Let's March

In less than 2 weeks, I will fly to the East Coast to participate in the Women's' March on Washington. Obviously, I had hoped to make this trip to celebrate the inauguration of our first woman president. What I knew, but should have believed with more conviction, of course, is that mediocre white men never lose. Mediocre white men never lose. They get what they want by any means necessary. There are, I'm sure, thousands upon thousands of examples of mediocre white men stealing jobs from qualified women all over this country.

So, instead of celebration, I march.

I will march with an estimated 200,000 people in DC, and countless others across the country who are marching in sister marches. I march for all the women who've marched before me and all the women who can't march now. I march with Standing Rock, and Selma, and all the other beautiful displays of resistance that have forced this country to take note and have new conversations.  I march for all female-identified folks, for the people who love us, and for our kids.

I march so hard for our kids. Because I don't want my daughter to have to march and fight for the same things that my generation and generations before us marched for. That's bullshit. They should get new fights, new rights, new signs and slogans. I won't stand by while mediocre white men try to gut us with their stupidity and hubris. Men who think power is all that matters, no matter the cost. Here's the thing those men underestimate though- the sleeping-giant power of women of this country. We thought "here is an overqualified, kind, thoughtful, career politician who can proudly stand as our first woman president." And we underestimated the lengths (all the way to Russia) to which white men will go. But now we know the real deal.

Power is gained by power being taken. And we are coming to take it.

The high road is oversold to oppress us. Somehow, a self-glorified "p*ssy-grabber" has ascended to the highest office of our country. Please, let's make that a turning point for good. Please, let's get off the high road and be truly angry and truly motivated.

I am really lucky that Audie won't be old enough to remember this election cycle. Hopefully she won't be old enough to remember him as president, much in the same way that I don't really remember Reagan. I'm lucky that I don't owe her any explanations right now. But someday, if she asks me about this time, I want to be able to say that I stood up for her in all the ways I could. I marched. I called legislators. I was active in my community and showed kindness to people. I worked to build people up instead of knocking them down. I claimed my power.

Power is kindness, and love, and justice. And I won't put up with the fucked up DC version of power any more. Because I deserve better, and you deserve better, and our kids deserve better.

I used to say things like "the women of this country are watching." We are done watching. We march.