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

And as I posted upthread, Trump
was quoted in the Washington Post as saying "the electoral college is disaster for democracy" after the 2012 election.

I never said Trump is a man of consistency. Rather, I responding to the point raised in this thread that Trump was democratically elected ''only in the narrowest terms'.

I think she alienated a lot of people with her ridiculous comment about blowing up the white house. Because of course that would solve all the problems women have! Madonna has always and will always do or say something that will provoke the most outrage and get the most publicity FOR HER.

Her assault on a teenager makes her no better than Trump but as she made it part of her 'show' and because she is 'Madonna' its ok? Sod that. If it had been a 58 yr old male singer who had pulled the top down of a 17 yr old girl in front of thousands of people there would have been outrage

Didnt someone post a thread on here going on and on about how it wasnt a march against Trump but a march for women everywhere (just happened to coincide with his inauguration I suppose) but this morning on the news the women concerned with the march are talking about nothing else but Trump.

Yes he is a threat to many womens rights in USA but thats not to say he will actually achieve what he wants to do. 'General' marches arent going to bother him at all and the wishy washy 'reasons' for the march in London hasnt impressed a lot of people. 'Womens rights' , anti Trump, Alphabet soup, trans activists, it just seemed like a good excuse to march about anything you wanted as long as you turned up. Many banners were anti racist but where were all these 'activist' white women when there were marches in USA about Black Lives Matter? Where were they when Clinton was exposed (in more ways than one) for what he was doing behind Hilarys back, when he was subject to accusations of rape and impeached? Where were they when Hilary stood by him and decried/bullied these women for daring to accuse him? Where were they when he basicaly got away with rape and sexual assault several times over?

Yep I dislike Trump with a passion, he is a grade A creep but he isnt the only arse in USA government, and he wont give a fig about some people in London protesting about him.

And judging by the destruction caused in Washington, and the streets littered with placards just dumped by the 'peaceful protesters' on the streets they were hardly peaceful, nor tolerant, nor environmently friendly. Couldnt be bothered to take their placards home, just leave them for some other person to clear up after them. It doesnt show them in a good light to be honest. What about the women whos businesses they attacked by breaking their windows, setting fire to cars etc, what about their rights to live their lives without someone attacking it, without their husbands livelihoods being taken away from them which of course impacts on them? 217 people were arrested for rioting! They were ripping up pavements and throwing them at police officers ffs!

If there was a cohesive reason for the march, with clear objectives it would have made more sense but to march for womens rights with some of the very people who are trying to take them away is madness.

And those 'pink pussy hats' and countless 'pussy' placards seriosusly? I am not a walking vagina, thats only a part of my anatomy, I am a woman, I dont need to remind people I have a vagina, it doesnt define my hopes, dreams, intelligence nor my life.

Oh you are a card Bill. Cheered me right up on a chilly night. Please do tell me how precisely these terrible left wingers would stop you marching in favour of human rights? grin.

Lots of ways. If a march is set up which certain left wing organisations perceive to be racist they do a variety of things (and marches against Asian grooming and women's rights in Muslim countries would almost certainly come under that perception. And they admit to this themselves. Firstly they set up counter protests which are always willing to resort to violence. Secondly they campaign personally against organisers, organising campaigns of contacting their employers or organisations they volunteer with to demand they are sacked, publishing their home address online so they are sent abuse or have their homes damaged.

Even if your protest wasn't deemed to be worth this action people would be frightened to even try and set one up in case it was because it's a very serious risk.

It's not a secret this happens, organisations like Hope against Hate and the UAF are perfectly open about this. They're really quite threatening organisations you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of, and they have deliberately created a climate of fear.

Unless you're an anti-Semite. Then they'll probably give you a platform themselves and pay for a buffet afterwards.

Or the left wing twitterati would get in on the act tweeting your workplace demanding you were sacked.

Somebody up thread mentioned Linda Sarsour, one of the organisers (I believe) of the DC march. Her views on women's right are, quite frankly, terrifying.

Yup. I mentioned Sarsour. Indeed.

"The electoral college, love it or hate it, is hardly a 'narrow' definition of democracy."
It's literally democracy by a very specific - and narrow - definition. If it had been true democracy - one person, one vote - then Clinton would have won by several million votes.

Linda Sarsour was one of the organisers of the Washington march. She was marching for women's rights but is a strong advocate of sharia law. Absolutely bonkers and completely Orwellian!

BillSykes - once again, excellent post!

The idea that Muslim Maajid Nawaaz who runs an anti-extremist organisation can be put on a list by the left SPLC as an anti-Muslim extremist is madness, while Sarsour regularly tweets about zionist trolls and leads a March about women's rights is also Orwellian. Makes me socialist heart weep.

This is one of Linda Sarsour's tweets, just as an example.

I think she's an advocate for Sharia Law in the US. She isn't someone I'd want be marching alongside, tbh. Her definition of 'women's rights' & mine are clearly yards (if not entire continents) apart.

Another tweet " shariah law is reasonable and once u read into the details it makes a lot of sense. People just know the basics"

And this one, of course. The only way to tell if you're living under Sharia Law 🙄

In fact, I'm now unsure as to what Linda Sarsour was marching for. It certainly wasn't women's rights in any sense of the known word. Was it originally just an anti-Trump march?

But it's all OK because Pussy hats and poems about periods.

BillSykesDog - I have read full thread and your posts are excellent on this issue.

And on the Madonna issue itself, no she wasn't brave or strong or doing anything for anyone other than herself. Can people not see that???

Judging by those tweets - Linda Sarsour sounds unhinged.

I find Madonna to be publicity seeking and self obsessed. If she is out of the limelight for a while, she will suddenly pop up - and get herself on the front pages of whatever.

*Oh you are a card Bill. Cheered me right up on a chilly night. Please do tell me how precisely these terrible left wingers would stop you marching in favour of human rights? grin.

Lots of ways. If a march is set up which certain left wing organisations perceive to be racist they do a variety of things (and marches against Asian grooming and women's rights in Muslim countries would almost certainly come under that perception. And they admit to this themselves. Firstly they set up counter protests which are always willing to resort to violence. Secondly they campaign personally against organisers, organising campaigns of contacting their employers or organisations they volunteer with to demand they are sacked, publishing their home address online so they are sent abuse or have their homes damaged.*

I wonder if you could elaborate upon which marches, specifically, have been the target of violent counter protests. Because I think I've got a fairly good idea, to be honest. You're talking about the English Defence League and the National Front, aren't you?

Grrr....bold fail.

she wasn't brave or strong or doing anything for anyone other than herself. Can people not see that???

Considering the very small minority who have expressed the opinion "all women should stick together" regardless of what the intent actually is, they are blinded by the fact she has a vagina.

It's so dangerous to blindly follow a cause without knowing what you are actually following, but it's also so easy to get swept up in the energy of the mob mentality isn't it.
That is basically what has happened here, right down to being surrounded by propoganda calling it "peaceful protest" rather than looking at actual news of the riots it incited.

And don't get me started on the people who have said nasty, crule and horrible things about Trumps 10 year old son.... seriously it's got nothing to do with him, he's 10.

oh no justAnother what's been happening, the trolls even have to target children

Comments about him growing up to be a mass shooter is the one making headlines. but there's also been videos "proving" he is autistic and making fun of that and criticising him for being bored during in inauguration.

He's 10.

The whole Trump thing is another manifestation of people being seen to be "virtuous" by saying the "right thing" whereas no-one actually does anything.

I am so fed up with people who are rich like celebrities or simply smugly safe with their houses and jobs commenting on how everybody else should do, think or be something else.

Creating a climate of fear is dangerous. We now have a society in which reading the wrong book or being seen with the wrong people or making an "off" joke can lose you your job and provoke abuse.

If you believe in a cause put your money behind it. Buy products that support it, pay more tax, give generously to charity, let someone else have your place in the queue, give a day a week of your time to actually work for a cause.

(sorry - a bit ranty today!)

And most importantly of all. Support free speech, even if you don't like what you're hearing. If we lose the ability to discuss ANYTHING the Right will rise even higher and the regressive virtuous left will have themselves to blame. Discussion is what's needed.

MuteButtonisOn Absolutely right. This is crucial.