Not That You Asked
Photo by Ben Siegel of artwork by Daniel Seiders
I think everyone should have a therapist. Definitely all men should be in therapy. And be silent for a hundred years.
I think all politicians should be women and all white people should also shut up, maybe read a book or two.
I think all LGBTQI+ people should come out and be free, and their resistant families and terrified governors should back the fuck off because it’s none of your business.
I firmly believe all Black, Brown, Asian and Native people should be given reparations yesterday.
All fat people should smash their mirrors.
I think everyone should learn how to listen and get and give a hug every day of the year if they want. I think everyone should celebrate their birthdays and everyone deserves cake or pie or ice cream or fruit salad.
I think everyone should consider voting. And I think no one should feel unloved, uncounted, or inconsequential. And no one should feel ashamed of themselves, or use shame as a weapon in any respect. No one should apologize for something they didn't do, and everyone should expect the best out of everyone else, and everyone should accept that everyone is doing their best.
I think medicine should be available to everyone and art should be everywhere, and both should be free to all.
I think food should be clean and water should be clear and delicious. I think homes should be affordable and education should be free and cars should be smaller, at least. Coffee should be hotter, cheese should grow on trees, and trees should be planted as soon as possible.
And I think fathers should have support groups. And I know with certainty mothers and women becoming mothers and women who don’t want to become mothers and women who want but can’t become mothers should do whatever they damn well please, most especially with their bodies. Children should play every day as a matter of law, and teachers should be paid a million bucks a year.
I think law enforcement should be trained a whole lot better, with tools and funding that serves the community’s best interests and not bigots’ vengeance. And I think you should pee where you think you should pee.
I think all immigrants and all refugees should be welcomed with open arms and warm beds and home-cooked meals.
And I think journalists should have jobs until the end of time.
And I think artists should make a living wage, and parents should encourage their children to pursue it if they feel so inclined.
I think cable companies shouldn't raise their rates just because they can. I think Starbucks should let their partners unionize already. And I think you should be allowed to retire when you're tired. That makes sense.
Everyone should have a date to prom if they want one, or a Denny’s to go to if not.
I think theaters should be sold out every night with tickets available to everyone. I absolutely think insurance companies should refund your money if you never filed a claim. I think catcalling should be a crime.
I think the sun should come out tomorrow.
I think some of this is possible and fair and some of it isn't, but I think I should say it anyway.
And I think you should get paid for your work, and get credit for your ideas, and collaborate as often as possible. I think you should learn what others have made and study what others are doing.
And I think you should walk your dog and calm your cat, please, thank you.
I think everyone should march in at least one parade in their life. And I think alarm clocks should be banned. And I think tax preparation should be taught in high school, or made easier to complete.
I think bullies should get hugs, too, yes, because they hurt, too, obviously.
I think everyone should stay up for 24 hours once in their life, and get lost on the way home, and watch the stars on a beach or in a park. I think questions are better than answers and I think some things just don't make sense.
I think everyone should die in their sleep, or while laughing, or dancing, or both. I think you should have a crush on someone every now and again.
I think everyone should know how to play an instrument and feel free to sing if they really want to. I think everyone should know how to cook a meal for themselves and someone else, and everyone should know how to clean or have the number of someone who does.
I think pies are perfect and space looks spectacular.
I think you should ask that person out on a date. You should tell someone when you love them or are in love with them or want them to be in love with you.
I think you shouldn't feel guilty for your pleasure. You shouldn’t feel bad for crying. You should cry with a friend, if possible.
I really think you shouldn't have more than you need.
I definitely think you should picture yourself in the future. I think you should learn from your past, and from others’ pasts.
And I think you should ask my brother to tell you about his favorite athletes, because that is invigorating. And I think I would have liked my grandfather an awful lot. And I think my other grandfather should have loved my father better.
I think you should have had my grandmother's cheesecake, because it was ridiculous. And I think you should have played cards with my great-grandmother, because that was hard. And I think you should try my mother's chicken cacciatore sometime, because that's incredible and I think you’re worth it. And I think that's a good place to finish, and a good place to start. I think you should call your mother or sister or wife or partner or teacher or lawyer or someone worthy and wish them a Happy International Women’s Day today and every damn day.