Election Day is always important but it is not always the most memorable occasion. Of course, there are officials to elect, propositions to pass or reject and results to watch. But this past Election Day was historic.

No, not because the Terminator fulfilled his promise to “be back,” or because the Democrats took control of the House of the Representatives (although this was huge as well). But the truly historic moment was a huge first for American women. On Nov. 7, 2006, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi took her place in history. She is now set to become the nation’s first female House speaker, and we at the Campus Times say it is about time.

“Today we have made history,” Pelosi said, “now let us make progress.”

Pelosi’s victory may place her in the third most powerful position in America. She would be second in line to succeed the president. This is a monumental achievement to say the least, and yet very few people know Pelosi or what she stands for. After the election, few newspapers ran profiles of the newly crowned “most powerful woman in America.”

Now before we put on our feminist hats, let’s assume that everyone is patiently waiting for Time and Newsweek covers that will fill in the details about Pelosi and her ground-breaking new role. Since others have neglected to connect her story to her picture, we will let you know a little more about this inspiring woman.

Nancy Pelosi is a 66-year-old grandmother of five. In 1962, Pelosi graduated from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. She and her husband Paul raised five children: Nancy Corinne, Christine, Jacqueline, Paul and Alexandra. At age 47, Pelosi’s children were grown and she decided to run for Congress. She has served California’s 8th Congressional District, which includes most of the city of San Francisco, continuously for 19 years. Pelosi has earned the titles of “House Minority Leader,” and now “Speaker.”

Pelosi’s success has come with the mud-slinging comments we have come to expect from the political sandbox. Many have become psychics and predicted the future with liberal Pelosi steering Congress dramatically to the left by raising the minimum wage, giving tax deductions for college tuitions, lower the price of prescription drugs available through Medicare and other horrible things like that. Others have so far as to say that because of her Bay Area ties, Pelosi will “take all our money and make our children gay.” Of course no one could expect her to fill the holy shoes of Dennis Hastert.

It almost seems like people have become so apathetic that they just don’t care about history, past or present. Instead of keeping up with current events, they prefer to sit back and laugh while watching comedy shows that ask misguided Americans to sign petitions to abolish women’s suffrage. Women have struggled for centuries to climb the ladder into this “boys only” tree House, and we are not going to let this monumental achievement pass quietly.

Nancy Pelosi has taken her place in the history of the United States and she deserves respect. After raising five children, we’re sure Pelosi can handle the imminent feuding and messy politicking to come. So before the flood gates open for those who are all too eager to condemn Pelosi for her hair, her pantsuits or her other womanly ways, we just want to say: congratulations Mrs. Speaker-elect.