1st Women's March January 21, 2017. 3rd Women's March January 19, 2019

curmudgeoness said:

My husband and I went to the San Diego march. Over 40,000 people were there, felt to us like closer to 50,000. It was a diverse crowd, all genders, all ages, all colors, all sexual preferences. No, there was no violence -- this was a family march as much as anything. There were multi-generational groups of women, parents with babies in strollers and backpacks. People were pretty chill, really.

"Why didn't these people vote?" Um, we did. I did. My husband did. Every woman -- and every man -- I know did. Let's not forget that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a margin of 2.9 million.

"What are we hoping to accomplish?" Big things, small things. First of all, for many people, it helps to know that they are not alone. Beyond that, the behavior that the newest occupant of the White House displayed while campaigning and encouraged in others left members of many groups -- women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, non-Christians, people with disabilities -- feeling threatened and afraid. Most posters here are male, and I don't know how to convey to you what it feels like from a woman's perspective. But, I am strong, athletic, and larger than the average American male, and I have had to work hard over the last two months to not view every male I meet as a potential threat; snide jokes about safe spaces aside, the new president's behavior on the campaign trail was deeply unnerving and triggering for women who have been assaulted (and that's a lot of women). Joining a large group of people with similar values and concerns made me feel less vulnerable and less isolated. Perhaps that's an illusion of safety; perhaps my anxieties are illusions of danger. But addressing my fears and anxieties in a positive, productive way is important to me, important for my physical and emotional well-being. I have to think that those who are more vulnerable than I am also gained some strength from the supportive, sympathetic crowds.

"What happens when the march is over?" Probably what has been happening since November 9th, actually. People -- women -- have been mobilizing. Different people are taking action in different ways. Some are getting involved in politics; some are writing letters and badgering members of Congress; some are taking steps to be more visible allies to vulnerable populations; some are engaging more with causes that are important to them; others are giving more to charity, volunteering more, unfucking the world one person at a time. Just because we aren't all notifying you about what we're doing doesn't mean that nothing is happening.

"Why couldn't you wait at least a week?" -- Ah, yes, why can't we just give him a chance? Gosh, he has had all kinds of opportunities to modify his behavior, act more presidential, shut down his Twitter account and get off the damn phone, yet he has chosen not to. When someone has shown you who they really are, believe them. If I came home and found someone dousing my house with gasoline and brandishing a box of matches, saying "I'm going to burn your house to the ground," I would not wait until my house was ablaze to take action, I would not say to myself, "Oh, maybe they don't really mean it, maybe they aren't going to light those matches."

As for Madonna and Michael Moore, their opinions don't matter to me. I don't care enough about what they have to say to look up what they said. Michael Moore, like the new president, is all about himself, first and foremost.

"You're just upset because your side lost. Get over it!" No. No. No. It's more than that. Had Jeb Bush or Mitt Romney or John Kasich been elected, I would have been disappointed, I would have disagreed with a number of their policies, but I would not have been scared. I would be confident that they would serve competently and ably, that they would respect the gravity and responsibility of the presidency. I would not worry that they would start a war in the middle of the night over an insulting tweet. I would not be marching.

I read an interesting article in the Washington Post this morning, about hyperbolic language, social media, 24/7 cable news, widening political gulfs, etc. The author mentioned the apocalyptic fundraising emails designed to spur people into chipping in an extra $20 (I hate those). I thought about Bill Maher apologizing to Mitt Romney for how hard he went after Romney in previous elections. Both sides have run about for years, screaming that the other side is out to destroy the country. And now, here we are, with a newly-elected president who is uniquely lacking in both experience and temperament. And I look to the writings of conservatives and libertarians whom I respect, as a reality check, to make sure I am not dwelling in an echo chamber. And what I read scares me.

So, yes, I went to the march yesterday, and I was glad I did, and it was neither the first nor the last action I have taken or will take in response to the election results.

unsung said:

Enkidu said:

unsung said:

Nice mess you all left. Slobs.

http://www.snopes.com/2017/01/22/womens-march-dumped-signs/

LOL, snopes. Funded by soros and addicted to hookers.