If you believe in Providence as I do, you know that Phyllis Schlafly was a unique woman created by God for a unique time in history. Millions of faithful patriots needed a leader to rally them against the greatest anti-family force in American history, known as the women’s liberation movement. Phyllis Schlafly became that leader. Biographer Carol Felsenthal wrote “That Phyllis Schlafly somehow did it and did it alone was a given. In the minds of friends and foes alike, Phyllis Schlafly was the reason for ERA’s misfortunes. Depending on which side one was on, Schlafly was a supervillain or a superstar, but she was always larger than life.” In light of Felsenthal’s quote, we have to ask ourselves the question: What made Phyllis Schlafly different?
I could spend hours telling you about my personal experiences with Phyllis. I could tell you about her incredible sense of humor, her warm personality, and her endless supply of constitutional knowledge. I think her humility is an especially important piece of the puzzle. Phyllis was the face of the pro-family movement, but it was never all about Phyllis. She didn’t make it her role to drown out the voices of others. Her mission was to empower the countless millions of passionate conservatives to make their own voices heard.
Phyllis Schlafly was one of a kind. There will never be another patriot like her, but each of us could learn from her successes. If you want to be a leader like Phyllis, remember who you are fighting for. We’ve all inherited the gift of liberty from our parents and grandparents. It’s up to us to fight so that our children and grandchildren can have it as well. Phyllis Schlafly was a mother of six, and grandmother to 17. She knew exactly what was at stake with every speech she gave, every debate she engaged in, and every newsletter she wrote.
Fight with knowledge, prudence, and with a grasp of the issues. Never lose sight of who you’re fighting for. Lift others up to share in the fight with you. All of this is what made Phyllis Schlafly an indispensable part of our American history.
