Why I Didn't March Yesterday

A lot of people have asked why I didn't march yesterday because I have been so politically active, and I've been a speaker at marches in the past.  When people asked if I was joining the local march, I said "sure," but when it came down to it, I just couldn't go.  Even I didn't understand why I didn't march until today.

I didn't march yesterday because for years I have been trying to get people to be politically involved, and have heard over and over "I don't follow politics" or "I don't follow local politics." Trump didn't happen overnight or this year. He started with Newt Gingrich's Contract With America. He started with the No Child Left Behind Act. He started with Reagan repealing the Fairness Doctrine. He started with big money being poured into judicial races. He started with low voter turnout and voter apathy. He started with people preferring to follow celebrity news over actual journalism. He started with more people knowing the names of every Kardashian but not the names of their elected representatives.  

So no, I didn't join you yesterday. Of course Trump outrages me, but I HAVE BEEN MARCHING AGAINST HIM FOR YEARS and if the outrage yesterday turns into ANY sort of constructive action, THEN I will be with there. But everyone else need to be there as well.

I don't mean to take anything away from those who did march--I was honestly glad to see it and glad to see the humungous turnout.  But unless there is follow up and political engagement, it will just be a footnote in history--not the changing of the future.