It’s funny how you attempted to write a negative editorial about the Restoring Honor rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on 28 August [“Party rhetoric,” Sept. 3-9]. Yet, despite your best efforts, failed. The simple reason is, it was not a negative event. Quite the contrary. On an absolutely beautiful Saturday afternoon in our nation’s Capitol, 500,000 Americans from all walks of life — white, black, gay, straight, young and old, from all over the country gathered because they know something has gone terribly wrong in this country. It was not an anti-government, white, racist, tea-bagger rally, as PGN (and the majority of the media) has suggested. It was a peaceful rally. There were no arrests that day, and when the crowd left, there was no litter left behind. The message of the day was “honor” and “faith, hope and charity.” The message was to love thy neighbor and treat each other with respect. The event raised over $5 million for the Special Operations Warriors Foundation — an organization that provides full college scholarships to the children of military personnel who have been killed or severely wounded. “Party rhetoric” indeed.
PGN was quite clear to mention that the rally was “mostly white.” Considering the fact that “whites” make up 75-80 percent of the population, it would be very odd if a rally of 500,000 American’s would not represent this.
You explicitly pointed out that Beck and Palin spoke at the rally. But you (intentionally?) did not mention that Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., also had a large speaking role. Full disclosure — as a gay man, I am no fan of Alveda King and her vehement antigay views; yet I still thought it odd you did not mention her as a speaker.
Also speaking at the event was Dave Roever, a Vietnam vet who practically had his face blown off when a phosphorous grenade exploded in his hand. PGN’s editorial suggests it was a conservative, political rally. Yet, the only time during the three-plus hour rally the president and Congress were mentioned was when Roever gave the closing prayer, and he said, “God Bless this nation. We thank you for our president. We thank you for our Congress. We thank you for our land. But God, we thank you that you rule in the hearts of these people … ”
True, the Restoring Honor rally could be called a religious event. The stage at the rally was filled with religious leaders — priests, rabbis, ministers, imams, Native American spiritual leaders — a diverse mix, representing millions of Americans and our beliefs. This country was founded on a belief in Divine Providence. It’s written into our Deceleration of Independence. But, there is no mandate of religion in our Constitution. Nor should there be. Beck, at the Restoring Honor rally asked people to pray on their knees. And, yes, let your children (and partner or spouse) see that you are humble before God, and praying for guidance, praying to give thanks or praying for whatever reason you want. When and why did this become such a terrible thing?
Your editorial almost got one thing correct when it ended with, “Less government implies less government involvement in people’s lives and, yes, perhaps greater freedom to do what one wants.”
I say you almost got it right, because it should have read: Your freedoms and rights come from God. Less government in people’s lives equals greater freedom to do what one wants. A small government has not the desire nor the means to impose religious views on anyone. As gays and lesbians, as Americans, this is a message we should all rally behind.
Mike Marco Philadelphia