The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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November 18, 2009

Your View: All deserve equal opportunities

Patrick Ryan, Rapidan



I, for one, welcomed the appearance of Sarah Palin on the political scene. I don’t agree with her politics, but I see the importance of diversity in all political parties.

I found it ironic that one of the Republicans’ leaders was privy to an opportunity because of Title IX, which was initiated by Democrats. Palin played on a girls basketball team.

She would not have had that opportunity if Patsy Mink, the Japanese-American representative from Hawaii, had not worked to implement Title IX Amendment to the Equal Opportunity Act of 1972, which states “no person in the United States should, on the basis of sex, be excluded from sports and other activities.”

The battle for equal opportunity was a fierce one. The conservatives opposed it every step of the way.

Their reasons were the usual list of negatives that we hear in every progressive movement such as, “it will cost too much,” “too difficult to administer” and “keep the government out of our lives.”

Here we are, 35 years later, and once again as we try to move forward, the Republicans are kicking and screaming, just as they did in the past with civil rights, Medicare and the Clean Air Act.

I am very pleased that our congressman, Rep. Tim Walz, and others understand everyone should have the opportunity to have health care. I also think it is only right that Palin got to play basketball and was encouraged to run for political office.

Shouldn’t everyone have an opportunity to have quality health care?

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