Hillary Clinton: Pioneer, Hero, Winner

The discrimination that women have faced - throughout history - has been enormous. It is hard sometimes for a man to understand because we live our lives with a male-oriented viewpoint.

n addition to the discrimination faced by members of all ethnic and religious groups, women have also faced the special discrimination based on gender.

Women were slaves, just like men, under the Constitution. Additionally they were not legally given the right to vote in national elections until 1920 - with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.

They have, generally speaking, been discriminated against in matters of religion - remember the Salem Witch Trials, for example? Perhaps it started with Eve being portrayed as seducing Adam - not the other way around!

In any case, whatever you believe, one of the biggest barriers has been the absolute dominance of (white, Christian) men in holding the office of the President of the United States since 1788 and dominating the numbers in the House of Representatives and Senate as well.

In the 2008 election we had two candidates - each strong and dynamic - on the Democratic side of the aisle that changed history. Senator Barack Obama won the party nomination, breaking a racial barrier. Senator Hillary Clinton , for all practical purposes, had as many popular votes and ALMOST as many delegates supporting her.

Regardless of viewpoints, causes and campaigns, we can say this; Senator Clinton shattered a "glass ceiling" into a million pieces. She proved the equal of any man in the political arena. She remains a role model for tens of millions of people around the globe. She continues to be a major force in American politics while establishing herself at the forefront of American civil rights history.