The Women's Freedom Network Newsletter July/August, 2003;  Volume 10, No. 4 Editorial: Editor's Introduction By Christine Rosen

Surviving the summer in Washington, D.C., can sometimes feel like a challenge. Swarms of tourists and mosquitoes, fluctuating color-coded terrorism alerts, and humidity levels that might charitably be called oppressive are the order of the day in our capitol city. This summer, however, I was issued a much-welcome challenge: to become the new editor of the Women's Freedom Network newsletter. I enthusiastically accepted WFN President Rita Simon's offer and am looking forward to providing you, the members of the Women's Freedom Network, with updates on WFN activities and an engaging and provocative look at the political, cultural, and social issues of the day. My "day job" is as a fellow at the Ethics & Public Policy Center, a think tank here in D.C., where I write about bioethics and the history of genetics but I've long been engaged in research and writing about women's issues and look forward to continuing to do so through the Women's Freedom Network.

"Most importantly, I would like to encourage all members of the WFN to offer us your thoughts ."

You will notice that we are testing a few new features with this issue of the newsletter. In this and future issues, WFN will sit down for a Q&A with someone whose work has had an impact on public policy debates, culture, or intellectual life. This issue we're pleased to feature Professor Jean Bethke Elshtain of the University of Chicago, whose new book, Just War Against Terror, offers a wide-ranging analysis of the moral issues raised by the global war against terrorism. We'll also be including reviews of books of interest to our members, both longer reviews and shorter summaries. When warranted, we will also include updates on national policy issues of concern to WFN members--sexual trafficking, welfare policy, sexual harassment law, and women's economic progress, for example--culled from recent legislative and legal decisions.

Most importantly, I would like to encourage all members of the WFN to offer us your thoughts on the newsletter. What would you like to see included in the newsletter? Which sections are of the most, or the least, interest to you? I am eager to hear your ideas and suggestions. Please email any comments to: christinerosen@starpower.net or send letters to the WFN offices. We are a geographically far-flung group, to be sure, but I hope that this newsletter will help us feel a bit more connected to each other and better informed about the ideas and issues that the Women's Freedom Network has so effectively pursued over the years.