A 10 Second Rant; Then Praise

March 8th. It used to be known locally (within my family) as my birthday, and the birthday of a childhood friend Nellie. In recent years it has been taken over by International Women’s Day. Great! At first, I was a bit put off – there is a day for everyone and everything now – why take my day? But now – I’m totally ok with it. I just wonder when International Men’s Day is, among other days.

I love celebrating Women. I suppose, since I advocate for equality, that I’m a feminist by definition. In reality – I believe celebrating Women, or Black History Month, or Breast Cancer Awareness, etc only serves to create divisions rather than celebrating the similarities we have with one another. I celebrate women because they are not used to the praise from other women. That is sad.

Why do we insist on creating division/categories? I simply don’t understand this need. In order to move forward we need to band together – not just women, but everyone, every gender, every race, and ethnicity.

We would be much better served to celebrate “global togetherness” day, or “we are one” day or a variety of marketing cliches here. What is the purpose of creating division, other than to distract from true issues? I invite discussion, as I don’t get it (I truly don’t understand – please enlighten me), other than it is a matter of ego.

On another note… my island (St. Croix) is truly amazing. In the past few weeks we have had Mardi Croix, and the Cane Bay Music Festival. Activities that were organized to bring our island closer together. The day after the music festival the fireworks company organized a cleanup to gather the (compostable) debris from the fireworks. We also had a pier cleanup hosted by the band Mama’s Blacksheep, who visits and plays locally every winter. 52 divers and over 15 shore personnel participated. It’s beautiful. We come together when needed as a community with mutual goals and interests – preserving our reefs and ocean life.

The point: Why do we continue to create division when looking at similarities is the only way to move forward, together?