A Collection of New Years Blessings

Translation by Qiming Fu

May your halls be filled with gold and jade

May all your ambitions be realized

May your happiness be without limit

Jeannette Pickering Rankin

Jeannette Pickering Rankin was the first congresswoman of the United States of America and a feminist who never ceased her fight for equality and peace. Rankin grew up on a small farm near Missoula, Montana in the late 19th century. In 1902, she graduated from Montana State University and began exploring an array of possible career opportunities, all the while fighting for female equality. She eventually moved to Washington State and joined the women’s suffrage movement, helping Washinton to become the fifth state to legalize female voting. She then became a lobbyist for the National American Women’s Suffrage Association. In 1916, with a strong feminist drive and lots of support from her previous coworkers, Rankin ran for and won a seat in congress, becoming the first female congressperson. During her term, Rankin fought tirelessly for the rights of all women in the country. In 1918, she opened a debate on a constitutional women’s suffrage amendment which would pass in the House but fail in the Senate. Although women’s suffrage was never amended in her term, she helped form the Committee on Woman Suffrage, which eventually, in 1920, led to the passing of the 19th Amendment (which would legalize women’s voting.) In 1940, she again ran for and won a congressional seat which she used to spread the message of equality and peace. Even until she died in 1973 at the age of 92 (before which she was contemplating running for Congress again), she was fighting for equality in a battle that would far outlive herself.

May all your letters find you well

May a small investment bring ten-thousandfold profits

May you find peace and love and wealth

May you encounter happiness in this new year

And all your days begin with a smile