Barbara Boxer Call Me Senator Damn It Normally senate briefings having to do with military actions are a serious matter of discussion. Well, General Michael Walsh saw just how serious his testimony was being taken when he addressed Barbara Boxer by her gender role, "ma'am". It seemed business as usually until the testimony of Walsh was interrupted by the wounded ego of Barbara Boxer. Boxer said, "Do me a favor," could you say 'senator' instead of 'ma'am?' It's just a thing, I worked so hard to get that title, so I'd appreciate it, yes, thank you." Boxer's response was literally a scene out of the movie "Austin Powers" when Dr. Evil got mad when someone referred to him as Mr. Evil and he went on to say, "I didn't spend seven years in evil medical school to be called Mr. Evil". I wonder if the economic state of the United States is really a reflection of importance as Barbara Boxer's title is to her?
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) didn't like it when Brigadier General Walsh (an obvious masculine man with self evident accomplishments) called her "ma'am" at an EPW briefing. She made her disdain well known when she stopped General Walsh in the middle of his testimony to let him know of her accomplishments as a woman by summing her hard work up as getting elected to office. Little did she realize that there was no offense given considering General Walsh is in the military and both genders are referred to as sir and ma'am as it matters to the chain of command. I guess to Boxer, ma'am is a throw back of Women's inability to think for themselves from an era of male dominated society who oppressed her. I could possibly understand Boxer's objection if General Walsh called her "gal", "little lady", or "sweet heart" but he did not.
Women who are feminists react like this to men because they consciously know that their position in society has been given to them by men. That's right, not by social protest, not by their merits but by court ligated successions by men. You may ask yourself why would a Senator have to bring up her gender and accolade in the same sentence during a senate briefing? It is obvious that women like Boxer know that they are still in the boys club and they do not like it. They tend to rebel or show public disdain when they feel others see their socially promoted gender role come under attack in a passing or as a harmless reference such as "ma'am".
In the end, Barbara Boxer is no shinning star and comes from a state which is literally drowning in economic turmoil. When someone like General Walsh whose record of service speaks for itself, addresses an insecure woman like Boxer, its no wonder why she felt threatened and lashed out. Boxer stated that she worked really hard to get that title and would prefer if the general would call her senator. Compared to what most of the state of California is calling Boxer, "derelict, inept, out of touch, pathetic", what general Walsh addressed her as could be the same thing as calling "Her Majesty the Queen" in comparison. In addition to, General Walsh should have replied to Boxer by saying, "Well, I would be more concerned with the disarray you and your fellow "SENATORS" have caused to the country and be more concerned about your constituents showing up at your mansions with kerosene, a book of matches and the Santa Anna Winds. |
