As the Women's March gained momentum and attention yesterday, I kept reading some opinions that weren't quite hitting the mark on what was going on or why. To help with this, I'm putting on my Feminist hat and clearing up a few details.
This is not a political problem. This is a humanitarian problem. It is intertwined with politics due to the global stage that has been offered and due to the political agendas and policies that are threatening our basic human rights.
The election of President Trump is not the problem. It is a symptom of a much greater problem. Hating President Trump will not solve the problem. Impeaching him will not solve the problem. The problem is us, because WE elected him. Reasons for voting range from full blown support of everything he does and says to hating him as a person but supporting his policies to simply not wanting to vote for the other candidates. There are endless reasons for electing President Trump, just like there are endless reasons to March.
People voted for him because they weren't bothered enough by the things he said and did, the way he treated people. That is the problem. Not him. Us. We were willing to ignore hate, ignorance, and intolerance simply for a change. That is how desperate we are in American politics.
Women's March does not equal Hating Men March nor does it equal Hating Trump March. As a supporter of the Women's March and Women's Movement, I can say that I actually support President Trump. Okay, hear me out. No, I did not vote for him, but due to the way democracy is coordinated in this country (yes, coordinated like a god damned country club gala), he was elected to the Presidency and sworn in. He is now the President. I'm giving him a chance. Barring impeachment, he will be the President for at least the next 4 years. I owe him a chance. I do not want him to fail. That would be bad for all of us. Others may not feel that way. That's fine.
I can support him because I don't have any fear over the potential damage he and other members of government office could inflict. Not anymore. Not after yesterday. After President Trump was elected, I was concerned with what was going to happen to this country and what aftermath we were going to leave for our children. Not anymore. Now I know, I've seen, what we will and will not tolerate. I know that no matter what happens in the next Presidency, we will be okay. We have risen and we will continue to rise.
Again, the Women's March is not about politics. It's about humans. It's about our rights and tolerance and acceptance and love and having a voice and using it to say "There is a problem and we will fix it." We are not whining. We are talking. We are not blaming. We are taking action. We are not just women. We are men, children, families. We are not just black, we are all races and nationalities. We are not just queer, we are whatever we want to be. We are not just Americans. We are the World.
You can be a person that voted for Trump and supports his Presidency and still be a member of the Women's March. Trump was not elected only by white males. He was elected by minorities, women, and immigrants.
Not every woman has to be a supporter of the Women's March or Women's Movement. The hashtag #notmywomensmarch is trending. And guess what? That's okay! You don't want to be a part of it? Fine. Then don't. It's not required for all females to be feminists, just like it's not required that all feminists be females. Kudos for standing up for yourself and your belief and not joining a movement you didn't support simply because it was trending in the news and social media.
As a supporter and participant of the Women's March and Women's Movement, I will give you Respect. I will show you respect, regardless of who you voted for or what your political beliefs are. I will give you Tolerance. I will tolerate your thoughts, ideas, and opinions. I will give you Help. I will help you if you need it, however I can. I won't turn away just because of who you are or what you believe in.
I will not respect anger, ignorance, or the demeaning of other people. I will not tolerate actions of hate and violence towards others. I will not help propagate an agenda of hate, segregation, or ignorance. I will not look the other way if I see or hear this. However, I will not get in your face, point my finger, and yell. I will listen. I will speak with confidence. I will try to understand your point of view. And I will March my hippie Feminist ass in the other direction if you choose not to listen, or have a conversation, or practice the same respect and tolerance and that I have offered. Because I have that choice. Just like you have a choice in what you support, what you respect, and what you tolerate.
And if I walk away and you still need help, I will turn around and help. Because you are human, regardless of the quality of hate that could spew from your mouth. I will help you because you are human and THAT is what this whole damn demonstration is about. We are nasty to each other and we've had enough of it.
I will keep talking about this. I will keep sharing photos and quotes. I will keep Marching. We're not going away. Finally. We're not going away. You don't have to like it, you don't have to accept it, but know that in my world, there is not an us vs. them. There is just us, and We are all parts of the same bird.
This is not about women. It's about all of us. This is not political. It is human. This is not American. It is global. We're going to keep Rising. We're going to keep Marching. We're going to Continue. Because We Can.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Paths of Victory - We Shall Walk
The United States swore in a new President yesterday.
This is a fact. The only fact that really matters, actually.
It doesn't matter how many people attended the inauguration. It doesn't matter who performed or which celebrities attended. Last I checked, thanks to the electoral college, this wasn't a popularity contest.
I stayed away from social media yesterday for the most part. I didn't watch the inauguration. No, it wasn't in protest or because I'm still whining over who was elected. I didn't have time. Not that I needed to stop what I was doing and tune in. It was covered over and over and over and over and over from all points of views on social media. And anyway, thanks to my high school American Government class, I get the gist of what happened.
Today, however, is a different story.
Today on Facebook, for example, people are going about their daily business. Birthday wishes. Fun recipes to try. Funny cat videos. Inspirational quotes. Like nothing is happening today. Just another day.
Nope. It's not.
Today, women are marching all over this great country of ours. We are marching, wearing pink, carrying signs. Demanding to be heard, to be seen, to be real.
And yet, this important movement gets crickets.
From the few posts I have seen, there seems to be some confusion about what is actually going on. Luckily, I have a brain and can clear a few things up for those that care (p.s. we should all care).
My first disclaimer is that I am not at any actual marches. I am watching this all from home. If that discredits me, feel free to stop reading. However, last time I checked, I still had a pair of badass ovaries that grant me the title of "woman." I, too, want to be seen, heard, and be real.
My second disclaimer is that I have not read any news sources on the marches. I have seen pictures posted on Instagram from those that are there. What you are about to read is entirely my own opinion. I generally don't trust the media, even if it's about a cause I fully support, such as Women's Rights.
The first confusion people have is they don't understand why we're marching. I have seen it called an "anti-Trump protest," which, for some people, it is. Some people are carrying signs calling out Trump. Some are boldly saying they don't support him, his ideas, or the fact that he's been given so much power. See, we get to do that, because of Freedom. We don't have to like the President. We don't have to agree with him. We can say it out loud without fear of punishment or retaliation. Because this is America.
Trump is not the only reason we are marching, however. We are marching for equal pay. We are marching for protection of our bodies from lawmakers. We are marching to support each other. We are marching for minorities. We are marching for LGBTQ rights. We are marching for immigrants and refugees. We are marching for children. We are marching for longer maternity leave. We are marching for better health care options. We are marching so our daughters can see that they have a voice and their voices have power and that they are important. We are marching because we can, because we want to. We are marching to be seen, to be heard, to be real. Every woman that is marching right now has a reason to march, and a damn good reason.
The second confusion is there seems to be a gray area when it comes to marching v. protesting v. vandalism. I understand that people were smashing windows, burning things, and becoming violent. This is vandalism, and it is stupid. This is not who we are. There are not groups of women right now burning down capital hill. We're not tipping over police cruisers or burning flags. This behavior does nothing for our cause and only pushes us further back.
Some people are protesting Trump, inequalities, or policies. Other people are just marching. One step in front of the other. Some are shouting, some are singing. Most of them are laughing and smiling and having a grand old time feeling powerful among fellow females and supporters. These are the pictures and videos that are coming out of the marches. This is the evidence coming from those that are there.
This is a beautiful day. I am proud to be a woman today. One day, I will talk about this day with my daughters. I will show them pictures. I will tell them what happened and why. Hopefully, I can tell them about changes that were made because of our actions, our determination, our refusal to be quiet, to sit down.
One of the pictures I've seen multiple times today is an old woman holding a sign that says "I can't believe I still have to protest this shit." I do. And I hope we never stop. I hope we never stop seeing, thinking, hearing, speaking, or marching.
Also, to any of my followers/friends on Facebook, I'm about to saturate your timeline with photos of the marches. You're welcome.
Oh - and if you're wondering where the title to this post comes from, check here. It's a song written my Poet Laureate Bob Dylan.
"And my road it might be rough,
But the better roads are waiting
And boys it ain't far off."
#womensmarch #strongertogether
This is a fact. The only fact that really matters, actually.
It doesn't matter how many people attended the inauguration. It doesn't matter who performed or which celebrities attended. Last I checked, thanks to the electoral college, this wasn't a popularity contest.
I stayed away from social media yesterday for the most part. I didn't watch the inauguration. No, it wasn't in protest or because I'm still whining over who was elected. I didn't have time. Not that I needed to stop what I was doing and tune in. It was covered over and over and over and over and over from all points of views on social media. And anyway, thanks to my high school American Government class, I get the gist of what happened.
Today, however, is a different story.
Today on Facebook, for example, people are going about their daily business. Birthday wishes. Fun recipes to try. Funny cat videos. Inspirational quotes. Like nothing is happening today. Just another day.
Nope. It's not.
Today, women are marching all over this great country of ours. We are marching, wearing pink, carrying signs. Demanding to be heard, to be seen, to be real.
And yet, this important movement gets crickets.
From the few posts I have seen, there seems to be some confusion about what is actually going on. Luckily, I have a brain and can clear a few things up for those that care (p.s. we should all care).
My first disclaimer is that I am not at any actual marches. I am watching this all from home. If that discredits me, feel free to stop reading. However, last time I checked, I still had a pair of badass ovaries that grant me the title of "woman." I, too, want to be seen, heard, and be real.
My second disclaimer is that I have not read any news sources on the marches. I have seen pictures posted on Instagram from those that are there. What you are about to read is entirely my own opinion. I generally don't trust the media, even if it's about a cause I fully support, such as Women's Rights.
The first confusion people have is they don't understand why we're marching. I have seen it called an "anti-Trump protest," which, for some people, it is. Some people are carrying signs calling out Trump. Some are boldly saying they don't support him, his ideas, or the fact that he's been given so much power. See, we get to do that, because of Freedom. We don't have to like the President. We don't have to agree with him. We can say it out loud without fear of punishment or retaliation. Because this is America.
Trump is not the only reason we are marching, however. We are marching for equal pay. We are marching for protection of our bodies from lawmakers. We are marching to support each other. We are marching for minorities. We are marching for LGBTQ rights. We are marching for immigrants and refugees. We are marching for children. We are marching for longer maternity leave. We are marching for better health care options. We are marching so our daughters can see that they have a voice and their voices have power and that they are important. We are marching because we can, because we want to. We are marching to be seen, to be heard, to be real. Every woman that is marching right now has a reason to march, and a damn good reason.
The second confusion is there seems to be a gray area when it comes to marching v. protesting v. vandalism. I understand that people were smashing windows, burning things, and becoming violent. This is vandalism, and it is stupid. This is not who we are. There are not groups of women right now burning down capital hill. We're not tipping over police cruisers or burning flags. This behavior does nothing for our cause and only pushes us further back.
Some people are protesting Trump, inequalities, or policies. Other people are just marching. One step in front of the other. Some are shouting, some are singing. Most of them are laughing and smiling and having a grand old time feeling powerful among fellow females and supporters. These are the pictures and videos that are coming out of the marches. This is the evidence coming from those that are there.
This is a beautiful day. I am proud to be a woman today. One day, I will talk about this day with my daughters. I will show them pictures. I will tell them what happened and why. Hopefully, I can tell them about changes that were made because of our actions, our determination, our refusal to be quiet, to sit down.
One of the pictures I've seen multiple times today is an old woman holding a sign that says "I can't believe I still have to protest this shit." I do. And I hope we never stop. I hope we never stop seeing, thinking, hearing, speaking, or marching.
Also, to any of my followers/friends on Facebook, I'm about to saturate your timeline with photos of the marches. You're welcome.
Oh - and if you're wondering where the title to this post comes from, check here. It's a song written my Poet Laureate Bob Dylan.
"And my road it might be rough,
But the better roads are waiting
And boys it ain't far off."
#womensmarch #strongertogether
Friday, October 28, 2016
The Midwestern Feminist Takes on the Election
Uff Da.
Yeah. It's been a rough one, huh? I know. I can't wait for this election to be over. Except that the backlash from this historic presidential election might be worse than all the foolishness leading up to it.
I don't want to talk about the presidential election. Yes, I know who I'm voting for. Yes, I know why and I have my reasons. No, I won't tell you, possibly ever. There has been zero tolerance or acceptance in this election. People have used the election as an excuse for a socially accepted form of bullying by making others feel stupid or less of a person simply for their beliefs and opinions.
But I digress...
Anyway, in preparation for this election, I performed my ritual of becoming an informed voter this morning. I made a pot of strong hot coffee, sat down with my phone, and did a Google search for my local ballot.
{P.S. Did you know you can do this? If not, give it a try. Go to Google, type in your state name + election ballot, then type in your address. It will give you the National, State, and Local options you'll see on your ballot. Plus, it lets you do an internet search for the candidates and their issues directly from the list. Cool, right? Now go do it.}
See, I believe it is incredibly important to be an informed voter, and not just at the Presidential level. Yes, this presidential election will change the course of history for our nation. Whether that will be for better or worse is yet to be determined.
But I don't really care about the presidential election. Not anymore, for reasons stated above. What I do care about are the issues facing my state and local governments. It occurred to me, as it does every year, that I don't even know who is running, what positions we are electing for, or what measures will be on the ballot.
After an hour of research, now I know. Yep. One hour and I am now a knowledgeable voter whose voice will be heard. It was not, however, without challenges. Here are a few thoughts I had while expanding my knowledge of this term's election ballot, particularly aimed towards candidates that are running.
1. If you're a candidate, no matter what position you are running for, get a website. A professional website. I was appalled to discover how many of the candidates running didn't have a website. To me, this means that they don't believe citizens will research them. To me, that means they think we are idiots that don't care and will simply choose them either because they are incumbent or are affiliated with a certain party. Unfortunately, this is true in some respect.
Still, get a professional website. Some of us, like me, actually want to know who you are and what you stand for.
2. On your professional website, don't ask me for money right away. No, I will not give you money. I don't know you. The worst offenders do this in pop-up form. Honestly. I'm not voting for you, regardless of your view of issues. This tells me that the only thing you want from me is my cash. Nope.
3. I want to know your stance on issues. I don't want to know about your family. I don't want to read biased news articles you've been featured in. I want to know where you stand on important issues that impact the citizens you will be representing, like me. I want to know what makes you qualified to represent me. Spoiler alert: Being well-dressed with the perfect smiling family in a professional portrait will not get my vote. I want to know what you think, what you fight for, and why you fight for it.
Is this really too much to ask for?
And on a second note, do I really have to vote in every category? If I either can't find information on either candidate or neither of them have proven to earn my vote, do I have to vote? Asking for a friend...
The point of this entire rant is that you can't rely on anyone else, especially the media, to give you information. You have to go out and get it and then form your own opinion. For example, there are five measures on the ballot for North Dakota this year. I've only heard of one of them (through propaganda so eloquently slipped into my mailbox on a weekly basis. Hey, by the way, my toddler can't vote. Stop sending her political spam.) I wouldn't have had any clue if I hadn't taken an early look at the ballot.
One of the issues that is hot in my state right now is the pipeline. Again, I'm not going to go into it. If you want to know, look it up. Anyway, turns out that some candidates that have a large say in what happens are on the ballot. This is a great example of an issue that I care about, one that I want reflected during the election, and I have the opportunity to do that through voting. Through conscious and informed voting. See, that's how this thing works. It also turns out that candidates from different positions endorse each other in an effort to build a united front for their goals. This is important because it reflects on who else I will vote for.
Issues, people. It's all about the issues. Not just party affiliation. Issues, the future of the national, state, and local governments. All things that will impact you, your family, and your community for the next two to possibly eight years. That's a long time.
At least in this election, we are seeing the weening of being a party-dominated nation. We are no longer just a two party system. Candidates from other parties such as Independent and the Green party are making waves and being heard. There are options. It used to be that these were seen as crazies and no one voted for them simply on principle. Turns out the crazies aren't so crazy anymore compared to other options.
Many voters no longer side with just one single party, either. We are no longer Democrats or Republicans. We are Voters. We Care. We hear you, we see you, we want to know more, and we're not stupid.
Maybe that's the silver lining to come out of this disastrous display of democracy. We're Learning, as a country, together, the consequences of our actions. We're using our brains, relying on our experiences and beliefs. The internet may be full of misleading and biased information, but the facts are out there. Candidates can no longer hide behind big money or public appearances. We see into their private lives as much as their political agendas, and we're using this to make our judgements. No, not always sound or political judgements, but judgements the same.
Spend some time before you cast your vote to look at your local ballot. The information is there and it's public. Know what you will be voting on. Have an informed opinion about the choices you will make. It's easy to do.
Whatever you do, please please please don't boycott voting. You are an American. People all over the world, including women and minorities in this country, have fought for the right to vote. Don't waste it. Grow a spine and form an opinion. Be heard. Stand up for those that deserve it. Do the right thing. Take an hour out of your day, do your research, and Vote. Not casting a vote will not make a difference. The electoral college doesn't count votes not made or take silence into consideration.
VOTE.
Yeah. It's been a rough one, huh? I know. I can't wait for this election to be over. Except that the backlash from this historic presidential election might be worse than all the foolishness leading up to it.
I don't want to talk about the presidential election. Yes, I know who I'm voting for. Yes, I know why and I have my reasons. No, I won't tell you, possibly ever. There has been zero tolerance or acceptance in this election. People have used the election as an excuse for a socially accepted form of bullying by making others feel stupid or less of a person simply for their beliefs and opinions.
But I digress...
Anyway, in preparation for this election, I performed my ritual of becoming an informed voter this morning. I made a pot of strong hot coffee, sat down with my phone, and did a Google search for my local ballot.
{P.S. Did you know you can do this? If not, give it a try. Go to Google, type in your state name + election ballot, then type in your address. It will give you the National, State, and Local options you'll see on your ballot. Plus, it lets you do an internet search for the candidates and their issues directly from the list. Cool, right? Now go do it.}
See, I believe it is incredibly important to be an informed voter, and not just at the Presidential level. Yes, this presidential election will change the course of history for our nation. Whether that will be for better or worse is yet to be determined.
But I don't really care about the presidential election. Not anymore, for reasons stated above. What I do care about are the issues facing my state and local governments. It occurred to me, as it does every year, that I don't even know who is running, what positions we are electing for, or what measures will be on the ballot.
After an hour of research, now I know. Yep. One hour and I am now a knowledgeable voter whose voice will be heard. It was not, however, without challenges. Here are a few thoughts I had while expanding my knowledge of this term's election ballot, particularly aimed towards candidates that are running.
1. If you're a candidate, no matter what position you are running for, get a website. A professional website. I was appalled to discover how many of the candidates running didn't have a website. To me, this means that they don't believe citizens will research them. To me, that means they think we are idiots that don't care and will simply choose them either because they are incumbent or are affiliated with a certain party. Unfortunately, this is true in some respect.
Still, get a professional website. Some of us, like me, actually want to know who you are and what you stand for.
2. On your professional website, don't ask me for money right away. No, I will not give you money. I don't know you. The worst offenders do this in pop-up form. Honestly. I'm not voting for you, regardless of your view of issues. This tells me that the only thing you want from me is my cash. Nope.
3. I want to know your stance on issues. I don't want to know about your family. I don't want to read biased news articles you've been featured in. I want to know where you stand on important issues that impact the citizens you will be representing, like me. I want to know what makes you qualified to represent me. Spoiler alert: Being well-dressed with the perfect smiling family in a professional portrait will not get my vote. I want to know what you think, what you fight for, and why you fight for it.
Is this really too much to ask for?
And on a second note, do I really have to vote in every category? If I either can't find information on either candidate or neither of them have proven to earn my vote, do I have to vote? Asking for a friend...
The point of this entire rant is that you can't rely on anyone else, especially the media, to give you information. You have to go out and get it and then form your own opinion. For example, there are five measures on the ballot for North Dakota this year. I've only heard of one of them (through propaganda so eloquently slipped into my mailbox on a weekly basis. Hey, by the way, my toddler can't vote. Stop sending her political spam.) I wouldn't have had any clue if I hadn't taken an early look at the ballot.
One of the issues that is hot in my state right now is the pipeline. Again, I'm not going to go into it. If you want to know, look it up. Anyway, turns out that some candidates that have a large say in what happens are on the ballot. This is a great example of an issue that I care about, one that I want reflected during the election, and I have the opportunity to do that through voting. Through conscious and informed voting. See, that's how this thing works. It also turns out that candidates from different positions endorse each other in an effort to build a united front for their goals. This is important because it reflects on who else I will vote for.
Issues, people. It's all about the issues. Not just party affiliation. Issues, the future of the national, state, and local governments. All things that will impact you, your family, and your community for the next two to possibly eight years. That's a long time.
At least in this election, we are seeing the weening of being a party-dominated nation. We are no longer just a two party system. Candidates from other parties such as Independent and the Green party are making waves and being heard. There are options. It used to be that these were seen as crazies and no one voted for them simply on principle. Turns out the crazies aren't so crazy anymore compared to other options.
Many voters no longer side with just one single party, either. We are no longer Democrats or Republicans. We are Voters. We Care. We hear you, we see you, we want to know more, and we're not stupid.
Maybe that's the silver lining to come out of this disastrous display of democracy. We're Learning, as a country, together, the consequences of our actions. We're using our brains, relying on our experiences and beliefs. The internet may be full of misleading and biased information, but the facts are out there. Candidates can no longer hide behind big money or public appearances. We see into their private lives as much as their political agendas, and we're using this to make our judgements. No, not always sound or political judgements, but judgements the same.
Spend some time before you cast your vote to look at your local ballot. The information is there and it's public. Know what you will be voting on. Have an informed opinion about the choices you will make. It's easy to do.
Whatever you do, please please please don't boycott voting. You are an American. People all over the world, including women and minorities in this country, have fought for the right to vote. Don't waste it. Grow a spine and form an opinion. Be heard. Stand up for those that deserve it. Do the right thing. Take an hour out of your day, do your research, and Vote. Not casting a vote will not make a difference. The electoral college doesn't count votes not made or take silence into consideration.
VOTE.
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