Women's Day shows extraordinary things

By Michael L. McManus

On one of my recent flights back to Seoul from California, I had an experience which was extraordinary ― one, for the insight gained; and two, for what transpired.

I was seated across the aisle from a mother with what looked like a 2-year-old son and a second child, a 6-month-old baby. I did not notice until maybe halfway through the 12-hour flight. Two meals were already served, a dinner and a late night snack. Not that I keep track of such things, but I started to realize that this mother was so busy with her children that she did not eat or drink thus far. Could I be wrong? Was there any business of mine to offer help?

Soon the drink cart came by the aisle. I quietly pointed out to the young flight attendant the situation, and that this mother may have needed some extra care to get some fluid and food. He miraculously responded and served her a much belated dinner and water. She was only able to eat because the children were both asleep. I somehow tried to keep my suggestion a secret, but failed. She thanked me. The flight attendant came to me also and thanked me for this very small gesture. Later in the flight, she moved carefully to help the children sleep, and took herself quickly to the restroom. At flight’s end, she thanked me. I said something that just hit me at the moment, “You are a great mother.” She thanked me with her words and with her eyes; you could see her journey was but far from just this airplane.

So, here it is in a nutshell. Mothers bear civilization, from little babies through older ones. Mothers hold us all together.

This March 8 is once again Women’s Day. It is truly a global holiday. There are local differences in various cultures of the world as to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and Children’s Day. In the United States, there was a special day called Secretaries Day. Bosses brought flowers and gifts to their secretaries, until that became politically incorrect. Now it has evolved to “Administrative Professionals Day.” If I am a male assistant to a CEO, I do not expect flowers.

Not may appreciate Women’s Day. Yet, it is a truly global holiday. The role of women is still fast evolving in many societies on the planet. Yet, there is a very fundamental truth: we are all here because of a mother, a person who loved us, took better care of us than anyone and went through amazing things. How could any man possibly understand? The truth is, we cannot, and the male gender never will. Of greater concern, why are other holidays celebrated with more importance, i.e. Halloween? My answer is that it is because the world is not yet ready to give due respect to women and mothers who bear first responsibility for infant care and childrearing. Until women are truly brought to equal terms as men, and until mothers are deeply respected, we will see only a passing reference in history to what is Women’s Day, globally, March 8.

So, who is the Global Woman of today?

She is the one who brought you and me here, but she will never, ever brag about it.

She is Mother Earth, and understands everything, yet her wisdom is never sought.

She is a daughter who appears as a princess, yet only for a short time carries that halo.

She becomes a scientist who is the first to cure cancer, yet her work, because she is a woman, is held to higher standards.

She becomes an artist, to express in paint, words, and design the unscientific, yet she is held to scientific standards.

She becomes an international student to better the world, yet she finds a small community like her.

She may or may never cross her home border, yet her wisdom is borderless.

She moves as a beautiful woman through the night air, like a splendid bird in flight, her spirit is feminine and she is proud of her beauty.

She will lead a nation now her presence is noticed.

She will marry a man who resembles herself and her values, yet she works every day to make sure of that bond.

She will bear a child and the cycle starts over, and over and over.

She bears in silence whatever is necessary to protect her child, yet she never asks for help unless it means her and her child’s survival.

She is the quintessence of the human race, and yet who is she?

Who is she?

She is the global woman, our mother, our sister, our wife, the mother of our children, the young princess, the scientist, the artist, the nation’s best. And she is, again, Mother Earth.

Happy Women’s Day, March 8.

To all the mothers who are raising babies alone, who have no one else to turn to. Someone is probably watching in admiration and respect.

Michael L. McManus graduated from Wharton (UPenn) and Cornell. He has founded the California Business University, and now teaches as a guest professor for Gacheon University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Sookmyung Women’s University. He can be reached at mcmismism@aol.com.