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Poems and Thoughts by Frank Maurer

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Sexism

The Florence Nightingale Pledge opus 182

Now that I have investigated some history of the Hippocratic and Veterinarian's Oaths,
It suddenly hit me that, surely, nurses must have an equivalent.
Sure enough, they do--The Florence Nightingale Pledge!
A devoted pioneer nurse, Lystra E. Gretter, wrote (with a committee) a first version in 1893.
She, herself, within a long career revised this in 1935.
The following are these two versions with only the final sentence modified,
To reflect a more public health model in the later 1935 version.
As a biologist, feminist, and historian, I have noticed the 'female requirements'
Incorporated in the Pledge, even though (or perhaps because)
It was written by a woman, still under male shackles.
(The blatant anti feminist points which occur in the Pledge are printed below in upper case.)
The Pledge is sometimes not used because of the stated physician's power over nurses,
And this wording has been removed and replaced by
'Working together' with 'mutual respect and consideration'.
'Myself before God' is also eliminated in more modern pledges.

I solemnly pledge (myself before God) and in the presence of this assembly,
To pass MY LIFE IN PURITY and to practice my profession faithfully.
I WILL ABSTAIN FROM WHATEVER IS DELETERIOUS AND MISCHIEVOUS,
AND WILL NOT TAKE or knowingly administer any harmful drug.
I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession,
And will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping,
And all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling.
WITH LOYALTY WILL I ENDEAVOUR TO AID THE PHYSICIAN in HIS work.
{1893--And devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.}
{1935--And as a 'missioner of health' I will dedicate myself to devoted service to human welfare.}

Several subsequent modified pledges have been devised to fit with the times.

Fences Needing Repair opus 184

A friend called and said she was frustrated.
'My horse fences need repair and there is no one here.
All gone hunting!'

So, feeling folksy, I texted back--
'Thanks for the call.
Used to fix fences.
Could help, but too old now.
Don't hunt.
Hunting is a religious ritual for
Many male humans, at least around here.
A substitute for our pioneer 'John Wayne'.
Senseless in these days with
So many available cows for meat.
See you someday.    Me'.

A Tribute to Sandra Day O'Connor opus 231

Sandra Day O'Connor died today at 93.
She was the first woman on the US Supreme Court (1981).
She was a role model for an ever-increasing
Number of young women entering the law.
She championed women, generally, towards greater rights.
She encouraged a mood of tolerance and moderation on the Court.
Her influence on society will remain for many years;
However, with the now conservative Court,
Much of what she attempted to mediate there
Is sadly now, at present, lost in this new intolerant era.

Hats Which Define Us opus 326

It struck me hard, to see Marjorie Taylor Greene,
Defiantly wearing the MAGA red hat in Congress,
Where traditionally, no one ever wore a hat,
Especially not with a logo portraying tension and challenge.

Head coverings, historically, have always manifested meaning--
Kafias, Yamakas, team caps, helmets, scarfs--
Even in the ancient past to define a new religious position.
Paul in First Corinthians (11:2-16),
To announce the new religion's identification,
That instead of a man covering his head to honor god,
And a woman, leaving her head uncovered to honor her man,
Paul wrote that a man should uncover his head to honor god,
And a woman should always cover her head to honor her man.

Head coverings, like T-shirts with logos,
Scream out a person's position in life.
Do not be complacent and let these messages pass by you--
The silent messages on headgear around us,
Mark philosophical territory,
Like the territory of a wolf is marked with his urine.

Why are Men Deciding These Things? opus 334

New abortion anti woman laws--
Politicians versus medical doctors.
What are we doing to ourselves?
To abandon good science
For antiquated religious myths?
In spite of all empirical edification,
We are returning to our reptilian brain.

The Sacred Piano Keyboard opus 369

It is common to purchase a child size violin or cello.
Why is there such resistance to reduce the size of the piano keys?
The piano keys are too wide for the reach of children,
Those with smaller adult hands, and for many women,
Who are naturally, morphologically smaller.
To reach a spread of 10 keys is impossible for many--
Eight and sometimes nine keys are often achievable,
But with the potential that hand injury will result.
Realize that 80 percent of piano competitions are won by men,
While 75 percent of violin competitions are won by women!
Surely, no more evidence, need be presented.
Is there a possibility this is a male dominated 'pianist world'
To reduce the success and recognition of their fellow female musicians?

(On a similar, sexist point, remember, that it has been men fashion designers
Who have continually created high heel shoes, merely to augment
The bulge of the calf, and thus the result being mostly for male visual delight!
This, of course, is at the expense of the podiatry health of women.)

Is Our World Losing its Finest Democratic Republic? opus 381

Its Supreme Court is now destroying long-term precedents.
A candidate is running again, despite his crimes and untruths.
A party of the House is following that candidate, gobbling all.
Basic human freedoms, including power over women's bodies,
Are slowly eroding to nothing.

Unheard of power is now allowed for the presidency.
"No man is above the Law."
I recollect the history of Russia and Germany,
Including so many small powers throughout history.
Will the logic of the people utilizing their pending vote
Block at least a part of this potential huge shift in law and history?
Four months remain. . . . .

Dear Women opus 385

Have you completely thought through the implications of how you will vote?
Remedying the Climate Crisis--how it will affect your children.
Maintaining our world treaties, thus stability for your child's future.
Women's health--how the wrong choice will jeopardize
Your sisters' and your daughters' and your fellow women's lives.
Please use your feminine intuition in making this most important choice!

I speak as a humble man.

To live by the Sword opus 392

If one lives by the sword---
If one speaks in a tone of violence---
If one encourages use of weapons---
If one frivolously calls demeaning names---
If one denies facts and truths---
If one uses the religious for personal gain---
If one uses curtailment of women's health for political gain---
If one aspires to govern with absolute power---
If one proposes to dismantle a democratic government---

Will our free lifestyle with a democratic way of life
Metamorphose, by definition, to a state of hemorrhage and desiccation?
Aura is created around and by one.

Sole or not a Sole? opus 431

Some laws of religion are being used in a profound conflict
With the Hippocratic Oath of 'Do no harm'.
Is there indeed a soul and when is it implanted in the new blastula?
The obliteration of a sane, humane law, which had aided women for 50 years,
Now looms large, to reveal great suffering with no helpful health care.
I seem to remember an ancient religious Egypt pharaoh banning reproduction,
Which finally resulted in the realization of a population collapse.
I recall from former reading that the regime was eliminated.
Historically real or not, have we created our own 'Egypt Syndrome',
Where our women will slowly be eliminated
Through their own deaths and lack of reproduction,
Yielding an ever-declining population to NOTHING?

Yet Another Plight of Women opus 455

'We' retreated from Afghanistan
To the detriment of its women.
Now we have chosen a leader
(Once again!)
To the detriment of our own women.

Having two 'X' chromosomes,
Women are genetically powerful,
But when will their societal power
Be rightfully honored?

A Superfluous Opinion opus 458

I received a donation to our student endowment
With calligraphy very bold, plain, but attractive.
I assumed that the male donor's wife was the writer--
This was of course with the assumption
That this was a 'woman's craft'.
I thus questioned him concerning his wife's contribution.
Oh no! He had been a draftsman
And thus his accomplished writing style.

How wrong a superfluous opinion can be.

Flowers for Marty opus 538

My friend of many years, Marty, was chatting with a participant about me
At a Quail Ridge Reserve ceremony honoring my work in conservation.
Along the way, Marty was asked how he had originally met me,
Marty outlined a few interesting characteristics,
Explained where he had met me with one outstanding point--
I was the only male who, during all his life,
Had actually presented to him a large bundle of flowers!
(He didn't mention that I raised thousands of narcissus and daffodils
Which I sold in several Farmers Markets,
And also spontaneously handed them out to all sexes, as I chose!)
Now the secret is out.

The Momentum of Speech opus 612

I have been struggling doing business on the phone,
Especially with young women.
Because they talk so fast, it is difficult to follow at times.
The scuttlebutt is that Gen-Zers talk faster than Millenials,
Because of the former being exclusively exposed
To the ever-expanding, all-consuming, social media.
Also, scientists record that greater numbers of women
Are using a growly, creaky, 'annoying' speech pattern now named 'vocal fry'.
But why, in general, are people speaking faster now?
One study implies that listeners find fast-talkers more persuasive.
Slow speakers can be assumed to be less intelligent or competent,
While very fast talkers might be seen as less truthful or less kindhearted.
In a competitive society, people might hurry their words for fear of being interrupted.
A bustling, competitive or clamorous school environment might reinforce rapid speech;
A child or older student learns to speak hastily to be heard.
If we interrupt each other in society, rapid speech becomes a survival skill.

Social dynamics in our high pressured society
May have a great influence on women's speech:
Women are taking a greater role in the workplace,
Competing with men, who some surveys show, talk faster,
So it is natural that young women compete back by also speaking faster.
The other factor, along with this, is that sexes mimic each other
And just like cultural mimicry with an accent,
Speed might also be imitated so that one better fits in with peers.
High pressure workplaces require quick information delivery.
Fear of interruption in that workplace causes a rush to finish thoughts.
And if there is emotional intensity involved,
This might lead to uncontrolled rapid speech.

At any rate in my nearly 84 years listening to others speak,
I definitely notice an increase in speaking velocity,
Especially in young women, who are definitely
Dominating the telephone answering services.
This is not prejudice, but merely an old guy observing his fellows.

Challenges for a Professional Female Pilot opus 615

As you may have read in my previous writing,
I learned to meet the challenges of flying as a young pilot.
I realized there were many difficult tasks to learn.
I did not become a professional commercial pilot
And had never thought about the additional challenges,
If I were a female, seeking to become a professional pilot.
Besides having to wear a man's shirt and tie in my uniform,
I would have to work, and still have proper leave for childbirth,
And beyond that, just how would the health regulations
Deal with the vagaries of menopause?
Women today are dealing with these female-related challenges,
As they enter, as women, into yet another very man-oriented profession.