So... What Was That International Women's Day Thing?

Cincinnati women got caught up in the excitement

IWD is an annual commemoration that originated in 1909. The international community uses the day to acknowledge and celebrate the women who keep the world on track. (Yeah, we do) 

And because, in America, we have a president who publicly demeans women and threatens to undermine the gains it's taken decades to achieve, March 8, 2017, took on a whole new sense of urgency. 

It even gave us a whole new hashtag, #BeBoldForChange.

Official IDW logo

IWD #BeBOldForChange

It didn't occur to me that lots of folks (translate that to mean MEN) didn't know anything about the annual celebration of women around the world. One of my clueless millennial male relatives posted his charming puzzlement on Facebook, "I have never heard of "Woman's Day until now." I suppose a lot of women didn't know about IWD either, but now they do.  


Of course this year, the celebration was bolder and more noticeable, especially with all those activist women donning red. Women didn't just commemorate the day with colors. Motivated by 45 and his dark house of cohorts, women accepted the call to rally, march, protest. Women stayed home from work and stopped shopping. Women were challenged to withhold their services to help others understand what a difference their absence makes.

As Internationalwomensday.com explains, women were encouraged to use IWD as an opportunity to...

• "celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women because visibility and awareness help drive positive change for women

• declare bold actions you'll take as an individual or organization to help progress the gender agenda because purposeful action can accelerate gender parity across the world"

Honestly, we do keep the world on track

Like the sign says "Everything is a Women's Issue." That was the point of a "Day Without Women." Women really do keep the world on track, still we are systematically taken for granted. Now more than ever. 

Here in Cincinnati, Ohio, and America we are threatened with the same male domination issues third world women have been battling for years. Many of us thought we were done with that.

In 2017, the international celebration of women took root and grew. It was such a timely idea, women across the USA, including an energetic Cincinnati group in Piatt Park, Downtown took on the challenge. 

In case you didn't get the connection, these calls to action are in the same vein as post-inaugural marches and rallies in January.

Yeah. We have to do something. 

#BeBoldForChange
Carol 

Withrow Vandalism Defaced a Historic Landmark

Photo by Dale.Browning@TechCollaboration.com, GFDL
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3098833on

If you live in My Cincinnati, you probably know about the vandalism at Withrow High School. I'm a Withrow alumnus, so the vandalism, the overt racism, the vicious intent struck me as particularly senseless. When I heard about the incident, my still nerdy little Withrow heart broke a little. My eyes teared up as I hummed the Withrow Alma Mater. 

"Gentle slopes and lofty towers,

radiant in the sun.

Arching bridge and shaded valley,

All our hearts are won.

Withrow's beauty,

Withrow's splendor,

fill our hearts with pride.

Love for you, our Alma Mater

ever will abide"

Okay, so humming Withrow's Alma Mater might sound like emotional overkill, but the racial/racist implications are pretty overwhelming.

Will Cincinnati help deliver the first Madame President?

HIllary Rally Photos courtesy of Gregory Reese VIP Photography

Just in case you didn't hear the news, Hillary was in town yesterday. The crowd cheered and shouted. The enthusiasm was contagious; and yes, I was shouting along with everybody else. 

This is my blog. It's about my Cincinnati, so I won't pretend to be unbiased, fair and balanced, or impartial. I am not a Trump fan. I don't like Trump and I don't care who knows it!

As a child born and raised in the 60s and a woman, wife, and mother who dealt with the sexist norms of the 70s, I can't even handle hearing that man's voice. I'm looking forward to Hillary breaking that high glass ceiling and putting #thatguy. 

I love my city. We are Ohio. What we do is crucial to the overall outcome. I sincerely hope Cincinnati voters are up to the challenge of delivering our first "Madam President" to the White House door.

Feeling the love on the banks of the Ohio

Hillary Clinton's October 31st rally at Smale Park was a multicultural lovefest by "..this grand river..." (I forgive her generic reference to our beautiful Ohio River. I know she's been crisscrossing the USA a lot lately.) That minor faux pas and the non-Kentucky "...over-the-river..." reference didn't stop the rally from being a warm and fuzzy gathering of like-minded, non-angry voters. Soooo different from those Trump/Pence anger fests so often highlighted in the news. 

Alicia Reece, Denise Driehaus, Aftab Pureval, Ted Strickland, and other local Democratic candidates fit perfectly into the evening's multicultural theme. This beats the Angry folks doing  Trump rally duty.

Gabby tugged at the heart

If the signs and music didn't make rally-goers feel the love and excitement, Arizona Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords surely did. After a 2011 gunshot wound to the head, she made a phenomenal recovery. Residual walking and speaking difficulties are a constant reminder of that tragic event. 

Gabby's unfortunate experience turned her into a dedicated advocate for gun reform. She and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, travel the country in the "Vocal Majority" bus speaking out against gun violence. Gabby explained how she's looking forward to saying, "Madam President" next January.

Loved the signs

Political rally rules required that attendees leave their quirky signs at home. Some folks broke that rule, but it gave the event a humor boost and illustrated the diversity of the crowd. As you would expect, there were a bunch of Stronger Together signs passed out by the staff. Then there were trendy offerings like Nasty Women Vote and "love trumps hate." 

And, yes, I saw a few African Americans for Hillary signs, but I must point out the big difference between these signs and the #blacksfortrump signs photographed at Trump rallies. The A-A signs at the Cincinnati rally were actually hoisted and waved by African Americans. Imagine that!

Photos courtesy of Greg Reese, VIP
Written by Carol, The Nice Lady who reminds you to vote

...unless you plan to vote for #thatguy.

Do the I Love Cincinnati (Selfie) Shout!

When  you meet Greg Cameraman Reese, it only takes a few minutes to figure out who he is and what he wants. He’s the “I Love Cincinnati” guy and he wants to capture you on video. He wanders Downtown Cincinnati streets with his video camera at the ready, and when he asks people to shout “I Love Cincinnati,” they usually do.

It’s AllStar Week in Cincinnati and Greg wants to capture 4,192 people doing the “I Love Cincinnati” shout. He wants to share them on Youtube.com and his facebook page, Do the Cincinnati Shout. It’s a really cool goal, and he’d love your help.

Do a Selfie Vid Shout or a Selfie Photo Shout

If you run into the Cameraman, give him a Cincinnati Shout. If you don’t, you can still shout out your love for the Queen City when and where you please. Just do a Selfie Video, either all by yourself or with your buddies. Shout “I Love Cincinnati” and then share it on the Do The Cincinnati Shout Facebook Page.

And if you don’t do video clips?

#ilovecincinnatishout

• Make it a Selfie Photo Shout
• Snap a Selfie
• Use an editing app to add words to your photo or...
• Make an “I  Love Cincinnati” sign and hold it while you shoot your Selfie Photo Shout
• Post your photo to the Do the I Love Cincinnati Shout Page

WCPO.Com and on Channel 5 News have shared the Cameraman’s simple goal. King Arthur, a New Jersey talk jock, interviewed him on his show as well. In just a few days, The Cameraman has captured Color Run crowds and a Chi-Town group doing the shout. A DeeJay finessed a crowd on Fountain Square into a Cincinnati Shout while jamming their little hearts out.

Greg’s even captured Cincinnati’s head honcho, John Cranley, doing a low key Mayorial shout. (Check him out on the Do the Cincinnati Shout Facebook page) With All Star Game crowds all over Downtown Cincinnati, the Cameraman has a lot of ready-made photo ops. He’s steadily inching toward his goal.

#Ilovecincinnatishout

Think Pink Cincinnati It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pink Cincinnati
Photo Courtesy of Cameraman Greg Reese

facebook.com/VIVACINCY

It's that time of year when businesses dip their brushes into the pink paintbox, or crayon box, or however they do it. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Cincy really gets into it.

You'll see pink everywhere. University Medical Center is sporting a big pink ribbon. Kroger usually decks out their Downtown headquarters in pink ribbons and banners. They even illuminate the building with pink lights each night. It's pretty cool.

Race for the Cure 2013
Photo courtesy of Greg Cameraman Reese

There are pink races, pink events, and even pink-trimmed food at the grocery store. When you buy certain pink adorned products the grocer and manufacturer chip in a donation. The donations are small, but they add up. 

Look for other pink ways to contribute to Breast Cancer Awareness. You can even make a direct donation at komencincinnati.org.

Kroger lights up their headquarters with pink
Photo Greg Cameraman Reese
Facebook.com/vivacincy

Download Pink Cincinnati

If you like the photo at the top of this post, Cameraman Greg Reese
wants you to have a copy. Feel free to save a copy and use it as your Facebook cover photo, your web page, or wherever you choose.

Just give the Cameraman credit and if you've got a minute, like his page on Facebook.  

facebook.com/VIVACINCY