First of two parts
[Editor’s Note: An astute Culver City woman of our acquaintance attended Glenn Beck’s huge Lincoln Memorial rally on Saturday, Aug. 28. But it has come to this in our politically polarized society: She asked to have her surname withheld to reduce anticipated discomfort in her workplace. Herewith, her impressions.]
The Call
I DVR Glenn Beck’s program on Fox News every weeknight, and I enjoy watching the show at the end of the day.
I am a libertarian, (former) union leader, non-conforming agent of social control. Like most of us, I am a person who does not fit well in a linear left to right political spectrum. I appreciate Glenn Beck bringing to the fore the fiscal insanity of Congress and the President for a decade now.
When Glenn announced the Restoring Honor event at the Lincoln Memorial, I knew I had to go to show that there are many Americans who do not believe in the sustainability to have a federal deficit of a half-trillion dollars to $1,400,000,000,000 a year. The interest on the annual deficit, the compounded deficit and the off-book deficits will cause my kids to bear a burden of interest payments alone that will stifle economic growth for years.
I didn't want my children to ask me “Everyone knew that we could not afford this path. What did you do, Mom, to try and fix this?” This rally seemed like the way to start the process.
The Rally, as a Rally
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A rally it was not. It was a religious revival. As a divorce lawyer and an atheist, I know full well that my right to have the belief that there is no God has been secured, and continues to be secured, by men and women who have died or been maimed to secure these rights. It is better to live in a Christian-Judeo country, or, as the President believes, a Muslim and Christian-Judeo country, than a completely secular society.
If Glenn Beck had originally billed the rally as a religious one, I would not have attended. I could tell in the weeks leading up to the date that religion was going to play a greater and greater role in the rally. I listened to the speakers.
I was not moved by Glenn Beck’s speech.
I’m not a Sarah Palin fan. I am not against her in the least, but she does not move me politically. Her speech about military moms was “nice.” Glenn Beck gave out three medals to three men who clearly deserved to be recognized. It seemed a bit “cheesy” to have a rally and then create an award and give speeches accepting the award. These were awards given by a man, a man with a radio program and television show. As these were not given by some recognized body or institution, it seemed like shtick.
I was glad that a prayer was said for the President and the Congress. I was good to see a montage of Dr. King. It was right to honor a wonderful man.
I found myself checking the time, knowing that the rally ended at 1 p.m. Glenn Beck did not rally in the crowd from what I could tell. There weren’t a lot of smiles or pumped up people as we left.
I’m glad I attended.
I wanted to send a signal that many Americans are worried about the Federal deficits, which I believe was the motivator to have us attend.
Though the deficit was not mentioned, I believe the fact that so many people came from all over did send a message.
A message that perhaps President Obama heard when he announced shortly after the rally that he wants to extend the Bush tax cuts on everyone who makes under $250,000 per year. This will help individuals in the economy. But an on- books debt of almost $14 trillion can’t be good. Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, after the rally, has come out and said our debt is impacting our ability to effectively conduct our foreign policy.
Maybe a fiscal change is coming.
(To be continued)
