January 21st, 2017- Women's March on Seattle (130,000 people; 1 of hundreds of marches today across the globe)
A group of us sang "This Land is Your Land."
I spotted many dads and fathers in the sea of women.
There were young millennials
and gen x-ers and boomers.
The intersectionality was everywhere.
Out and proud.
For all to see.
Latinas,
Muslims,
Japanese friends and allies,
Black brothers and sisters,
the disabled community,
the LGBTQ community,
Vietnamese folks,
Native Americans.
Proud little girls waved signs.
One invited the crowd to cheer.
My heart soared.
I almost ran right into the mayor and our state senator.
In solidarity we marched.
It was about a movement,
and in that movement comes unity.
Like America Ferrerra put it today:
"The President is NOT America,
WE are America."
I felt more American today than I have in some time.
I spotted many dads and fathers in the sea of women.
There were young millennials
and gen x-ers and boomers.
The intersectionality was everywhere.
Out and proud.
For all to see.
Latinas,
Muslims,
Japanese friends and allies,
Black brothers and sisters,
the disabled community,
the LGBTQ community,
Vietnamese folks,
Native Americans.
Proud little girls waved signs.
One invited the crowd to cheer.
My heart soared.
I almost ran right into the mayor and our state senator.
In solidarity we marched.
It was about a movement,
and in that movement comes unity.
Like America Ferrerra put it today:
"The President is NOT America,
WE are America."
I felt more American today than I have in some time.
Shepard Fairey- "We the People"
And there was no selfishness that I could see
because it wasn't just about me,
and it wasn't just about you.
It was planned by middle America!
Working-class America!
People of Color!
They were all lookin' out for each other.
Coming together and proving that we can't be divided.
If you thought it was selfish and whiny,
you missed the point.
I marched because I love this country, not because I hate it.
I marched because I'm critical of this country, not because I hate it.
I marched because I am concerned for this country, not because I hate it.
Just to clear it up, I don't hate this country.
Quite the contrary actually.
I marched because I pray for this country every night, and yet we STILL ended up with a President who represents everything I was told not to look up to.
('Cause grabbing some p***y and not having any experience for the job you apply for is acceptable now. Let me run that by my next employer! Hope they like me for who I am!).
I marched because I'm only 26, and I have a long future ahead of me that will not just be determined by governmental officials.
I marched for our children's futures.
I marched for education.
I marched for healthcare.
I marched for LGBTQ rights.
I marched for civil rights.
I marched for the Muslim women I know who have had their hijabs touched and pulled off.
I marched for the Undocumented people who still get called illegal even though they've sent in their paperwork and done their part.
I marched for every friend, student, peer, or co-worker who has not had the same privileges afforded to them.
And last but not least,
I marched because I wanted to show up.
I NEEDED TO SHOW UP.
But it doesn't stop with this.
I don't just get to show up today,
and call it good.
I have to keep showing up.
At work.
At home.
In my writing.
Today was just the beginning of a long march.
If you thought this was just a box you could check off,
you missed the point there, too.
I will go to sleep tonight and wake up to start again.
I am engaged.
I am listening.
I am here.
I see you women of Seattle.
I see you women of the world.
because it wasn't just about me,
and it wasn't just about you.
It was planned by middle America!
Working-class America!
People of Color!
They were all lookin' out for each other.
Coming together and proving that we can't be divided.
If you thought it was selfish and whiny,
you missed the point.
I marched because I love this country, not because I hate it.
I marched because I'm critical of this country, not because I hate it.
I marched because I am concerned for this country, not because I hate it.
Just to clear it up, I don't hate this country.
Quite the contrary actually.
I marched because I pray for this country every night, and yet we STILL ended up with a President who represents everything I was told not to look up to.
('Cause grabbing some p***y and not having any experience for the job you apply for is acceptable now. Let me run that by my next employer! Hope they like me for who I am!).
I marched because I'm only 26, and I have a long future ahead of me that will not just be determined by governmental officials.
I marched for our children's futures.
I marched for education.
I marched for healthcare.
I marched for LGBTQ rights.
I marched for civil rights.
I marched for the Muslim women I know who have had their hijabs touched and pulled off.
I marched for the Undocumented people who still get called illegal even though they've sent in their paperwork and done their part.
I marched for every friend, student, peer, or co-worker who has not had the same privileges afforded to them.
And last but not least,
I marched because I wanted to show up.
I NEEDED TO SHOW UP.
But it doesn't stop with this.
I don't just get to show up today,
and call it good.
I have to keep showing up.
At work.
At home.
In my writing.
Today was just the beginning of a long march.
If you thought this was just a box you could check off,
you missed the point there, too.
I will go to sleep tonight and wake up to start again.
I am engaged.
I am listening.
I am here.
I see you women of Seattle.
I see you women of the world.
