I marched in Washington, D.C. today.
My mom and I took the train up, and the crowds were insane. We finally made it to 12th St and the Mall (Smithsonian metro station), and watched people streaming in from everywhere. Solid rivers of people, and they just kept coming. They carried signs, with all sorts of ideas. Women's rights. Minority rights. Religious rights. Disability rights.
Human rights.
Like Horton's Whos, we felt we needed to be heard. After two years of ugly, horrible bigotry spewed all over the media, all over the world, and right here in our own election, we needed to stand up and stop being ignored. We need to stand up and say that belittling others, mocking them, assaulting them, insulting them, this is wrong. This is unacceptable. To have anyone in any office who thinks it is OK is an insult to humanity, and insult to our country, and an insult to YOU. Because you are a human being.We are all human beings.
Why is that so hard for people to grasp?
There is a basic principle we try hard to teach my kids. Grasping it is the #1 mark of maturity. It is super simple.
Treat others as you would want to be treated.
Not "as you are treated." Not "as you think they ought to be treated." Imagine you are that other person. How would you want to be treated? With dignity? Respect? Privacy? Understanding? Compassion? Empathy? I hope so. Treat other people that way. It is just that simple.
If you are feeling ignored in this country, you have the right to take to the streets and shout. You have a right to make yourself heard. That is one thing the First Amendment guarantees as a basic right of every citizen.
My son has those same rights. I have those same rights. You have those same rights. It is frustrating, aggravating, depressing, and annoying that so many people just cannot grasp that concept.
This is Joey. This is autism.
This is a human being.
