| Several thousand years of hard work have shown how productivity, efficiency, progress and innovation are possible thanks to the analytical mind, the logical and rational mind that seeks to conquer the natural world to obtain resources for human needs. These were valuable contributions of the male mind. But they really become its full value when they are complemented and balanced with depth in the interpersonal relationships, profound dialogue, nurturing care for the other, support of the weakest, and attention to the long term impact of our actions. These are contributions natural to the female spirit, since women are by essence harmonizers, nurturing, educators, intuitive, integrators, sensitive, centered in beauty and spirituality, connected to Nature.Our home, the Planet, is in a state of emergency. Our accumulated behaviors, multiplied and expanded by globalization and an increasing population, have seriously deteriorated the natural resources of the Earth, the social web, to a point where air, soil, water are contaminated. In the lifetime of a child born today a third of the planet’s animals and plants will be in extinction due to climate change and the human patterns of consumption.His Holiness, the Dalai Lama,indicated in the recent Peace Summit in Vancouver that “the world will be saved by the Western woman”. We want to expand this: By the Women of the World.
A movement has begun that can no longer be halted. It is emerging simultaneously in multiple locations across the globe. Every day more women begin to reflect on the mark they want to do on this world, what they are able to achieve, what they want to do to help others. Every day more women are becoming aware of their potential and how much their female contributions are needed in this planetary emergency: to bring peace, education, integration, to activate the forgotten mission of service we have as human beings journeying through this world. And this is at the same time the source of the deepest joy: to observe how what we do for someone else is received and impacts their life.
And so, expanding the multiple faces of the wise being we carry inside, filled with joy and bliss, we can take our projects into the world, making a difference, being natural leaders turning dreams into reality.
MINERVA Mirabal was the third sister. She was always very feisty and passionate. She had dreams of becoming a lawyer, but when she refused Trujillo's physical advances, he made sure she would be unable to get the proper licenses. She met Manolo Tavarez and they soon married. Along with Manolo, Minerva became very active in the anti-Trujillo underground. She was the first to be called "La Mariposa", the "Butterfly". As her sisters joined her, that collectively took that title. Minerva was imprisoned as a result of her involvment in the underground. Minerva was assassinated on November 25, 1960, along with two of her sisters and their driver.
On November 25, 1960, Patria, Minerva, Mate, and their driver, Rufino de la Cruz, were traveling along the treacherous mountain roads in the region. The women had been visiting Manolo and Leandro in a jail in Puerta Plata, many hours from their home. On their return journey, they were ambushed by Trujillo's soldiers. All four were strangled or beaten to death, placed back in the car, and pushed over the edge of the cliff. Trujillo believed that if the Dominican people were to find out that the "Mariposas" were enough of a threat to warrant execution, they would be inspired and rise up. So the soldiers made it look like the car had hit a turn too fast and run off the road. They took them out of the car, strangled or beat them to death, placed them back in the car and pushed it over the cliff. The country was not fooled, however. They rose up full force. Less than a year later, Trujillo was assasinated. The deaths of the Mirabal sisters gave courage to the nation. Courage to defeat the dictator. The dictator that plagued them and bade them to pray to him and caused many to "run off the road" while traveling. The courage of the Mariposas lives on in the hearts of all Dominicans.
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