Thursday, March 10,1977 — THE GRYPHON — Page Three
NAY or YEA
Jackie WUde
Parti
Equality between men
and women needs to be set.
I am all for the liberated
women and all against the
male-chauvinist pigs, but
ERA is not the answer.
ERA won’t change any laws
that are not going to be
changed sooner or later,
except maybe the few
exemptions in case of war
or divorce.
I’m not a feminist, but I
am not an anti-feminist
either. 1 think feminism
comes from the heart. It’s
like an emotion. If I wanted
to iron my husband’s shirt,
I would do it, and I
wouldn’t want to feel guilty
about it. I would do it
because I wanted to do
something for him, not
because I’m supposed to do
it. The same applies to the
man.
The woman’s movement
doesn’t make me angry at
all. I think it has proved to
be of some good. But, the
movement itself isn’t good.
The Movement seems to be
hostile to any woman who is
married and not working or
against any man or woman
who doesn’t believe in
ERA. There’s no warmth in
it. Most of the women who
are strong feminists have
been done an injustice by
Discussion of tlie Equal
Rights Amendment is
currently being conducted
on tlie floor of the North
Carolina State. Tliis past
week the Committee on
Constitutional Amend
ments sent it to the floor
“without prejudice,”
meaning neither express
ing an opinion for or
against the amendment.
The proposed Equal
Rights Amendment is
stated as follows: “Equality
of rights under the law shall
not be abridged by the
United States or by any
state on account of sex.”
Since early in 1972, when
the U.S. Senate approved
the amendment by a vote of
84 to 8, large groups of
people, both for and
agahist ERA, have lobbied
in state senates, from
which the final approval
will come.
society or by a male. The
backers of ERA seem to be
a group of women seeking
revenge.
If ERA is passed, I really
wouldn’t be mad or upset.
I’d be more worried.
Suppose ERA is passed and
the wife has a chance to be
promoted to a vice presi
dency or a presidency and
she takes it because she
really worked for it. Her
husband is also working.
What will happen to their
family? The roles in that
particular family will be
switched, probably causing
confusion and problems.
Who will be responsible for
the next generation? It’s
not a matter of the woman
returning back to the 1900’s
or staying home all day. It’s
a matter of the generation
to come. The woman who
holds a very strong career
is not capable of bringing
up a strong, capable child.
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At the present date 35
states have ratified ERA.
Thirty-eight states must,
approve the proposed con
stitutional amendment for
it to become law.
Our editors have I>een
asked to express their
opinions on the matter and
have responded as printed
on this page.
Part n
The proposed Equal
Rights Amendment to the
United States Constitution
states that ‘Equality of
rights under the law shall
not be abridged by the
United States or by any
state on account of sex.”
This means simply that the
amendment would protect
women from sexual dis
crimination by guarantee
ing that women and men be
treated equally under the
law. Equality is basic to
American ideals and the
American system. There
fore, the Amendment
should be passed as
another step towards
achieving that equality.
As for the doubts and
fears concerning specific
issues related to the
amendment they are only
myths manufactured from
political double talk. Of
interest to many are
changes which would occur
in laws concerning support
rights. In cases of separa
tion or divorce, the
amendment would not
leave an unemployed
housewife without ade
quate funds but assure that
awards would be made
according to each in
dividual’s needs and
circumstances regardless of
sex.
Another major concern is
any changes that could
occur in draft laws.
Congress has always had
the power to draft women
and should draft be
reinstated, women would
be subject to it. However,
the majority report of the
Senate Judiciary Commit
tee states that, “The fear
that mothers will be
conscripted from their
children...is totally and
completely unfounded.”
Under the present volun
tary military services the
amendment would enable
women to volunteer on the
same basis as men and
Billy CarroU
open to women military and
veteran’s benefits now
available only to men such
as education, loans, hous
ing, health, employment,
and job training.
Most ridiculous of all
fears is that the amend
ment would force rest
rooms, barracks, and
dormitories to open to both
sexes. The constitutional
right to privacy bars any
such action.
Fmally, if the amend
ment is ratified the states
would have two years to
come into compliance with
it. This is certainly enough
time for them to alter their
laws in accordance with
fairness and equality.
YOU PUT US ON THE MAP.
When we opened our first Hardee's, we opened them right
here in the Carolinas. And today, with more than 900 restau
rants across the United States and two foreign countries, our
home is stiii the carolinas.
Which Is why, no matter how big we get tomorrow we'll
always remember all of you who helped get us off the ground
yesterday.
So next time you say hello to our delicious charbroiied bur
gers, golden french fries and all the other good things on our
nationally famous menu, give yourself a well-deserved pat on
the bacl(. After all, it was you who put us on the map.
And well never forget it.
ide^.
Charbroil Burgers
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