I first want to thank so many of you who send us news stories, your ideas and things happening in your community. The New Agenda is a voice for all women and we welcome your input. Many of you have agreed to turn what you sent us into blog stories and share you point of view. I say – bravo! Let’s all share thoughts about how we can make things better and what our organization should be working on. And if you haven’t already, please do become a member; in order for our organization to take it to the streets so to speak, we need members and membership fees!

I first want to comment on something that I noticed this weekend listening the talk radio shows while driving. It’s not only the right that is p*ssed off with the direction of this country. Now I’ll admit that I have stayed away from talk radio shows to the left since 2008 – I could not stand what they did to Hillary when she ran; but this weekend I braved out a listen. The lefties were equally outraged with our politicians – and although most of the reasons were different, many were the same: what happened to we the people?

Which brings me back to HuffPo and their “Sad, Shocking Truth” series featuring a man telling us what ails women. Infuriating! Marla Miller wrote a piece about this for our blog last week, and I understand that Nancy is writing another one for this coming week. While I was brave enough to listen to the talk radio shows on the left, I could not bring myself to listen to Marcus Buckingham who was on CNN this weekend to explain to us why women are in despair. I wimped out and changed the dial.

But I do know how to connect what I am hearing. People are upset, p*ssed off, disappointed, angry – whatever you want to call it and we want to change things. That is why the work we are doing here is so important. There is a movement underfoot in our country and we had better make sure that what comes out of our countries collective emotion and passions benefits women and our daughters and granddaughters.

I want also to comment on some of the news stories that have been sent to us. Some of you who have sent stories have also volunteered to write a blog piece about what you sent and we’ll look forward to that.

The first is an article in HuffPo piece titled Polanski’s Arrest: Shame on the Swiss. Thanks to Denise for sending this atrocity to us, and I don’t want to steal your thunder Denise as I know you are also writing a blog piece, but: WTF? This article grants understanding to Polanski for sleeping with a 13 year-old girl, and instead takes on the Swiss Government in a misogynistic act? How can HuffPo run this stuff? And then I saw Deborah Winger, who I have always loved as an actress, appear in public interviews and defend this scumbug because what he did affects his art? What? It’s okay to do something illegal if it helps to make movies that sell?

Another article that came our way was about teenage girls are being hazed. In this New York Times article, we learn that:

…news of a “slut list” at a top-ranked New Jersey high school last week highlighted two disturbing points: the increasingly explicit and sexual nature of the taunts, magnified by the Internet. And, in another twist, the perception that allegations of promiscuity — however fictional — are a badge of honor, a way into the cool group, and not a cause for shame.

Oy vey. I’m so glad that TNA has continued to speak out about teen dating violence and the sexualization of our teenage daughters. There clearly is much work to be done.

So before my head pops off, I’d like to end this round up with some positive stories. First, an article today in Politico titled Republican base still wild about Sarah Palin:

“People saw her as one of them — someone who could relate to an everyday person. She’s not one of the political class,” said Heidi Gansert, the Nevada House minority leader. “I also believe that women appreciated her message and what she’d accomplished in her political career and family life. A woman who has a young family, who is able to become the governor of Alaska — a lot of people, women who worked the everyday jobs with their families — they know that she’s experiencing the same things they are.”

Also, a must read, wonderful article written by Tina Brown on her blog, The Daily Beast titled Let’s Not Abandon Afghan Women. In her piece, Tina points out:

In all the debate about Afghanistan, we don’t hear much about our obligation to the wretched Afghan women. They are being treated as collateral damage as the big boys discuss geopolitical goals. No, we can’t go around saving every failed state, but as well as clear national security interest, there’s a moral obligation here that is being forgotten.

Thank you to Tina for saying what needed to be said, yet no one else in the media seemed willing or interested to say.

Again, please join our movement – send us articles, write a blog piece, and please, please spend the $35 and become a member!