It's still going on of course - the Rally to Restore Sanity. I was there for a couple of hours. I stuck around until my head started pounding, at which point I made a hasty retreat. Was the rally as big as the inauguration? It FELT as big. Wow.
Though on the move for the two hours I was there, I didn't see anyone I know, which is incredible since everyone I know was planning to go.
Even in the most congested areas, everyone was so polite. "Excuse me!" "Sorry!" "May I get past?" This is not the kind of behavior I'm used to in DC. I had a nice chat with a very young guy from Cummings, Georgia, who described himself as a conservative who supports gun control. It was a mixed crowd of regular Americans. Though I'm sure there were a few folks there ready to get on a soapbox, everyone I saw was relaxed and friendly.
The signs were fantastic! Here's a link to my FB album. It is heartening to realize how many other Americans want calm, intelligent, bi-partisan conversations. We're not really as polarized as it always seems on the news.
Thank you, Jon Stewart! Salaam, Shalom and Peace!
Facing north on 7th Street NW. Where I was standing was several blocks north of the mall. The crowd of those arriving stretches as far as the eye can see. Whoa.
13 comments:
What fun! Loved the FB pictures. I was scouring them for our friends who are there, but of course I didn't see them.
Wow, I wonder if they expected such crowds. I was interested to see how many would turn up. It is encouraging.
It really is encouraging! My friend Renee says this is the "silent majority" of today - those of us who are totally reasonable!
LOVE that sign!!! Thanks for posting it.
i stay away from politics. live by example and change things qualitatively appears to be what i am most capable of. but reya the second picture - everyone looking in different directions . . . boy does that speak volumes after the first picture .... my head echoes with the question, how to create an organizational circumstance that addresses diversity of that kind? is it reasonable for america to expect figureheads to represent a huge component of society without compromise and yet to represent that same huge group with composure, equanimity and conviviality? my own take is that american culture - cool or uncool, has grown to the point of mid-adolescence . . . you know the place where you start to realize that you're entirely cool and good in and of yourself and you value your entirely unique uniqueness while also listening oh so very hard and well to the group you hang with 'cause you don't want to blow them off just yet. america seems to want to head in a heap of directions: some wanna go back down the trail, some down box canyons, some to build a cabin and live off the land and some want to find out what;s over the next hill. to mix metaphors i say ignore the monkeys throwing crap from the trees and start taking good care of the jungle. steven
Steven I have asked myself the same question - by trying to be a president to ALL the American people, poor Obama can not satisfy any of us. Bush played directly to his constituents, so at least they were satisfied.
As always your thoughts are brilliant.
I was just writing about how I was sorry not to be in DC this weekend, but seemed to have found a way to participate back here in Oregon.
Gosh I love this.
It would be nice if all the hate speech and deliberate twisting of words would stop. If all the politicians would actually work together in compromise instead of their own self interest. So encouraging to see so many also tired of it all but how to transform the political system. The ads here have been geared to appeal to people's emotions with accusations like...'he killed my puppy'.
So fun!Thank you for sharing!
It was so incredible to see the turnout. If you believe the news most people just want to fight and scream. The truth is that most people prefer discussion to argument, with all the screaming going on it is easy to forget that. Thanks for posting the pics, they are great.
great photos on FB, Reya! I'm hoping the tide is turning
wow. i was out of town.. .sad i missed this.
i love the absurdity of it!
Hey Sean!! You would have loved it. Nice to "see" you here. We should get together for a drink sometime. Does Rania have some free time now that the exhibit is up and running?
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