Lucy Report — june 26, 2016
On this lovely June day I am confined inside, ill and voiceless! Anyone who knows me knows a bout of laryngitis is an uber-challenge. I like to talk.
In between work and napping this week, I read a lot. I was, of course, riveted by the Brexit. The pessimist in me thinks it portends a Trump presidency; the optimist in me thinks maybe — just maybe — enough people here are watching what is happening over there and will do the right thing in November. Hoping. Speaking of Hope, articles about Hope Hicks top my list of best reads this week. Here are my recommendations:
Hopesicle: That’s just one of the cute nicknames that Trump’s alpha-males have for his press secretary. “She was very cute, because she was very anxious at first about of this,” said Trump advisor Sam Nunberg. He attempted to soothe her by saying “You’re like my Peggy, like I’m Don Draper.” For this and more, read the GQ profile here. If you want even more, check out the New York Times profile of “The Woman Who ‘Totally Understands’ Trump” — arguably the least credentialed press secretary of modern times — here.
I want my country back: Lucy reader Shawn McIntosh pointed me to a piece, written by Laurie Penny, whose latest book, Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies and Revolution was praised for its unflinching look at modern feminism and class politics as she has experienced as an activist and journalist. I loved this piece. As sure as she declares she wants her country back, she then admits the country she wants back has yet to exist. To the extent we are all bound to one big karma wheel and know that we will sometimes — okay, often — lose, so many dreamers like Penny, like you, like me have decided we’ll push and tug for good, for the countries we want. Read more here.
Swift and strong: I have been impressed by Nicola Sturgeon, the woman who holds Scotland’s top political position, First Minister. Since Scotland overwhelmingly voted to remain in the European Union, she responded immediately after the vote. Highlight: there will be another vote in Scotland on whether to remain a part of the U.K. On Sunday, the BBC also was reporting that Sturgeon is exploring options for the representatives from Scotland to block the Brexit in Parliament. View her remarks on the day following the vote below; I love seeing a woman leader leading so….reasonably.
One lightly beats an egg: A story that has been nagging me for a few weeks is this one from The Washington Post about a recent ruling by the powerful Islamic Council in Pakistan making it legal for husbands to “lightly beat” their wives. One response — this portrait series with the hashtag #trybeatingmelightly.
No on ever talks to the bride: I had the honor of meeting Emi Mahmoud, a young woman from Darfur studying a Princeton, at an event in January. She is a gifted poet. This week The Huffington Post ran a story featuring one of Emi’s poems — “a gut-wrenching” look at the anonymity of child brides. Watch the riveting 3-minute video below of Emi reading.
The Woman Behind the Sit-In: The sit-in for gun control this week captured my attention, as the filibuster had the week before. For many years I lived in Atlanta and was proud to be represented by John Lewis. I also have come to know Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, and I have great respect for him. But neither would have been sitting on the floor on Congress this week if it not for Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts. Read the back-story in Time here.
It’s a boy thing: I thought some this week of an article I read a couple of weeks back on 1843magazine.com, a features and lifestyle publication of The Economist. The premise, supported by data, is that married couples who have sons are more likely to stay together. Read here to learn why.
This blog is inspired by Lucy Stone, early American suffragist and journalist. Comments, thoughts, suggestions, or to get the Lucy Report in your inbox, email lucy@lucyreport.com. Check out the Lucy Report page on Facebook between newsletters and follow on Twitter @thelucyreport.