Gleaning Facebook: On The Women's March

I am very proud of the many women and men in my acquaintance who took the opportunity to protest the state of America under a president who lost the vote of the people but pretends to have a mandate to destroy the gains of the last eight years, especially as regards human rights, health care, and the environment.

It is scary that even 37% of our population would claim to admire a man so self-centered and petty as our president. He was "demoralized" (as his spokesman admits) when his lies were challenged by the press, and when Americans rose up to speak truth to power. Can you imagine what the last eight years would have been like if our last president had been so fragile.

President Obama made it a practice to read ten letters from ordinary Americans every night. He read those that took issue with him as well as those who wanted to thank him. Never have we had a president so determined to serve all of America. The new guy? He serves only one American as far as I can see. Wonder if he will ever see a letter from a different point of view? I wonder if he will ever have a aide who will say: "Mr. President that is wrong."

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I learned shortly before reading John's post of some folks I otherwise admire getting outraged over the marches that included my daughter and many of my most admired friends. I am very aggravated with myself that I did not join them.

How can anyone in America hear the vile words that have come from the mouth of our current President of the United States and contemplate his admitted sexual assaults and consider the pettiness and narcissism and lies that he has displayed each of the four days of his presidency, and THEN complain about a handful of over-the-top demonstrators in a multi-million person peaceful series of marches all over America.

Over the past few days a few people have spent their time bashing the Women's March held this past weekend. They have called these women UnAmerican, UnChristian and every other name in the book. They have posted photoshopped pictures from fake news sites or real pictures from the few idiots that infiltrate every big event. Many of the negative posters have asked why these women didn't spend that Saturday doing good for others instead of marching. I have finally had enough.

I know based on Facebook posts, personal information and discussions with friends and acquaintances at least two dozen or more people who walked either in Washington, Atlanta or elsewhere on Saturday. Some of these are women I have known 30, 40 and in a couple of instances almost 50 years. I have gone to school with these women, have attended church with these women and have worked with these women. They are intelligent, hard working, successful citizens. They are mothers, grandmothers, and daughters just like many of you reading this post. Every one of those people I know who marched has spent hundreds of hours a year working for the good of their communities, their schools, their churches and people far less fortunate than them. I dare say few of us--myself included--can come close to accomplishing what they have in life.

Were there a few speakers at the marches on Saturday who were over the top, were offensive, and said things with which I disagreed? Absolutely. Were there some signs displayed by some of those marching that were obscene and did more harm than good to their cause? No doubt. Were there a few bad apples mixed in? Probably. Do I agree with every cause every person in those marches supported? Certainly not.

Those women who marched on Saturday spent money and took time from their lives to stand up for a cause in which they believed. That is their right as Americans. You can disagree with their stands, you can argue they are wrong and you can pledge to oppose them when you go and vote and engage in your own rallies in the future. That is the American way. Just don't do it by demeaning them simply because that isn't how you choose to do things.

- John McClellan