less trivial things like athletics, but where is that accountability in society. It is up to a leader to inspire the public. It is up to a leader to raise the bar, to raise the level of expectation. The majority of people want to please and live up to expectations. We live in a world where excuses have become second nature, and excuses absolve us from any consequences of wrong decision-making. I'm not asking for a tyrant, but we need someone to hold us accountable. More importantly, we need a role model who is likable, who has morals, who has a firm grip on her definition of right, and who can listen to the public and transform those appeals into government action.
Cara McCurry is a 2009 Graduate of Madison County High School, Madison, Virginia.
Everyone has a song to which they turn for motivation and courage - a song whose melody and rhythm are so personal and moving as to inspire us to shoot for the moon. The fear of "what-ifs" and all second-guessing evaporate. Swelling cadences fill up the spaces of doubt and caution. The role of women in politics is a relatively new concept. It took a few strong and assertive characters to forge a path for all American women to pursue a career in politics if they were so inclined, to voice their opinion, and have a more equal role in our nation. To this day it takes a lot of courage for a woman to integrate herself into American politics. The biggest hurdle is the first step: getting elected. When running against a man, a woman must go the extra mile. Let's face it. Our history has shown that a man is more likely to win a race when running against a woman; therefore, a woman must take advantage of all opportunities that would set her apart. As all contenders usually are, a female candidate needs to be very personable. It is important to be seen. It is important to listen. Everybody wants to feel like what they have to say is significant. Good listening skills make a good impression. And it is even more imperative to be oneself. The public can tell when you're putting on a show, and that is typical politics to them. A female candidate must find that song that speaks to her and let the courage and confidence become apparent to the voters.
I have played sports all of my life, and there have been a handful of coaches for whom I would have worked until I dropped. They were everything from smart to inspiring to hardcore stubborn. They stirred me to give 110%. It was hard work, and there was a lot of sacrifice involved; however, throughout the entire experience, I felt good about what I was doing. Though punishment meant running and sprinting until we threw up, it was okay. We were taught to take responsibility for our actions, and it was a relief to serve punishment. I use this analogy because it is quite simple. We are expected to take responsibility for less trivial things like athletics, but where is that accountability in society. It is up to a leader to inspire the public. It is up to a leader to raise the bar, to raise the level of expectation. The majority of people want to please and live up to expectations. We live in a world where excuses have become second nature, and excuses absolve us from any consequences of wrong decision-making. I'm not asking for a tyrant, but we need someone to hold us accountable. More importantly, we need a role model who is likable, who has morals, who has a firm grip on her definition of right, and who can listen to the public and transform those appeals into government action.
Cara McCurry is a 2009 Graduate of Madison County High School, Madison, Virginia.
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