What I Learned At The Women's March

The word "awesome" has lost much of its value over the years and I resist using it at nearly every opportunity. But after having attended the Women's March on DC, I find few arrows in my vocabulary quiver that can approach the target of defining this event.

Gobsmacked. That's it! Yes, I was. And here's why. Apart from the astonishing crush of protesters filling the center of the capital, there was the sense of renewed possibility - even inevitability!  Over 500,000 souls converging through a singular catalyst to give voice to many issues. It was a great glorious mess of an event that truly captured The Big Tent of widespread political activism.

I learned that as an older white guy, I thought I knew a lot about What Women Want. But I've been spending my time wading in the shallow end of the pool. A new term has entered my mindset: Intersectional Feminism.

And though the turnout was primarily White Women, a diversity of race, religion, politics and age was definitely represented. There was a ready acceptance there for many causes. (In fact, Trump-voting women would have been welcome there, despite some social media accusations that they had been denied access - this would have been impossible. Anyone could have streamed in. There weren't even any security checkpoints!)

And what were some of these voices seeking expression?

National Domestic Workers Alliance    Planned Parenthood    Criminal Justice Reform

Astrea, Lesbian Foundation for Justice    DREAM Action Coalition    Moms Rising

Native Organizers Alliance   Juvenile Delinquency Prevention   NAACP

Natural Resources Defense Council   NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

Council on American-Islamic Relations    American Federation of Teachers

And a host of other organizations, activists, authors, educators and celebrities, most of whom were eloquent and erudite in their addresses. America Ferrara. Gloria Steinem. Mayor Bowser. Scarlett Johansen. Ashley Judd. Michael Moore. Angela Davis. Alicia Keys. Van Jones. Janet Mock. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris. And the proverbial More. Oh, and Madonna and her "blow it up" rhetoric.

There were entertainers such as the sublime Janelle Monae, who captured it all when she took the microphone, gazed out upon the multitudes, and called out, "Hello, Future!" Her remarks struck me as consciously appropriating and turning around the conceits of Ayn Rand and her John Galt-loving acolytes when she suggested that women can stop the nation if they choose. At the very least, her movement vision conjured a Lysistrata-like resistance.

Give her a look, especially the first couple of minutes. After speaking on Abuse of Power, she gets into high political entertainer gear when she brings out the mothers of slain black american men Trayvon Martin, Dontre Hamilton, Eric Garner and Jordan Davis for a sing-along. Invoking the murdered Sandra Bland, she implores the crowd "Say Her Name" and then hands the mic over to the moms on stage, saying their dead children's names and the crowd responding "Say His Name!" Powerful stuff.

The outraged anger and indignation provoked by our new President's words and actions was present, but not in any negative manner. Instead, the outrage was manifested by a hundred thousand signs, mostly expressing wry and witty language of protest.

In fact, the entire atmosphere surrounding this gigantic gathering was marked by a high-spirited energy, a sense of fun, and even happiness. I believe there was a surprised relief that so many like-minded strangers had come together seeking community to push back against the administration and the mindset it represents.

In the end, I was left with a renewed sense of hope and possibility against Long Odds. Imagine what has happened over the last year, if viewed from only two years ago. An extreme long shot wins the Presidency (with some outside help). The political stars were aligned in this act of destiny. The course of our nation has turned hard. But it is not irrevocable. It is not permanent. And it is not impossible to imagine that We, The People can turn it back around, and more! How would Dr. King react to our situation?

And as my wife and I made our way through the majestic throngs, mere specks in a vast and sprawling George Seurat-like pointillist masterpiece of humanity, I recalled the words of the Greek dramatist, Euripides, who wrote at the conclusion of Medea,

"In heaven, Zeus holds the balance.

Expect the unexpected.

What mortals dream, the gods frustrate;

For the impossible they contrive a way.

So it was with what happened here, today."