Why I Marched

So many women (and men and children) showed up for the Women's March on Washington, and at times it seemed as though there were as many reasons. This article lists perhaps the 10 most popular reasons Solidarity--Plus 10 Other reasons. In some ways, the solidarity felt good to me. I felt as though I was doing something important that would have impact...just by showing up, even though I know that's not nearly enough. And solidarity was not the only reason. All 10 of the reasons listed in the article are important to me, some more personally than others. I can't claim to "fight" for any of them, but I hope my statements and my standing for them matter. Furthermore, I marched because I CAN...and I don't mean that flippantly. It's true that I have been upset by how our representative democracy has seemed to be slipping away, not just in the last year but for a while. Leaving aside the presidential and gubernatorial elections, I find the inability or unwillingness of the United States Congress and the North Carolina Legislature to accomplish anything FOR THE GOOD just appalling. And I admit that I was too quiet and too passive. If I'm not part of the solution, I'm part of the problem.

And I was beginning to feel that it was hopeless to think that the voices of the people can be heard. Since registering for the WMW, I have been invited to two small, grass-roots groups of like-minded people. The resources that are being shared with me provide small easy ways to be vocal to Congress. Gathering my friends, preparing for the trip, marching in Washington, DC (one of my favorite places) , gathering resources for promoting change that I believe in make me feel hopeful again. I was asked by a reporter at the rally why I was marching; my reply was, "For LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL!"

Here are my personal BIG FIVE: LGBTQIA rights, immigration rights, families and education, equality and respect and gun control. Make no mistake, though, I believe in all ten of the reasons women marched...and many more. Here's a picture of my friend Pam Hardee's sign that kind of says it all!