MOMocrats and Barack Obama talk...

There are times in your life when you KNOW unequivocably that you are part of something amazing -something that will change the course of your life, something that will change your world. As of late for me that amazing experience has been being part of the illustrious women of the MOMocrats. We are a group of 22 women who are committed to getting a Democrat in the White House in 2008.

Politics has always intrigued me. My father always was the perfect example of someone who did his homework before voted. He read the paper incessantly - both the LA Times and some Filipino paper to keep up on PI politics. My dad always taught me it was an honor to be able to vote.

I've volunteered for phone banks, done precinct walks, gone door to door for candidates and have helped create outreach strategies on the local level, but I have never ever been part of such a powerful group of do-ers. You know the type of women, who just make things happen. The kind of women who squeeze keeping candidates honest in between carpool, before/after work, ballet class, in between client meetings, making dinner and baseball games. These women are serious. Together we know a lot about the issues and together we have pieced together a network that would astound most.

I admit, there are moments that I feel I don't have anything brilliant to add to the conversation. I soak it all in, learning as much as I can from my new friends and mentors about foreign policy, the war in Iraq and alleged power mongers. They have given me the gift of a real political education - one where we teach each other the value of our individual opinions, can agree to disagree and we leverage our "Big girl voices" to make our opinions known. I am more confident and even more clear, that any democratic candidate has got to work for my vote. I am voting for the one who will assure me that that he/she has some real solutions and will be sincere in making the table bigger.

This past week has been a whirlwind. Last month, we collected the questions from Momocrat readers and contributors that we wished ABC would have asked at the debate. We sent them to the Obama campaign and voila Barack responded to five of our questions! Yes, BARACK OBAMA responded directly to our questions - and they were not, "What is your favorite ice cream flavor or Please give us your best parenting tip." They were real policy questions about real issues - the ones we wished our country were focused on. Go to the Momocrats site to check it all out. You'll be impressed, I assure you! Read his answers, ask more questions. Be part of a movement of mothers/parents who are asking our candidates (and all us) to DO more and BE more.

Sheila also muses about raising her multicultural kids at xiaolinmama and SV Moms Blog.

Just call me Sheila Hussein Bernus Dowd

February 15th was International Stand Up to Bullying day. Over 90,000 kids world wide signed agreements to say NO to bullies and bring awareness that this happens world wide and it is NOT ok! As someone who has taught anti-bully workshops, I find that often bullying behavior is learned from adults/parents. Hmmm...

Driving this point home, the Momocrats have coined Just Call Me Hussein Day, which was started in response to adult bullies/fools like Bill Cunningham who is obviously still seven years old. Contributors today will write their name stories. Here is my story and that of my family's.

Both of my parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1970 from the Philippines, joining my 3 of my aunts, 10 cousins and other extended family. I remember clearly the day, my parents and I became citizens in 1979. While I got a new outfit, of course, and got to miss school, the day seemed extra special because it was also the day my father officially changed his name -From Epifanio to Edgar. I remember asking him why and his response was, "To sound American". That was the day that I realized that to most of the the U.S., names like Mary and John were "American" and Epifanio, Cherry and Elnora (very typical Filipino names) were not. To my father, having a name like that would always make you an outsider.

He also recounted how he and my mother came up with my name - "Sheila Jane". Well we got it out of this baby book. The choice was "Sheila Jane" or "Cherry Lynn", Sheila sounded more American, "Cherry Lynn", sounded too Filipino. Hmmm... Being 10, I bought it and went along my merry way.

Well I got married and kept my maiden name "Bernus: and added my husband's last name "Dowd". I am now "Sheila Bernus Dowd". "Sheila" and "Dowd" are strong Irish names. So often, when if I have been chatting with clients on the phone only or via email, they are usually surprised to find me and not a white woman.

Names say so much to me about our history. My father wanted to sound "more American", but I miss "Epifanio" for the distinction it brought and its connection to the other Epifanios in our family. Sheila has been an easy name to have - short of the whole "sheila Bedila" or "Bernus Furnace" thing. It was a result of an immigrant wanting his child to fit in - to be seen as the American that she is. There were times I wished I had been named "Cherry Lynn", but know that I am more than my name. I am born of Emily and Epifanio and are raising Caden and Kiley - who are all Filipino and 100% American.

Bill Cunningham should be ashamed of himself to negate the history "Barack Hussein Obama" has in his name. Your mama should be yelling at YOU for being unkind, unitelligent and unAmerican. And for implying simply by one's name that he is Un-American or a terrorist - running for president seems to be a pretty darn patriotic act in and of itself, doesn't it? Bill is no better than a school yard bully and I'm proud to be part of the Mamas on Momocrats who are standing up against it.

Join us over at Momocrats!
Sheila Hussein Bernus Dowd

This was originally posted to xiaolinmama and momocrats.

One Pinays thoughts on the State of the Momosphere

You'd have to be living under a rock if you have not heard about the conversations swirling about race and bloggers. There have been some amazing posts by CityMama and Mocha Momma detailing the situation with marketeers who had "no idea what to do with communities of color" at the BlogHer Conference. This ignited a larger discussion. There have been countless others reacting to what happened, intelligently bringing the conversation to a deeeper, more authentic place. In particular, I found Jason from Daddy in a Strange Land's thoughts so right on. I found myself nodding the whole time.

In all honesty, I have never been the one to make a scene. Never the one to raise my fist in protest, but rather have always needed to take it back, digest it and then formulate my opinion. Maybe it was from growing up with a "don't rock the boat" mentality from my immigrant parents - who for most of my life did what they could to fit in in America, rather than stick out. Blogging has helped me kick that attitude.

I was there at the Blog Her conference in the room where it all came down. It was disappointing, frustrating and infuriating. I am a new blogger and came to the conference thinking that I would learn about the nuts and bolts of blogging, and was surprised to spend more time learning more about the politics of blogging. In my obvious naivete, I did not spend anytime thinking about how mommybloggers of color were not pitched to by marketers. I had noticed that there was not a dearth of blogs written by women of color, but chalked that up to my lack of tech/search skills and time to explore the vast blogosphere. I also mused about why we got potholders, nasal spray and gum in the swag bags. Did the marketers expect us to write about these things for free? Is this what they thought what mommy's or women in general wanted? I blindly went to BlogHer thinking most things in the blogosphere were equal - duh! Thanks for opening my eyes.

Regardless, I want to respond to Kelly's/Mocha Mom's question at the end of her post - "Where were you, Mommybloggers? I needed you."

While yes there were many women who have responded with a resounding, "I had my hand up!" or "I wanted to talk more about that". There were many of us who remained silent because we did not think anyone would hear or try to listen. When I stumbled upon filipinamamas.com, I was so excited to find a space where we could explore parenting through a pinay lens. Is it different from my non-pinay lens? Do I have a non-pinay lens? No! My parenting style is a reflection of my upbringing and rebellion from a Filipino upbringing. Yes, marketers and blog readers, I bring all that to my writing. Most women of color bring all that to our writing and our parenting. We bring all that and buy deodorant, watch TV and drive cars, just like our caucasian counterparts.

Mocha Momma, where were the mommy's who had your back? I for one, was stuck in my head trying to understand where others thought my place in the blogosphere should be. I spent the next few days clarifying what I think that place should be. Filipinas have a unique parenting perspective. I hope this space is a start to educate others, more importantly I hope it is a place for us to connect, support each other, exchange Spam recipes and build community. (Hey, there's a sponsorship we should be able to lock down!) This Pinay momma has your back, is inspired by your courage and will continue to write on the blogosphere to shed light on this inequity. I'll be there at BlogHer 08 to continue this conversation live.

I look forward to continuing this conversation online with you all.