The Women’s March was a most convincing manifestation that we have had enough!
I think it was the biggest evidence that we, women, joined by men, mean business and that both sexes fervently feel that we must use our numbers against individuals who think they have the upper hand. Peter Finch, as Howard Beale, in the 1976 movie, “Network,” said “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore.”
We watched millions in countries all over the world joining peacefully in asserting that they care. And, again, we are seeing additional protests.
The challenge now is to persist in large numbers to express our opinions, offer solutions and impress on world leaders that we want improvement.
This movement will survive only if we define the problems we want to solve and educate ourselves and others in detail. We need to devise possible solutions and find ways to discuss them with others.
Fortunately, we can access countless reliable sources. I admit that sometimes it is difficult, but reliable analysts and studies, newspapers, magazines, meetings and lectures provide information we can believe.
When we have developed a working knowledge of the issues, and there are many, we need to join groups to discuss and compare solutions, make our opinions known in the press, and convince those in power by our numbers.
Successful protests demand a great deal of organization.
Help is available if we truly want to be effective. Training is available in existing advocacy groups.
Leaders are available to train, assign tasks as simple as writing letters, signing petitions, calling our representatives’ offices to express our opinions and promise to support their efforts if they vote for our needs, giving donations to finance publicity and money for their campaigns, actually going to the voting booth and showing by the numbers that we must be listened to.
The possibilities are endless and we will feel that we can be heard. If we make our opinions plain to those who represent us they eventually get the message. It is shocking to know that voters in this beloved country go to the polls only about 50 percent of the time, and much less on smaller occasions.
As an advocate for many years, beginning with going to Washington on a bus to fight for an end to the Vietnam War, and persisting for many years for various causes, culminating recently with urging Gov. Cuomo to ban fracking in New York State, I can attest that persistence pays off. And it is a pleasure to join like-minded people to make a difference.
We must never feel that we are powerless.
Esther Confino
New Hyde Park
