The Women's March Was an Unreal Experience

[dawn_felagund]

This was not my first rodeo. I went to my first rally in DC when I was twelve years old. While I've never been intensely active politically, I've marched and rallied across the years for the causes most near and dear to my heart

Comments

[shirebound]

What a marvelous summary and sharing. I'm so proud of you, and everyone who was able to participate.

[dawn_felagund]

^_^ Thank you! This took hours to write, and I'm still not sure it says everything I want to say how I want to say it, but it's a start. It was a life-changing day, to be sure.

[heartofoshun]

The pictures are great. I saw so many great pics online yesterday that seem to project exactly the kind of energy you are talking about above. I am so glad you enjoyed it and came away with a positive feeling. I am glad I did not go. As much as I would have liked to have been there, I could not have remained on my feet without a break for more than an hour or gone without a bathroom much longer

[dawn_felagund]

I am glad I did not go.

Physically, it was one of the most arduous things I've done. I ate a ClifBar around 7 AM and had maybe three sips of water throughout the day, then didn't eat again till about 5:30. It was the only part of the day that seemed completely and badly planned out, that the march didn't start till 1 and there was no food at the starting point where the rally was! A group of us went into the National Gallery to try to bring out food for everyone (staying outside to watch our signs, which they would not let us bring in), only to be told that we could remove nothing--not even a cup of coffee--from the food court. By the time we started encountering food trucks, the march was underway and getting to them would have been like swimming against a rip current.

A friend of mine messaged me on FB, sounding regretful that he did not go too; I think he felt a little bad because I marched for marriage equality with him. But I told him that I would have never expected it. He would not have done well! It was a rough day!

I bet

[heartofoshun]

Thanks for the link. I had not seen that piece. It is very moving and painfully accurate

[dawn_felagund]

I grew up in the opposite type of family. My parents were completely apolitical. They weren't registered to vote and didn't watch the news ... okay, they did. They watched the weather. I didn't really understand the differences between Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, until I was in high school.

I was galvanized by concern for the environment and then animal rights when I was a preteen and young teen. My parents, to their credit, always supported me in that. You know I kind of fell accidentally into advocacy for disadvantaged kids, but I'm eternally glad I did (even if it meant that I had to suffer through the school I did--that was also eye-opening and therefore necessary).

I detest the sudden affection and longing for GWB. (I know that's not what you're doing, but other liberals are!) Like, "I realize now that Bush wasn't so bad, why did I think he was so bad??" Because he was so bad!! The fact that he appears to be a step up from something is a testament to how low we've fallen.

[sinneahtes]

That sounds amazing. Thanks for being a part of it--I was surprised how much the news and images of the marches and rallies lifted my mood yesterday. I think I actually teared up at some of the "images from around the world" type galleries.

[dawn_felagund]

I had tears in my eyes so many times during that day. And once we were back on the bus and had cell service again, and reports started coming in of the sister marches all around the world ... yes, it was a pretty moving day.

[engarian]

Thanks so much for all of the pictures and that great, inclusive post. I had many friends throughout the nation walking in various marches from Seattle and Portland to Santa Fe to Austin, Saint Paul, Chicago and you, in DC. Everyone I know was inspired by the experience

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you for the link! I will be doing those ten things. We weren't even back from Washington for a quarter of a day and our nasty women group was lighting up with ideas for further activism and action. Two of our group attended a legislative breakfast the very next morning; Bobby and I and several other nasty women have reserved spots in an upcoming community organizer training for the Northeast Kingdom.

We are half of the world! More than half! I don't kid myself that "woman" is in and of itself a unifying identity--there's A LOT of diversity in that more-than-half--and that we all share the same interests and needs, but dammit, we have a lot of power. I hope Saturday is a harbinger of our willingness to recognize and tap into that.

[wineatsunset]

One of the reasons I embrace feminism as a core of my beliefs is that I believe that welcoming women and a feminine approach to solving the world's problems will reduce this mindless, throat-cutting competition that distracts and besieges us and has been the province of history largely made by men. The march showed me what that other approach might look like.

Absolutely. I was watching pictures come in on Facebook and Tumblr with complete awe. What an incredible experience to be part of! Thank you for sharing it with us :)

[dawn_felagund]

Aww, you're welcome!

Once we were back on the bus and had cell service again--there were so many of us in DC that cell service was all but nonexistent--the reports of the sister marches started coming in. Wow. Simply amazing. Our sister march here in Montpelier, Vermont's capital, was so big that they had to shut down the highway because there was simply no more room in the city for more cars bringing more marchers, and they were backed up on the highway, trying to get in.