One Nation Working Together Rally vs. Francis Scott Key
(This post is part of my Smart Girl Summit 2010 wrap-up.)
Saturday was surreal.
A group of my friends and I hopped on the Metro in Washington, D.C. and headed to the National Mall. I had always wanted to see the Smithsonian and was looking forward to the trip. Our train made several stops along the way, including one at Arlington National Cemetery. For a newbie to D.C., seeing that stop was particularly meaningful.
One stop later, a very large group of people that attended the One Nation Rally boarded the train. A majority of them were wearing shirts with UAW or SEIU printed on the front. They were all very friendly and seemed happy to have attended the event.
Two UAW members (a man and a woman both in their 50’s) stood directly in front of me in the crowded car. The lady asked me where I was from.
“Indianapolis,” I said.
She immediately grinned and shot back politely “Ah, Tea Party country. We are for working people.”
I smiled; there was no need to argue with her. She truly thinks her beliefs are a benefit to working people. I was also greatly outnumbered. (On this day I was not willing to be a 2010 version of George Custer)
After a very nice conversation with them both, the train had made it to the Smithsonian stop. We got off and headed up to the National Mall. I was disgusted with what I saw.
Garbage.
Trash everywhere. There were a number of professionally printed signs from the SEIU thrown to the ground. Literature from the Communist Party of America was scattered on the lawn. I walked to the Smithsonian with a feeling of despair for what our country had become.
Upon entering the Smithsonian, the first exhibit we encountered was The Star Spangled Banner. The flag on display was raised over Fort McHenry after the British had bombarded the fort for over 24 hours in the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. Raising the flag was a signal that the Americans had defeated the British in this momentous battle.
Francis Scott Key was held prisoner on a British ship during the battle near Fort McHenry. Having witnessed American heroism and seeing the flag raised over the fort, Key was inspired to write “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Viewing this exhibit at the Smithsonian was quite moving. The flag was displayed in a light and climate controlled room. As I walked by the flag, I noticed a shell fragment from the battle that visitors are encouraged to touch.
(Photo from Si.edu)
We left the Smithsonian a few hours later. The rally was over–but the mess they left was there for someone else to deal with.
(Photo by Mike Gay)
My thoughts went back to the “we are for the working people” lady from the Metro train. Did the men in Fort McHenry have the same sense of entitlement that the protesters at the One Nation Rally possess?
Would those brave men approve of a government that the people at this rally crave?
These people want a Robin Hood government. They believe that we need to tax the rich heavily and give their money to everyone else.
Unfortunately, that has been tried many times by many other countries and it has never worked. If anything, it leads to what some call “trickle up poverty”.
As we left the event, we found a trash can.
(Photo by Ashley Sewell)
To borrow a line from a friend, this was the only American flag we saw at the rally that day. I wondered: If Francis Scott Key were alive to see how some Americans acted on this day–and saw our flag in the trash–would he be inspired to write a poem?
Or would he have just left the Mall with a feeling of despair for what our country had become?
Update- Thanks to John Hawkins for featuring this post on Linkiest. My thanks also go out to News Real Blog for putting it up on their site! Add All American Blogger to the list, thanks!
Tags: Francis Scott Key, One Nation Working Together Rally, Smithsonian Institute, Trash
I think there are many things in this age he’d despair over. He’d also have lots of company.
Great piece.
We watched both Glenn Becks’ 8/28 “RESTORING HONOR” Rally, and watched all of the One Nation Rally.
Words escape me.
The difference in the speeches, people, actions,type of energy, the peacefulness, the thoughtfulness, THOUGHT-FULL-NESS, is so outstanding, it needs no further explaination.
Now the two comedians from television, Colbert and Stewart, will have ANOTHER Rally to “Restore Sanity” on 10-30-10, we will watch all of this rally, also.
Two thoughts come to mind:
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
and “By their fruits, Ye shall know them.”
One has to assume others have eyes, ears, thoughts from the brain, observations and reflections, then, well reasoned opinions.
Enough said.
nice write up Jason!
Fingers, thank you for writing your reflections on the day. You truly captured the sense of mourning I felt, too. I would hate to think of what Francis Scott Key would feel if he saw those images.
Excellent post and observations my friend. From what I saw most of the attendees couldn’t care less about personal responsibility or respect for their country. How can anyone trash the WWII memorial?
Great read.
I’m left speechless (a rare thing) after reading stories such as yours. I was at the SGS, and had thoughts of heading over to the rally the next morning, but the hubby put a stop to that for safety reasons.
That anyone would have such disrespect for ANY of our memorials on the mall in Washington sickens me, and only proves the true character of those who came to mock our country on this day.
While it sickens me, it angers and motivates me more…I intend to do everything in my power to stop these bastards from further destroying our country.
Fingers, having seen England trashed and belittled by the liberal left in all three of our major political parties over the last 20 years, I can fully appreciate your anger. I can also honestly tell you that I envy you having the Tea Party Nation in your country, and I only wish we had something like it over here.
That litter strewn over the National Mall, the Stars and Stripes casually dumped in a trash bin – that isn’t your country, and it isn’t what your country has become.
It says nothing whatsoever about America – but it says all you need to know about the people who behaved like that. Equally, your feelings of revulsion about what you saw tells me all I need to know about you.
You’re going to win, in the long run, for a reason which was, oddly enough, defined by a Democrat president. He saw that you could divide people into two broad groups. The ones like those attending the One Nation Rally, whose question is “What can my country do for me?” And the people like you, who ask “What can I do for my country?”
No contest, Fingers – just hang in there, mate!
And best regards,
Jack Enright
Buxton, Derbyshire, England
Thanks Jack, I really appreciate your kind words and for you taking the time to take a look at my website!
All the best!
Fingers
Fingers:
Nice job on your observations at the mall. Keep up the good work. How long have you been spelling your last name incorrectly?
Tom Molloy
40 years. And thanks.