Honest to goodness, there is nothing like a good, old-fashioned rally and march–which is why I was more than happy to participate in Ann Arbor’s 30th Take Back the Night–an annual event dedicated to bring awareness (and an end) to violence against women, children, and families.
It was cold, it was rainy, and it was altogether very Michigan out, but that didn’t stop a solid group of aware individuals (babies and puppies included!) from marching through the streets of A2 with homemade drums, signs, and chants to get the word out that violence must end.
I can’t describe the feeling of being united with a group of otherwise strangers as we literally stopped traffic to march through the hustling and bustling town to bring extreme attention to ourselves and the cause. People stop and stare, and I have to say I’m happy for it. Because they should stop and stare. If someone were to say, WTF are these people doing? they in turn have to ask WTF is going on with our world?
You know, I kinda felt like Bub Rub and Lil’ Sis that night–and I do not say this to minimize the gravity or importance of the rally or the march. Everyone in their town complained about the noise made by their whistle tips. And you know what they said? It’s like an alarm clock. They should be up making breakfast anyway.
And you know what? We’re like an alarm clock, too.
We need to get out in the streets and cause a scene every once in awhile. We need to have public displays of agitation in order to wake other people up. We need to air out our dirty laundry to get it clean, and we need to encourage others to do the same.
While the whistle tips are just for decoration, Take Back the Night is just for awareness. So consider this your wake up call, world. Whoo Whoo!
WHOO WHOO on sister. WHOO WHOO on…