Well, this took all day. Arrived home last night completely adrenally fried.
I tried to take the pictures no one else might take. I hope you enjoy them.
They make me weep as my heart overflows with love for our beautiful fellow citizens. I am proud to be an American standing up with these people.
Their faces and eyes are full of love and compassion. A stark contrast to the "other" angry side of our policy debates.
There are so many stories to tell, and barkingcat has 300 pics we will share over time. We will be posting diaries under One Nation Working Together for quite a while as we feel that all records of the 10.2.10 March must be put into the internet record for people to see. We hope you will share any of your unusual pics and stories with us, K?
Hey, there's even one of the Kossack Meet Up on Friday. Enjoy!
On Friday I went to the One Nation offices. They were uberly busy. I found that the staff would be wearing....that's right...orange tee shirts.
Then I went to see the US Capital but didn't have time for a tour.
AL FRANKEN
As I was walking in the wrong direction to get to my friend's home, I ran into Al Franken. This was snapped just as he was telling the TV cameraman that he had just come from the swearing in of the new Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan. He's pointing in the direction of the Supreme Court. A long way from the corner of 400NE and D Street, btw.
I thought this was quite cool, as Al Franken is the one Senator I would have chosen to meet.....and I did. So, wish for what you want and it might just come true.
I asked directions and learned about NE and NW, turned around to head home and came upon this sign in front of a church across the street from the Capital:
If only each member of Congress would abide by these few yet powerful words. Sigh!
As I was shooting the pic of the sign, I could see out of the corner of my eye that Senator Franken and his staff were walking towards me, they took a turn and I turned around and snapped this pic.
Which one is Al Franken?
At 5:30 I met with my friend for dinner at the America restaurant. The BEST ever vegetable plate I have ever had in my whole life. It was a grilled work of art. Should have taken a pic.
THE MEET UP
The America restaurant is just upstairs from the Center Cafe Kossack Meet Up location in Union Station seen here:
It is in the middle of Union Station and beautiful. And completely uncrowded. They were perfectly accommodating as our group kept morphing larger and needed more tables. And the prices were reasonable. I was impressed. A definite Meet Up spot for any occasion. Highly Recommended. It stands by itself with no walls so its easy to move around, find your group, and mingle.
And here is a group of beautiful albeit bedraggled Kossacks from all over the country. If any want to drop below and let us know which one you are, please do. Where's OPOL?
OFF TO THE RALLY
THE ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER HAND SIGN
Several of the speakers CHANTED One Nation, One Nation, One Nation. I noticed that many in the crowd were holding up their right index finger while joining in the chant. So I thought perhaps that could become the unofficial One Nation Working Together hand sign. You know, like the other orgs with hand signs, only ours won't be secret.
Here is a collage of the beautiful people of America flashing the hand sign. Do take a moment to look into their eyes and notice their countenances. They all have such beautiful hearts. Such a huge contrast to the angry tea baggers:
ONE NATION
Yes, this is Dick Gregory
ONE NATION
Friends
ONE NATION
Mother and Son
ONE NATION
Mother and Son
ONE NATION
Chaplain Sylvia Jordan and her nephew Garland.
Here's a very special woman and her nephew. I ran into them at the Metro Station when leaving the rally. Chaplain Sylvia Jordan was born in 1919 (same year as my deceased mom) and is 91 years old. She went to the rally!!! She is blind and a veteran of WWII and he is a Vietnam Vet. May we all be as spry and engaging as Sylvia. This picture is Classico Americano. I'd like to invite you to join me in sending Sylvia and her nephew a Christmas card. I have her address if you are interested.
Side Sign Story: I was so taken by her while interviewing them, that I didn't watch my cherished ONWT sign and someone stole it. It wasn't the one I really wanted. I wanted the smaller one. But someone found my secret stashing place near the Memorial stairs. Twice stolen? So, when I joined the throng waiting for a train there was a man with several copies of the one I wanted that would fit in my carry on and he gave me one. MIRACLE? We progressives can be so very nice and generous. It's in my window for all to see. Universal Lesson? When my signs disappeared I was happy someone would enjoy them, instead of being all angry and bitter.
We are, after all, One Nation Working Together
Here in small town Utah, it might prove to be exciting. Hope not.
ONE NATION
Our Muslim Sisters
ONE NATION
Our Latino Sisters
ONE NATION
Father and Daughter with Ben Jealous
ONE NATION
BFFs, they said so. Best Friends Forever.
THE ONE NATION STAFF
Incredible people. They had to all be dog tired by the time the rally commenced, but they were always happy, gracious, and kind.
ONE NATION
United They Stood
The media entrance gate keeper to the VIP area. If it hadn't been for this kind gentleman, we wouldn't have gotten some of the pics we did. I love how the blue in his shirt and the sky are so close:
ONE NATION
SOME FAMOUS PEOPLE
Ben Jealous. Very kind man. I watched him hug everyone. I was too busy but barkingcat got a hug! And I will resend the hand sign memo to Ben (snark):
ONE NATION
Amy Goodman. She was so gracious to stop for a pic. So, please buy her book! I did for the plane ride. It's great and we need to fund Amy. And, will resend the hand sign memo. Although I think maybe we should consider both Ben's and Amy's as unofficial ONWT hand signs, too.
ONE NATION
Laura Flanders
ONE NATION
Ed Schultz. Maybe, if you have a minute, it would be nice to send Ed a THANK YOU NOTE email. He moderated the event for a few hours after his speech. Very nice man!! He gave up his Saturday for us.
ONE NATION
Richard Trumka. Zoom lens, but we were allowed up on the stairs next to the speakers to take pics.
ONE NATION
The Shirts Speak Truth to Power
ONE NATION THE CROWD
There is a book I could write just about the crowds. It would be poetically written. For the purpose of this diary, diversity is the key word.
You could not take a picture of the crowd and not instantly see the diversity of progressives in America. It makes me weep with joy.
If you have made it to this point, perusing my amateur photos, thank you. I know I missed many groups that make up America. I was not the photographer except for an hour or so when barkingcat and I lost touch in the throngs. It was actually a miracle we found each other again. So I just took out my little Canon Powershop A710 and kept on keeping on. Such hubris....move over Sarah.
No matter what you may hear on TV or in blogs, this rally was a success in spite of some seemingly sabotaging behavior.
Like the sign, it might be best to let go of the upsets so that something better can move into that space in our hearts.
Although, I do hope there is a complete and thorough investigative journalism analysis to find out what was behind the 73+ buses being cancelled at the last minute in Massachusetts keeping thousands from attending the rally.
And I would be curious to know if there are any dots that can be connected to see who was behind the buses that left late and kept many from being any where close to the Mall for most of the rally.
Hmmmmmm?
Let's do this again, only next time either all march from many spots a mile or so from the mall or call it a Rally.
I truly do love you Kossacks. I am in awe of you!
And THANK YOU Canon.
GOTV
GOTV
GOTV
GOTV
GOTV
GOTV
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
NEW: SLIDE SHOW
I created a flickr slide show. A cheer for the technically challenged, please. You can view it by clicking this link:
http://www.flickr.com/...
NEW: Flickr Group: Daily Kos - 10.2.10 March on Washington
We have our own Flickr Group now. So please feel free to upload your photos there to make it easy for everyone to see all of our pics.
Only Kossacks may join at this point to prevent the naysayers from having their fun. I am the administrator. I am not sure how this will work from your end, so PLEASE jump into my dKos comment thread anytime if you encounter a problem.
I can only assume it works a bit like friending on facebook. You apply, I accept and then you contribute and it shows on both your flickr account and the group.
Here's the Daily Kos - One Nation Working Together Flickr Group Link:
http://www.flickr.com/...