Today, America Was America
Thank You, Protesters
by Mary MacElveen
xmjmac@optonline.net

Today, I felt America was America again. It was okay to speak out and feel that your voice mattered. Thousands of you all across our beloved country took sometime out of your busy schedules to show the world that you give a damn. Along with you thousands around the world supported your best efforts and we were heard. It was the voice heard round the world, and finally the American media had to take notice that those of us who do not support Mr. Bush's actions have something to add to not only our own destiny, but the world's as well.

No, we are not arm chair activists who just stay at home in our comfy chairs and write letters to the editors and to our elected officials. Those of you who braved the cold proved that. Yes, those of us who do not support it, are now a force to be reckoned with.

America and the many freedoms that it was founded on is hard work, but many of you walked the walk and did some of that hard work. For that, you are to be praised. Even those who disagree with you should praise you for at least doing what is rightfully your duty as citizens of this beloved country. You took part in democracy. Something so many have cowered at showing. Especially after the events that befell our nation on September 11th. You can still have pride in your country, and dissent as well. After all, dissension is part of that pride. It is what makes us very American. To be otherwise makes us very much like those who attacked us on that sunny day in September. You by your actions today, showed the terrorists, that they won nothing. You showed them, that we are still Americans and will use the rights given us by our founding fathers to form a more perfect union. If we were to back unconditionally this administration, those terrorists would have won.

To paraphrase Al Gore during his third debate with George W. Bush, he said, "we must push past our brittle hearts in order to form a more perfect union." You who protested pushed past not only brittle hearts, but in your efforts showed you are willing to go the distance in forming a more perfect union. Something that has not been seen in quite sometime.

Some say that those who protested were siding with Saddam Hussein. Nothing can be farther from the truth. I abhor him and the way he has treated his countrymen and women. Perhaps by showing his country, Iraq how many were willing to go the distance in protesting our governments future actions, perhaps we have sewn a seed in those Iraqis who wish change in their country. Then they can make their own decision to band together and take Saddam down. Today we showed his country what freedom was truly all about. But, we also showed the world truly what we should stand for. We do not launch a first strike on any country. Especially when the proof is not in the
pudding.

We are America, and we are bigger than that.

For those of us who were not able to partake in this wonderful show of true patriotism, our hearts were with you all. As each step you took, we walked along side of you. As every breath you took on this cold winter's day, we who were not there were breathing in what America should be about. It stands for freedom. Even if it differs from those who are at the controls of our America.

To George W. Bush, today's action showed how thousands of us do not believe in your policies, and were willing to go the distance and prove it. No, they did not show themselves as being anti American, but proved that they are Americans. Should you start your unjust war, it is my hope and prayers that these protests will keep on going to send a message that we do not support the taking of lives by your administration. You have not proven anything, except that you want to rule the world with an iron fist, and that, Mr. Bush is simply not American. It is the very thing that attacked us on September 11th, 2001.

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." -GW Bush during a photo-op with Congressional leaders on 12/18/2000. As broadcast on CNN and available in transcript on their website:
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/18/nd.01.html

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. -Dwight D. Eisenhower

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Republican President Theodore Roosevelt

Just some quotes for you to ponder on, Mr. Bush or those of you who believe as he does.

Mary MacElveen
January 18, 2003