Sunday, January 22, 2017

Why I Marched

I marched not in protest, but in support.

I marched to support those that are vulnerable to the whims and orchestrations of the new administration in Washington DC.

I marched to support women's health and the agencies that provide essential care to those who are most at risk of losing that care. 

I marched to support the Affordable Care Act.

I marched to support the freedom to be who you are, especially as it pertains to the LGBT community. 

I marched to support the needs of women and children, families who require our help to make it through hard times.

I marched to support those who came to our country as immigrants.

I marched to support freedom to live as equals no matter your race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. 

I marched to support educators who are constantly under a barrage of blame by a society that wants a quick fix, when it is that very society that needs fixing. 

I marched in defense of our Earth, clean air and water, renewable resources,  and environmental protections.

I marched in support of strong women everywhere, and one in particular, one who for 50 years has worked for the causes of women and children, one so strong that she scared men of power shitless, so that they felt the need to bring her down by character assassination and lies. 

I did march in protest of those who chose to believe those lies, and I marched in the hope that I could begin to forgive those close to me who promoted those lies. 

I marched because I need to have truth respected, facts verified and acknowledged. 

I marched to support science. 

I marched because I needed to be in the company of other like minded people.

I marched because I was angry, and I needed to let that go. I needed to feel the joy of being surrounded by smiling, laughing, supportive people who all want to be heard and will not be silenced. 

I marched for me.

And I marched for Hillary.

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And now I want to show you the experience we had participating in the Womxn's March in Seattle. But when you are finished enjoying (or not) the photos, come back to why I was there. 

We left home for the Link light rail station before 9:00 to ensure that we would get parking at the station. We got off the Link near Pioneer Square, because we knew that the March would come west on Jackson Street, from the gathering place in Judkin's Park about a mile east of there. We spent an hour at the Starbucks on Jackson, reading our phones and the newspaper, while having coffee and sweets and waiting to join the march in progress. 

After walking around a bit, we walked over the the intersection of Jackson and 4th Ave, where the March would swing north. 
 Many others had the same plan.
 We blended into the waiting crowd until the police escort cleared the path for the approaching marchers. 

 We stood there for nearly an hour, watching the participants slowly walk by, and enjoying all the signs. 




 It takes a very secure man to wear a "pussy hat" and carry a sign like this, "Men of quality support gender equality". 
 Old and young, men and women and families all shared in the experience.

 Not all signs were polite. There were anti-Trump signs, of course. We don't like him and we don't respect him, because he has shown that he doesn't respect us. 






 We connected early on with Pat, a retired physician from Whidbey Island. We stayed together for the rest of the day's activities. 

 Finally, as the marchers thinned a bit, we blended in and began to proceed, very slowly through the city. At this point there were marchers along the whole 3.6 miles of the route. The estimated size of the crowd was 130,000!


 We cheered the window washer high up as he saluted us. Talk about going high when they go low!


 And finally, about 2:30, we reached the Seattle Center Grounds. 
People were milling about everywhere, but we were tired, and after perching on the edge of a pond to rest a bit, we found a rest room, and then waited in line for the monorail to get back downtown and back on to the Link to come home. 

Did I find what I was seeking in participating in the Womxn's March? Yes. The smiles and the laughter around me were joyous. People were happy and celebrating their freedom. I heard no anger, no profanity, no mocking from the sidelines, nothing negative. We were blessed by the weather gods with blue sky overhead and sun to warm us. 

Tom and I are so glad that we were there. It was a  healing experience, an experience that we needed in order to move on. 

23 comments:

  1. I think the entire world was using yesterday as a healing moment. The whole world is troubled by negativity and yesterdat the entire world proved it couls meet and show union in a cause and be civil. It was very uplifting. Hopemore moments like this follow so the pisitive energy continues to grow.

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  2. My college roommate and I had the same peaceful, joyous, healing experience in Portland...except we did it in the rain! My pussy hat kept my head warm but by the end of the march it was sodden. I came away grateful for the experience and reassured that I am not alone in my belief that women's rights are equal rights and there is hope for our future.

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  3. Yay, Linda and Tom!!! Good for you! It's so wonderful to know millions of people around the country and globe feel the same way. It's so wonderful to know there were no arrests, no violence.

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  4. It was joyous and heading for me, too. I am filled with happiness to know that I am not alone in my fear for our future under this administration. I will also make this a beginning, not an empty promise. Today I'll see "Hidden Figures." :-)

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  5. I followed a lot of the marches on Facebook. It was so inspiring to see so many of them happening all over the world.

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  6. Good for you for standing up for what you believe in.

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  7. Phenomenal display of unity by women against that the horde of darkness.

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  8. So proud to know someone who went to a march. Your list of why you went is one I wish I could share with one of my blog buddies who just doesn't get it. Wonderful list! Thanks for taking the time to share all this.

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  9. Proud of you and Tom. This march around the nation and globe helped to heal a bit the 20th of January. I loved the hats, the signs--some quite funny. It gave me faith and hope. Thank you all.

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  10. I saw much more than a women's march. I saw a march of men and women marching to say we cannot support the most incompetent man ever elected to the office of president. He won the election, yes he did, but he did not win the country. When you lose the popular vote by 3 million votes you do not have the country's support. To be successful you must win both the Electoral College and the popular vote. He has told us many times in his speeches that he has no respect for civil rights, human rights, voting rights, or religious freedom. I saw a march of men, women and children saying "President Trump, this is not acceptable."

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  11. This is an incredible post. May I share with credits?

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  12. I congratulate all who held a peaceful orderly march supporting their views-that's the American way!

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  13. I would think a majority of Americans want what you listed. I certainly want the things you list. How could they be suckered by such a buffoon.

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  14. Good for you Linda! And thank you. I also marched and I will continue to speak out and support the ideals that have made this world a better place for all. Your post was so well expressed.

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  15. Everyone in the U.S. has originally come from somewhere else - even the "native" population so why is it acceptable to stop others from coming here? I got mine but you can't get yours?

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  16. Good for you for marching! I've heard similar positive stories from others who participated in the Seattle event.

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  17. This is just fabulous. I am glad that you took the time to delineate all the reasons why you marched. I think most people marched for a multitude of reasons, and it bothers me how many narrowed the reasons down to one or two and then rejected the need for others to march at all. I'm also glad this was a healing experience for you. I would have liked to have marched. I thought I would, but Jim had to work, and I didn't want to navigate the crowds, parking, and etc. alone. I also had an appointment I really couldn't change. I'm so glad so many of you did get out there and exercise your freedoms while lifting your voices in a way that shows we will not be silenced.

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  18. I am glad you feel that now you can move on. :)

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