After the Rally, After the March... what do we bring home?

[nostamj]

After the Rally, After the March... what do we bring home?

I’m glad I went to DC yesterday.

The things I thought I went for, didn’t really pan out. (Like connecting/chatting with more of the Duers that attended.)

But today, nursing my aching legs and feet, I realized that ‘joining the group’ was only part of the reason–and the benefit–of just being there.

I never believed that my individual presence would bring down the inconceivably evil BushCo empire.
I never believed that wearing my ?!! t-shirt would lead to the bushies releasing the evidence of their complicity in 9/11.
I never believed that handing out more ? buttons would lead to getting honest answers from the corporate and ‘christian’ criminals that have hijacked America.

But I did believe that making a massive showing, a demonstration was valuable.

Individual empowerment (always the key concept behind ?W) is the greatest gift we can take away from an event like this. (IMHO, of course)

From a personal perspective, I have been in deep depression/frenzy over issues in my personal and professional life for more than a month now. “Light in the tunnel”? My friends, I couldn’t even see the tunnel.

Today, I’ve had new clarity about how I can (as the Buddhists say) “turn poison into medicine” and know that part of that will be to take my skills and connections (in theatre/cabaret) to find creative avenues to push the issues we have events like this for.

(The “Raging Grannies” were a great inspiration. I am going to put together a devastating political cabaret show here in NYC. )

What I cannot accomplish alone, tapping away at my laptop, obsessing over things I cannot change, I can accomplish secure in the knowledge that I am not alone. There are 10s of thousands, there are millions that share my immediate despair and my long-term hope.

They provided that by, individually, just being there.

Whatever the arguments we have about the ‘content’ of the event. The FACT of the event and it’s value to us individually, as we absorb, expand, share that energy, to those around us, is important.

I’m glad I went to DC yesterday.

I will be stronger in every way that matters because of it.

[JanMichael]

1. Nothing and Everything.

That's what I got from my trip to DC last March.

Did we stop the invasion? No.

Did I discover that I am NOT alone in my own despair over an unjust Country and that we must Persevere for a better outcome? Yes.

"(The “Raging Grannies” were a great inspiration. I am going to put together a devastating political cabaret show here in NYC. )"

I may have to get Steph to trek up to NYC with me for that:-)

[BeachBuckeye]

2. Yes, I'll be there for that one too!

Jeff already promised me and Ms. James a cabaret show evening. What a fun evening that would be.

[nostamj]

3. thanks michael!

i timed this post VERY poorly. and it will be in the archives in a matter of minutes...

<sigh>

the rule is: the harder I work, the faster it drops.

the offhand posts, they live...

(i'll get you comps when I get this thing up, it will be AFTER the holidays though)

[JanMichael]

17. "comps"? What sort of avant-garde term is that?!

"Invites" perhaps?:-)

[qanda]

4. These words are so inspirational

Gave me a much needed post-rally boost. Thanks

[nostamj]

6. aww.... thanks plb

sorry that the rally didn't give you a boost though...

i sure got one!

you have children, you KNOW how important this all is.

(i have nieces and nephews... I am so afraid for them)

the very idea of 'endless war' is unacceptable

[cally]

5. I always feel empowered and more motivated after a rally

I went to the one in SF. I see the older folks walking who have been fighting the good fight for many decades. I see the veterans who are coming out to help the new generation sent to fight the corporation's wars. I meet women who say it it their first rally, ever. Then I hear about all the other things they do in their lives to help their community. Then I just enjoy the great street theater. I enjoy it. Folks are so creative and fun. I remember it's now always so serious, we can have fun, and we can enjoy ourselves.

And it is always enlightening to meet fellow DUers. This community is wonderful.

[DancingBear]

7. Nostamj, we bring back much the same

I went to D.C. as a man who'd been around for almost half a century, and as someone who'd been politically active years ago. I traded in my passivity for activism, and went looking for confirmation of my beliefs ("affirmation, baby"). So what did I learn? I learned that I have many things in common with my fellow marchers, and I learned that I have very few. I felt old, yet I felt young. Half of me wanted to shake these "young pups" by the throat and tell them the ways to make middle America see, while the other half marvelled at their unbridled exuberance and honest belief that they could change everything. I remember those feelings well.

I know now that there is a place for me, and that I can help. I temper things with wisdom now, and the pragmatist lives within, but I know now where I belong. I'll be doing my part in the way I feel works best , but when the time comes for numbers I'll be there.

We'll meet again, my friend.

[nostamj]

8. thanks dancingbear...

esp. after reading your posts today, I'm sorry there wasn't a chance to chat more...

(again, indeed!)

I too am reaching my half-century mark and completely relate to your comment:

I felt old, yet I felt young. Half of me wanted to shake these "young pups" by the throat and tell them the ways to make middle America see, while the other half marvelled at their unbridled exuberance and honest belief that they could change everything. I remember those feelings well.

I remember those feelings from the anti-vietnam war days (I was in High School when Kent State happened, and wore a black armband. VERY shocking in my tiny home town in CT.

I remember the post-Stonewall gay activism and, by my last year in college, was in the thick of it through the AIDS activism beginning in the 80s.

we agree, do the thing you do the best on your own... and SHOW UP when numbers are counted.

thanks again and hope to have another chance to chat,

nost/jeff

[DancingBear]

16. You're more than welcome

BTW, I grew up in CT as well - just north of New Haven.

Uh oh - is this part of that Karma shit I've been hearing so much about??

:) :)

[nostamj]

19. north branford CT

for me!

[JohnKleeb]

9. A sense of hope, the beginning of the 2nd part of my life, and scared

[nostamj]

12. i was scared at 18 too...

the draft was still possible. (i got a HIGH # and the next year it was gone)

dealing with my sexuality was still four years away... so terror was pretty much a daily thing.

(and it was a very different thing then, of course)

what can i say except, use fear to focus yourself, don't allow it to distract, difuse.

wish i had. hope you do.

[JohnKleeb]

13. I am only 16 though

I had a good time though.

[nostamj]

18. oops!

you sound older in your posts!

nevermind, PM me in w2 years!

(NOW i understand the earlier posts! of course, since I misbehaved when i was underage... i will not moralize. but, be careful!)

[JohnKleeb]

20. yea

Sound older? humbled lol.

[Kolesar]

10. I kept pestering the attendees

I would start a conversation with someone who said that Democrats and Republicans are all the same, then I would work on them until they got the idea that they should look up their local AFL-CIO and help them in their canvassing. I had fun.

[nostamj]

11. yeah

some of the best encounters of the day occurred between my friend and I w/ a stranger in a cab, in the Amtrak train...

one guy was coming up the aisle, and he stopped and was looking at me. and just kinda did a 'hi' look. then he said he loved my t-shirt. i was so tired, i didn't think, and then i realized i had my ianbruce ?!! t in PLAIN site.... along with my DU cap and ? buttons!

later, a womann took the seat next to my friend for the Newark-NYC leg. she turned out to be a savvy progressive dem!

all good.

[Kolesar]

14. My criticism was the same as the last march--LACK OF MESSAGE

There were dozens of speakers. Most of them repeated the same message. Many of them were quite off topic. Shrill and shouting is no way to go through life, son.

Did any of the speakers tell the Ambassador Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame outing story? I did not hear that story, but I did not listen to every speech. I had to duck out to look for a friend.

I just got in minutes ago, so I am still catching up with the other threads.

[KoKo]

15. Thanks for that wonderful post about what yesterday's March meant to you!

So glad to hear an upbeat post about this. I've attended many small protests and one large one here in NC where I see many of the same faces and wonder why we don't have new ones given the terribleness we are surrounded with. But, I always come away felling that I and those others who stand with our signs and protest Cheney and Asscroft and "Honk for Peace" somewhere will make a difference.

Your idea of a caberet show about "Raging Grannies" sounds great! If this were the 60's you could "pack the house." Maybe if you could do it you would start up the enthusiasm that existed then for a new group who desperately needs an outlet and some humor mixed with politics.

I hope that Liberal Organizations will start to fund small political theater once again. Surely there is a market out there....it's just finding it, that's the key.

Again, thanks for your post! :-)'s

[nostamj]

21. thanks koko!!

my show will NOT be *about* the grannies! ( it will be original, and, hopefully include DU input) but I still think that NYC has an audience for a DU-informed cabaret revue!

(feeling like YOU make a difference is exactly what it's all about)

[spooky3]

22. Great post--glad you're feeling better. And look who has a website:

the Raging Grannies!

http://www.raginggrannies.com/

[nostamj]

23. thanks! I already have it bookmarked

"The Question W Show: A Poitical Revue" WILL rock NYC

[nostamj]

24. going to sleep kick

kick