Rebuttal to Christy on FB who doesn't need Women's March
Jan 26, 2017 5:43:51 GMT
pierogi, rodeomom, and 8 more like this
Post by beaglemom on Jan 26, 2017 5:43:51 GMT
I posted this on my facebook page after seeing some horribly degrading posts about women that chose to march over the weekend I felt the need to write what pushed me to march.
As an educated, privileged white woman I marched for many reasons:
To fight for the freedom of and FROM religion - Anyone can practice the religion they see fit, that is their right. They may believe and practice within their homes, hearts, and churches. But it is also my right to not have the values from their religion imposed on my freedoms. I am free to practice or not practice as I see fit.
To fight for the freedom of the press - we have already seen that the current President does not respect the press’ rights to report things which contradict his version of events. We have the right to a free press that can investigate and report and ask questions in order to provide much-needed transparency.
To fight for free, quality K-12 education for all students in the US. My children are very fortunate that they attend a school in a district that is well funded and has a parent base that is very generous with its time and money. I think that all children should have the opportunity to attend well-funded schools with highly qualified teachers. If students are coming from a home environment that is struggling they should have access to free nutritious food at school to ensure that they can learn to the best of their abilities. Students that are struggling due to learning differences, past trauma, or for any reason should be given support to help them achieve success.
To support the millions of immigrants that now feel they are not welcome in this nation of immigrants. No one should be frightened for their safety because they are not white. We are a country built of and by immigrants and our differences should be celebrated rather than demonized.
To support the LGBTQ community. I believe everyone has the right to love who they love and to feel comfortable in their own skin. I have seen amazing love, devotion, and community within the LGBTQ community in the face of visceral hate and discrimination. As a heterosexual, white woman it is my duty to stand up and demand that those who are different than me be afforded the same rights and privileges as I am, regardless of their gender status or sexual orientation.
To fight for affordable college for students across the country. No one should have to spend their entire adult life paying back student loans that were essential for them to be able to get a job with a living wage in the first place.
To fight for the disabled. They deserved a nation where their rights are recognized and they are supported. Not one where they are mocked for their differences.
To fight against dependence on fossil fuels and for the use of renewable resources. I believe that climate change is real and that we are heavily contributing to it. I also believe that if we do not make significant changes as soon as possible the world that we leave to our children and grandchildren will be one that we will not recognize. Investment in renewable resources is the only way that we are going to be able to halt catastrophic results from climate change. By promising to drill in protected areas and to roll back environmental regulations the President is moving us backwards significantly and showing the rest of the world that the only thing that matters is the US, which is the last thing we need.
To support minority populations. No person should feel that their worth is determined by the color of their skin, the religion they do or do not practice, their sexual orientation, or any physical or mental disability. I want these groups to know that I stand with them in demanding respect and protesting the hateful speech and actions of others against them. We have been shown again and again that this President feels he is above reproach and can mock or disparage those who are not white, christian males.
To fight for women’s health. I have been very fortunate to only have one time in my life when I did not have access to health care. I had a gap between getting married in August and my husband returning to graduate school the next January. I was able to go to Planned Parenthood and receive an annual exam and get a prescription for affordable birth control, without Planned Parenthood I would have needed to pay hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for this brief gap in coverage. There is no reason that viagra should be discounted under healthcare and tax-free, but birth control not be. The services Planned Parenthood and other similar places offer, such as sexual education, pregnancy prevention and birth control, vasectomies, female sterilization, pregnancy tests, prenatal care, sexual transmitted disease screeing and treatment, pap smears (cervical cancer screening), breast exams and research, are critical in helping to promoting healthy women and allowing them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
To fight for support for women and children. While many conservatives claim to be pro-life, I argue they are pro-birth. If they were truly pro-life there would be greater affordable (or free) prenatal counseling and care, realistic sexual education that focuses on prevention of pregnancy rather than preaching abstinence - since there is significant scientific evidence that proves that abstinence-only education does NOT work. There needs to be parenting education and support, to help mothers and children break the cycle of poverty. There needs to be access to affordable quality foods - fruits, vegetables, and meats - and nutrition counseling. There needs to be affordable, quality childcare that allows parents to support their families and know that their children are in a safe, loving, educational environment. By providing these services, education, and more we can help families move out of poverty.
To fight for the rights of veterans and military families. No military family past or present should be living in poverty and without access to prompt mental and physical care. They have provided an invaluable service to our country and it is our duty to help support them during and after their service. Health care, job training, housing services, mental health services and job placement should all be readily available to these men and women.
To protest the rape culture that is so pervasive in our country. That has blamed and shamed women for sexual violence forced upon them, rather than supporting them and listening to them. To protest the fact that white men feel our bodies are not our own and they should have power over them. To fight against sexual harassment in any and all forms. No woman or man should ever be made to feel bad, powerless, or inferior because of a man or woman above them
To fight for paid maternity and paternity leave and support. It is unconscionable that as a first world country we treat our mothers and fathers as though their job as a parent has no value. Women are expected to return to work before they are physically healed and as they are trying to nourish their child or risk losing their job. Men are not granted time to bond with their child or to support their partner during this life changing event. By repealing the ACA women lose the protections of lactation support and counseling, pumping equipment and supplies, and the infrastructure of pump rooms and guaranteed break time to pump. Babies benefit from having as much breastmilk as possible and giving women the resources to make this as painless as possible is essential.
I marched for my daughter and my sons. I marched so they have an example of their mother standing up for what she believes in and is willing to fight for. I marched so when my children and grandchildren learn about this election in history class I will be able to tell them that I was one of the millions of women around the world that stood up and said we must be heard. This does not represent who we are as a nation and we will not quietly sit by and allow others to be demonized or subjugated because it doesn’t affect our lives.
I also marched against a man who has openly called women all manner of derogatory names, boasted of his sexual assault of them, and is now the most powerful man in the United States and an example to future generations. A man who has shown to have little regard for the facts. A man who has shown that he is willing to bully those who stand against him. I marched to show this man that I will fight to have my voice and the voices of millions of others heard.
And most importantly I marched to show solidarity and support for the millions of women around the world that can not march. We are fortunate to live in a time and place where it is our right to march and protest and stand up for what we believe. There are so many that do not have that privilege and in doing so we can only hope to bring a voice to their plight. It is my duty as a strong woman to stand up for what I believe in and fight for that in any way I can.
I pledge going forward to remain politically engaged and active. To search out unbiased media sources to learn the facts of the issues and to make informed, educated decisions based on those facts. To continue to support marginalized groups through financial support and volunteering. To reach out to elected officials to communicate my concerns and to show support for legislation that I believe work to support all Americans.
As an educated, privileged white woman I marched for many reasons:
To fight for the freedom of and FROM religion - Anyone can practice the religion they see fit, that is their right. They may believe and practice within their homes, hearts, and churches. But it is also my right to not have the values from their religion imposed on my freedoms. I am free to practice or not practice as I see fit.
To fight for the freedom of the press - we have already seen that the current President does not respect the press’ rights to report things which contradict his version of events. We have the right to a free press that can investigate and report and ask questions in order to provide much-needed transparency.
To fight for free, quality K-12 education for all students in the US. My children are very fortunate that they attend a school in a district that is well funded and has a parent base that is very generous with its time and money. I think that all children should have the opportunity to attend well-funded schools with highly qualified teachers. If students are coming from a home environment that is struggling they should have access to free nutritious food at school to ensure that they can learn to the best of their abilities. Students that are struggling due to learning differences, past trauma, or for any reason should be given support to help them achieve success.
To support the millions of immigrants that now feel they are not welcome in this nation of immigrants. No one should be frightened for their safety because they are not white. We are a country built of and by immigrants and our differences should be celebrated rather than demonized.
To support the LGBTQ community. I believe everyone has the right to love who they love and to feel comfortable in their own skin. I have seen amazing love, devotion, and community within the LGBTQ community in the face of visceral hate and discrimination. As a heterosexual, white woman it is my duty to stand up and demand that those who are different than me be afforded the same rights and privileges as I am, regardless of their gender status or sexual orientation.
To fight for affordable college for students across the country. No one should have to spend their entire adult life paying back student loans that were essential for them to be able to get a job with a living wage in the first place.
To fight for the disabled. They deserved a nation where their rights are recognized and they are supported. Not one where they are mocked for their differences.
To fight against dependence on fossil fuels and for the use of renewable resources. I believe that climate change is real and that we are heavily contributing to it. I also believe that if we do not make significant changes as soon as possible the world that we leave to our children and grandchildren will be one that we will not recognize. Investment in renewable resources is the only way that we are going to be able to halt catastrophic results from climate change. By promising to drill in protected areas and to roll back environmental regulations the President is moving us backwards significantly and showing the rest of the world that the only thing that matters is the US, which is the last thing we need.
To support minority populations. No person should feel that their worth is determined by the color of their skin, the religion they do or do not practice, their sexual orientation, or any physical or mental disability. I want these groups to know that I stand with them in demanding respect and protesting the hateful speech and actions of others against them. We have been shown again and again that this President feels he is above reproach and can mock or disparage those who are not white, christian males.
To fight for women’s health. I have been very fortunate to only have one time in my life when I did not have access to health care. I had a gap between getting married in August and my husband returning to graduate school the next January. I was able to go to Planned Parenthood and receive an annual exam and get a prescription for affordable birth control, without Planned Parenthood I would have needed to pay hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for this brief gap in coverage. There is no reason that viagra should be discounted under healthcare and tax-free, but birth control not be. The services Planned Parenthood and other similar places offer, such as sexual education, pregnancy prevention and birth control, vasectomies, female sterilization, pregnancy tests, prenatal care, sexual transmitted disease screeing and treatment, pap smears (cervical cancer screening), breast exams and research, are critical in helping to promoting healthy women and allowing them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
To fight for support for women and children. While many conservatives claim to be pro-life, I argue they are pro-birth. If they were truly pro-life there would be greater affordable (or free) prenatal counseling and care, realistic sexual education that focuses on prevention of pregnancy rather than preaching abstinence - since there is significant scientific evidence that proves that abstinence-only education does NOT work. There needs to be parenting education and support, to help mothers and children break the cycle of poverty. There needs to be access to affordable quality foods - fruits, vegetables, and meats - and nutrition counseling. There needs to be affordable, quality childcare that allows parents to support their families and know that their children are in a safe, loving, educational environment. By providing these services, education, and more we can help families move out of poverty.
To fight for the rights of veterans and military families. No military family past or present should be living in poverty and without access to prompt mental and physical care. They have provided an invaluable service to our country and it is our duty to help support them during and after their service. Health care, job training, housing services, mental health services and job placement should all be readily available to these men and women.
To protest the rape culture that is so pervasive in our country. That has blamed and shamed women for sexual violence forced upon them, rather than supporting them and listening to them. To protest the fact that white men feel our bodies are not our own and they should have power over them. To fight against sexual harassment in any and all forms. No woman or man should ever be made to feel bad, powerless, or inferior because of a man or woman above them
To fight for paid maternity and paternity leave and support. It is unconscionable that as a first world country we treat our mothers and fathers as though their job as a parent has no value. Women are expected to return to work before they are physically healed and as they are trying to nourish their child or risk losing their job. Men are not granted time to bond with their child or to support their partner during this life changing event. By repealing the ACA women lose the protections of lactation support and counseling, pumping equipment and supplies, and the infrastructure of pump rooms and guaranteed break time to pump. Babies benefit from having as much breastmilk as possible and giving women the resources to make this as painless as possible is essential.
I marched for my daughter and my sons. I marched so they have an example of their mother standing up for what she believes in and is willing to fight for. I marched so when my children and grandchildren learn about this election in history class I will be able to tell them that I was one of the millions of women around the world that stood up and said we must be heard. This does not represent who we are as a nation and we will not quietly sit by and allow others to be demonized or subjugated because it doesn’t affect our lives.
I also marched against a man who has openly called women all manner of derogatory names, boasted of his sexual assault of them, and is now the most powerful man in the United States and an example to future generations. A man who has shown to have little regard for the facts. A man who has shown that he is willing to bully those who stand against him. I marched to show this man that I will fight to have my voice and the voices of millions of others heard.
And most importantly I marched to show solidarity and support for the millions of women around the world that can not march. We are fortunate to live in a time and place where it is our right to march and protest and stand up for what we believe. There are so many that do not have that privilege and in doing so we can only hope to bring a voice to their plight. It is my duty as a strong woman to stand up for what I believe in and fight for that in any way I can.
I pledge going forward to remain politically engaged and active. To search out unbiased media sources to learn the facts of the issues and to make informed, educated decisions based on those facts. To continue to support marginalized groups through financial support and volunteering. To reach out to elected officials to communicate my concerns and to show support for legislation that I believe work to support all Americans.
