THE FEMALE ASPECT OF THE U.S. CAPITOL

Few citizens of the U.S. realize that our Capitol in Washington D.C. has a treasure trove of feminine statues and the feminine represented on the pediments of some government buildings. The Statue of Freedom adorns the top of the Capitol building. She stands there in all her glory overseeing the Senate and House of Representatives. She was created by Thomas Crawford and is 19 feet 6 inches tall and stands 288 feet above the east front plaza. She was placed there on December 2, 1863. I wonder if any of our government officials have taken the time to contemplate this.

Within the Capitol rotunda, the center fresco is titled The Apothesis of Washington (George) and was done by Constantine Brumidi in 1865. George Washington is portrayed as rising to heaven accompanied by the goddesses Liberty and Fame. He is surrounded by 13 females representing the original states. I learned that Apothesis means the raising of a person to the rank of a god.
Yes, honoring George Washington by raising him to the rank of a god!

Surrounding this fresco under the dome are other frescos and the two that are of the most interest to me is the one titled Science. Science shows the goddess Minerva (aka Athena) teaching Benjamin Franklin, Robert Fulton and Samuel F.B. Morse. The fresco titled Agriculture has the goddess Ceres seated on the McCormick Reaper with feminine entities.

One should wonder what goddesses have to do with the United States Capitol. My knowledge is that goddesses are usually associated with paganism. There is not one Judeo-Christian figure or symbol used to represent Liberty and its ideals! There also seems to be a number of Italian artists/scultors who portray these goddesses in the U.S. Capitol. There is nothing associated with the Catholic Church.

Outside the Capitol building, there are sculptural pediments. One, over the East entrance is titled Genius of America. Yes, genius! There are three females. This pediment was created by Luigi Perseco from 1825-1828 out of sandstone. This deteriorated and a reproduction was created by Bruno Mankowski 1959-1960.

Perisco's original design included the figures of Peace, Plenty and Hercules and these were replaced by John Quincy Adams with the figure of Hope. As it is today, the Central figure is America and she is resting her right arm on a shield inscribed with "USA" and it is supported by an altar inscribed with "July 4, 1776." America is pointing to Justice lifting scales of Justice in her left hand and in her right hand, she holds a scroll inscribed with "Constitution, 17 September 1787." On America's left is an Eagle and also the female figure of Hope who is resting her arm on an anchor. The entire pediment is 81 feet and 6 inches wide and the female figures are 9 feet tall.

Outside the Supreme Court is a large statue of a female representing Justice. She is seated and holding a small female who is blindfolded. Interesting. There is also a pediment over the entrance to the Supreme Court. In the center is a female Liberty and flanking her are males representing Law and Order. Under this pediment is engraved in stone "Equal Justice Under Law." I would think that the Supreme Court Justices and lawyers would take this to heart because women have not received equal justice nor have people of color.

Several years ago I visited Washington D.C. and viewed what I have written about above. It was an awe-inspiring experience. Not once did I see anything that pertained to the Judeo-Christian religions or Islam. Our Founding Fathers did not create these United States based on Christianity. These symbols of goddesses and females go back to ancient antiquity. They knew something that our current officials apparently do not know. Perhaps we should remind them.

A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN

The following was given to me in celebration of my many years of wisdom. This was written by Mark Leyner, a husband, father, son and a brother as well as the author of 8 books and a co-writer of the movie "War, Inc. When he was asked what he knows for sure, he said the following:

"This sage knowledge of and ability to abide the inherently fugitive nature of happiness somehow accounts for the extraordinary beauty of women as they age.

"In their most casual offhand sisterly moments, women are capable of discussing sex in such uninhibited detail that it would cause a horde of arousing cossacks to cringe.

"Women are for all intents and purposes indomitable. It really requires an almost unimaginable confluence of crushing, cataclysmic forces to vanquish a woman.

"Women have a very specific kind of courage that enables them to fling themselves into the open sea, whether it's a new life for themselves, another person's life, or even what might appear to be a kind of madness."

Leyner says, "One last thing he knows with a certitude that exceeds anything, is that men's final thoughts in their waking days and in their lives are of women...ardent, wistful thoughts of wives and lovers and daughters and mothers."

A WISE WOMAN LEADS

We are living in a chaotic time with turmoil erupting and spewing all over the world. Here in the U.S. we have a nominee for vice-president and there is much controversy regarding her qualifications and her ability to govern for all the people. Having read many articles about Sarah Palin, I began to think of the qualifications I want to have in a woman who would represent my interests in a fair way. Here are my list of qualifications for any woman in a position of power:

QUALIFICATIONS: (Some of them.)

* A wise woman will be open-minded and willing to see all sides of the issues.

*A wise woman will be able to stand the heat and friction of adversities and adversaries.

*A wise woman will remove herself from favoritism or cronyism. Friends are not always the best allies.

*A wise woman would study the issues in depth before making decisions.

*A wise woman will seek counsel from wise people and then use her innate knowing to make a decision.

*A wise woman will not force her spiritual/religious beliefs on others, but allow each to have her or his own connection to God.

*A wise woman will keep religion out of politics.

*A wise woman may not condone abortion, but will not support restrictions on the way a woman chooses to use her body.
*A wise woman will be courageous, have integrity and uphold the Constitution of the United States.

* A wise woman has a fountain of knowledge and wisdom and uses her mind accordingly.

Is it possible to have a woman with the above qualities lead this country? I would hope so. I am one of the first to admit that not all women have admirable qualities just as there are men who do not have admirable qualities. However, there are women and men who have integrity, are honorable and speak their truth. It is time for them to come forward to lead this nation and it can begin with only one person to lead the way.

It is time for people all over the world to move out of flatlander thinking and open their minds to a grander future. It is time to awaken to conscious awareness and take responsibility for one's words, thoughts and actions.

I have used the image of the Goddess Athena or some call her Goddess Minerva. She represents Wisdom and Truth and is also a Warrior.