Is it sad that we have to declare today "International Women’s Day"?

I just know that the empowered people who find my blog through the above link are going to be disappointed that a fellow woman is turning her back on the "let’s celebrate women" machine.  But allow me to explain myself:

Sure, sure, there are days for celebrating and memorializing everything, but the whole concept just rings so false, you know?

Let’s parse it for a brief second:
International.
Women’s.
Day.

"International," I realize, is there to remind us that there is a global village of women.  So we’re not just celebrating American women, say.  But if we have to be clarified on this point…. aren’t we kind of patronizing those we’re celebrating?

"Women’s"— Okay.  That alienates men, children (girls are not women, not yet), and even technically, the transgendered.  I think the only bright point is that they didn’t spell it "womens’" or some other atrocious iteration of the word.

"Day": What, just one?  If we’re going to be all up in the world’s collective ass celebrating women, it would seem fitting that we’d celebrate them for longer.  You know, like a month?  (Oh wait– March is like "Women’s Month" or something, right?)  Which makes me digress to Black History Month– why did they pick the short month to celebrate it anyway?  That’s kind of messed up, you know.  Does anyone actually know?

The colors (yes, there are colors) for International Women’s Day are purple, white, yellow and green. Because apparently, pink sucks.  Either that or because pink means breast cancer or something like that.  Why pick colors, though?  I am starting to get confused with all these "cause" colors and ribbons.  Can’t we just stick to black-and-white advertising?

Am I jaded?  You betcha.

But I am actually serious: why do we need a day (or even a month) to do something that should be in the forefront of our minds every day?  Just because we decide to hold a cute little rally today or paint our faces purple, violence across the world isn’t just going to lay down like a worm-ridden dog and die, people.
Women should respect each other, and men, and children (and pets, and et cetera) EVERY DAY.  Every day there should be people actively trying to end injustice, and every day there should be people realizing that the sexes are not biologically equal but they can and should be equally respected.

Because it’s not about genitalia: it’s about respect.  And respect should be at the core of everyone’s everyday life.  And seriously, I don’t see "International Respect For Humanity Day" penciled in anyone’s calendar.

Because it doesn’t exist, now does it?  I thought so.

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Incidentally, there is "International Respect For Chickens Day" which while a bit odd is definitely a step forward in respecting our feathered friends (I particularly respect mine breaded and with honey mustard sauce on the side).  But seriously– a couple of searches courtesy of Google only reveal some schools celebrating a "Day of Respect" which if I remember correctly from my teaching days, is a real step in the right direction because it consists of speakers from all different walks of life coming to talk to young people and convince them that they are not just a label, but that they are humans as well.

Alas, I also remember that most students tended to be rather flighty and got annoyed because many of the speakers tended to be rather boring (unfortunately).

*sigh*

But…. maybe lots of tiny steps in the right direction is the way to go.

So here is my tiny step: From yours truly here at A Daily Dose of Zen Sarcasm, I wish you a happy International Women’s Day.

Instructions: Go kiss/hug/snuggle/praise the women in your life, even if it’s just your mommy.  What am I saying?!  Do this ESPECIALLY if your mommy is the only woman in your life.  Tell them you’re happy they are alive.  Love them every day, especially on days when they are not particularly lovable because there is a high likelihood that they need to be loved in those days the most.

And please, pleeeeeeeease: repeat this as often as you can.  The niceness of the world depends on this.