We Showed Up
Women learn at an early age to live with fear of violence—at home, at school, in the workplace, on the street. This awareness is something we all share even though our ways of coping with it may differ.
Women learn at an early age to live with fear of violence—at home, at school, in the workplace, on the street. This awareness is something we all share even though our ways of coping with it may differ.
When Donald Trump was elected and sworn in as President of the U.S., it gave tacit permission to men to verbally and physically mistreat women. His personal behavior and his words telegraphed the message that you can do whatever you want to women with no consequences.
So our fears, which we normally manage in a variety of ways, became unmanageable. There were countless news articles about people who were traumatized and triggered by the "new normal" in politics. People began to articulate their fears very clearly but, collectively, we didn't have a platform to address them, besides social media.
And our fears were not just personal. They were bigger than that because we have also heard the threats in the rhetoric about deportations, a Muslim registry, eliminating the Office on Violence Against Women, protecting our borders, eliminating the Affordable Care Act and defunding Planned Parenthood, and on and on—all of which particularly impact women and children and our wellbeing.
It was as if a thick, dark fog had settled over us and we were wandering alone and afraid, knowing that the future was grim and feeling powerless.
Until Saturday. The Women’s March. Thanks to a grandmother in Hawaii who suggested it on Facebook.
Nineteen of us from our little church in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee, showed up. From age 8 to 80 we showed up in Nashville, our state capital and met over 15,000 others. There was no platform to argue about. There were speakers but they weren’t really important. They weren’t the reason we showed up.
If we were to use church language, we would say that somehow the call went out, “Can I get a witness?” and the people said “Yes,” and we showed up. Women and men, old and young, all colors, shapes, abilities, genders, faiths, sexual identities, from all continents around the world showed up. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands showed up.
I was thrilled to see so many young women and men for whom this was their first march. A number of women my age said this was their first march since the civil rights marches or the anti-war marches of the 60’s and 70’s. And some older folks said this was their first march ever. They all showed up.
So why did we march? It was really very selfish. We just needed to see each other, to know that we are not alone, that we are not crazy, that our experiences and world view are real, and that we will not be silenced by our fear.
So here’s my suggestion: pick your favorite photo from the marches and post it on your desktop so you will see it every morning. Then join with others or on your own find a group that is working on something you care about and do something every week. Write to the editor of your local paper, or your Congressperson, talk to your neighbors even if they disagree with you. Keep showing up. We have work to do.
Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
www.faithtrustinstitute.org
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P.S. For those who are looking for ways to stay involved, I recommend subscribing to the Weekly Action Checklist for Democrats, Independents, and Republicans of Conscience
My heartfelt thanks