A review from DC’s Restoring Honor Rally

“Thousands gather as Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin lead controversial Washington rally” and “Sharpten Rally fills football field”  that is how CNN was covering it by the time I reached the airport.    Since the reflecting pool is about 2000 feet long (5.5 football fields).    We could estimate the Restoring honor crowd at about 20 times that of the “competing rally.”    Done.   But that is not the focus of this piece or should it be of the remaining coverage.   Now the review.

Overall, the rally was well done and had good flow.   Glenn stepped up early to explain the overall structure of the rally and in between to stitch the sections together.   At each stage, he just as quickly stepped aside to allow the rally to flow unimpeded; allowing the SOWF to explain their mission, Sarah Palin to introduce honored military and to allow the presentation of the new Badges of Merit.  It was not until hour three when Glenn Beck took to the stage to speak at length on his own behalf.

The stories presented by Sarah Palin were well articulated and done with respect and reverence.  She carried it off well and stuck to the tone of the rally.   The presentation of awards to citizens of outstanding merit was a wonderful segment and should be the central focus of the coverage.   I have seen very little of this segment at all.  This is sad but not surprising.   The closest and generally fair coverage I saw was the segment of Glenn’s speech when he asked the audience how they differ from the giants that surround them in these monuments.   The extended quote ran to the end when Glenn explains that they were just men and they are no different then us, they only did the hard thing when it was most needed.   I have seen another snippet from this section that I would say was excerpted specifically to create more controversy.   That was when Glenn said he most identifies with Martin Luther King Jr.   Glenn further clarifies that this is because we have yet to create a monument to him and ensconce him in marble.   He is still remembered as a man– a great man doing what was most needed.   When I heard it live, I knew this would happen and I think Glenn did as well.   He had to give them something with which to work.

Dr. Alveda King was again wonderful.   Her strength of character was evident simply by her presence at this rally.  But her speech added power and a stark differentiation between Restoring Honor’s inclusive hopeful message and the competing rally’s divisive  ”Reclaim the Dream” message.

Glenn’s reintroduction of the Black Robe Brigade was a powerful moment, made more so as he explained the scope of the congregations covered.  I found it interesting and found myself wondering how this will manifest itself moving forward.   I am now going to have to watch the 8/27 event to understand this a bit deeper.   I am hopeful that Glenn was able to express his concerns over Social Justice and Collective Salvation.  Without these constraints, the message of ” God is the answer” leaves a lot of variables and interpretations that diminish the potential impact.

One criticism I have of the event was that it became a bit preachy in parts.  Given the speaker(s), one would probably say that this could be expected.   I only found the level of religion a bit over-bearing when those trying to show religious unity referred to God specifically as Jesus or Christ.   With other preachers (from varied religions) on stage, I felt a bit self-editing would have been appropriate.

This in no way limited to overall message centered on Honor through Hope, Faith, and Charity.   A heart-felt thank you goes out to all involved.   You probably will see more coverage about the debates of the crowd size then coverage such as this.    That is why I wrote it.   The focus of the rally was that we must be willing to do the hard things now, when it is needed most, and at personal risk.    Restoring honor starts with citizens, individuals doing the right thing and demanding the same from others.    Take strength in this fact.   The argument is sound, the message powerful.  Arguing against it’s merits is a losing battle.   Crowd size and race (always race) will move to the fore.   That is an act of weakness not strength.

For a more light-hearted view of the days around the rally see my “Ten anecdotes from DC 8/27-8/28”

Update (9/2): A few great articles covering the rally:

Out Chicago no less!  http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/15295.html

WSJ covers the dynamics well: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703369704575461633570826898.html