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THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION
APRIL/MAY 2016
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Convert your old media to a digital format and enjoy your family videos on your TV. No DVDs required! OFF WITH THIS AD AAS Tax Services, LLC Branchburg Commons Bldg. 4 Ste. #427 (Executive Suites) 3322 Rt. 22 West Branchburg, NJ 08876 Tel.: 908-231-9500 For information on the firm & other details visit: www.aasTaxServices.com Professional Full Service Tax Office for Individuals and Small Business Entities Andy Adamczuk IRS Licensed Enrolled Agent Tax Experience Since 2001 MS in Accounting BS in Accounting • BS in Finance All Rutgers University, NJ Income Tax Return Preparation, Late Filings, IRS & State Tax Problem Solving, Tax Debt Reduction, Correspondence Audit, Amended Returns, Installment Payments of Tax Liabilities, Planning for Taxes & Other Tax Services Affordable Prices (check prices & discounts on our website) T hank You, Eleanor Roosevelt! By: Ellyn Mantell Orphaned at 10 years old, the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor, married Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a distant cousin who was president during our involvement in World War II. Since our country was in such turmoil, he was asked to serve an unprecedented four terms, dying before the end of the last. While he was president, he contracted polio, and was wheelchair-bound, putting more and more demands on the First Lady to not only be supportive, but to act on his behalf many times. Do the times make the woman, or does the woman make the times? I continue to ask myself this question throughout my life, and perhaps never has it been as apparent a ques- tion as in the life of this incredible woman. Ms. Roosevelt is credited with changing the role of the First Lady through her activism, outspoken participation in American politics, and her passion for social justice. She gave press conferences, wrote a newspaper column entitled “My Day” and ultimately served at the United Nations. All the while, she suffered severe bouts of depression at a time in our society where such “weaknesses” must be hidden. Yet she always stayed true to her calling to do good for others, to speak for those who were unable to speak for themselves, and to show that the “woman behind the man” of power, was extremely powerful in her own right! I was always aware of Ms. Roosevelt, but wasn’t as enamored as I became upon doing my research on her life. Not glamorous like Jackie Kennedy, she didn’t have fashion- istas watching her wardrobe for new trends. When she traveled, I assume she wasn’t concerned about her suitcase reflecting the wealth of our country or her family. But what I knew of her was that she was extremely bright, outspoken and thought-pro- voking. In actuality, it wasn’t until I saw a quote by her on the wall of the office of my daughter, Allison, that she reappeared in my mind. Allison is a school social worker, and building self-esteem is a major goal in her involvement with her students. To that end, she is a motivator in ways that stress our ability to stand tall against those who may hurt us, and make us feel “less than.” Since I am forever telling both her and her sister, Emily, that “when the student is ready, the teacher will come,” it isn’t by accident that the quote I am referencing came to my mind when it did. Recently, we were meeting old friends at a party (okay, we are older, and they are life- long friends, so they actually are old friends.) One of the men in the group is quite imperious, and for whatever reason, I always felt whatever I had to say was meaning- less...perhaps because I know I will not be heard by him anyway, so why bother? But as I walked into the party that night, I remembered Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote, and “the student was ready.” She said that “No One Can Make you feel Inferior Without Your Consent.” And I wasn’t giving this man mine! The reason I want to share this with you is that, although no music played in the back- ground, no closeup with a camera, no moment in history occurred, for me, it was a great moment. This man actually listened to the point I wanted to make, thought about it, reacted poorly, and then, later, as he apparently thought about it, returned to the subject with me, and wanted to further explore my thoughts! How incredible…I refused to give him permission to make me feel trivialized because my education isn’t pedigreed like his, my ability to earn income pales by comparison to him, I don’t trav- el the world in the way that he does. But I do have opinions, thoughts, feelings and observations that are of value, and perhaps, just perhaps, he saw that…if only for a moment! Thank you to Ms. Roosevelt, and not only for her wisdom in her thoughts, but for help- ing this country feel the respect it did at a time when it was struggling to survive. Times were so difficult for everyone. Camelot was well into our future, and other First Ladies would put their brand on the White House. But I learned through her that regardless of so many outside influences, people like her have such courage, backbone, deter- mination, and yes, a bit of ability to turn their face away from those who would make them feel inferior ...because they refuse to give consent for that to happen! www.theconnectionsnj.com