What a year, 2017.  You managed to provoke, mobilize, divide, unite, and give everyone a reason to unfollow that weird cousin.  While I felt compelled to share posts that made me feel like I was contributing to something, I still felt like it was lip service.  

Coming from two very similar political states, Texas and Wyoming, I have felt my voice, as a Hispanic female, pretty non-existent.  These are places that value the "good old boy" club.  I don't think that it is in a very general sense, bad or wrong. Just not always fair or impartial. How can you believe that women deserve to earn less, should not be trusted with their own health care, or have no right to ask?  This is where it is wrong and not fair.  

To be part of a movement means to stand up for yourself and others, to see injustice and to act,  to provoke.  This is not always easy or even possible for many.  Fear. Fear of alienating colleagues. Fear of someone disagreeing.  Fear of standing alone.  Fear of losing friendships.  Fear of reprisals.  I feel all of these and more.  But, at some point, you must stand for what you believe.  Marching this year and last year gave me faith that we are not alone. 

I believe in human rights.  I believe in reproductive rights.  I believe in the freedom to choose.  I believe in the American Dream.  I believe in education for everyone. I believe in the Human spirit. 

What do you believe? What will you fight for? Humanity? I hope so.