today is the first of two very special posts and the first of three in a series. i realize the tea parties happened nearly a week ago, but i've decided that not everything has been posted on the day - yet.
my cousin, jessica hayes, was one of the more than 50,000 to over a million people - of course, depending on who's estimates you believe: the "official" estimates or your own lying eyes - attending the tea party on the mall in dc last saturday 12 september 2009. this is her personal accounting of that day. in a few days there will be a post from one of my very good friends, mr. h, whom also attended the tea party on the mall - a few days after that i'll post my accounting of the tea party on the lawn of the federal building in west l.a.
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I had been anticipating the 9-12 March on Washington for a few months but no amount of anticipation could surpass the passion and unbridled patriotism that enveloped my heart bountifully as I marched down Pennsylvania Avenue that cool crisp pre-fall morning. The spirit emanated from my fellow countrymen adjacent me; they were from every walk of life, from near and far, young and old, black and white. Without speaking a word we all knew that we were there for the same cause. As we marched, waves of chants would start from either the rear or fore and roll backwards and forwards until we were all in sync. Perhaps the most poignant moment was as we were passing by one of the government buildings. The chant had become loud and strong, “Can you hear us now?” “Can you hear us now?”; “Can you hear us now?” Awe struck when at that instant to our left was a tremendous marble wall inscribed with...
'CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES'
Time seemed to stand still for that moment in time, for this was the very motive for our March on Washington to petition our government for a redress of many grievances.
We made our way to about midway between the capital and the beginning of the mall. We listened to all of the speakers; we cheered and chanted until our voices were hoarse. We held up our signs and waved our flags with pride. Everyone we encountered was polite, courteous and friendly. There was no pushing, no shoving and no violence. As we were headed for the bus we noticed that there was no trash littered about on the lawn or the sidewalks. Everyone had either placed their trash in a waste can or stacked it neatly by one if it was full.
It is glorious to be an American and on September 12, 2009 an unequivocal message echoed throughout the land that if our elected representatives don’t represent us, "We have not yet begun to fight".
what an amazing day for jessica, for me, for our country.
