8/8/2019 A REASON TO RESTORE REASON

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It was a festival atmosphere. Costumes, music, street venders. Signs, funny sometimes profound, floating over waves of people. Some there watching and some there to be watched. How many people were at the Rally To Restore Fear/Sanity? Whenyou look at the shot on Google Earth it looks like a lot. From the ground I couldnt see the end. Add the folks who stayed on the edge and watched, or that filledthe area bars and watched on TV. Then the people who watched at home or on podcasts. No one will ever know.

I ended up on the steps of the National Gallery across the street. Couldnt see any of the three screens, but I was recording it. Im sure that was the case for many people. I just wanted the experience of being there. The energy and fun. I never heard any shouting. I never saw any angry costume characters. No one screaming, Death to....! for any willing news camera. The signs were spelled correctly and weren

t self-contradictory. Fascist - Communist - Socialist. Keep the government out of my Social Security! Christians Against Social Justice. The only Hitler sign I saw said, Im pretty sure only Hitler was Hitler. Even with the crowds, some tight squeezing through areas, the grumbling was good natured. Everyone wasgetting along. In a societal atmosphere where behavioral norms seem dictated bythe 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 meaningless talking points. Dissent is not tolerated, any opposition shouted down and denigrated. Volume is victory.There was a special exhibit at The Museum of American Art, Telling Stories. Worksby Norman Rockwell from the Spielberg and Lucas collections. The painting, Freedom of Speech was on display. In it, one man stands speaking calmly. The figuressurrounding him are not unsympathetic but skeptical. They are also silent and respect the speakers right to express his opinion. Many know the picture, if you dont search for it. It was used to sell war bonds. I read the artist notes next tothe frame. The image was inspired by a meeting the day after Pearl Harbor, whenRockwell watched one man stand and voice opposition.The real power for of the work comes from the respect shown to that one man. That 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 responsibility 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 tosay it.