flowers or powers?

Happy International Women's Day!

I spent a bit of today holding a sign celebrating women's autonomy before the police told us to leave. Even though another group said they'd share their permit with us, the police didn't see it that way. At least it was sunny and I met a Portlander.

The main event in the square today was not us, but something sponsored by Avon. For the past few days there have been people all over the place selling flowers and hearts. I've witnessed longer than normal lines in chocolate shops.

So, International Women's Day is losing it's orginal political character, and becoming more of a one-sided Valentine's Day, with some stuff for mothers and friends thrown in. I guess such things are to be expected; no one calls it Mother's Day for Peace anymore either.

And it lessens my American guilt slightly to see that the rest of the world is capable of stripping all of the importance from a holiday without any North American assistance. (No one cares about International Women's Day in the states.)