Inspired by
Dee's past post, I'm doing my own...waaay after the fact! I haven't been too current or frequent in my posting. Nor have I been too current or frequent in my blog reading. I've been on a different, quite unproductive, tangent. It is okay. I suppose there is a season for everything.
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On Saturday June 30th, we attended our local March for the Children...
"Families Belong Together"
right here in our own Valley! This was really something as we live in a Republican Rich area, so to Even Have a March Here was Something! We were not only glad to March here for that simple reason of it shockingly being here at all,
but for the more selfish (at least I can speak for me) reason that I did not have to deal with the getting to and being in the one in downtown LA.
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Okay, enough of the logistics. We went because among all of the other things we believe in, and among all of the other things we can't stand about this administration and their beliefs, policies (do they have those?) and their Actions...
This was for the CHILDREN!
And children is what I've been about since I was nine years old.
It's what I do everyday.
Children and Families and Staff...humanity.
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The turnout was WAY MORE people than we expected for a local event.
We were pleasantly surprised here was so much diversity represented.
Old ↔ Young ↔ Middle-aged
↔Varied income (guessing here!), skin color, level of participation, level of health and religious beliefs ↔
↔ Just about, maybe 500 people standing up for CHILDREN and Families ↔
IN OUR AREA!
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| The crowd begins to grow |
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| Protest sign |
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| In the moment |
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| Every age and mode of marching! |
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| Artifacts |
*AS ALWAYS:
CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
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| We marched on both sides of the street...there were lots of folks! |
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| There was a drummer, keeping the beat going! |
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| Protest shirt |
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| Here, here |
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| Starting young |
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| Lots of emphasis on appropriate VOTING! |
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| Creative expression |
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| Katie Hill |
Katie Hill spoke passionately from the heart.
So did
Christy Smith and
Brad Sherman (from our neighboring Valley).
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← HUGE BREAK →
Well, I almost completed this whole post in one sitting, in a timely manner.
HA
Okay, I'm back after days and days of work, exhaustion and illness...
along with just plain old not getting it done.
During all these days, thoughts have swirled in my head.
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| Ideas Shared |
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| For some, maybe an A-Ha moment, yes? |
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| Yes! |
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| Protest family |
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| The children shall lead?? |
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| Shouting it out! |
At the close of the speeches, the organizer's daughter (I believe)
led us off for the return walk with the familiar call and response chant:
"SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE"
"This is what democracy looks like!"
"SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE"
"This is what democracy looks like!"
"SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE"
"This is what democracy looks like!"
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As the day closes, we were so grateful to have attended, so proud to act on our strong beliefs...and so full of passion.
J. and I discussed the pros and cons of the young activist
and the children attending with their own range of knowledge and understanding.
I'm glad for the families that feel this is an important enough issue to educate their young ones. I'm glad there will be a next generation of those with a social conscience. Overall, I was pleased to see the huge turnout and be a part of it.
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the new(ish) documentary movie about Mr. Fred Rogers. I've seen it a second time since then. If you haven't seen it yet...and you can...DO! It is so worth your time and money.
That weekend, I was filled with warm love feelings from the joining of many to support children and families...from the true gem that is Mr. Rogers, so beautifully shared in this film. The whole "Love Wins" or "Love trumps Hate" thing.
However, one scene, towards the end of the movie, has really stuck with me in a way I didn't expect. Mr. Rogers is talking about seeing young children holding hateful signs protesting during that era.
This led me to further consider the role of young children today, in the hopes of a better tomorrow. I kept thinking: What if the children holding handmade signs were supporters to the 'other side'? How would I feel then? Do those parents have a right to teach their young their equally passionately held beliefs, when they clearly, truly believe them to be fact, to be right? When are the ideas of the children, really those of the adults? Who has the right to lead, mold, inspire and how?
Of course, you can probably guess where a lot of this pondering led me, especially upon seeing the twin girls and other children at the recent rally in PA.
But, it is always good to keep an open mind and to entertain many ideas.
Even if you return pretty much right where you started.
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I find it fitting that I've managed to finish this off on the one year anniversary
of the protests in Charlottesville, while protest attempt to rage in DC.
The low turnout there had me chuckling, as did this protest sign from today:
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May your days be filled with love, goodness and something to believe in.
xo
Photos by NAE ©2018
