It is not in passing interest a woman is striving to become president of this great nation of ours. It is rather, a profound moment, one that well could determine the fate of our nation.

It only has just begun, the drumbeat, the attacks, not on the views of Hillary Clinton but, on the mannerisms.

The great man fear of the female species is building momentum. Why, we might ask, would the hand of a woman on the reins of power be a source of fear to men? I will try to explain.

The masculine gender know the strength of the feminine gender, much like God must have known when he determined women would bear our children. Frankly, I doubt our species would have survived the other way.

It is the same way with most things, why do we refer to nature as Mother Nature? Is it because nature is both calm and beautiful, while at the same time capable of great strength.

And, what of all the Marines who ever sailed the seas, how many ships have you ever heard referred to as he? None is the correct answer and, the reason is simple.

When faced with boiling sea, giant waves and unknown danger, the brave men wished to be aboard a mother ship, all boats are referred to as she.

Rudyard Kipling wrote: “So it comes that man the coward, when he gathers to confer

With her fellow braves in council, dare not leave a place for her

Where, at war with life and conscience, he uplifts his erring hands

To some God of abstract justice...Which no women understands.

In other words, Kipling was stating the obvious, men often act without thought of the consequence. The Iraq war is an excellent example of that macho attitude.

Given the condition this nation finds itself, it is high time we begin to weigh the consequence of our actions. I do not suggest, of course, that only a women could bring our country back to it's place in leadership of the free world, a few good men have served faithfully our nation's needs.

I do suggest however, a woman can just as clearly lead as any man. It is not the gender that determines wisdom. It is the depths of the soul and the strength of the conviction, it is the innate capacity to weigh all factors, seek all input before taking a course such as war. It is possible, that particular trait is more refined in the feminine gender.

In the final analysis, I hope and pray the people of this nation will not hesitate because of gender to elect a president that will return our nation to stability in the family of nations. And finally, I do not wish to offend my fellow masculine souls by revealing the obvious but, it is about time someone told it like it is.

I must confess, I am weary of the snide, often stupid, references of some candidates on both sides of the political fence, who would desire election above all else. It is not woman verses man, it is the immigration issue, it is the health care issue, it is the Iraq war, it is our country in peril, not our masculinity.

Clyde Mowery

Lucasville