As a woman who worked her whole life proving herself over and over and over in a man’s world. I know how hard it is.

The moment your step out of your truck in front of a bunch of blue collar men in big yellow machines, you have to be twice as right, try to never make a mistake.  The men who will have your back are going to be far and few. You have to be able to stand toe to toe with a man who thinks you should be home barefoot, pregnant and have his dinner ready. I have many stories, but this one sticks out in my brain.

One day out of the O.E. hall, I got a new guy for a machine. I gave out morning directions to everyone. I notice the new guy had decided to do the exact opposite.

After a while I stopped him, refreshed him on the plan of the day. But he continued to do the opposite. So I stopped and asked him if we had a misunderstanding of some sort???

He said, “no, but if I wanted to listen to a woman bitch at me all day, I would have stayed home today.” Well, it was my pleasure to get him back home soon as the ink was dry.

Why did I tell you that story? Because that was in the early 80’s. I thought I had seen so much change since then.

I went from shoveling in 1978 to being the General Labor Foreman on the power stations on the Windmill Farms, my last big job before I retired.

I thought we were on the down hill side of racism, sexism and all those other ugly things that have been bought into full light again and they are uglier.

I am a 38-year member of  Laborers Local 362, retired after 35 years of continuous service.

I know how hard it is to try to break the glass ceiling.
After spending many years with the greatest superintendent of all time - Mr. John Birky of R. A. Cullinan - I was able to break the yellow ceiling. He seen a potential in me, I didn’t see myself. A huge thank you to him and all the other guys who had my back.

But today..... I am NOT a Democrat pissed because I was with Her and she didn’t win the electoral vote.  l am a mother, grandmother and still middle blue class, or what’s left of it!

I get all the Dem/Rep stuff, that’s all ok! We are free nation -- if we were all the same, life would be pretty boring!

But to have elected this man is just crazy. If he was the Democratic pick. No way would I have voted for him. The things he has said, done and admitted in his own words upset me. I was taught, treat people as you would like to be treated.

I do believe in change, either you make changes in life, or life makes them for you. So he’s in... and now we see he has not one clue what he’s doing, he’s shaking things up alright!
He will never be able to do the things he promised. Everyday he back steps on one promise or another.

He has no self control... at 3am he’s tweeting cause the press treated him badly??? WTF?

Now he wants all of his kids to get secret service clearances.  My friends that’s a Dynasty!  It’s also called nepotism, which is illegal in his position, in this country by the way.  

I thought we were progressing in America, not regressing. He has already brought out the worst in people on both sides.

I don’t know what’s next....
But as a mother, I am very grateful that I raised two very strong, well balanced women.

As a grandmother, I am thankful they are raising three beautiful boys! I know they will be taught kindness, self respect, respect for others, honesty and honor for the ones that came before them and the ones after.  The world needs more kind gentlemen.

For those of you gals who have young ladies to raise, I feel for you.

The teaching of right and wrong works from the top down. I don’t know how you will explain these rights and wrongs.  It has suddenly become much harder to be a mother, especially of girls.

I don’t know what the future holds for America.
But I do know the blue collar white men sold us out.

Some of you are my friends and still will be. I don’t hold his charming ways against you! Lol!

But you have to also be thinking about how to teach your son the life lessons he needs.

Then hope the Donald’s son or grandson isn’t on the other side of the door when you open it and he’s your daughter’s date!

And God.......
Please Bless America, Again!

by Carla Whalen, LIUNA 362 retiree