I forgot to address something else yesterday.

From the same "discussion" yesterday about "getting over it" (I hear your collective sigh, "Again?!"), another statement was made that has stuck in my craw:

"[A]t this time, too many people are too caught up in the many issues we need to address. And unfortunately, rather than find the truth and move forward with a resolution we have women knitting pink hats and wearing them to protests. Wonderful! But really, what did it solve? Nothing. To nitpick, it was counterproductive since the yarn could have been used to make hats and scarves for the homeless. I assume most women used transportation that runs on gas to get there. They justified our "need" for oil and further encouraged the pro-pipeline supporters. And what about the environmental cost? 

But this is the kind of conversation we can't have. Because people are too passionate right now. It would be nice to see that energy focused on solutions rather than crafts and chats."

I'm not even exactly sure how to respond to all this.  Full disclosure: I have no idea exactly what side of the political spectrum this person lands on, so I am responding to the comments based solely on the words, not with any political bias against the person.  Also, I think this person is a distant relative whom I have never met, so I have to be nice.

• "Too many people caught up in the many issues we need to address."  Does that mean there should be less people involved?  Fewer issues addressed?  Yes, there are many people caught up, and they should be; and let individuals decide which are the most important issues for them to address.
• "What did it solve?"  Well, we may not necessarily see the results of the protests, certainly nothing earth-shattering happened at the exact moment they were taking place.  DT was not going to descend upon the rabble from his gold throne that has been newly-installed in the Oval Office (can't wait to see that during his first public address) to suddenly say, "Ya know what, you brave women are absolutely right and I hereby rescind everything I have said and done so far." You want to know what it solved?  Allow me to steal from another brilliant piece I found tonight:

"For everyone who DID something, small or big, your efforts have been successful. Because of you:

1. Federal hiring freeze is reversed for VA (Veteran Affairs).2. Court order Partial stay of the immigration ban for those with valid visas.3. Green card holders can get back in country.4. Uber pledges $3M and immigration lawyers for its drivers after #DeleteUber trends on Twitter.5. Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) enrollment ads are still going to air.6. The ACLU raised 24M over the weekend (normally 3-4Mil/year).7. HHS, EPA, USDA gag order lifted.8. EPA climate data no longer scrubbed from website.9. More people of different career/religious/economic/race backgrounds are considering running for political office than ever before.10. MOST importantly, since we live in a participatory democracy, the people are engaged.While more is needed, you have to celebrate your wins."

• "To nitpick . . . "  Yeah, ya kinda are.  What do we know what else those women have done in support of the causes for which they fight?  Maybe they DID knit hats for the homeless.  Most of these rallies happened in major metro areas, so I suspect many of them took public transportation.  Maybe they just see this fight as having taken top priority and will return to the others when this one is won.
• "This is the kind of conversation we can't have."  I disagree.  Yes, people are very passionate right now, but that does not mean we can't come together as rational adults as discuss things. We have to rise above the cacophony and vitriol to admit to each other that we ultimately all want the same things; we just have differing philosophies on how to achieve them.  It certainly won't be easy because of the passion, but it has to happen, and soon, before we tear ourselves apart.

So I say don't lessen the importance and value of protest just because a common symbol was chosen as a means of showing unity.  Don't dismiss the actions because you personally don't see grand results.  Be grateful that we live in a country where (at least for now) your voice can be heard by whatever means you choose to use it.  Do what you feel is right, so long as you are not infringing upon another's rights.  For those of us who believe as we do, to quote Mad-Eye Moody, "Constant vigilance!" and #resist.  To us all, peace, love, and prosperity.