I can talk?

Today, the Susan G. Komen Foundation reversed its decision regarding denying grant funding for breast cancer screenings through Planned Parenthood.


I say a resounding AMEN!

But that’s not what I want to talk about.

I want to talk about a voice.

One voice.

My voice.

My daughter’s voice.

My husband’s voice.

My other daughter’s voice.

My third daughter’s voice.

My daughter’s friend’s voice.

My son’s voice.

My other son’s voice.

Michael Bloomberg’s voice.

Your voice.

Every. Single. Voice.

Each and every voice that spoke out on this issue.

I wanted to cry – I did cry a little – and I sort of can’t stop – when I think of what was accomplished because women, and men, many of whom don’t usually use their voice, stood up and said, wait JUST a minute! This is not right!

I love how my sister, Kate, put it.

“I am Pro Life,” she wrote. “But if you disagree with me, I don’t wish you dead. Susan G. Komen Foundation... SHAME ON YOU!!! You are going against everything you stand for. Make a public statement regarding your beliefs if you'd like, but don't deny women the care that they need. "We will make sure that women stop dying from breast cancer UNLESS they believe x, y, z..." is not what I signed on to support.”

What a voice.

And how about that 24 year old woman who started the on line petition to get Bank Of America to back off the monthly fee it was about to initiate?

One voice.

Consider the voices of the people who stood up and said no to legislation that could have led to government censorship and subsequent shut downs of online sites such as facebook, google and wikipedia.

I was one of those voices. And I was heard.

Imagine if I hadn’t spoken.

Imagine if each of the people who spoke had decided to let someone else speak.

And then no one did.

I don’t know if it’s the phenomenal impact of the internet to get these messages out that has me amazed and thinking, but for the first time in my life – ever – I like the sound of my ability to speak and be heard.

I know I am just one voice.

But I’m loud.