Denver Day 2

I cannot believe that tonight was only the first night of the convention. With the amount of people I have met and sessions I have attended, I feel like I have been here for a week!

First let me say, if you were not entirely inspired tonight, then you did not have your television tuned to the convention speeches. From Teddy Kennedy's appearance on stage after the heart-wrenching tribute by Carolyn Kennedy to her uncle to Michelle Obama's phenominal speech that inspired the audience to raise their voices in loud enthusiastic cheering. Those two children and the appearance of Barack on a video conference just endeared them all to every one in attendance. It was electrifying and being in the midst of this celebration was awesome!

Before going to the Pepsi Center Venue, the entire day was spent in celebration of women. I started out in a theater with a program entitled The Unconventional Woman. It was in a beautiful theater and the stage was set like a living room. Donna Brazille was the moderator and on stage sitting on couches were Senator Claire McCaskill from Missouri and Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota. Donna led them in a discussion of how they came to be senators and how when they began there were so few women. There was then another discussion with a woman governor and two women representatives. The third act was Senator Barbara Boxer from California who was absolutely fabulous. She just told stories about life as a woman senator and inspired all women who were considering running for offices in their communities to do that. The final part of the program was when 300 Girl Scouts from Denver were brought on to the stage symbolizing the future for women. I learned that badges in baking or sewing have been replaced with lots of preparation for public service.

During the afternoon I went to the EqualiTEA given by the National Organization for Women. There were lots of speakers, but the very best were the tributes to the late Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, my congresswoman, who died suddenly last Tuesday night in Cleveland. Connie Schultz, our pullitzer prize winning journalist, presented a beautiful tribute to Stephanie. I was so glad to be there honoring Stephanie, who should have been in the room, speaking herself.
I must add that before entering the University Club where the Tea was held we had to walk through anti-choice protesters who accused all of us of being baby killers and called us many other ugly names. It was not pretty and very ineffective. Large number of security police had to take their time to make sure 300 women entered safely.

It has been a very long day. We just stopped into one party and headed back to the hotel knowing that we have a full schedule tomorrow.