Why I will March

So on Saturday I am going to do something I never really dreamt I would do - I am going to march in a Women's Rights political rally. I say I never dreamt I would do it not because I think it is a crazy thing to do but just because that always seemed like something very removed from me - something that happened a long time ago, back when life was so unfair and unjust.

Many people will not agree with my decision to march this weekend - many people who I care about whose opinions matter to me, so I decided I wanted to stop and take a few moments to let people know why I decided to march. Why it does not seem removed from me any longer, but necessary and urgent even.

I am not marching to complain because Trump is president. I was not on his side - I am still not. I am, in fact, disappointed that as a nation we chose him to be our president. But this march is not about whining. It is not about not being able to "get over" loosing. Trump, as of tomorrow, will be the US President. It is what it is. True to my word I am embracing that this year. I know he is my president. The past eight years I have heard some terrible things said about President Obama. I heard him called horrible - even racist - names. I heard him ridiculed, I heard people that I generally respect say things like 'I don't care if he is President, I will never respect him.' I refuse to be one of those people. That kind of hatred and stiff refusal to bend made me sad for our country. The office of the President DOES deserve respect and I do understand that Trump will be in it. That means he automatically earns my respect in that regard. I will not be nasty toward Trump and I will not repay disrespect with disrespect.

I will be marching this weekend to say this...okay. Here you are. I see you. I accept you. Now see me. Now understand this - I/we will NOT accept just anything from you. A win does not mean you can do anything and bring anything you want into the office. A win does not mean you can drag our culture "again" back to a time when women are afraid. Back to a time when minorities are "again" feared simply because they are different. We will not allow you to make America a place "again" where rich white people are the only people that have a voice. That is not what a seat in the oval office wins you. We are here to make sure you know that. Donald Trump's campaign was ugly. It was fully of ugly rhetoric and hate speech that sadly seemed to resonate with some people. However as our President we will be holding him to a higher standard.

We are quietly, kindly and non-aggressively making sure he knows that. We know you won Donald. Congratulations. I am ready to accept that. But know that we are here. We are here to watch you. We are here to support you too, but we are here to stop you if you think you can undo the changes that have actually made America in anyway great in the past. We will not go back to a culture of fear or oppression. We will not be silent or afraid to oppose you.

We see you President Trump. Well done. Now we march to simply say, see us.