Shatter glass ceiling; cast vote for Clinton

I have been an advocate and activist for equal rights for women and as well as for minorities for more than 40 years. However, at this juncture of time and politics, I believe the vote should go to the female candidate first.

First, let's get the qualifications out of the way. Both candidates are highly intelligent but Hillary Clinton is much more experienced than Barack Obama. They are both ambitious and they take whatever positions they need to attain their goal of the presidency.

So that brings us down to the gender vs. the race issue. Except in the few matriarchal societies that have existed, for tens of thousands of years, women have been second-class -- oppressed and discriminated against -- ever since Eve was created second, out of Adam's rib, or since the beginning of human existence -- whichever origin of the species you believe in. Though African-Americans have been oppressed and discriminated against in this country, it's been only a very short time by comparison. Even in Africa today, women continue to be discriminated against.

We must first correct the gender inequality here and then around the world. What better way than for the most powerful nation of the world to elect a woman leader and, once and for all, shatter that glass ceiling that perpetuates women's second-class status.

Jean Alberti

Lombard