You're Never Too Old To March

Just a few days ago (or so it seems), the phone switchboard-if that's what they call it- at the United States Congress crashed. Completely. Even in this age of the most modern technology, it crashed.  Why?  Because millions of people got up in the morning and called their congressmen and women. And other people's congressmen and women. Because, in a moment of complete audacity and idiocy, a group of Republicans thought it would be a good idea to completely gut the ethics committee. In other words, they wanted no oversight.

I mention this, not to discuss the politics of the situation, which I tend to think is self explanatory.  The point is not the idiocy, the point is the intervention. People can make a difference. Especially when they are in large numbers, and especially when they are active voters.  What we do and how we act in between elections matters. Voting every four years is admirable, but these days it is not enough.

Which is why, at age sixty five, walking with a limp,  I intend to walk with many other women and men here in Denver. Walking, marching...neither are the purvey of the young.  In fact, almost every person I know who is involved, locally or in DC  (my former home) are women and men closer to my age than that of my daughter or son.

Now, some will say this is whining. Some will say it's time for acceptance. Some will say I am a poor sport, and some will wonder what I hope to accomplish, or aren't I afraid that I might look silly.  The answer to the last one is no.

The answers to those other questions are fairly simple. I'm not a poor sport. I had a Bush, Bush and Reagan. While I disagreed with all of them more than once and voted for none, I believed that they were qualified and had the temperament. I also believed that they put America first. This election fits none of those criteria. I think even some conservatives and Republicans see that. And, since our future president has an approval rating almost forty points lower than the last two presidents when they took office, others see or are beginning to see as well. 

That said, why now, why this, why march? Everyone has their own reasons, but here are a few of mine:

• We have a future president who has chosen as the head of the Justice Department one of the most racist public servants still living.  So much so that the last time he tried for any office, his own party disqualified him.  I mean, would you let Strom Thurman be that guy?
• I have a daughter who most of her adult life has had annual physicals, mammograms, gyn tests, gotten weighted and gotten evaluated overall. All at Planned Parenthood. Note there is no mention of either abortion or birth control . Also note that without Planned Parenthood she could afford none of the above.
• I have pre-existing conditions-more than one. As did my husband who would have been not insurable if he ever left the Federal government. As does a close friend who survived breast cancer and whose employer doesn't provide the hours for health care. As one of those with great health care, I am unwilling to kick others to the curb to fend for themselves, 20 million of them.
• I'm a woman who has made a variety of reproductive choices over my lifetime.  Put simply, I believe everyone else should have that same right, without interference.  As my mommy (who made similar choices in her day) once said-it's between the woman, God and no one else.
• I believe in equality, including marriage and bathroom equality for everyone, no matter gender (or much of anything else except adulthood). I hope to see my trans nephew happily married in my life time, so cabinet appointees who use words like aberration don't make me feel confident. On the contrary, it makes me start to think the clock is going to turn back-and not in a good way. Donald Trump supports bathroom bills and is against protections for the LGBT community.
• In the same vein, I have friends of color and friends of all faiths. My daughter's best friend and the neighbor across the street for many years is Muslim. She is afraid, and I am not confident in telling her not to be. Protections and rights as we know them are under attack.
• I oppose sexual assault, intimidation and harassment. Aside from the fact that our president elect is most likely guilty of sexual assault )more than once), he has also appointed two cabinet members who favor rolling back protection for women's rights and assault-including not punishing colleges who don't investigate sexual assault.
• I believe we have an ethical situation in this country that is fairly unmatched, historically. We have a future president who is unwilling to separate his business, family and national interests. I have little reason to believe he will put the latter before the former two, as evidence by his refusal of blind trusts just for starters.
• And last but not least, I believe the security of this country is in jeopardy and I say that as a former military member and foreign service employee who has tons of friends in both camps. Folks, Putin is no ones friend. He wants to rule the half of the world that China does not. If folks would actually read and learn, they would see that he is a frightening individual. Anyone who puts his relationship with a despot (personal and financial) above real American security concerns is in my opinion unqualified and deserves watching

Now, I have no idea how far I will walk, or how well. But I do know that what we do (all of us), how we act and the message we send makes a difference.  And so I march. I begin an Immigration and sanctuary ministry. I call my congressman-regularly. And I remain vigilant.  It is after all, the least I can do.

*****Polite comments, even those that are of different opinions are welcome as always on these kind of posts. insults, yelling and screaming will be deleted. Please keep it civil so I don't have to return to moderation.  Thanks everyone!