Capitals are nothing new to me. I've wandered Gamla Stan in Stockholm, trod the East End in London, marveled at the three languages of the street signs in Helsinki, watched a protest against Bush's reaction to Katrina in Oslo, saw the demonstration against the newspaper who published a cartoon about the Prophet in Copenhagen, marched for Women's Lives in DC. When the clarion call sounded for the One Nation Working Together, however, it resounded with a chord that I'd felt vibrating since the Teabaggers of Summer in 2009. They marched against everything, I wanted to march for something. For jobs, for peace, for justice, for my daughters, for me.
It wasn't easy. I'm a poor student, unemployed since October of last year (OMG, I just realized it's been a year since I've worked!). I lost my house to foreclosure in 2008, damn near lost my cabin in 2009. Through the good graces of friends and family, I've been able to maintain what little I have left and continue in school. When I graduate in December, the second in my family to do so (my oldest was first!), it will not be my achievement only, but the achievement of those who supported me in my quest.
It was that same spirit of community, of village, that enabled me to go to the ONWT. Alone, I'd never have been able to get to DC, to manage a place to stay, to stand up and have my voice heard. It was only through the sponsorship of Kossacks, channeled through the unforgettable American-Irish accented voice of DiegoUK and nurtured by the hospitality of Hopeful,that I was able to raise my fist and my voice. To show that the voice of America was not a homogenized regurgitation of the pablum Beck fed them, but a diverse outcry that spoke not to getting America back, but taking America forward.
There has been much discussion regarding speakers, crowd size, missing buses, lack of focus, clarity of message, and even how much trash was left behind. I've been a member of the Democratic Party for a long time. I know what a big tent this is, how the various camps focus only on their issues and it seems impossible for us to come together with a unified voice and a unified message. I won't say that this march accomplished that, but I will say that it did accomplish a unity of spirit. I saw union guys cheering on a mini-parade of Socialists, I saw Grey Panthers gather with youth groups, I saw Hispanics link arms with African Americans and Asian Americans to walk along the reflecting pool calling for equality, I heard thousands of voices chanting "Shalom, Salaam, Peace", I saw diversity on a level that has never been present within that other group and unity of spirit that I will never forget.
Did health care get better after this march? No. Did DADT get reversed after this march? No. Did President Obama take a big step left after this march? No. Did marriage equality suddenly become a reality after this march? No. Did the Dream Act get passed after this march? No. Did Native Americans suddenly get the action they need from our government after this march? No. Did the mosque in NYC get built after this march. No. Did people from all walks of life and all camps come together as One Nation? Yes. Did people raise their voices in song and in hope? Yes. Did they dedicate themselves to GOTV in November? Yes. Did this march accomplish anything? Hell Yes!
Far too often the focus is on how much media coverage was gleaned, whether our message got across to others, and we forget that sometimes, just sometimes, we only have to get the message across to ourselves. That we need a little reassurance of solidarity, of hope. That it is ok, on occasion, to preach to the choir and lift our voices with theirs. To re-energize ourselves with a message that may not be answered, but is repeated. And in that, this march was a success. It re-energized our commitment to each other and to ourselves. It emphasized the importance of GOTV. And it reminded us of why we do this in the first place, for each other.
I hope you enjoy my pictures and that you understand how very grateful I am that YOU gave me the opportunity to experience this moment.
KOSSACKS GATHER.
I'm not going to name names!
Yup, I rose my arms and voice for everyone that sent me!
THE PEOPLE.
They came for different reasons, from everywhere, in unity.
THE MESSAGES.
There were many, and some, like the Japan Abductions, I didn't grok. But each meant something to the person who was shouting it. I tried to pare it down to those that hadn't been seen in other diaries, but it was hard!
Ya think?