Solidarity Large and Small

Many of you went on a Women’s March on January 21. Since I’m visiting Dad, I arranged to go to the nearby march in San Diego. I was ambivalent about attending a protest here. Most women strive to look like Barbie dolls, politics are conservative, and community spirit isn’t a core value. I was happily surprised to be part of a peaceful, well-organized event with 40,000 (good-looking) people. More diversity than I expected, an incredibly wholesome scene, with many men and children. It was actually really cool to hear thousands of participants sing the national anthem – folks even knew the words.

What I didn’t expect was that back in the lobby of my father’s retirement village, 52 women were doing their own miniature march. In their 80s and 90s, these ladies have experienced historical transformations they are unwilling to see reversed. They may use walkers, but that hasn’t slowed down their passion. Elders want to preserve a hard-won legacy and shape the future for their descendants. Although the demonstration wasn’t officially endorsed by facility management, the CEO showed up - joined by her mother. A local news crew even came to film the handmade signs. Where was my dad? Sid went to the lobby to get his mail, saw the action, and stuck around to watch. His buddy Ida, approaching 101 years, was leading the pack. By the time I arrived, everything was over; it was back to the routine of complaining about menu choices.

What brought the point home for me, more than any of the marches, was a short talk with a woman who sits next to my father at the dining room table every night. Tonia grew up in Poland and witnessed the growth of the Nazi movement as a teenager. Public apathy and media manipulation created events few believed could happen – let’s just call it “alternative facts.” She watched Trump’s inauguration speech and recognized the same populism themes, the hollow promises, and she got scared. She told me that American complacency was her nightmare.

There are tons of wonderful images of the big marches. I was privileged to witness a little one.