Blooming in Oklahoma: A Comprehensive Guide to Gardening in Oklahoma

The Beauty and Benefits of Gardening in Oklahoma

Since I currently live in the state of Oklahoma, I am trying to learn how to have a decent garden here.  It is not as easy as it sounds.  Oklahoma weather is unpredictable, hot and dry 6 months of the year, cold, icy, and windy the other 6 months. Because of the weather problems I was looking for information about gardening here and, of course, found another "rabbit hole".  This time I did not bite and very carefully found my information without being lead on a goose chase! So, here is what I found.  I hope it helps you as much as it is helping me.

Oklahoma is a state located in the southern central region of the United States. The climate of Oklahoma can be unpredictable, with hot summers and cold winters.

However, despite these challenges, gardening in Oklahoma can be very rewarding. The soil in Oklahoma is generally rich and fertile, with a wide range of soil types to choose from depending on your location.

Gardening is not only beneficial for personal enjoyment but also for community building. It promotes physical activity, which is essential for good health.

Gardening also provides an opportunity to produce fresh fruits and vegetables that are healthy and free of pesticides or other harmful chemicals. Another advantage of gardening is that it helps you connect with nature.

When working in the garden, you become more aware of the cycles of life and how everything is connected. You'll also get to observe insects such as bees and butterflies, which play a crucial role in pollination.

Overall, gardening brings people together by promoting cooperation through sharing knowledge and resources such as seeds or tools. Community gardens provide an opportunity for people to meet their neighbors while enjoying the benefits that come from growing their own food.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out on this journey, there's no better time than now to plant seeds and watch them grow! In the following sections we'll explore some tips and techniques for successful gardening in Oklahoma regardless if you're growing flowers or food crops!

Choosing the Right Plants for Oklahoma

Native plants that thrive in Oklahoma's climate

One of the keys to success when gardening in Oklahoma is to choose plants that are well-suited to the climate. Fortunately, there are many beautiful and hardy native plants that thrive in Oklahoma's hot summers and cold winters. Some popular examples include Black-eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, and Indian Blanket.

These wildflowers not only add color and beauty to your garden but also provide important nectar sources for pollinators like bees and butterflies. In addition to wildflowers, there are many types of shrubs and trees that are native to Oklahoma.

For example, Redbud trees are known for their vibrant purple-pink flowers in the springtime while Blackjack Oak provides beautiful fall foliage with its orange-red leaves. When selecting native plants for your garden, be sure to consider factors like soil type, sun exposure, and water availability in order to ensure their success.

Best annuals and perennials for gardens in Oklahoma

While native plants can be a great starting point for your garden, don't hesitate to incorporate some non-native varieties as well. Many annuals like Zinnias or Marigolds grow quickly from seed or transplants and provide a burst of color throughout the growing season.

If you're looking for perennials that will come back year after year, consider plants like Coneflower or Daylilies which are both low-maintenance options with showy blooms. It's important when selecting any type of plant to read up on its preferred growing conditions including soil pH levels required sunlight hours per day.

One essential aspect of gardening is setting up your plants' environment so they can be healthy throughout their lives. By doing research early on about what types of flowers will grow best given your specific conditions you can save money by not having lost investments in plants that are not suited for your garden.

Preparing Your Garden Bed

Tips for Soil Preparation and Fertilization

Before planting anything in your garden, it is crucial to prepare the soil properly. Oklahoma's soil is rich in clay, which can make it difficult for plants to grow. To improve the quality of the soil, add organic matter like compost or manure.

These materials help break up dense soil by improving drainage and providing nutrients. Another important aspect of soil preparation is fertilization.

Soil tests can help determine what nutrients are lacking in your plot of land so that you can add appropriate fertilizers. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are essential minerals for plant growth.

When applying fertilizers, be sure to follow instructions carefully to avoid over-fertilizing, which can harm plants and pollute nearby waterways. Also, consider using natural fertilizers like bone meal or fish emulsion as opposed to synthetic options.

Raised Bed Gardening Options for Those with Poor Soil Quality

Raised bed gardening is a great option if you have poor soil quality in your yard or if you want more control over the type of soil used for your plants. Raised beds are essentially large containers filled with a mix of high-quality topsoil and compost. To create a raised bed, first choose an area with good sunlight exposure and level ground.

Then build a frame out of wood or other materials that will hold the growing medium in place. Fill the frame with a mixture of topsoil and compost until it reaches about six inches from the top.

This will allow enough space for plant roots while also preventing excessive water runoff during heavy rains. Overall, preparing your garden bed takes some effort but will pay off in healthier plants and bigger yields come harvest time!

Watering Your Garden in Oklahoma

Strategies to Conserve Water During Droughts

Oklahoma can experience long periods of drought, so it's important to use water wisely in the garden. One way to conserve water is by using a drip irrigation system.

This method delivers water directly to the base of plants, reducing evaporation and waste. Mulching around plants can also help prevent moisture loss and keep soil temperatures cooler during hot summers.

You can use organic materials like straw or wood chips as mulch. Another strategy for conserving water is by collecting and reusing rainwater.

Install a rain barrel near your garden to catch rainwater from your roof gutters. You can use this stored water during dry spells, reducing the amount of tap water you need to use.

Best Practices for Watering Plants During Hot Summers

The heat and dry air in Oklahoma can cause plants to wilt quickly, so it's important to keep them well-watered during hot summers. The best time to water is in the early morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler and there's less chance of evaporation. Water deeply but infrequently, rather than shallowly and frequently.

This encourages deep root growth, making plants more resilient during droughts. Use a watering can or hose with a nozzle that allows you to adjust the flow rate for different types of plants.

Avoid getting foliage wet if possible, as this can encourage fungal diseases. By using these strategies for conserving and distributing water effectively in your garden, you'll be able to enjoy healthy plants even through Oklahoma's hot summers and dry spells!

Dealing with Pests and Diseases

The Most Common Pests and Diseases That Affect Oklahoma Gardens

One of the biggest challenges you will face as a gardener in Oklahoma is pests and diseases. It seems like no matter what you do, something always finds its way into your garden to chomp on your plants. Some of the most common pests in Oklahoma gardens include aphids, spider mites, and Japanese beetles.

These insects can cause significant damage to plants by sucking out sap or chewing on leaves. When it comes to diseases, blight is a widespread issue in many Oklahoma gardens.

This fungal disease can quickly spread throughout your garden if left untreated, causing leaves to turn yellow or brown and eventually fall off. Powdery mildew is another common disease that affects many types of plants, including roses, squash, and cucumbers.

Natural Ways to Control Pests Without Harming the Environment

As tempting as it may be to reach for chemical pesticides when dealing with pests in your garden, it's important to remember that these products can harm not only the insects but also other beneficial creatures like bees and butterflies. Luckily, there are many natural remedies you can use to control pests without harming the environment. One effective method for controlling aphids is by spraying them with a mixture of water and dish soap.

The soap suffocates the bugs while leaving your plants unharmed. Another natural way to deter insects from snacking on your plants is by planting companion flowers like marigolds or nasturtiums which are known for repelling harmful bugs.

When it comes to diseases like blight or powdery mildew, prevention is key. Proper soil preparation before planting can help prevent fungal diseases from taking hold in your garden beds.

Regularly clearing away dead plant debris from your garden can also help reduce the risk of disease. If you do end up with a fungal infection, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water to treat affected plants.

Harvesting Your Garden's Bounty

When to Harvest Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs Grown in Oklahoma

One of the biggest rewards of gardening is harvesting the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor. But it's important to know when to pick your crops so they're at their most flavorful and nutrient-dense.

In Oklahoma, timing is everything as the weather can change quickly and drastically throughout the growing season. For vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers it's best to wait until they're fully matured on the vine before picking.

This ensures they'll have optimal flavor and nutrition. However, with root crops such as carrots or beets, it's best to harvest them early while they're still small since large root veggies tend to be woody or bland in taste.

Herbs like basil, mint or cilantro can also be harvested earlier in their growth cycle as long as there are some mature leaves present. Snip off individual leaves or pinch off a whole sprig using scissors or your fingertips.

Tips on Preserving Your Harvest Through Canning, Freezing, or Drying

There are a myriad of ways you can preserve your garden's bounty so you can enjoy fresh produce year-round. Here are a few tried-and-true methods: Canning: This method involves processing food in jars that have been sterilized by boiling.

It's great for high-acid foods like tomatoes which can be made into sauces that last months without refrigeration. Pickling vegetables like cucumbers or green beans is also easy with this technique.

Freezing: This is one of the easiest ways to preserve food since you simply need a freezer! Blanching (briefly boiling) fruits and veggies before freezing helps retain their nutrients and flavor.

Frozen berries like blueberries or raspberries make great additions to smoothies or baked goods. Drying: This method is perfect for herbs, fruits, and some vegetables.

You can use a food dehydrator or simply hang them up to dry in a warm spot. If you don't have a dehydrator, using an oven on low heat can work as well.

Dried herbs like oregano or thyme will keep their flavor for months and make great additions to soups and stews. By preserving your harvest through canning, freezing or drying you can enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of your labor long after the growing season has ended.

The Benefits of Gardening in Oklahoma

Improved Health

Gardening is an excellent way to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it provide a great source of exercise, but it also encourages the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. By growing your own produce, you can ensure that the food you're eating is free from harmful pesticides and chemicals.

Additionally, gardening has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Spending time outside in nature has a calming effect that can help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.

Food Security

Oklahoma is no stranger to natural disasters like tornadoes and floods. In times of emergency or economic hardship, having a home garden can be a valuable source of food security.

By growing your own produce, you can provide for yourself and your family even if grocery stores are closed or supply chains are disrupted. Gardening also promotes self-sufficiency, which can be empowering in times of uncertainty.

Community Building

Gardening is an excellent way to build relationships with others in your community. Community gardens bring people together who share a love for gardening and provide opportunities for individuals to learn from one another.

By working together on a shared project like a community garden, people are able to develop friendships and strengthen existing relationships across age groups and cultural boundaries. There are numerous benefits to gardening in Oklahoma including improved health, food security, and community building.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or just starting out, there's never been a better time to start cultivating your own garden space! With some basic knowledge about the climate and soil conditions in Oklahoma coupled with tips on plant selection, soil preparation strategies for watering plants during hot summers which we have discussed above - anyone can create a thriving garden that will provide enjoyment and nourishment for years to come!

Here are some other articles you might enjoy:

• Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide
• Best and easiest vegetables to grow in Oklahoma
• Oklahoma: Vegetable Planting Calendar
• Home Gardening in Oklahoma

Cats in your garden?

 This spring, I was so ready for the cold to leave and so when it started to actually warm up a bit, I decided to fill my front flower bed with pansies (they are winter flowers, after all) because I longed for color in my life.

I cleaned out the bed and went to the nursery and came home with 2 flats of beautiful pansies.  I got all different types and colors.  I planted the little plants in my front flower bed and stood back to admire their beauty.  I was so pleased to see the bright colors in my flower bed.

Fast forward to the next week.  I get up very early and like to go outside to drink my coffee and sit to look at the yard and such.  I love listening to the birds early in the morning.  They are so energetic and loud.  So, I go outside, sit on my bench and start to drink my coffee when I look over and see that two of my pansy plants have been dug up and are now laying sideways beside the flower bed.  I am not a happy camper. Where I once had a full, beautiful flower bed with gorgeous pansies, I now have a gaping hole in the middle of the flower bed where my lovely flowers used to be!

Well, down the "rabbit hole" I went again looking for ways to deter these cats from my garden without hurting them.  I found numerous articles online, but they all basically say the same thing.  

1. Make sure there is no food available nearby for the cats.

2. Be sure all cracks and holes are covered so as not to provide them a place to hide.

3. Use some type of deterrent, with the most common listed is citrus peels (since cats cannot stand the smell of them).  There are other things listed like rue, lavender, and pennyroyal that you can grow in the garden alongside your flowers.  Cats also cannot stand the smell of those plants.

4. Use some type of prickly ground cover on your flower beds.  Pine cone needles, bark, or mesh grocery bags spread out and pinned down.  Another suggestion was to use chicken wire across the bed--your plants can get through it but it is uncomfortable to the cats feet.

5. Get some type of deterrent such as a motion activated ultra sonic device that emits a noise that the cats can hear but you cannot.  Also, try to add flashing lights or motion activated water sprays to deter those pesky cats.

6. Finally, try TNR to help reduce the number of cats available to use your garden for their personal potty.  I have done TNR when I lived in Austin, TX and I know that it works to reduce community cat populations.  Eventually, there are no more cats in the community.

7. As a last resort, trap and take them to a rescue or shelter.  I personally do not accept this one because I know for a fact that if you do this, that cat will be put down almost immediately because they are not adoptable.  I cannot be a part of ending the life of a perfectly healthy animal just because it is doing what it is programmed to do.  I believe it is my responsibility to find a way to coexist pleasantly with feral or wild animals.

Now that I have researched my problem, I am off to the store to get some oranges and lemons to peel and then put those peels in my flower bed.  I'll wait a while to see if this works.  If not, I will move on down this list (but I will never use #7).

Here are a few of the articles I found if you want to check them out for yourself:

• https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/how-to-tnr/colony-care/keeping-cats-out-of-gardens-and-yards-2#:~:text=You%20can%20try%20orange%20and,%2C%20peppermint%2C%20eucalyptus%20and%20mustard.
• https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/humane-deterrents/
• https://www.thespruce.com/cat-repellents-to-keep-cats-out-of-your-yard-2132573
• https://www.imustgarden.com/repel-cats

Why is the Violence Against Women not a Priority?

 Today is another rant caused by falling down that "rabbit hole" again.  I really should probably not use the internet like I do because I am constantly exposed to curious or irritating things that make me pause and search for more information.  Once that starts, I end up finding out all kinds of things best left alone and that usually causes me to rant and rave to myself and you if I feel like blogging.

So, today's issue is about violence toward women.  This issue dates back to ancient times and it seems that not much has changed since then despite all the women's movements and all the legislation about stopping it.  Here is where my rant comes in: if there is documentation that supports the fact that 1 in 3 women alive today will experience some form of violence.  These are mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and other family members that have people who care about them; but that does not prevent them from becoming victims.

What is the problem with fixing this issue?  Why can we not find a solution?  Why instead is it acceptable that we have to establish national databases to list the missing and deceased women?  Shouldn't that make you wonder why we have to do such a thing?

A Brief History of the Violence Against Women:

Violence against women has been a persistent issue throughout human history, and it takes many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence. Despite various efforts to tackle this problem, it remains prevalent in almost all societies and affects women of all ages, races, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds.

The earliest records of violence against women can be traced back to ancient civilizations. For example, in ancient Greece and Rome, women were treated as inferior beings, and violence against them was often considered a normal part of life. Women were frequently subjected to sexual violence, including rape, and there was little legal recourse for them to seek justice. Similarly, in many traditional societies, women have been seen as property and treated as such. Practices such as female genital mutilation, honor killings, and forced marriages continue to be prevalent in some parts of the world.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, women's rights movements emerged in many countries, and they began to advocate for women's equality and an end to violence against women. These movements were instrumental in bringing about legal changes, such as the right to vote and the right to own property. However, violence against women continued to be a problem, and many women were still unable to access justice or support.

In the 1960s and 1970s, a new wave of feminist activism emerged, which focused specifically on violence against women. This movement highlighted the widespread nature of the problem and brought attention to issues such as domestic violence and sexual harassment. In the United States, the first domestic violence shelter was opened in 1974, and this was followed by the establishment of rape crisis centers and hotlines. These services provided much-needed support for women who had experienced violence and helped to raise awareness of the problem.

In recent decades, there have been many global initiatives to address violence against women. The United Nations has played a key role in this, with the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1979 and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in 1993. These instruments have helped to establish legal frameworks and standards for addressing violence against women, and they have been used as a basis for national legislation and policy development.

Despite these efforts, violence against women remains a significant problem in many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. In some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence is even higher. Additionally, violence against women is often underreported and goes unpunished, and many women still face significant barriers to accessing justice and support.

The history of violence against women is a long and complex one, with deep-rooted cultural and societal attitudes that have perpetuated this problem. While progress has been made in recent decades, much work remains to be done to eradicate this form of violence and ensure that women everywhere are able to live free from fear and abuse.

Economic costs of violence against women and girls: 

According to the article, "Facts and figures: Ending violence against women", 

"Violence against women can result in significant costs to the state, to victims/survivors, and communities. Costs are both direct and indirect, and tangible and intangible. For example, the costs of the salaries of individuals working at shelters are direct tangible costs. Costs are borne by everyone, including individual victims/survivors, perpetrators, the government and society in general.

In Viet Nam, both out of pocket expenditures and lost earnings represent nearly 1.41% of the GDP. More importantly, regression results for estimating productivity loss due to violence indicate that women experiencing violence earn 35 per cent less than those not abused representing another significant drain on the national economy.[9] In Egypt, it was estimated that 500,00 working days are lost each year due to marital violence and the health sector bears over USD 14 million in costs to serve just one quarter (600,000) of survivors.[10] In Morocco, the total cost of physical and/or sexual violence against women was estimated at 2.85 billion dirhams (around USD 308 millions) a year.[11] In 2021, the cost of gender-based violence across the European Union was estimated around €366 billion a year. Violence against women makes up 79 per cent of this cost, amounting to €289 billion.[12]".

What are the Causes:

According to the article, "What is Violence Against Women?" Many of the misconceptions surrounding violence again women center on its causes. There are a number of myths that exist, such as: 

• men can’t control their anger or sexual urges;
• alcohol causes men to be violent;
• women could leave violent partners if they wanted to; and
• men experience equal, if not greater, levels of violence perpetrated by their partners or former partners.

Research has shown that the significant drivers of violence against women include: 

• the unequal distribution of power and resources between men and women; 
• an adherence to rigidly defined gender roles and identities i.e., what it means to be masculine and feminine.

Attitudes that condone or tolerate violence are recognized as playing a central role in shaping the way individuals, organizations and communities respond to violence. VicHealth has summarized five key categories of violence supportive attitudes that arise from research. These include attitudes that:  

• justify violence against women, based on the notion that it is legitimate for a man to use violence against a woman;
• excuse violence by attributing it to external factors (such as stress) or proposing that men cannot be held fully responsible for violent behavior (for example, because of anger or sexual urges);
• trivialize the impact of violence, based on the view that the impacts of violence are not serious or are not sufficiently serious to warrant action by women themselves, the community or public agencies;
• minimize violence by denying its seriousness, denying that it occurs or denying that certain behaviors are indeed violence at all; h
• hold women at least partially responsible for their victimization or for preventing victimization.

What can society do to combat violence against women?

According to this article, "Violence against women: Causes and consequences", "Every individual can have an impact and anyone can be a role model for gender-equitable behaviour. Questioning and reflecting on our own behaviour and society’s norms can reveal where we have subconsciously adopted a sexist way of thinking and behaving that was modelled to us by or within our society. Solidarity with women strengthens social cohesion. It also reduces the space available to violence against women. Clearly stating that we are against every form of violence against women and discrimination helps to send the right signals. Another way to make a stand is to boycott misogynist products and criticize discriminatory entertainment formats. This helps to interrupt the perpetuation of misogynist values. People working in sectors such as education, media, culture and advertising, or even the development of computer games, have a particular function as role models and can help to spread the impacts of more gender-equitable portrayals. People who carry out violence do have individual responsibility for their actions, since they themselves can decide against violence. If necessary they can seek out assistance at appropriate contact points."

So, basically, this problem is one that continues to fester and I don't see any solutions being offered yet that places blame on the perpetrators instead of the victims; that don't stigmatize the victims; that protect women from abuse and exploitation; that decrease or erase misogyny completely. Until we find that solution, our women and children are at extreme risk and that cannot be acceptable, I hope.

Censorship vs. Education: What does it mean to us as a nation?

Today's post is about something that has been in the news quite a bit lately, but has always been a big political and cultural issue: censorship.  First, let me go on record as being against most forms of censorship as we experience it now.  I think that for our nation to continue to grow and be strong, we need to embrace all thoughts, all expressions, and all types of people.

What is Censorship?

Wikipedia defines censorship as the following: "Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient".^[2][3][4] Censorship can be conducted by governments,^[5] private institutions and other controlling bodies." And censorship has a very long and tortuous history.

What is the History Around Censorship in Schools?

Censorship in schools has been around for quite a long time.  During the Civil War, there were many efforts to curtail how the South was portrayed in print. In this article, "A Brief History of Curriculum Censorship", there is a portion that says:"Throughout US history, schools across every region of the country have banned both fiction and non-fiction books that school leaders, parents, or politicians perceived as threatening to their values. One of the most successful campaigns to restrict the teaching of history occurred in the South following the Civil War. Between 1870 and 1910, more public schools were built across the South, and as access to public education became more widespread, white activists sought to censor the history students learned."

However, the censorship continues to this day: "Most recently, between January 2021 and January 2023, 18 states enacted legislation that restricts the teaching of “critical race theory,” a framework that holds that laws, policies, and institutions in the United States have been used to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequality based on race.

 The term is often evoked in legislation and media coverage without being defined. New legislation also limits how teachers can discuss racism, sexism, gender identity, or topics that are deemed “controversial,” which can make it difficult for educators to fully represent periods of United States history such as slavery or the Civil Rights Movement.

 Campaigns to restrict the teaching of certain topics have also targeted the literature available to students in their classes and school libraries. During the 2021-2022 school year, 138 school districts across 32 states banned a total of over 2,500 books from their schools.

 Many of these books address topics related to gender identity, sexuality, or race."

What is the Current Focus for Censorship?

The main focus of censorship currently seems to be focused on our schools and education of our young.  This is a dangerous slope to traverse.  I understand trying to keep our children safe from explicit sexual expression when they are very young, but who gets to define what is and what isn't explicit sexual expression? 

Do you agree that the statue of David by Michelangelo is pornography as many people seem to.  I can tell you that I was able to see the statue in Rome when I was 8 years old and I was simply amazed and not put off at all by the anatomical structure of the statue.  I knew that boys and girls were different and expected the statue to show a male figure. I simply enjoyed the pure beauty of the piece and was in awe by the talent of its maker.

I also was able to experience foreign culture up close and personal when we lived in Turkey.  I played with Turkish children.  I had Turkish girlfriends.  I roamed the Turkish landscape freely and without fear.  Yes, they were a Muslim country, but as a child I was unfettered by their customs.  I was awakened every morning by the Imam calling the devout to prayers, as the Mosque was across the street from our apartment.  I understood that their culture was quite different from mine, but I wasn't afraid of them or their culture.  I just experienced it as different.

Creating Cultural Isolation:

This push but the religious right in our country to prevent our children from having the same experiences via books and movies is dangerous.  How will we ever learn to live together in peace if we prevent our children from seeing first or second hand how others live, worship, work, and experience life? Do we really want our children to be so narrow-minded that they are constantly afraid of everything that is different? In the article, "Censorship in Schools and the Effects on our Children" there is a paragraph that states: "Censorship in schools is certainly present and the addition of even small changes can lead to battles over the future integrity of our children and community. Censorship is something that needs to be held closely in check if our children are to grow up with the proper awareness of the world as it really exists. "

First Amendment Rights:

First of all, let's explore the idea of censorship a bit closer.  We are all supposed to have the right to freedom of expression as it is guaranteed by our First Amendment to our Constitution.  Everyone seems to be so enamored of protecting Second Amendment rights, but no one is up in arms about the loss of First Amendment rights?  Our forefathers understood that we needed to embrace ideas and thoughts that might not go along with our own in order to grow and stay strong.  Why do we now think differently? In the article,  "The First Amendment in Schools: Censorship" there is a paragraph that states: "Censorship represents a tyranny over the mind, said Thomas Jefferson–a view shared by founders of our nation–and is harmful wherever it occurs. Censorship is particularly harmful in the schools because it prevents youngsters with inquiring minds from exploring the world, seeking truth and reason, stretching their intellectual capacities, and becoming critical thinkers. When the classroom environment is chilled, honest exchange of views is replaced by guarded discourse and teachers lose the ability to reach and guide their students effectively."

What is Currently Happening in Our Schools:

In the article, "Ron DeSantis’ academic restrictions show he hopes to change history by censoring it", there is a passage that states: "In the past, authoritarianism – and the indoctrination that sustains it – has used educational systems to further its agenda. We can recall images of first-graders wearing little red kerchiefs and saluting the eastern bloc dictators, of students let out of class to welcome the Führer to town. We know that democracy depends on the free and open exchange of ideas, on conversations that begin early in the life of its citizens – and that fascism thrives when only one point of view is permitted. DeSantis’s rulings, and the campaigns that have engendered them, are inherently anti-democratic.

We cannot change history by censoring it. We cannot pretend that we were never a slave-holding society, that racism ceased to exist when Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. We cannot erase the past, or influence a young person’s gender and sexuality by removing a book from the library. Students are not political pawns or ideologues-in-training. They are our future and it’s frightening to imagine a future populated by citizens who were forbidden to argue and debate, to hear about a historical event from multiple perspectives and to learn to make the critical judgments and necessary distinctions that will help them navigate our increasingly complex and challenging world.

In the past, authoritarianism – and the indoctrination that sustains it – has used educational systems to further its agenda. We can recall images of first-graders wearing little red kerchiefs and saluting the eastern bloc dictators, of students let out of class to welcome the Führer to town. We know that democracy depends on the free and open exchange of ideas, on conversations that begin early in the life of its citizens – and that fascism thrives when only one point of view is permitted. DeSantis’s rulings, and the campaigns that have engendered them, are inherently anti-democratic."

When you censor education, there are some real issues that develop such as the loss of critical thinking, the loss of creativity, the loss of intellectual development, the creation of isolating thought and cultural expansiveness, and we leave our children totally unprepared to deal with the REAL world because they only see their little skewed part of it.  Censorship is a threat to education and academic freedom.

Censorship in our schools seems like a cheat.  It cheats children of their rights, it cheats children of knowledge, it cheats parents of their responsibility to teach their children the truth, it cheats us all of free and independent thought.

This school censorship is simply a way for the political factions to endure the control over the next generations.  However, what they are not looking at is that their actions can and probably will create in our children a distrust for authority and rebellion from those principals being taught them. It really is a slippery slope and we are all about to go for that ride.

There are many articles available online about this subject that present both sides to the argument.  I hope, if this post has interested you, that you will check out some of them.

Religion vs. women

 Today I fell down another "rabbit hole".  This time it was about women and history as it is applied by religion.  Oh my God! What a huge "rabbit hole" I found.  As a feminist of long standing (I am a child of the 60s after all) I have always denounced how women are treated everywhere, but until I fell into this hole, my thoughts could not congeal into one focused thread.  Now, I can and it is that Power under the guise of Religion (see I used a capitol letters there?) is the basis for all the mistreatments that women have endured since the beginning of time. 

It Really is All About Retention of POWER

Keeping women in a down position is all about power, no matter the words used to continue this treatment of women.  Power.  I'll say that again.  Power.  Men fear women because we have the power to create life, and because we are the main caretakers of our children, we also have the power to mold the children's minds. This is unacceptable to Men (I used a capitol letter here again on purpose).  

Now, I grant that men play a part in the creation of children.  Without sperm, there would be no child. However, there are species that can reproduce without males and I am sure that science is ongoing to figure out how that can happen.  Once they figure it out, men may become obsolete!  No wonder men are so afraid.

Let's review some history:

The Middle Ages

In the middle ages, witch hunts took place with women being burned at the stake because they refused to bow to the men in power.  They openly decried the state of the world as they knew it and used herbalism and alternative measures to try to protect themselves from the violence they saw.  Those witch hunts/burnings were all about power, not fear.  The men in charge saw these women as threats to the way things were and feared that other women would follow them and upend the life they knew.  Religion was just the vehicle these men chose to use as cover.

During the evolution of Catholicism, women were always seen as a threat to the male dominated religious leadership.  Women were not allowed to participate in the clergy so as to keep them in powerless roles.  Women were not allowed control of their bodies by the Church; and dogma stated that women must always subserve themselves to their husbands. Once again, religion was just the vehicle men chose to use as cover.

Maybe religion was just seen as less abhorrent than power grabbing to the world's population.

Current Times

Today, nothing is different. China uses forced sterilization, forced abortions, forced implants, forced marriages and even death is used to control women and remove the threat of power.  In the middle east, women are raped, killed, forced into marriages, and forced to convert to Islam.  The Islamic religion, as some now see it, is not good or helpful for women at all.  Women under Islam are less than property. This is all about power.

In Africa, women are raped, sold, enslaved, tortured, forced to live with female genital mutilation.  They also are considered forms of currency and they are the possession of the dominant male in their family. This is a way to enforce and keep their power over the women in their lives.

Now, in the United States, women once had some rights to the control over their bodies but the Supreme Court decided to end that right.  There has also been some talk about rescinding the woman's right to vote.  This also is all about power.  We have old, white men in power and they fear the power that women have to disrupt the status quo.

None of this has anything to do with religion or religious freedom.  If things continue as they are now, there will be no such thing available for women. This is all about POWER and the ability to enslave women and bend them to their beliefs and rules.

When I went to college, I enrolled in a Women's Studies course (this was in 1988) and in my Women in Literature class, we were to read a book about women's rights and write a paper on it.  I read A Handmaid's Tale  by Margaret Atwood.  This book scared the pants off of me because I truly believed that it was a foretelling of the future for women. 

If you have seen the Hulu version only, you have missed some of the most egregious parts of the book.  But, still, if you saw at least the first few episodes, you understand why I was so moved and afraid.  Tell me, now that we are seeing this come to pass, was I wrong?  

I don't think so.  I can only hope that the youth of our nation wake up and see that they are in danger.  The youth movements of the 60s changed laws and if the youth of today could also form together, I think they could wield the same power.  I can only hope for the best.  My time has passed and no matter what happens, it probably won't affect me, but it will affect my daughters.  

                            (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)

 Some articles to check out if this interests you:

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/mar/01/commentary-the-religious-war-on-women-2/

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/05/03/nothing-christian-about-war-on-womens-reproductive-rights.html

https://bigthink.com/articles/the-religious-war-on-women-continues/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2023-03-08/the-link-between-religicide-and-violence-against-women

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/feb/28/laura-bates-witch-hunts-never-stopped-now-theyre-online