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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 14, 2004 Downtown Locals take a little time off to march for what's important Andrew Scot Bolsinger Perhaps I am an eternal optimist, but I truly believe that America, even in these bleak times of rising gas prices, huge corporate layoffs and countless deaths fighting a "war" on foreign soil, is a united nation. But we aren't fooled into believing that unity means agreement. We are a united, but deeply divided, nation. I welcome that distinction rather than be alarmed by it. We have always been a deeply divided nation - from the Articles of Confederation, to the 100-year battle with slavery, to the current fissures on many things religious, political and moral. These divisions keep us thinking, animated, growing, protesting and, most of all, participating in the life of our country. Just as the recent women's reproductive rights march in Washington, D.C., made perfectly clear. The cause The march drew hundreds of thousands, even more than a million by some counts, including some of Ashland's own. Passions run deep enough that families built their vacations around the march, and old college friends reunited to march again. Such is the level of commitment to the cause. "Families should not have to keep fighting for reproductive freedom," said Susan McQueen, an Ashland resident who attended the march along with her husband, Wade, daughter Myan and son Preston Backer. "We have better technology now, our world has changed and we don't have to continue to have unwanted pregnancies or use pregnancy as punishment." The family built its vacation around the trip to D.C., taking part in a pre-march rally and spending time at the Capital lobbying Oregon Sens. Wyden and Smith. "I wanted to teach my kids not to be apathetic and learn how to participate in democracy," McQueen said. Locals Shelley Elkovich and college friend Grady Boyd also made the trek to D.C. for the march. The two marched in one of the first of its kind more than a decade ago. They, along with old college friends they marched with back then, reunited for this all-important event. "We got to march with those same college friends and this time with their babies," Elkovich said. Each says it was a trip to remember, including Myan, age 9. "I'm going to remember it forever," Myan said. "I was kind of scared when I thought about it, because there might be other people there yelling at us. Then when we went, it was easy. They were yelling out, 'pro-life' and stuff like that, but it was fine." Knowing the nature of our country's deep divisions, and heartfelt passions about this issue, Susan and Wade planned ahead, teaching Myan and Preston how to deal with crowds, what they should do if something bad happened and how to get back to safety together. Scary stuff to consider for a family vacation, but an essential one considering the history surrounding this issue. "None of us had ever done anything like this before," Susan said, "but we were very excited. We knew we were taking some risks, because anytime you are protesting a hot issue, there are potential for problems and violence." It was a risk worth taking, said Wade. "What was important to me is that Myan see that its OK to stand up for what you believe in." And for Preston to put his views into action. "He's pro-choice in life," Wade said, "not just reproductive beliefs." Backer, 19, said the march was an extension of his involvement here at home, where he is a member of Planned Parenthood's Teen Theatre. "I think the cause is really important for not only [women], but me and my future," he said. "It's important that we are able to make decisions for ourselves." Lessons learned To each, the march was a motivational and memorable event to be sure. But to each it was more as well. "Being with that many people really brought it to my attention that this was a cause worth fighting for," Backer said. Elkovich, a veteran of activism, said this event was especially moving. "The main thing is that it was so much more inclusive and so much more progressive," she said. Reproductive rights has been oft-criticized as a movement of "white, middle-class women," she said. The many women of all ages, along with men, kids, people of different races and those who speak different languages, left an indelible impression. She was touched by "the cross section of people." "The multi-generational stance. The amazing diversity and wonderful sense of love and common purpose you don't always feel in large demonstrations." Wade McQueen felt it too. "I was really impressed with the middle-American cross-section of people who showed up for the march," he said. "A lot of religious groups, a lot of men. It was like a cross-section of people like those we might know." The sheer size of the crowd affirmed for Wade his own conviction that a majority of Americans were behind those that marched. "I began to wonder," he said, "because I when I read the polls its a very narrow margin, I begin to wonder how true that really is. [I feel] so strongly that what appears to me is a vocal minority is trying to create a theocracy and cramming their philosophy down my throat." Which was more than enough reason to march. And for Elkovich, more than enough reason to get more involved here in Ashland. "One of the great things about this march," she said, "is that everyone was focused on what we were going to do when we get back home." For Elkovich that means getting more people out to vote to defeat President Bush. "This is one area that is a very clean, clear victory," she said. A Kerry win means the continuance of a Supreme Court that will defend the now three-decade-old Roe v. Wade decision. A defeat will mean a conservative court and the likely overturning of that decision. Susan McQueen is equally motivated for the ongoing battle. "This is something we gained 30 years ago," she said about the Supreme Court's ruling. "And ever since then there has been a big assault on it. It's time for everyone to move on. Under the pro-choice view everyone's opinion is protected. Under anti-choice everyone is held hostage to one view." It's an unlikely hope in this great, divided, united nation we call home. But for one day, even the unity was there. "I was more than happy to be a part of just a huge, huge crowd for this cause," Backer said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams