We are thankful for living in a free country. July 4th, 1776 was a great day.
But there's another close-by birthday that I'm very thankful for. It's the 37th birthday of Title IX. What's Title IX? Younger people may not even think about Title IX but I remember it so vividly.
Imagine having a 13 year old daughter who is exceedingly bright, energetic, with nothing to do!
That's the way it was. There were NO sports for girls in Searcy Arkansas and no organized games for girls in the schools or the community. Boys had plenty to do. In the school system there were organizations like the Key Club which allowed boys only! And this unfair situation existed all over the country.
Title IX, when passed by the Nixon administration, required all educational institutions that received federal funds to treat men and women equally. That meant the schools were going to have to add something for girls. Boy's basketball team? Add a girl's basketball team. Football? (Well, that's probably where the law has never been fulfilled but things are at least better.) Track? Add a girl's track team.
That blasted all boy's social club that was operating inside the high school was within a year or two (almost over the sponsor's dead body) of being integrated with the first girls.
Searcy Arkansas took note also and formed a committee (I was on it because of my loud-mouthed protests of needing something for girls) to hire a recreational director with one of his first duties to be forming a softball team for girls to somewhat equal the opportunities that boys already had.
In the schools they started a tennis team for girls and my daughter joined it, excelled and still plays tennis to this day. She played softball. She joined every athletic activity that was available for girls in the city and in the school system and I firmly believe that all of the activities helped keep her busy in a wholesome way that made her a better individual.
So when we come to things we are thankful for and if you have a daughter you'd better put this on your list! Title IX!!!! Happy Birthday.