My Friend Explained Her Point of View
@GardenGerty (169439)
United States
January 22, 2017 8:33am CST
There were several "Women's Marches" across the US, yesterday.
Most everyone behaved well. Some wore silly hats.
I have a respected friend in a small town in Oklahoma. She, and her husband, and her three year old daughter participated in Oklahoma City in the march.
My friend said this march was planned six months before the election. It was not based on who became our president. It was not about abortion. It was about women having a voice. Her sign said "love" and she meant it.
She and her husband are active in their community. Hard workers. They speak up when something is wrong, and they support things they believe are right.
Women still get slighted in the aspect of pay. In some places women still are subject in many ways to whatever the men in society say. Some things have changed, but there are still changes to be made.
Would I have chosen to march in a rally? No. That is not for me. I did vote. I do make my own decisions. I do respect my friend and her husband. They "practice what they preach". They are intelligent, well read and brave in their convictions and intense in their love for their child and others.
25 people like this
22 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I sat in my comfy recliner and cheered them on. I hope there is a grass roots movement in my area that I can join - I'm ready!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I know, grass roots programs go on year around.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill Sometimes being a farmer is a protest. . . in a different point of view.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
22 Jan 17
@GardenGerty The closest march to me was over an hour away so I don't/ and I don't think anyone from my neck of the woods was there...around here are mostly old farmers who are not the kind who protest!!!
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
22 Jan 17
I know a number of people who participated in the various marches around the world. If there had been one here I would have been a part of it too. It was wonderful to see such a great turn out.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
It was wonderful there was no violence and vandalism.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I agreed with the march across the world yesterday. I applaud all women who fight for their rights. As they should. This country is going into a bad time now. And women are more at risk of being taken advantage of. So keep the marches going as well as the protests. We all would never win anything if we keep our mouth shut.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
We should speak up for what we feel strongly about. I think every era has some bad aspects. I remember when things were much worse. I remember when it was common to objectify women more than we do now. We have to always be aware.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27978)
• United States
22 Jan 17
@GardenGerty That's why women need to stand up and fight. They should be totally equal to men in this world. But society sees things differently. And I think that's wrong. I am on the woman's side with this.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
@inertia4 Each of my husbands have been great to support women.
1 person likes this
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I would have participated if there was one nearby and I was feeling up to it that day. You know how unpredictable energy levels can be with fibro... 
It's inspiring to see so many coming together to say that women deserve to be treated equally, not as second-class citizens. A lot of discussion has been sparked by the marches, too.
It's inspiring to see so many coming together to say that women deserve to be treated equally, not as second-class citizens. A lot of discussion has been sparked by the marches, too.2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
@yukimori Exactly. Time to leave partisanship politics out of it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
Yes, the energy level is one thing. I was glad she explained her viewpoint and I so totally respect her, and her husband and what they are doing to make their community and state better. I like being able to see it was not designed as anti Trump and would probably have taken place no matter who was elected.
2 people like this
@yukimori (10193)
• United States
22 Jan 17
@GardenGerty That makes a huge difference, doesn't it? I know a lot of people have been asking online (and even here) about whether they would be marching if it weren't for Trump being elected, and it's good to see that these events have been months in the making. The issues are still relevant regardless of who's President.
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
23 Jan 17
Ya, I showed up in a peaceful match in Dublin.
I believe in gender equality at a work place. I believe in women's right to work at a place without harassments of any kind.
I believe that a woman should be entitled to the same pay, benefits, promotional, and development opportunities that a man of equal experience and qualification receives.
I believe in the right of women to have a voice in political, social, and corporate settings.
I believe in showing my support for this, and sitting quietly at home ain't going to achieve this.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
Very eloquently and concisely said.
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16568)
• Ireland
27 Jan 17
@GardenGerty thanks! i hope more women can see it as a worthy way to spend a few hours, as opposed to the normal run of the mill chores
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Jan 17
There are things that need to be changed where women are concerned, I would have marched.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
I think things for many humans need to change. I have marched in the past. As early as Junior High I tried (along with others) to see changes in our school. Several of us girls tried (unsuccessfully) to sign up for "shop" and several boys tried to enroll in "home ec". Now they call the classes "Consumer Science" and "Household Engineering". and anyone can take them.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
25 Jan 17
@GardenGerty And some schools even let girls join the boys sports teams. Now equal pay for equal work would be good.
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I would not march either but I think it is nice your friend and husband and their child did. I saw a city about a half hour from me had a huge march yesterday. Hopefully it was pretty peaceful and not like the riots I heard after Trumps inauguration.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
At this age I am pretty much a loner and I do not do well in crowds. I would not be a marcher. The women's marches were pretty peaceful over all.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
25 Jan 17
@GardenGerty I saw they left behind a huge mess though so I was sad to see that!
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
9 Feb 17
its good that a lit of women participated in marches that cared for what we still need fixed for women today.LI worked for 23 years in our local library and lo ed the job and my co workers bht the one man on the staff doing the same work as mysejf was paid more and they still dio this even after I retired
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
9 Feb 17
You know, I have had jobs like that. I have had jobs also where you were all paid the same regardless of how good you were or even how long you had been an employee. Neither situation is good.
@dodo19 (48142)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
22 Jan 17
I do respect the women who participated in these march and I applaud them for it. However, I don't know if I would have participated in one of the marches. As much as I want equal rights between men and women, I'm not the type to participate in these sort of things. That's just me.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I have done one or two marches or parades when I was much younger. It is important to support equal rights for all and to be aware of family issues.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
2 Feb 17
Some have forgotten that freedom for all means people can march for anything, even things we don't agree with.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
2 Feb 17
I really admire having intelligent friends who can discuss things in a mature way.
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
Being in a march is not my thing. Knowing that we have to speak up for our rights, voting for our rights, etc. is part of what I do.
2 people like this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
22 Jan 17
I believe in their convictions and I hope it makes a difference where it needs to... but I would not have marched .
1 person likes this
me too
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
I think many of us know and respect some of the people who marched.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
25 Jan 17
@GardenGerty Hopefully many of us marched or do know someone who has!
@JESSY3236 (22215)
• United States
23 Jan 17
I didn't participate in one either. But I do think it's a great thing though.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jan 17
I didn't participate in the march either . . . not because I didn't want to, but my daughter had an open house with her art program and we all couldn't miss what the kids worked so hard for in the past few months. However we do know many who marched . . . and actually we did have to pass downtown where the marchers were . . . it was almost "as if" we were there. We know many who actually did rally . . . we may not have been there, but we were there in spirit.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
23 Jan 17
I wonder if these marches are going to yield the desired results.
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
The first result is attention. It may be positive, it may be negative, but they will have some attention out of this.
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
22 Jan 17
i agree with you, everyone to there own way of thinking and doing what they want
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
Yes, and it is good when they explain things intelligently and behave in a peaceful manner.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Jan 17
I would have, if I hadn;t been at work and I knew of a local one. I am glad to see people doing things, speaking up, etc
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
It is important that people not give up their rights. It is also important that they exercise them responsibly
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Jan 17
@GardenGerty Apparently none of it matters, he ignored the petitions, basically blowing a raspberry at the world, and is signing executive orders for everything he wants to do, even if it is legal or not, gagging agency's from putting out info, hiring family, etc.
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan 17
I wasn't really sure what the march was all about. Certainly women haven't advanced much in some ways.
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
25 Jan 17
Hopefully some things have changed. I would look most at wage and job equality, and insurance issues.
1 person likes this
@WriterAI (5373)
• Bulgaria
22 Jan 17
Thank you for your opinion. It is an objective post. No pros and cons about the new president. Things as they stated before many a time. It isn't an action provoked by the inauguration that took place according to the long time established American protocol.
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
22 Jan 17
I appreciate your good words. I will pray for our new president. I have some worries or concerns, but I do not think being rude and hateful is the way to address them. I would have had serious concerns, I think, no matter who was elected.
1 person likes this
