No, I'm not gonna say which rally was bigger, Jon Stewarts or Glenn Becks. I'm not gonna compare the trash left behind like every rightwing blogger will.........That's not what's important to "our" side. What's important is the message. In Jons closing speech he said "We live in hard times, not end times."
Stewart sharply criticizes the media, saying, "If we amplify everything, we hear nothing." Adds that it's insulting to not distinguish between real racists and Tea Partiers, and real bigots and Juan Williams/Rick Sanchez.
"The press is our immune system. If we overreact to everything, we actually get sicker."
What is obvious to me is the Stewart rally was not about dividing Americans, but about "Restoring Sanity" to America.. The people were there to have fun, not to hear talk about our president and leaders in Washington, whether or not they are destroying America, and how we can get the evil-doers out of the White House and Congress.
Becks rally was divisive, pitting the Christian right against the liberal left. Beck and Palin were speaking to teabaggers, it was not a bi-partisan rally. It was a rally for Christians and how to take back their country from the liberals, how they need to turn to God to solve the country's problems. It was partisan hate, not the love fest they want you to believe.
A woman called in the C-Span program after the rally and said she was a Christian but that does not mean she has to be a Republican. She urged all her Christian family and friends to give President Obama a chance. She said he is not the evil person out to destroy America like the righties claim he is. Her statements gave me hope that the country is paying attention, that we are mostly sane, intelligent people and we will vote for the party who has OUR best interests at heart. There IS a difference between the parties....
From the Christian Science Monitor:
Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" in Washington has sparked more than 1,160 mini-rallies in 84 countries, morphing into something of a global political happening.
The last time a political rally in America gained such international traction was during the 2003 protests against the Iraq war, says Timothy Patrick McCarthy, director of the Human Rights and Social Movements Program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
"I have been surprised by the proliferation of rallies worldwide," says Dr. McCarthy. "But I’m not sure what it means. I don’t know if this is just an outlet for people who share frustrations to come together for some cathartic exercise of political relief. But one of the things I think is interesting is there is a lot of anger and disaffection across the political spectrum."
Both American expatriates and foreign fans of "The Daily Show" and its creator, Mr. Stewart, are organizing meet-ups Saturday – everywhere from London to Tel Aviv to Seoul – to concur with the rally on the Washington Mall.
While many criticize Stewart's gathering as lacking a clear focus, some Americans living abroad say it has inspired them to take part in next week's election. Mr. Stewart organized his rally in reaction to Glenn Beck's Aug. 28 gathering at the Lincoln Memorial.
It was a great day in Washington, the rally was a success, and hopefully it moved people to VOTE on Tuesday. Someone has to restore sanity in this country, so why not Stewart and Colbert? I love them...
