What I find most interesting about Mother’s Day in America is that the motivation behind this holiday of honoring motherhood can be accredited to a political activist and writer, Julia Ward Howe.  Mrs. Howe wrote the Battle of the Republic during the civil war and was an advocate for abolitionism and women’s suffrage.  She dedicated her life trying to bring women together and give them a voice on political matters that she felt could allow her, and women everywhere, the ability to rejoice in what she called “womanhood.”  

The day to day demands of both woman and motherhood have connected women from around the world via the internet. It's used as a tool for advice, guidance, and support to overcome the many obstacles that can arise from being a mom because we all know that motherhood goes beyond making school lunches, being the family doctor, and checking under the bed for the boogey man.  Moms know better than anyone that our country’s political atmosphere and economic environment affects the wellbeing of our families, and that is why it is so important to stay informed on the actions and decisions made by our elected officials.  So I find it most appropriate during this week of honor to tell you a little more about the co-founder of Smart Girl Politics, Stacy Mott -- political activist, writer, mother, wife, and patriot.

One of my favorite parts of being involved in politics is seeing so many women involved who aren’t politicians or bureaucrats, but who are moms and wives.  These women, who often have little to no political “training,” jump into the world of politics unafraid to take on even the most elite bigwigs. One such woman, who I greatly admire, is Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor, Rebecca Kleefisch.  Serving since 2011 as the state’s 44th Lieutenant Governor, she has balanced state leadership and being a mom to her two daughters, Ella and Violet.  She says her balance comes from “a patient husband, generous children, a helpful mom and a healthy dose of humility.”

The Lieutenant Governor owns a brooch that she feels states her priorities perfectly:  “God, family, career.”  In the midst of such a busy schedule, she never misses her daughters’ events; being a mom comes first.  The faith, optimism and belief in the goodness of people, she says, keep her motivated as she balances motherhood and work.  While she admits that she occasionally falls behind on laundry— “I will admit to having to buy my family new underwear during the recall because I was so far behind on laundry”— she handles both motherhood and the lieutenant-governorship with the help of her husband, Joel, who is willing to “bend around her schedule.”

“The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.” –Ayn Rand

The fabricated ‘War on Women’ makes us out to be victims. And according to many on the political left, big government and all those who support it will swoop in like a night-in-shining-armor to save us. Hardly a scenario you’d think a modern-day feminist would embrace, and yet, they do. They even call themselves “progressive.” But I cannot. Because just about everything they do moves the civilized world backwards and the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) that was recently passed is no different.

The VAWA is a ridiculous bill that has a zillion things wrong with it, the least of which is its supposed purpose to ‘protect’ selective groups of people the writers of the bill deem worthy of security. This includes women, gays, transgenders… you get the idea. This collectivist, inherent flaw in the bill was challenged and had some people asking, “If you’re going to pass it, why shouldn’t the bill protect EVERYone?” 

On April 23, 2013, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a new hotline to answers questions about resources available to women veterans. The hotline is 855.VA.WOMEN and offers information about various benefits available, including health care services and other areas. Since women make up 15% of current active duty force, this is a welcome show of support to the ladies who serve and have served.

According to the National Military Family Association website, in 2012 over 354,000 women veterans were receiving VA healthcare benefits. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states, “Some women veterans may not know about high quality VA care and services available to them.” Secretary Eric Shinseki continued his comment with, “The hotline will allow us to field their questions and provide critical information about the latest enhancements in VA services.”

You know, my panties get in a wicked twist when I hear people mention the fabled wall of "separation of church and state." Mostly, this is because it is used to endorse a particular perspective.  To many on the left today, this wall is apparently one-sided: that religion ought to stay out of government but not the other way around.This phrase originates, not in the Constitution (where a lot of college-educated lefties think it comes from), but from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote when he was president. It was meant to show solidarity with religious freedom and to bolster the language found in the first amendment: that congress shall "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It was a metaphor, but one that that has been vaunted to a place high above the actual words of the Constitution and Bill of Rights - especially with today's secular leftists.