Remembering Elizabeth Edwards

In the Summer of 2007, I attended my first BlogHer convention.  I had been blogging for about a year and had just begun flirting with writing about politics.  I had very firm opinions about everything from women's rights to foreign policy, but I wasn't a political blogger.  Oh no.  Why would anyone listen to what I had to say about politics?

But at BlogHer 2007, sitting in an audience of women (and a few men), I listened to Elizabeth Edwards talk about politics, her battle with breast cancer, and the power of women online, and all of that started to change.

I had supported John Edwards from my cozy armchair during his presidential run in 2004. I supported him again during the Democratic primary in 2008. And shortly after BlogHer in 2007, I heard that a group of women I greatly admire were starting a political blog for mothers supporting John Edwards for president. I asked pleaded begged to be a part of it.  And all of a sudden, I was a MOMocrat.

I don't want to revise history.  Despite the fact that John Edwards turned out to be a complete asshat and a poor excuse for a human being, leading up to the 2008 primary he was the only one talking about the issues that mattered most to me.  He was the first Democratic candidate to come up with a comprehensive health care reform plan and his talk of "Two Americas" brought the plight of poverty in the US to light.  Poverty isn't something that politicians like to talk about.  Not a lot of poor people are out there making political donations and their advocates don't have a lot of money either. But John and Elizabeth Edwards were acting as the voice for the people in this country who need it most.  I admired that.  I still do.

Elizabeth Edwards inspired me to write about my convictions. She inspired me to become a MOMocrat, to let my voice as a mother, a woman and a citizen be heard. I like to remember the time I had a chance to participate in a conference call with Ms. Edwards. (Some of my lucky fellow MOMocrats in California got to meet with her in person.)  Here's an excerpt from my blog post after the call:

I was on the conference call on my cell phone parked at my laptop in the dining room.  My husband has been transferring the contents of said laptop to an external hard drive for the last 3 days, so I was grounded, so to speak, unless I disconnected the hard drive and undid all of T's hard work.  I couldn't lock myself in the bedroom away from the chaos created by two small boys.

During the introductions, I accidentally un-muted my cell phone.  Of course, H&H began screaming and running around on cue.  I didn't realize that anyone could hear them until Elizabeth said "Whoever has the kids in the background, don't shut them up!  I might have to bring my own in here too."  Everyone laughed while I was staring at my cell phone in horror and frantically pushing the mute button! 

Of course, I got over my embarrassment immediately.  This was a conference call with mothers.  Elizabeth is a mother too.  She and my fellow mom bloggers certainly weren't going to judge me for showing a bit of humanity.

Elizabeth Edwards helped me to realize that as a mother I have a special point of view, an important one, and that I have an obligation to make my country what I want it to be.  On that call, she said, "We don't get the change we want unless we're willing to work for it." Elizabeth talked about not just making this a better America, but about creating a better world.

Today, Elizabeth Edwards died. And all of us, but particularly those of us here at MOMocrats, have lost a source of hope and inspiration.

She changed me.  I know she changed all of us.  My hope is that Elizabeth, and her children, realized just how much of an impact she had on so many people.  She really did work to create a better world and all of us owe it to her to keep on fighting for our beliefs.

Stephanie Himel-Nelson also blogs as Lawyer Mama and now works to change the world in her own way as a Communications Director for a nonprofit.

Comments

[Anita]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this personal remembrance and why she inspired you. I'm inspired to go back and read more about her.

[all women stalk]

Remembering the great deed that a person have contributed in the world is just a simple way of looking back on his or her influence. The death of Elizabeth Edwards showed us that we must contribute in our own little way a change that make this world a better place to live. She is a woman of substance and must be given recognition. What a remarkable work of a woman that in her little stay have touch lives of millions.

[Indian T.v Serials]

Many go through life living and never realizing just how much the gift of life is. Some learn to late and try to quickly change or apologized as to make up for things. Elizabeth was a voice to woman all over the World who have cancer and she spoke out. We watch as woman are denied the basis health care in the greatest nation in the World as Elizabeth said she could afford the treatment to give her more time. She spoke for those millions who don't have the money and will die because our country does't feel it necessary to help American woman but give 12 Trillion to banks, waste billions on corrupt War profiteers and line the pockets of Law Makers. Each person has his/her personal book of life and will answer to it. We see many honor those with titles but Elizabeth showed one person who reaches out with truth and love is the highest award a person can get. God has brought his angel home to join with her son. The wisdom and lesson Elizabeth left will her children is something they will use as they grow. John lost his befriend and that is priceless as we can all learn not to toss away something most never get to have. May Elizabeth rest in peace and watch over the kids.

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I really felt bad for her family and their loss. She was my neighbor in Chapel Hill NC. But just to watch the many cars come and go immediately after her passing kept it fresh in our minds.

She was a strong woman.

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I spent a good part of my recent birthday stuck on airplanes, re-routed from connecting flights, and sitting on the tarmac instead of getting home. This was my first birthday since my mom died. This was a perfect set-up for self-pity.

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I am deeply saddened by the death of one of our most admired heroins. To her children I extend my sympathies.

Elizabeth Edwards suffered through the tragedies life dealt her with dignity. Not many women would or could have done as well. The infidelity of her husband likely hurt her as much as discovering her cancer.

May she rest in peace.

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