I really try not to get too political on this blog. After all, you come here for tips about weaving in ends, updates on how fast I’m making it through my latest pair of socks, and me griping about how bored I get when I pick a pattern with too much stockinette. I get it. You don’t want me hopping up on my soapbox every time someone in office does something I don’t like. (Which is often- ask my husband.)
But today seems like a good day to break my politics-and-knitting-shouldn’t-mix rule. It’s been just over a year since Trump’s inauguration, and (not really coincidentally), a year since the first Women’s March.
Last year, I got to march with my friends down in LA, where I knit and distributed a whole pile of Pussyhats. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to the march this year, but you better believe I was there in spirit. And I made sure towear my hat from last year all day (it’s the one I actually finished while marching last year).
The last year has been filled with ups and downs of all varieties- issues with taxes and immigration, the widespread acknowledgment of sexual assault in, and questions of women’s healthcare. But, there’s one story that’s been giving me a ton of hope lately.
2018 is an election year, and an important one. Control of both the House and Senate are going to be very tightly contested (heck, the Senate is currently held by the Republicans by only 1 vote!), so this will be a situation where every vote really does matter.
And, with people starting to line up to run for office (state and local office, too- not just national), people have started noticing something amazing.
Women are stepping up to run for office in unprecedented numbers!
Now, of course, I’d never suggest you vote for a woman just because she’s a woman (the same way I’d never say you should vote for a man, just because of his gender). But better representation of women and minorities can’t be a bad thing, right? (Right now, only about 20% of representatives and senators are women!)
If you agree that more female representation in government is a good idea, you might want to take a peek at two groups that are helping women who want to run for election (from local office all the way up to national positions).
She Should Run is a non-partisan non-profit that gives women the resources, knowledge and networking that they need to run, regardless of their ideology or party affiliation. They encourage women to actively participate in politics and run for office, something that historically, women have been discouraged from participating in.
Emily’s List is a Democratic pro-choice group that works to give candidates the resources they need to mount successful campaigns. In the last 15+ years, they have run hundreds of trainings for women interested in making a change in their communities and helped many campaigns become successful. If you’re someone who thinks pro-choice issues are important, you can even go onto Emily’s List and look for your local candidates to see if they’ve been endorsed.
Anyway, I suppose it’s time for me to get off my soap box. Don’t worry- my next post will be all about how I can’t stand working with tiny needles, or how my blanket is not growing nearly as fast as I wish it would.
Did you make it to the Women’s March this year? Are you planning on voting in the November election (or are you running!)?
On the Needles 
I didn’t participate this year but am grateful for those who did, and I also knit a stack of hats last year and sent them to friends who wore them in marches all over the country!
And yes, I AM voting (as I always have) and this year I AM researching the candidates more than ever, and have been keeping track of how the local incumbents have been voting on issues as well. It IS time for women to be more involved, but as you say, I’m not voting based on gender, I’m voting based on what I believe is best for this country and for those who I feel will do the right things.
I made the apparent mistake, however, of voicing my opinion on the Women’s March Facebook page regarding an issue that came up later in the year. I didn’t agree with the movement’s stance, and after calmly and respectfully explaining why, I was thoroughly shouted down, and attempts were made to tear me down personally ( “you’re worthless”).
I don’t blame the movement for those people’s words, but I guess I expected a modicum of respect and tolerance from a group that (I thought) was founded on getting these very things for everyone. As soon as a very vocal segment discovered I was not in lockstep with them, they resorted to discrimination and name-calling. I found it distasteful and not something I wanted to be associated with. I withdrew from the page and am simply following my own conscience and beliefs on my own.
And now back to knitting with you! How’s Ollie doing these days? 🙂
I couldn’t march either year. I sent hats to both marches, and just got a request for another hat today. I belong to two Facebook groups that are totally local, and mostly maintain the peace. I spent last year ‘dogging’ my Senators and Representative. I voted, and plan to vote this year.
Way to dog those politicians! Good for you!