By the way, photo credits to Mrs. West. And a thanks from the girls for coming on the trip.

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The leaders struggling to walk on the rocks.

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The Squid by the fire.

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Is that a Mrs. Walsh I see? If it is, she must be exhausted from a full day and night with us girls.

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In all seriousness.

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Adrienne in the river

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Respect Block

The Squid and I have successfully cut out our pieces to our respect block.  I have started to applique the pieces, which is a challenge considering the size and shape of the letters that spell out COEXIST.  This word is important to show respect for all humans, no matter their religion, race or sex.  This block not only represents respect for all humans but it can be taken further to respect for our world as a whole.  While our respect block is coming along, I have yet to finish appliqueing my justice block.

The Story of the Justice Scale

I don’t think most people really know the meaning or importance of the justice scale.  I just wanted to share this story’s history so you can relate better to the design and purpose of my square. I think many of you other girls probably can relate because this story has somewhat of a connection to the Egyptians which we are learning about in history class. Hope you like it.

A common representation of Justice is a blind-folded woman holding a set of  scales. The origin of the Goddess of Justice goes back to antiquity. She was  referred to as Ma’at by the ancient Egyptians and was often depicted carrying a  sword with an ostrich feather in her hair (but no scales) to symbolize truth and  justice. The term magistrate is derived from Ma’at because she assisted Osiris  in the judgment of the dead by weighing their hearts. [1]

To the ancient Greeks she was known as Themis, originally the organizer of  the “communal affairs of humans, particularly assemblies.” [2]  Her ability to foresee the future enabled her to become one of the oracles at  Delphi, which in turn led to her establishment as the goddess of divine justice.  Classical representations of Themis did not show her blindfolded (because of her  talent for prophecy, she had no need to be blinded) nor was she holding a sword  (because she represented common consent, not coercion). [3]

The Roman goddess of justice was called Justitia and was often portrayed as  evenly balancing both scales and a sword and wearing a blindfold. She was  sometimes portrayed holding the fasces (a bundle of rods around an ax  symbolizing judicial authority) in one hand and a flame in the other  (symbolizing truth).

When you think about it, it’s great that the scale is held by a woman because it supports the idea that women are just as good as men. It also really relates to this project and its theme.

Justice Block

The justice scale is starting to take shape

Tracing a piece

Making one of the cuts

I think my square is coming out pretty well so far but it is definitely not complete. I haven’t even added the most important part yet….. The weighing platforms where I am putting the symbols for male and female. The nice part about this is that the platforms are at the same height so I won’t have to do extra sewing. Don’t get me wrong, I like sewing and all, but I have a feeling that by the end of this project I might be a little tired of it. So far we have only cut out the fabric we needed and backed it with a special material that will make the fabric stick to the squares. Then afterwards we will do stitching over the fabric. I’m really excited to see how my square will turn out (and the next one I will be starting), and I can’t wait to see the whole quilt come together. Hope you’re enjoying this blog.

Justice Block

In my life and I’m sure in all of yours, we face unfair and unjust events and decisions.  One of the most representative objects of this idea is the justice scale, originally held by the hand of Lady Justice.  I created the design of my square around the idea of this scale.  Since our project revolves around the Girltopia theme I am including the symbol for male and female on either end of the scale. I think the scale should be equal, after all, isn’t that what is just?  But it could go either or any way depending on your own opinion, what do you think?

This is what others have to say:

“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.”
―    Mary Wollstonecraft,    A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

“To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage? Without her, man could not be. If nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?”
―    Mahatma Gandhi

“Men know that women are an overmatch for them, and therefore they choose the weakest or the most ignorant. If they did not think so, they never could be afraid of women knowing as much as themselves.”
―    Samuel Johnson,    A Journey to the Western Islands of  Scotland and The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides