There was a rally today at Upper Senate Park in Washington, D.C. It was massive! There were at LEAST two million people there! We filled the entire park, with overflow filling the mall, the Capitol Building, and the White House. There were so many people that many were pushed into the Potomac and floated around on their signs for awhile.
OK, so not that many people made it to the rally. If pushed, I would estimate there were between two and three hundred people there. (UPDATE: other attendees estimated 500-700, and another said 1,000. Perhaps my estimate was a little low.) But we had something beside numbers, something more important.
If you'll be patient with me, I'll try to post some photos of the event, and if I am very brave, some video. I'm new to posting media, however, so I'll probably keep my expectations aimed low and just go for the photos.
Whew! May I first say that linking to an image is quite a journey for those of us who have never done this before? I think I've got it now, though.
Now, what did our rally have today that was lacking in the Tea-bagging Hate Fest of 9/12/09?
I'll tell you what struck me as I walked up those steps holding our signs, clutching my daughter's hand, hoping for an event that my children could remember happily: warmth, camaraderie, passion, sincerity, and compassion. It was like a big, warm hug...here are some pictures:
This sign was ours! Look at those numbers, they're true.
It was mostly the warmth that filled me up and made me proud to be an American attending a rally in Our Nation's Capital. People smiled at us as we approached. A few people asked to take our picture. We had great signs and my kids are the cutest ever, so it was to be expected. **Lowers Eyes Modestly**
Honestly, it was a great crowd. We marched around the central fountain, chanting, "No is Not an Option!", and "What do we want? Healthcare! When do we want it? Now!" My husband threw in his own special chant, that no one seemed to pick up, "Joe Wilson's Mama Drives a Picklewagon!"
We listened to story after story on the loudspeaker. Stories of lost loved ones, of coverage denied for life-sustaining treatments because of pre-existing conditions like teen-age acne, of uninsured adults who feared the one accident or health condition that would ruin their health, their finances, and their lives. The crowd around me nodded and cheered and booed and chanted.
But for me, the most moving moment was when my cynical 11 year old son looked up at me and said, "Mama, you know none of this is going to make any difference." He didn't say it to be cruel, he felt it was a statement of fact. I smiled at him and said, "It gives people hope, Nikos. It gives me hope that things can change for all these people here." He nodded thoughtfully. I'm just glad he was there. The kids enjoyed yelling things and holding their signs. Everyone was smiling at them and taking their picture.
Another great thing about this rally? No tea-baggers!! Not a one. I almost didn't go because I afraid there would be some kind of confrontation and I didn't want to get my kids mixed up in anything, but there wasn't a negative feeling at that rally. It was pretty great.
Here are a few more photos. I let my son roam around with the camera and gave him instructions to take pictures of the signs. He took me literally and took pictures of the signs only, no faces!! So sorry if there are no smiling faces to go along with the signs, but I suppose I should be glad the boy follows directions!
Again I say, whew! That was a lot of work!
UPDATE: Well, the work paid off, because I made the rec list, which is a first for me. Thanks, everyone!
UPDATE II: Courtesy of Tranny, here is the information for the next March4HealthCare:
October 18th Org. by March4HealthCare - HCAN
March4Healthcare
(877)264-4116 (Courtesy of HCAN)
(202)224-3121 (US Capitol Switchboard)