Letter: Gen. Kelly owes all women an apology

As a woman I feel compelled to respond to Gen. John Kelly's recent speech in regard to Gold Star families. He said a number of things that were strange and far from the reality of contemporary society. I wish to remark on one of his phrases: 'You know when I was a kid growing up, a lot of things were sacred in our country. Women were sacred, looked upon with great honor.”

Are you kidding me Gen. Kelly? Given your age you grew up the same time I did; the 50s and 60s. Does sacred mean being boxed in by gender? Does it mean confining women to their homes with little opportunity for employment. Does it mean, even today, working for far less income than men at comparable jobs? Does it mean a lack of options and resources for women being abused by the men in their lives? Does it mean no legal recourse for women being sexually harassed at work? None of this feels sacred to me.

Was it because she is a woman or black that you falsely accused Congresswoman Frederica Wilson of making remarks she did not say and resorting to name-calling by hailing the Congresswoman as an 'empty barrel?” Does your belief in the sacredness of women mean you object to women who are loud and proud about their work and beliefs?

You owe the Congresswoman, actually all women, a public apology.

Marcia Swift

Cedar Rapids