on Thatcher and Rodham-Clinton
Last semester, in American history towards the end of the term, I decided to break my usual habit of skipping this 8:30 a.m. class to sleep, due to the subject matter upon which the lecture would be based - namely, World War II.
The second World War has always been a favorite topic of mine, because it embodies the very essence of Western civilization's eternal struggle. The conflict between right and wrong, good and evil.
Upon my arrival, my newfound enthusiasm for attending an 8:30 class was dampened due to my professor's preponderance upon the subject of Eleanor Roosevelt. He talked to us about how Mrs. Roosevelt was "the conscience" of the Roosevelt administration. Further stating that the only reason that Eleanor was ever criticized by her opponents was because of a "conservative fear" of strong women.
With that said, I began to have the uneasy feeling that my special early morning trip to UH was about to be wasted, and that my hopes for being educated, rather than indoctrinated, were simply in vain.
Being a progressive (liberal), my professor railed against conservatives for disliking "strong women." He added the only reason Hillary Clinton was attacked was because she is a "strong woman." Then he had the bravado to ask, "Is there anyone in this auditorium who would disagree with me?" Upset that my time was wasted, I raised my hand.
He obviously saw me, but knowing what I would say, announced, "I don't see anyone raising their hands," and ended the discussion.
During World War II, there was a young woman attending Oxford on scholarships because her family was too poor to pay for it. There she earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry. While Hillary Rodham was attending parties at Yale where people consumed vast quantities of pot and LSD, this Englishwoman was making speeches to her fellow conservatives debating her Socialist opponents.
At the age of 24, this "strong woman" ran for the first time for a position as Member of Parliament. She lost at the time but eventually came back to be elected to the House of Commons. During her daysas a backbencher, she earned her reputation as principled and tough. She eventually gained the respect of the men in the Conservative Party hierarchy and became Minister of Education during the early '70s.
And with the fall of Ted Heath's government, she was elected the Conservative Party Leader. During her days as Leader of the Opposition, she never wavered on her opposition to the Socialism of the Labour Party.
In 1979 during the "Winter of Discontent," the British electorate finally voted to give the Conservatives the majority, and Margaret Thatcher the Premiership of the country in which progressive policies and ideas had ravaged society. Inflation and unemployment were in double digits and subjects were rioting in the streets.
Margaret Thatcher served 11 and a half years as prime minister. She brought back the British economy from collapsing. When the coal miners held a strike in 1983, she did not concede. She fought them until the very end, when the public found out that the unions were being funded by the Soviet Union and Muamar Quadaffi of Lybia.
No matter who you were, one always knew in what direction Margaret Thatcher was coming. Hillary, on the other hand, works behind closed doors, scheming about government programs to shape your future. Being principled or unprincipled has nothing to do with race, religion or gender. It's an internal choice.
But if you are going to model yourself after someone, don't settle for second best. Hillary Rodham Clinton reeks of lost potential and gutlessness. Life is too short and freedom too precious to waste your life as a radical feminist.
Arik Wolf is vice president of the College Republicans.