It was exciting to be amongst the thousands of people at the Women’s March in Augusta. People held up dozens of interesting signs and it was so crowded that I couldn’t get through the press of people to see them all. But here are a few of my favorites and my thoughts about them.

“Be honest. What would Jesus do?” “Love Trumps Hate.” “There can be no peace without justice for all.”

President Donald Trump appealed to some because he talked about taking care of our own first, and eliminating protections for other groups that have been discriminated against. But Jesus’s message is that it is important to balance our own self-interest with compassion and justice for everyone, regardless of their differences (gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or place of birth). This was the theme of the Women’s March.

“People and the Planet before Profit.” “There is no planet B.” “Save the Earth. It’s the only planet that has chocolate.”

Our incoming government is trying to eliminate regulations that protect the climate, just so fossil fuel corporations can drill and burn more and maximize their short-term profits. This may be the greatest mistake or evil that mankind has ever done, dooming our own grandchildren to live on a degraded planet so that some very rich people can get even richer.

The marches around the country expressed the will of the majority of Americans to do right by all of our citizens. This includes doing right by those who voted for Trump because they have felt abandoned by our political system.

Here’s another quote, “If you aren’t at the table, you’re on the menu.” So tell our leaders to work together to make America great again, not just for some, but for all of us and our children.

Richard Thomas

Waterville


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