Prides of women and a respectful smattering of men came out this past weekend in as Helen Reddy sang: “In Numbers Too BIG To Ignore.” Many even brought their cubs.
They came from your neighborhood and mine, your city and mine, your country and mine. They came to be HEARD!
How do you even begin to count throngs of people? It would be difficult to march, and for what I’ve come to understand it was.
It’s hard for me to imagine that all of those bodies didn’t make an impact. Why else would they be gathering if not to make a strong point, to be of One Voice!!!
Agendas galore, but unified in the sense that they wanted to be recognized, acknowledged, and historically memorable. BAM!
If a roar was what it was going to take, I think a roar is what they delivered.
They came to get our governments to THINK about what has gone wonky with FREEDOM around this place, darnnit.
They came as HUMAN BEINGS with RIGHTS!
They came as the late great Maya Angelou termed…
Phenomenal Women.
They didn’t intend to fail. They intended to rise. When you unify, and stop allowing yourself to be beat down in every way imaginable, you rarely do!
And as an ocean of many it appears they did just that.
Beattie-Gray [organizer] said “the event is not so much anti-Trump as it is pro-women and human rights.”
“It’s to stand up for what we believe in, not what we’re against,” she said.
What’s Your Take On This???
They realized they couldn’t wait any longer. They realized that if change is going to happen it is up to…
ME
YOU
US!
My takeaway from all the country-wide, and many international marches that I heard about is this:
* Women are able to unify
* They now know that they are not alone
* They can use their voice like many have never felt empowered to before
* They actually contributed to a larger whole
I don’t know if the powers that be will do anything different in the coming days, months, and years.
What I do know is that it will be much more difficult not to take some responsibility in making basic “human rights” changes happen.
I believe if nothing else, a greater respect for all humans may have come to pass. Or…look out somebody, and you know who you are!!!
Words have meaning. Words can easily be taken to mean something altogether different when heard through the ears of people with different upbringings, nationalities, ethnicities, religions, genders, etc.
I didn’t attend the march in a physical sense. But I watched. I listened. I researched.
I prayed for their highest and best selves to emerge throughout the day. I applauded.
I saw history in the making. I saw hope taking shape again. I saw a united front.
I felt proud to be a dark-skinned woman of color, and part of the human race. And that’s going to stick!
I also found this very timely poem.
It’s Up To Me
I get discouraged now and then
When there are clouds of gray,
Until I think about the things
That happened yesterday.
I do not mean the day before
Or those of months ago,
But all the yesterdays in which
I had the chance to grow.
I think of opportunities
That I allowed to die,
And those I took advantage of
Before they passed me by.
And I remember that the past
Presented quite a plight,
But somehow I endured it and
The future seemed all right.
And I remind myself that I
Am capable and free,
And my success and happiness
Are really up to me.
Poet: James, J. Metcalfe
Share your thoughts about the Women’s March on Washington. What’s your city, state, country?
Do you feel women are empowered, stronger, even more invincible now because of this event?
Do you feel like women got enough take-a-way that they will continue to rise to the occasion in the future???
LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICE!
I marched. In Oklahoma we had one city that had participation and I was lucky enough to be close to it. In OKC we had thousands marching downtown. We had civil rights activists speaking, and had everyday people speaking. We had one state senator there and several representatives. I marched because it was important for our govt leaders to know we have issues with the way in which they were trying to lead us. We spoke only to the issues. NO ONE looted, caused any problems or screamed obscenities. We were calm, strong and determined. Many of the women with whom I marched had never stood up to the government before..had no idea what a march was like. They came away with a sense of accomplishment and solidarity with the others. We had many groups of women, men and children, from smaller outlying towns who organized groups for when they returned home. I visited the state offices of our senators and representatives of my district and told them exactly why we (I) marched and what i as a voter wanted them to do. The state house halls were literally filled with people doing the same thing. I believe we were heard. I believe that the people we spoke to listened and were impressed by our determination. We will not stand for our civil rights to be ignored or violated and I believe our state government officials now know just how serious we are. I pray it makes a change in policy. If not, I will be once again marching and demanding.
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Thanks for sharing this. I was thinking about the many times throughout history when such rallies occurred. In my opinion, governments, like many of ourselves need periodic reminders about values, goals, and beaten paths. In specific cases of our governments, they need to recognize that leadership means looking at their methods of servitude, or lack of as well. A quick peek at the constitution, and a waving flag might be helpful too. Always love reading your thought and focused comments!!!
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I’m glad that you, along with so many others, are making your voice heard! So many important challenges have arisen, and I believe that we are only at the beginning of a long fight–one that started long ago, but one that is still far from over.
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An energizing post! I participated in the Women’s March in Chicago and it was empowering to be amongst so many of us who want the roar of our better selves to be expressed and shared and affirmed. While there is yet more work to be done, it is heartening to know that so many want to be civil and civically-engaged.
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Yes! If we don’t speak up…no one’s going to hear what we have to add to the conversation.
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Your post was wonderful! I represented in Miami. We MUST join together and fight until our voices are heard and understood! Power to the people! (I too am a young 60 plus!)
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Whether many know, truly believe it or not, women are strong, resilient, and have more super powers then they give themselves credit for. If they continue to put their energies into making the world a better place for themselves, their children, and their communities…I believe in my heart, we will overcome [peacefully if at all possible], one day in your and my lifetime!
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I was greatly moved by seeing all the numbers of women, children, and also men, marching for everything that is good in life and to uphold key human values. At the same time, I was horrified by reading some of the hurtful, bitter, small-minded comments by certain US male senators, in the aftermath of that glorious day.
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In m opinion, though they tried, even those that spoke against it, couldn’t put a damper on it. And to me…that’s the blessing that will continue to unify us who believe in the power of One Voice!!!
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I remember R_E_S_P_E_C_T!!
I was grateful to see so many march. It is, as they say, ’bout time.
Thanks for finding me. J.
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You are very welcome Janet. We both are blessed!
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