Well, 2017 sure started off with a bang, kind of right on top of our heads! This is only my 2nd post for 2017 and I was all set to talk about capsule wardrobes but you know what? I just can't do it this week. Not without at least a mention of the state of our country, the world, our planet!
I've looked at all of my favorite blogs, be it fashion, lifestyle, decor, travel, health... and I was shocked that no one took a moment to voice their opinion, concern or anything else but the norm. No one has used their platform, their voice, to mention a thing about the state of our nation. I get it, it stems from politics and many people want to stay away from that subject, especially on a format that people are drawn to for beautiful inspiration. But for me I'd rather take the chance on loosing a reader than staying silent. I'm not going to Trump bash, if you follow me on FB you already know my feelings on
If you were born in the US then you, like me, are one of the luckiest women in the world. You have never had to think about your freedom, it's something you were born into. You can say what you want to say without fear of being arrested, killed or stoned in the town square. You can turn on your faucet for water without having to walk miles to collect it from a well. You can vote, drive, have a family, a career, both, go to school, stand on your head or march with 750,000 other women, men and children to oppose anyone that dares to threaten your right to freedom. Last Saturday, January 21, 2017, that's just what I did along side my daughter and my husband. I have never marched in a protest before, I don't like crowds, this was completely out of my comfort zone, but this was the most amazing experience. In a crowd of 750,000 in downtown Los Angeles I felt perfectly safe, the LOVE in the air was palpable and I felt wrapped in an enormous hug. I looked at the women next to me and recognized her from Instagram, she was with her husband. Instant friends. We were all making history together.
People told me that they didn't march, or they haven't been vocal, or they didn't even vote because they are "just one person". This makes me mad and sad. So I'm not going to talk about the current administration, (that in one week has set out to mess with all of the above, our free speech, the safety of our planet, the right to make decisions about our bodies, etc.), because it makes my blood boil. I'm writing this today to make you re-think your power as a person, as a woman, as a citizen of this free nation, that stands in jeopardy. And if you question the power of ONE, just look at the mess ONE man has made in only a week.
If these women had said "I'm just one" think of what the world would have missed; Susan B. Anthony, Marie Curie, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, Mother Teresa, Anne Frank, Benazir Bhutto, Dr. Mae Jemison, Amelia Earhart, Margaret Thatcher, Emmeline Pankhurst, Gloria Steinem, Rosa Parks, Indira Gandhi, just to name a few.
So if you think it's a waste of time to send that one little postcard or make that one call to your congressman's office, think again, here's some things that start with ONE...
Hey that's us! Me & my amazing Actress/Activist daughter
Me & Handsome, he was pretty popular with that sign
My daughter makes these jackets and 20% of the sale is donated to Planned Parenthood. If you are interested you can find them at donavonbentley.com
Pretty proud of these two
The other side of my sign :)
The other side of my daughters sign
Thank you to all who marched here and around the globe in solidarity and because you are smart enough to know that what happens in America effects the entire world.
If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention!
Photo & sign credit to my daughter Dana Melanie.
