It was a festival atmosphere. Costumes, music, street venders.

Signs, funny some

times profound, floating over waves of people. Some there watching and some ther
e to be watched. How many people were at the Rally To Restore Fear/Sanity? When
you look at the shot on Google Earth it looks like a lot. From the ground I coul
dn’t see the end. Add the folks who stayed on the edge and watched, or that filled
the area bars and watched on TV. Then the people who watched at home or on pod
casts. No one will ever know.
I ended up on the steps of the National Gallery across the street. Couldn’t see a
ny of the three screens, but I was recording it. I’m sure that was the case for ma
ny people. I just wanted the experience of being there. The energy and fun. I ne
ver heard any shouting. I never saw any angry costume characters. No one screami
ng, “Death to....! for any willing news camera. The signs were spelled correctly a
nd weren t self-contradictory. Fascist - Communist - Socialist. Keep the governm
ent out of my Social Security! Christians Against Social Justice. The only Hitle
r sign I saw said, I’m pretty sure only Hitler was Hitler. Even with the crowds, s
ome tight squeezing through areas, the grumbling was good natured. Everyone was
getting along. In a societal atmosphere where behavioral norms seem dictated by
the Jerry Springer Show, it was refreshing.
Civility is not our current hallmark. Real debate is almost nonexistent, replace
d with everyone talking at once, no one listening. An endless litany of meaningl
ess talking points. Dissent is not tolerated, any opposition shouted down and de
nigrated. Volume is victory.
There was a special exhibit at The Museum of American Art, “Telling Stories.” Works
by Norman Rockwell from the Spielberg and Lucas collections. The painting, Freed
om of Speech was on display. In it, one man stands speaking calmly. The figures
surrounding him are not unsympathetic but skeptical. They are also silent and re
spect the speakers right to express his opinion. Many know the picture, if you d
on’t search for it. It was used to sell war bonds. I read the artist notes next to
the frame. The image was inspired by a meeting the day after Pearl Harbor, when
Rockwell watched one man stand and voice opposition.
The real power for of the work comes from the respect shown to that one man. Tha
t is also what the rally was about. Everyone has the right to their own opinion.
We may disagree, that too is our right. However, with these rights comes the re
sponsibility to respect and protect those same rights for all. As Voltaire wrote
, “I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to
say it.”