I made the mistake of thinking that since the election was over that there would not be any more hate. Sadly, I was deeply wrong. I really did not want to write about this but it hurt me so deeply to see this country rioting, hating and disrespecting. This is the way that my voice can be heard. This is the way that maybe someone reads this and rethinks that nasty post or disrespectful comment they are about to put on social media or say to someone.
This past Saturday, millions of women marched all over the world for their rights. This made me proud to hear that my fellow women were exercising their right to protest/march. As the day went on and the news sites started reporting the marches, I was so disappointed by what I saw. I honestly don't know how to put it into words. There were some women out there that were marching for their right to birth control, equal pay, etc. Those things I completely understand. What I didn't understand was these women marching to protest the election/inauguration of our elected president.
I was shocked to see so many crude, inappropriate signs about him and the country. I thought to myself how can I be supporting my fellow women with this fight if I don't agree with most of what they are fighting for. Then I thought do I pretend to agree so I don't look bad to everyone for not "supporting" women? I had to stop myself at this point.
After reading several articles not supporting the march written by women and other articles about respecting our president, I came to the conclusion that what I was feeling was completely normal. It wasn't bad that I wasn't agreeing with women just because they are the same gender as me. It also wasn't wrong of me to disagree with these marches and protest because they were very hypocritical. My impression of these marches was to encourage women to express their opinions and tell the world that their bodies were their own and no one could change that. As the marchers progressed throughout the day, women started reporting to news sites that they were shunned and turned away from the marches because they were pro-life. How is this OK? These marches were supposed to be about equality and embracing every type of women, gender, and person, but they simply weren't. In my opinion, these marches were a sad attempt to disrespect and embarrass President Trump. If these women truly wanted to make a difference they would have accepted ANYONE who wanted to march with them and not made it an attack on certain people and their beliefs.
So this is me telling maybe that one young woman reading this that is torn with agreeing to something she doesn't truly believe in that it is totally OK. If you feel like you have to support these marches and opinions strictly because you're a woman please do not feel that way. Make your own opinions, follow your own path, and change the world one act of kindness at a time.
