Time to absolve ancient rhetoric about women

Yet again I find it necessary to hit the keyboard in response to what I perceive as a contemptible and divisive piece, which appeared recently on these very pages. Unfortunately, the column to which I refer has again penned by a minister of the Baptist faith. It seems the Rev. Ron Hamman has put forth a litmus test, to which the voting public can refer, to help us decide whom we should support for political office.

Seems the preacher has identified biblical passages which state that in God’s infinite wisdom, men only should be the leaders in home and the church. Furthermore, the verses describe female leadership as a “curse.” Well, that may very well be the case in the good reverend’s home and church. Far be it from me to suggest that his wife and the women of his flock are capable of being more than just barefoot and pregnant, while being subservient to their husbands’ whims.

It seems a stretch however for the writer to surmise that women can’t and shouldn’t be capable leaders. After all, we have recently witnessed a female come within a hair’s breath of winning her party’s nod to run for the presidency of the world’s most powerful nation. Perhaps he also hasn’t heard that it’s a woman who now sits in Alaska’s governor’s office and could soon be his and my vice president. These things would lead me to believe that the preacher is, at best, out of touch.

Thankfully, we here in America have not experienced the fanatical intolerance that recently took place in India, where the woman running for the presidency was shot and killed. Events as such would suggest that some men will go to extreme lengths to maintain their control over their female counterparts. It could very well be that certain religious beliefs and doctrine begets this type of behavior. I believe it’s high time we put such male chauvinism behind us for the well being of our community and nation. The world over would benefit by having more women, not less, in leadership positions.

The second recommendation by the preacher had to do with fatherhood. Seems if a man can find a willing woman and propagate, then he can be a leader. Wow! The sad truth of the matter is that millions of men are abandoning their wives and families, thus causing the women to bear the burden of raising the children. Guess one doesn’t have to leader to go to work to earn a living, then come home to cook, clean, love, nourish and mother her children. If you ask me who better exhibits credentials for responsible leadership, it’s certainly not the men.

Lastly, Reverend Hamman’s take on men-only in leadership roles is, at best, distressful and deeply disturbing. One only has to look at the problems we have to deal with because the world’s male-leader decisions. When’s the last time you’ve heard of a woman starting a war? How about lying to invade and overtake another country? Go to a bar sometime and see who’s always aggressive and fighting.

Which sex commits most of the murders? Which sex has the most pedophiles (religious institutional leaders aside)? You get my point.

I think it’s about time we, as voters, absolve ourselves from 2,000-year-old superstitious rhetoric, open our collective eyes and think for ourselves. If we follow Reverend Hamman’s advice we’re going get more of the same type excrement, and frankly, I’m tired of it. Furthermore, if God didn’t like women, why did He choose one for His son’s mother?

Bill Stanfill is a Palmer resident.