To bloody love Madonna for doing this?

[Destinysdaughter]

I've been watching the speeches from the Washington women's march today and have felt so inspired and uplifted by them, it's really given me hope, didn't know Madonna was going to be there and I don't want to take away anything from the other speakers as they've all been brilliant but I just wanted to say well done Madonna for being there and adding your voice ( and admittedly celebrity kudos and attention) to this amazing show of dissent, power and love.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/live/2017/jan/21/womens-march-on-washington-and-other-anti-trump-protests-around-the-world-live-coverage?page=with:block-5883cfe4e4b00b8fc2ae363c#block-5883cfe4e4b00b8fc2ae363c

I imagine she didn't march because the march was a specific attack on the democratic process of a different country

Oh, bollocks. I am so tired of this trope that democracy begins and ends on Election day, that peaceful protest or campaigning or standing up for an idea that doesn't come from the core script of whatever person or party prevailed on that election day is somehow anti-democratic.

That thousands upon thousands of women marching to stand up for their hard-one rights, highlight continuing inequality, and in particular standing up to a particular toxic form of discourse, is an 'attack on democracy', rather than people using their democratic right to protest to say 'you may have been elected, but that does not legitimise the tactics you used and the behaviours you have shown in the past that demean us and treat us as lesser.'

It seems to me an approach to democracy that is profoundly insecure in its sense that citizens can be trusted outwith the blanket, simplistic, dissembling marketing of election periods.

*hard-won, obviously.

Several posters on this thread seem very indignant that these marches focussed on womens' rights in the USA rather than in the developing world.

Perhaps these posters could tell us of all the marches they've been on and campaigns they've been involved in to support the rights of women in Nigeria, Pakistan etc, seeing as they're so obviously passionate about this cause?

I'm sure we'd all find this inspiring

Democracy doesn't mean just voting and then keeping respectfully quiet for the next 4 years.
Whether it's an elected conservative, liberal, socialist government or none of the above, you have the right to protest any day you want.

You can protest against elected governments in other countries too, e.g. you can protest about Cologne too

Some protests will have celebrities, some won't - most womens' marches yesterday around the world didn't.
Famous people, rich people, poor people are all entitled to march

If you want to march against Cologne and Rotherham, then go for it !
Organise and march

Just because you don't march for every cause, doesn't mean you shouldn't march for the causes that you personally judge most important.

"decency and human rights,"

yer, like buying babies and groping teenage girls.

Loved Madonna growing up, sound track of my youth, strong powerful woman blAh blah blah.

She's been on my Shit List for a good while now. Such a shame to see idol go right down the pan :(

Exactly, can't stand her, and her liberal luvvies jumping on the bandwagon!

I saw Daisy Ridley on someone's instagram on the London march.

I think it's brilliant that the marches were so successful, and peaceful. Inclusion and tolerance are the best answer to a new President who brags about assaulting women, parades around a trophy wife who can barely contain her revulsion, and who only narrowly avoided being the defendant in a child rape case.

Inclusion and tolerance

Yep talk of 'blowing up the White House' falls into that category

It all seems so pointless. What is marching supposed to achieve? We know about Trump already so no need to spell it out for us.

the marches were so successful, and peaceful

There were shop windows being smashed and cars being set on fire in washington.

The shop owners and taxi drivers did nothing to deserve that, and no it wasn't peaceful.

I absolutely cannot abide her and her attention seeking ways.

I do not need to hear a woman saying she considered blowing up the White House whilst on a Women's Rights March. This very woman made millions by objectifying herself and other women for shock entertainment, which, quite frankly, has demeaned us as a whole. Madonna's behaviour and speech stripped this march of any value it had in my eyes. This wasn't about women's rights, but just another excuse to have a rant about Trump.

By all means, protest against Trump for his poor record, but be fair and also protest against Bill Clinton AND Hilary, as Hilary was equally vile to the women who dear Bill took for his pleasure. March against those who perpetrated the atrocities in Rotherham etc. March for those who are genuinely oppressed in the Middle East, against FGM, against underage marriage and forced prostitution. But, no, this doesn't suit the liberal agenda.

If Madonna seriously wanted to bring attention to the rights of women, then she should follow the examples of the peaceful protests of the sixties. That may have got more attention, although I doubt the people who oppress women wouldn't have given a damn either way.

I fear also, some people are getting on the woman's rights march bandwagon, don't even know the reasons they are marching for; rather like Brexit, when a load of young student's/people were interviewed on the TV as to why they voted to remain. Some of them could barely speak or sting a coherent sentence together. What's all this pussy nonsense reference that I see some of the marchers have on their plaquards, totally opposite to woman's rights and equality.

Talk is cheap ... I think its just part of the "virtue signalling" craze thats everywhere. Saying you hate something or someone, makes you a better person somehow . I honestly wish all these pop stars and actors would get off the bandwagon.

Inclusion and tolerance

As long as you agree with them is my gut feeling. When the Southern Poverty Law centre ( who have done great things historically) can put the likes of Hirsi Ali on their ' enemy' list, some parts of the left have frankly lost the plot.

The Dirty Dancing Actress, Jenifer Grey, with a t shirt, 'nobody puts pussy in the corner', totally opposite to what the march is supposed to be for! You are not defined by your genitals, Jennifer! you are a woman! She is actually portraying a negative image of women, and that they should not be taken seriously.

I have seen similar pussy references to woman, from the marchers. I don't like this overtone running through, of the superiority of women, it should not be about the superiority of one sex, but equal rights for both men, women, trans, gay, etc!

I fall somewhere in the middle, I am neither right or left wing, someone I know on my Facebook, is what I gather a far left socialist. When Hilary lost, the bile she spewed about not only the Trump voters, but those who diden;t vote or who voted another party was quite frankly disgusting, and really make the non Trump voters look very bad, she is not the only one, there were others like her. What happened to Democracy! Its ok unless you vote anything I don't want you to vote, then I will throw my toys out of the pram.

So really, it should be a march for all, not just females!

Yes, all the pussy references just devalued the March by turning it into a "Hate Trump" celeb-watch bandwagon. Is that what these women really think that's all they are, a pussy?

They've played right into the hands of those who oppress women. How sad.

Pussy. Edgy innit. Whilst still having the sexy.

the pink pussy face hats said it all really - I am sure it made their protest dignified (irony alert on)

Did anyone hear Ashley Judd? I listened to her speech and it made me cry. She totally nailed it.

I'm extremely proud that so many women are getting off their arses and speaking up.

So what if she's famous ofcourse she's a publicity magnet. Good for her.

So what if she's famous ofcourse she's a publicity magnet. Good for her.

You know she pulled a teenagers top down right, exposing her breasts to millions of people?
She told people that if they voted for Clinton she would give them blowjobs....

You are Proud to have her as the face of this protest?

I'm actually ashamed to be a woman watching some of these idiots.