I am woman, hear me roar

First, this is neither a feminist nor political statement -- rather it's an observation of this historic week in the news.

As I watched the State of the Union address Tuesday night it was clear from the outset, when the President and Congress gave the first female Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi a standing ovation, that Washington's women, though always strong, are now mightier then ever. The week began with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton confirming what most already guessed, that she would be forming an exploratory committee in a bid for the presidency. Whether you love her or hate her for her politics -- and yes, she is polarizing that way -- it is good to finally see a woman who commands such attention. It's also a great statement about our nation's diversity that there is a woman, a black man (Barack Obama) and a Hispanic (Bill Richardson) all in the running. But while we can and should celebrate that fact, isn't it also somewhat sad that in the year 2007 gender and race are even an issue? As progressive and democratic a nation as we are, we have also yet so far to go and to grow.

Anyway, as an Hispanic woman... I feel empowered to see how much change I can effect in my own small way... Whether it's being the best mom or even a role model for others... It's in our hands now. Ladies, take charge!

Comments

Only in America!
Thanks for your comments. You are a pleasure to see/read.

Hi I'm a Morales too my dad was born in Mayaquez P.R. I'm born and raised here in nyc but i have on occasion visted la Isla its outrageous there. I am a grand ma and a home owner plus a writer I also work with teens for years I teach them to love life as I do. some of them come from forigein countries and they love the U.S.A. I had two houses built in my back yard so they stay out of trouble here in Brooklyn .especially in the summer. we do barbacues and have clean fun. they refer to me as grandma. we have kids from all over the globe here. my motto is kids are kids no matter what color or creed. it's been a pleasure writting this . oh by the way i just started my own business from home as you see I'm very active. In March I will be 70 years old. but I'm told I look 50 I guess the kids keep me young. bye for now have a great day . Diana ( morales) Pasqua goid luck.

Welcome Natalie, I enjoyed your blog,but sadly i think gender and race will always be a issue

It is rather refreshing to see Natalie Morales giving such a fresh perspective of newsworthy items on this site. Now I understand that this is as a result of iVillage partnering with NBC. I have seen a preview of an iVillage program on TV. NBC has some extremely talented people who prove that their skills go beyond reading a teleprompter and I would like to extend congratulations to Natalie even though she has no idea who I am.

Wow! Your blog really spoke to my heart today. Yes, your non-political observation was right on target. But what was more on target was your call for women to take charge. That has been my failure with my weight challenge is that I have not taken charge. I go to work, have an organized desk, organized mindset but yet my life is on a one way track to self-distruction. My mind has been renewed, I am refreshed in knowing that what happened yesterday has no baring on what I can achieve today. So, today, I am starting a new life one where I can now command. Thanks so much for your insite.

Yes it is in our hands, but the path is not straight mam. we need to recognize our potential and change our mindset and our habit of depending on others for what we can easily do ourselves. People dont like strong women and perhaps that is the reason why women are not coming out of their shells so fast.gud luck.

HI Natalie, way to go. Remember the song by Helen Reddy?
"I am woman". It is is time for woman to be large and in charge.

Hi Natalie,

As a fellow RU grad and Jersey girl, I'm excited to follow your accomplishments! Do you think Today would consider the idea of an ongoing segment related to female entrepreneurship? No doubt you've seen the statistics on women business owners and, as more baby boomers retire and revert to second careers in self-owned businesses, the ranks of female entrepreneurs will climb even further. I would love to see a long-term segment on Today that explores these issues.

Hi Natalie! We miss you @ Hair Cult. Not sure if you heard Jackie moved to California to raise Ruth Ann and yet another on the way. Hope all is well. How is the little guy?

hello. I think we are on the verge of major changes in our world and how it works.. You know kind of like the industrial revolution, ...etc. People got fed up with child labor in industry, at least in our country, and things changed.. laws were made. I think the signs are there. People fed up with the mistreatment and worse of children, women, racism, negativism, etc. I guess all of these overdue steps forward show that we are fed up with the status quo. We want this world and this life to be about people, about human kindness and about humanity. I, for one, feel heavy of heart and spirit often, observing the hostility and man's inhumanity to man.. every man for himself and the dog eat dog philosophy so evident today.. Just viewing the news brings anxiety into my day. I am excited about the changes brewing. It is an exciting time whether I see where it leads or not. I look forward to Natalie's views and enjoy her on the Today show. Thank you IVillage for bringing her here.

This country has come a long way in doing away with segregation but we still have a long way to go. Natalie, I never thought of you being an Hispanic woman, only as being a journalist and part time anchor on "The Today Show" and that's how everyone should think of other people, forgetting race and ethnic origins. I think you should have gotten the anchor job that Meredith got.

Natalie your wonderful and smart and beautiful...may you always have success and you are a role model not just for hispanic women but for all young women. It is a pleasure to see you in the morning on today... I also want to say when I saw that Hilary was in for the running of President I was so very happy and Obama too. what a winning combo that would be..huh well keep up the good work ...and keep us posted the next year or so...thank you and God Bless...Renee

we keep hoping for the one again it wont happen.were still learning as humans i dont think we took the first step yet i still think were two steps backwards

I spotted you right away and you are terrific

Dear Natalie,

Being a classy and smart Newswoman will get you far in your life. It already has. I watch you every chance I get and you always talk smart and are informative. As for the three candidates for the Presidencey you listed, I personally think all of them would make good presidents. I'm not very political, but I do listen to the news and what people say. Hilary has the experience and a level head. I'm sure the two men will be strong adversaries. Thank you so much for blogging, and give the gang at the
Today show a big hug. We love them all!

Mrs. Juanita Sutphin

I think that within the next few years history is going to be set by woman, more than ever before. The more time goes by the stronger we get. Our mothers taught us to be strong, and we teach our daughters and granddaughers.

I keep wondering why Barack Obama is referred to as a black man anymore than a white man as I believe he is bi-racial and no more black then white. I do hate that gender and race is an issue...it should just be the best person for the job. Will I ever see that in my lifetime, sure hope so!!

I'm not sure "somewhat sad in 2007 .... gender and race are even and issue," should be suprising if we open our eyes for just a moment. Ordinary citizens have been reporting about their faith, ther love for fellow man for a couple of thousand years. . . and yet, we still can't agree if God exists or not, or what we will allow him to be. We still seem quite willing to kill anyone who does not agree with our personal interpitation of God, or what God is capable of doing. If he, for instance, is opposed to women, they just don't seem to make much progress, or gay rights or some country keeping us from the oil we need for our automobiles.
Hey, if we don't someday get our hand in the hand of the lord, the path we take is going to be long and hard.
Keep your heart in the right place and all the rest will fall into place.

Natalie,

Obviously some very sound thoughts on an ever present controversial subject for many people that live in the United States.

I certainly wish you success on your new web blogging adventure.

Best wishes,
Roger

Welcome Natalie,I enjoy watching you on Today, and will be interested in reading your blogs. It's about time women have a "respected" place in our society, and our democracy, things can only get better!

Hey nat, I what your show every morning, what a great way to start the day! I love all of you on the show, you are a wonderful part of it all.I think they should move you into more in depth stories and not so much fluff, Marsha

Just saw a PBS program about 2 kinds of apes, chimpanzees and bobonos (or something like that). The latter have a matriarchial society, very little fighting: if one of the males tries to attack one female or an infant, he has to face all the females, unlike the chimpanzees who have infanticide down almost to the science humans have.
Moral: stick together, women; together we have power. After all, we are a majority in most of the world, maybe beause men kill each other off for power or "religion", and we and our children just get caught in the crossfire.
Let's stick together!

Dear Natalie,

Enjoyed your blog but agree with some of your guests, racial and ethnic divisions will always be among us. Sad but true.

I too am glad to see a woman throw her hat into the presidential race, long over due. Now a fellow "beaner", Gov. Richardson has entered the race as well, not that I will vote for him because of that but good to see the diversity! I was in fact hoping the President would nominate a woman to replace Madam justice O'conner, maybe next time this too is long over due. So Mrs. Bill Clinton is running any odds she will change her mind? That is a womans perogative isn't it? At least thats what my wife keeps telling me. Sorry just a little humor, very little.

Natalie, good to see you have your own blog, that is also long overdue. You are very awesome and good looking too.

Daniel

Hello Natalie,I am a mother of an almost 5yr old little boy with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy(DMD). DMD is the most common life-limiting genetic disorder diagnosed during early childhood. It effects 1 out of 3,500 boys. It is devastating to receive such horrible news. Even more horrible is when parents are told there is absolutely no help for them. To watch our boys lose the ability to walk by 8-10 yrs old, lose all independence by early teens and be grateful if they make it to 20yrs of age. Day after day there are so many parents being told this outdated information from their doctors (Neurologists). It is amazing how many dr's are not educated about DMD. My husband and refused to listen, that there is no hope for Christian. Within the 1 1/2 of his diagnoses we have so much knowledge on DMD through research on the internet and through support of other parents. What about the parents without computers or support. We need to spread the word that there is HOPE and our boys will fight this.
Thank you for your help

Hi Natalie,
I have been watching you continuously since you were the morning co-anchor on WVIT Channel 30 in Hartford, CT. I just new you were destined for much bigger and better things. I do believe that NBC missed the boat when they made Meredith the co-anchor on Today, as you would have done a much better job as you have so much more going for you. I just can't warm up to Meredith and I see you sitting in her chair each day. Besides being beautiful you are such a talented and fun-loving person and I do wish NBC would give you more exposure. As far as the Hispanic thing, that doesn't even enter into the picture as far as I am concerned. You are just you and you are so great.

Casey

Hi Natalie, in my eyes, you're truly an inspiration and a role model to all women!It brings me joy to see the number of latina women like yourself, Darlene Rodriguez, Audrey Puentes, Ms. Morales, who everyday show women that "yes, we can!".

So glad to see you on the Today Show, I personally think you should have taken Katie's place. Your segments and interviews are always awsome!

Barb

I think you are great on Today. I love your upbeat personality. It is a pleasure to watch you everyday.

Hi Natalie,

I love your longer hairstyle! I hope you have no plans to change it. Everytime you are on with Louis Licari, I see him eyeing you. Hoping that he can get you to let him restyle your hair for you. If you do change your style. What do you have in mind to do? Look forward to hearing what your plans are.

Hi Natalie,

I love watching you on Today and wait impatiently for your Blogs. They are always great. These two young girls are wonderful, to say the least. I was a Navy wife for 12 yrs., with 3 kids, during the Vietnam era and my husband was gone 80% of the time. My whole family (including the kids)had to deal with the horrible insults that the public put the Vietnam veterans thru. It has been great to see the change in the public's view of the GI's and their families. My whole family appreciates it in a way that other people cannot understand. Thank you for today's blog. I needed that.

Natalie wrote: "First, this is neither a feminist nor political statement -- rather it's an observation of this historic week in the news."

And then Natalie later wrote: "Washington's women, though always strong, are now mightier then ever."; "it is good to finally see a woman who commands such attention."; "Whether it's being the best mom or even a role model for others... It's in our hands now. Ladies, take charge!"

Womens' contradictions never cease to amaze me.

Women have always commanded attention. In fact, our entire society revolves around catering to women's needs. And yet, women still find the time to complain and raise the invisible issue that there's some kind of conspiracy holding them down.

Ladies, the doors have been opened to you for the past 40 years. Women are now CEOs, doctors, lawyers, etc. Yet, they still feel the need to complain and raise irrelevant issues. I guess the old saying is true, a woman will never be 100% happy no matter how much she gets or achieves.

Hi Natalie!

I think your comments were right on target. It has taken women a long time to get to this point. I agree it is not an entirely political issue it is a historic moment and women of all ages, races & colors should embrace it. I too am Hispanic and it makes me feel empowered to see women and Hispanics taking on such influencial roles in society.
I also say "I am woman, hear me roar"!!!