Women's March on Washington, FOMO and The Dark Side of the Resistance

Well, I'm dusting off the ol' blog that hasn't been visited in two years to share some feelings about the Women's March on Washington. It was great to see so many women unite and to be supported but I just have not been able to shake a great sense of dissonance over the march. It has even haunted my dreams, so I'm hoping by sharing another voice, that I will get back some peace of mind.

Am I the only one that feels like my gender was exploited this weekend?

Did these women who marched even know what the march was advocating for?

I think Trump is a pig and his locker room talk made me ill....should I have marched to communicate that?

What precedent will this march set for future elections/inaugurations, etc, etc?

What message does this send to the women who voted for Trump?

I want equality in the workplace....so does that mean I should have marched?

Is this really what solidarity looks like? Why do I feel so manipulated?

So many emotions. I've experienced them leading up to the march. I experienced them yesterday during the march and I find they are still lingering (along with all the social media posts about the march) today. Am I experiencing a level of FOMO? Yes, I think I am. Am I also feeling frustrated with the organization and the march itself? Yes, I am. Am I feeling like my gender was taken for a ride yesterday? Yes, I am.

I've seen posts that say they felt "healing" and "solidarity" and I think that's great. I want those things for my friends. I've seen posts that share #whyImarch and their given reason is something I can totally support. But I've also been wondering if these women knew everything that this march stood for? Or did they not get the memo? Did they know they were marching for "pro-choice"? Did they know that "pro-life" supporters were meant to be excluded? Did they know this march was for "ending police brutality"? Did they know the march was for "caregivers","minimum wage","immigration reform","clean water and clean air (climate change)" and more? The list goes on, you can read the "vision" here.

I believe in transparency and I sure hope that all the women who associated their name with this march, clearly understood, accepted and embraced all of the objectives. It just feels sneaky to claim this was a chance for women to unite in solidarity and then slip in that you have a "bold message of resistance".

They claimed is was a peaceful protest but still saying "I'm with her" having celebrities like Madonna claim this is the start of the "rebellion" and that she wishes she could "blow up the Whitehouse" doesn't really count as peaceful in my book.

It was too much and it's not peaceful to try to overthrow our newly and fairly elected president. I just can't get behind it and I feel sick to my stomach thinking that there were probably many women who did not fully understand what they were advocating for.

The organization claimed it was not an anti_Trump protest....but I'm pretty sure it was for a lot of participants...again - it should be clear. It should be unified.

This is #whyIdidn'tmarch and why I feel so bad about the march. Honestly? I feel bullied. The loudest voices are yelling what it means to be a "strong woman" and it comes across as "if you're not with us, you're against us". Can't I be for equality for women, be pro-life, be concerned about police brutality but also not join the Black Lives Matter movement AND still be a strong woman? Is that really not an option? Is there only one way to be the best kind of woman? Do I have to be "Nasty" and have voted for Hillary? (Which by the way, if you're really her follower, then why are you protesting? She was all smiles and graciousness at the inauguration. She's accepting the results and moving on. Maybe consider following that example as well.) Is there really not room for all of us, women?

I want so much for our country to accept our democratic process (I know, I know, you have the right to protest as part of democracy. I don't need a history lesson.) we elected a president. He may not be your first choice but I wish Americans would move forward. What happens the next time we have an election? What then? I want America to heal. And just one last request - if you are a person who can't understand how anyone could vote for Trump - I would encourage you to make a list of five positive, maybe even honorable, reasons that could have led someone to vote for him. Let's try to understand each other better. That's what unity and solidarity looks like to me.