So many faces, voices, smiles, and views converged on the mall as the voices of many famous and not so famous people echoed against the walls of the museums and national mounuments. For me it was cathartic; finally it was my time to be able to let loose all the pent up feelings I have for this administration and the direction this country is going. This time it wasn't just me mouthing off at my girlfriend, close friends, or the cab of my work van. This time my voice was counted to the thousands--and thousands--of people who were there shouting, screaming, chanting, and clapping during the protest rally. What was even a thrill for me was to know a celebrity who rode with us on the bus. A girl name Alice, a student from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, was the feature photo they used on their on line webpage. She is the young woman with the shaved head and her face and the back of her head painted with peace signs and other words. Talking to her on the bus she told me about how life with her conservative parents was hard and how she felt like the odd one out at school when her interest was about what those who are poor and struggling going through. Her friends who lived in a affluent Cincinnati, Ohio area were caught up with "things" (BMWs, popularity, etc.). She really impressed me of how deep her convictions are at such a young age. To have that fire is contageous for anyone.
I could go on about the speakers, the thousands or protestors and the way we all responded to the anti-protesters who came out in bold numbers (12), but the thing which will stick with me the most was my journey to the Lincoln Memorial.
The walk I took to it with my bud Joe was the pre-march to get the limbs going. Amazing how the planners of DC laid out the path to Lincoln, the Capitol, the White House and the Supreme Court especially if you need to figure out where everything is at. Straight ahead past the Memorial and the newly opened World War II monument is Lincoln Memorial. The great reflecting pool was under referbishment (most of DC is right now) but to climb the stairs and see the face of Lincoln looking down at you and over the rest of the Capitol is a once in a lifetime moment. It also reminds me of how much we need to protect in the times we live in so we do not loose what is precious to us. Lincoln is our greatest president because his still resonate even in this day and age towards a country divided.
A teacher stood over one square as we left the memorial. I had to go over there and ask her, "Is this the place?" And I look down and BINGO there it is!! "I have a dream speech given at this spot by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." I took several pictures of the square and looked down the mall to picture the thousands and thousands of Americans hanging to his every word from the point I was standing.
I wish I had the time to go over each place we went to in detail--the Vietnam Memorial, the Nurse and Soilder statues near by, the Korean War Memorial, and other venues--but checking this places out was equally important to me as the march. The monuments is the bedrock of freedom which reminds me of how much we have to fight for now. These white marbled and black marbled monuments are the source of freedom but reminders of what people are able to do when freedom is at risk and when freedom is far from the people. Marching is the greatest act of freedom...so is dancing in the streets too!!
Near the end of the march route we got behind the peace drummers and danced from the Supreme Court to the mall again. My favorite chant of the whole march went something like this: "DAMN, BUSH ARE YOU SMOKING CRACK SENDING 21,000 TROOPS TO IRAQ?!" Jay-Z eat your heart out!! Those young ladies starting the chant over the megaphone was priceless!
I'll probably have more in the coming days about thoughts and reflections regarding the march, but the biggest question facing me is the one each first time marcher will have to face: Now that I marched, what do I do for an encore?
Hope I can keep the play going as long as a Chorus Line or Cats because with this fool in the White House we'll need to stay steady till he's out of there.
Comments are closed on this story.