When We Work Together

A hoary stereotype (with a bit of truth in it, like all stereotypes) holds that we women are our own worst enemies. Hollywood and Broadway both promote fights between women, the more vicious and physical the better. But we all know this is one of the left-over twitches of the very slowly dying patriarchy. It’s clear that when we work together, we can achieve great things—and that’s frightening to the powers that be. Together, we probably can’t be controlled or put down.

A beautiful example was provided this past week by Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, deciding after much deliberation to vote for our Deb Haaland, from Laguna Pueblo here in New Mexico, who will be the first ever Native American to hold a cabinet position in the long and tortured history of this much-challenged democracy. Senator Collins’ vote assures that Haaland’s nomination by President Biden will be confirmed, in spite of vigorous attacks by Congress members from fracking-dependent states. As Secretary of the Interior, Ms. Haaland will oversee millions of acres of federally owned land, especially in the West, and make contentious decisions about how much pristine land will be opened to fracking.

Maine depends to a large extent on income from outdoor activities, as does New Mexico, and the despoiling associated with fracking threatens sites like our Chaco Canyon (actually in Arizona, but we quite naturally claim it) and Maine’s Acadia National Park. Senator Collins is a moderate who does not call herself an environmentalist but she cited the main reason for her voting for Haaland the latter’s support of the Great American Outdoor Act, helping its passage in the U.S. House. A substantial amount of support will flow, as a result, to Acadia National Park as well as to parks across the U.S.

Probably, these two women don’t know each other but they share certain defining characteristics: age, wisdom, and a recognition that the earth is our mother.

I’m waiting to see what other good trouble these two women from warring parties foment or support.

In Politics Debra Haaland New Mexico