2012
2009At a time when people are quick to erase history by ripping flags down, or removing monuments that were meant to stand forever--history what does it mean anymore? You learn bits and pieces of it during the time you are in school but even that has changed drastically.
A simple question posted on a Facebook page that I am an administrator for (or as I was called recently a web guru) has brought me back to a hot topic that I have been going back and forth with for the past six years if not probably my entire life.
The new movie entitled "Suffragette" written by Abi Morgan, Directed by Sarah Gavron and starring known actresses, Meryl Streep, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter, takes place in 19th century 1912 London and centers around the working wife and mother (Mulligan) and how she gets recruited to join the U.K's suffrage movement. (A note of concidence: Helena Bonham Carter is the great granddaughter to former Prime Minister of the U.K. during the early 1900's H.H. Asquith who was not in favor of the movement).
Unfortunately, this movie was released to only a few areas across the United States on October 23, 2015 and opened to a little larger market in the past week. I contacted our local theater and they will not be showing it. I am assuming cost was involved and also they probably assumed that possibly not enough interest in our area for viewing. Our closest viewing possibilities are about 1-3 hours away depending on which direction you go either east or west.
This movie starts at the beginning of the movement at a time in history where even the voting privilege wasn't available to women. After reading a couple reviews posted by Variety and History Today about the movie, some of the comments listed were interesting. Several made mention that because they didn't live in a major city they had the same dilemma. I myself have in that the movie seems to be only as important as the time it takes to get to go see it. Several comments I myself have come across in mentioning going to see is "well it sounds interesting but not sure if it can be fit into the schedules at short notice".
My question is "When is a Good Time?" Was the time during which this movie is depicting just the right time to bring up that women's rights were needed? It's obvious that the initial opening of the movie was significant since October 23, 1850 was the first Women's Rights Convention held in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 23, 1915 women flooded New York for Women's Suffrage. Recently a posting on a Facebook page, ERA Coalition posted an article from USA Today about Feminist Majority President, Eleanor Smeal call for the ERA to be passed by the year 2020. "Twenty-twenty is the 100th anniversary of the women's vote", she stated "Seems like a good year to us, but pushing for it as soon as possible". I find this attitude a little disconcerting.
Suddenly other issues become more important. Sometimes I think it boils down to actually who brings up whether it is a good time rather than actually when is it a good time. Sometimes killing the messenger also kills the message that is staring you at that point in time. I believe things happen for a reason. History sometimes repeats itself and our fight may be far worse down the line if we don't take notice. Every day things happen that we don't expect, either personally or just by an event that may not directly affect us. Actually, there is never a perfect time, or perfect scenario for issues that could not just concern one but a whole group. Whatever the case may be, I hope people will make the time to see the movie Suffragette. It's a part of history that could change very soon.
The way our world is today, our rights as women and society as a whole could change in the blink of an eye. Will it be a good time? You be the judge.
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