Can you see a woman as a powerful leader? Absolutely

Dear Queen Elizabeth I,

My dear fellow Virgo this is the month you successful reign as English monarch came to end. You brought peace and prosperity to the common folk of England through most of your 44 years and your influence spread across both the world and across time to influence us today.

• Your love of the arts, dance and music helped all the arts flourish, including theatre. Shakespeare and Christina Marlow become two famous authors of your day whose influence of theatre and writing can still be seen.

• Today we may think we invented fashion but many don't know you are the original fashionista. Your love for fashion and jewelry can be seen in paintings of you in your fantastic outfits. Outfits that symbolized your leadership and power.

• You even used makeup to solidify your ethereal image. The cosmetic concoction, called spirits of Saturn, gave you a pale angelic and otherworldly appearance. You used your strengths as a female monarch and created an image through makeup and fashion that inspired love and adoration amongst your subjects. 

"Elizabeth I in coronation robes" by Unknown - Scanned from the book The National Portrait Gallery  History of the 

Kings and Queens of England by David Williamson, ISBN 1855142287.. Licensed under Public Domain 

via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_I_in_coronation_robes.jptg#mediaviewe

r/File:Elizabeth_I_in_coronation_robes.jpg

• More than arts, fashion and cosmetics your influence on religion has had a more profound effect on my life. During the start of your reign the Catholics and Protestants had fought bloody battles and been battered by the various leaders from one side or another. You never took a side before your monarchy. After you ascended to the throne you reinstated the Church of England. A devout Protestant you were religiously tolerant and believed both religions were part of the same faith.

• You carefully reworded the Book of Common Prayer to create a balance between Catholic and Protestant beliefs and finally stop the fighting. Of your new Book of Common Prayer, you told your subjects "If you are close enough for this, its good for England."

• Church of England spread to the world and is known as the Anglican Church. During the American revolution the Anglican Church in America was renamed the Episcopal Church. As an Episcopalian I am deeply in your debt. Your creation of a Book of Common Prayer that balanced two faiths inspired a religion that can accept more than one view of God and faith.

• I have met Episcopalian women and men that have used their faith to change their community and the world. The Episcopal church has been an active and passionate participant in the interfaith movement which brings together leaders and believers of all religions to advance the agenda of peace through community in the broadest sense.

My dear Queen Elizabeth, you left your mark on this world as a strong female leader that used her feminine love of art, fashion and makeup to your advantage, that kept the peace both politically and religiously and you proved that a woman should never be underestimated.

Sincerely, Michelle G. Lathe

PS: Who do you see as a powerful female in the world? Who is the woman that influences and inspires your life?



I did something wacky...again. Signed up for another daily writing challenge. Last time it was the NaNoWriMo and attempting to write a 50,000 word fictional novel in November. There is no finished novel but I did learn a lot from it. This time its NaBloPoMo through BlogHer.com. The them for March is (more info from BlogHer about this challenge)....NEWS. My goal with the daily blogging is to become a better blogger and writer. The only way to do that is to get your feedback. So I look forward to your comments and suggestions. Michelle