March in April

It was chilly, in the low 40s, and there was drizzle in the air ... so why was there a group of people, myself included, standing in the middle of the street this morning in Joplin, Missouri?

We were there for the March for Science. You might have heard of it, because there were marches held all over the world today in hundreds of cities. Thousands of people took part. Joplin didn't have thousands of people, but there was a respectable turnout. There were men, women and children. Most of us didn't know each other, but we smiled and chatted. We waved signs at passing traffic and cheered when the cars honked. After a while, we walked four blocks, carrying our signs and chanting in unison. Then we turned around and did it again.

So why do this? Why brave the unfriendly weather and wave a sign that now sits unused in our kitchen? Why chant slogans such as "One Earth, No Time" and "Stand Up, Fight Back" if not many people other than the marchers were there to hear?

I can't speak for the others, but I was there simply to show my support for science. Scientific findings and funding have come under fire lately, and I think that leads this country, and all countries, in the wrong direction. I greatly value scientists, engineers, researchers and educators ... and I think everyone else should, too. These people are making a big difference in our lives and should be encouraged to continue. They should also be allowed to travel in order to take part in research and education. They will bring us the next big technology, discovery and/or cure.

I know I didn't make a direct difference. It was purely symbolic on my part. (Just for the record, I would do the same thing in support of the humanities, too.) But if some influential people took notice of this movement, and if any of those people reconsider their stance or their beliefs or their actions, then I will have been a part of that. And that's a good feeling.

Diane after the March for Science April 2017

By the way, I didn't do this because I'm a member of one political party or the other. To me, this had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the whole world. Politics plays its part, but it's only a part. Everyone, not just politicians, needs to pay attention.

Besides, if you take "Defiance for Science" and remove efc, you have "Diane for Science." How could I argue with that?

Happy Earth Day.