A Constitutional Republic, where the First Amendment is Essential to OUR Survival
Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor Rally – Aug. 28, 2010
Publisher's Note: Diane Rufino journeyed, with her family, to our nation's capital to experience first hand the Restoring Honor Rally on the Mall. We do appreciate her finely crafted journal as it is a record, for us remaining here Downeast, of this historic and momentous event.
Glenn Beck had a dream. He thought that if Americans can unite in order to restore honor to our nation, it would be the first step in taking our country back and taking it back for all the right reasons. It was perhaps fitting then that he held his “Restoring Honor” rally on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s 1963 March on Washington, when the civil rights leader talked about his own dream to bring honor to our nation.
The "Restoring Honor" rally in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Aug. 28, attracted at least a million Americans who, while searching for answers to the many dire problems plaguing the nation, wanted to show solidarity behind Glenn Beck’s dream. For months Beck reported that the event would not be political but would be spiritual and reflective. It would be an occasion to celebrate our military and to reflect upon the honorable values that at one time defined our nation. Perhaps most of all it would be an opportunity to honor God, who has been out of the equation for far too long. We cannot continue to ask His blessings when as a nation we are told we must deny him. Good things happen to us when God is on our side and blesses us with his Providence. And the best way to get our house in order is to start with the individual. As Beck said: "The message I was trying to send was to be your highest self and stand in the burning bush (reference to the God), stand in the fire, because that's the only thing that's going to save us. I've come to the place where I believe there's no way to solve these problems, these issues ... unless we solve it through God, unless we solve it through being our highest self, and that's a pretty tall order."
It was a beautiful day for the rally. Not only was it hot and sunny, but the air was filled with an energy that most people admit they had never felt before in their lives. My family and I spent the week-end in the DC, only blocks from the mall where the rally was to take place. We wanted to use the occasion to learn and to re-acquaint ourselves with history. From the minute we checked into the hotel, clerks and local folks were awestruck at the attendance in the city. They had never seen the city so packed and so busy. There wasn’t a single hotel room available in the city and not a single parking space. On every street were hundreds of people taking in the sights or getting something to eat, all in preparation of the big event on Saturday. People had come in from everywhere imaginable… Iowa, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, and others like ourselves, from North Carolina. These are just a few that we rode in the elevators with.
On Saturday morning we got up at 6:30 am and looked out the window of our hotel room. We could already see crowds walking past the hotel and towards the area of the mall. We knew then we would have to get moving ourselves. Quickly we showered and had a quick bite to eat, and were out of the hotel by 8:00. We walked to the mall with a huge mass of people. There was barely any room to move around on the sidewalks. Once we hit the mall, there was even less room to walk around, and all you could do was move with the crowds.
By 8:30, the mall area was already packed from the Lincoln Memorial straight back through the WWII Memorial and onto the lawn to the Washington Monument. It was a sea of people, all packed together. We were unable to get any closer than right in front of the WWII Memorial, but at least the kids had the chance to sit by the water and fountains to cool off. Talking to people who live in DC, they said without a doubt
that they had never seen the city so crowded. “We’ve never seen anything like this in DC, even for the 9/12 March.” One man estimated the crowd (at 8:30am) to be at least 1.3 million. A couple who had attended the 9/12 March last year estimated the present crowd at at double the 9/12 event. A man who attended the Million Man March said there was absolutely no comparison between the two events. He said the Million Man March was a minor event compared to the Restoring Honor Rally. All in all, the estimate that I got from talking to so many people was that there was at least 1.2 – 1.5 million people in attendance.
The crowd was wonderful … just the greatest group of people you would want to spend the afternoon with…..the greatest group of people you would want to call your neighbors, and the greatest group of people you could want to share a country with. These people are undyingly patriotic, warm, generous, gregarious, respectful, caring, focused on the right values, and for the most part, religious. They all know that they can no longer sit by and watch the destructive forces that have gained power continue to “transform” the nation into something they can no longer be proud of. And pride in their country was the very reason these average Americans traveled from their homes to share in the event with Glenn Beck. Just before the event was set to begin, a flock of seagulls flew straight in over the Reflecting Pool, in perfect V-formation. The crowd around the Pool clapped heartily. One man next commented: “It’s God’s version of a fly-over!”
Glenn Beck took the stage, in a shirt and tie and headset, at precisely 10:00 and opened with a public service announcement: “I have just gotten word from the media that there is over 1000 people here today.” The crowds, numbering over a million at that point, laughed and cheered wildly.
Beck asked the crowd to take notice of where they were standing, for all around them were monuments to those who have served this nation immeasurably, either in word or in deed. In one
direction was the majestic George Washington Monument on which is engraved the words “Laus Deo” which means “Praise Be to God.” George Washington - “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen” – devoted his entire life in service to his country. He was pulled out of retirement on three separate occasions because his country had further need of his leadership, one at the Constitutional Convention and another in service as our nation’s first President.
To the side was the Jefferson Memorial, a beautiful monument to our liberty, for it was Thomas Jefferson who gave us religious freedom and who pushed James Madison to include a Bill of Rights in our Constitution. Inscribed on one wall are his words: “"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath?”
In front was the stunning WWII Memorial, which celebrated the 65th Anniversary of the end of the war against Japan on August 15th. There were veterans on hand to patrol the Memorial and some seemed awfully nervous that somehow it might be disrespected. They were reassured however when rally members went up to them and thanked them for what they did for the country. Immediately off to the side and in front was the poignant Vietnam War Memorial to which Beck exclaimed: “When they came home, they weren’t given a warm welcome home. But today, we celebrate their service.” In back of that was the KoreanWar Memorial.
And then there was the Lincoln Memorial itself, from which the rally would be broadcast…. As Beck described: “Abraham Lincoln rests on a seat of dignity, a throne of authority.. The face of equality… solemn, dignified, resolved.” On one wall is engraved his Gettysburg Address and on another is engraved his second inaugural address. “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Beck kicked off the rally by telling the crowd: "Something beyond imagination is happening. Something that is beyond man is happening. America today begins to turn back to God. For too long, this country has wandered in darkness and we have wandered in darkness for periods from the beginning. We have had moments of brilliance and moments of darkness. But his country has spent far too long worried about scars and thinking about the scars and concentrating on the scars. Today we are going to concentrate on the good things in America, on the good things what we can accomplish together and what we can do tomorrow. For the story of America is the story of human kind.” Glenn then discussed the power of God. On the other side of the world, God fulfilled the scripture and delivered his chosen people out of bondage. He sent the deliverer. People then began to listen to God and take his word seriously. And then he fulfilled scripture again and sent his son Jesus Christ, this time to deliver those who believe from the condemnation of sin. On this side of the world, God also delivered his people from oppression and guided them to freedom. And they also listened to him. They secured charters from England and got in their boats and came to America. Their story is our story.
Glenn said: On this side of the world, “God’s chosen people are the Native Americans and the pilgrims.” And with that he introduced a man and a woman who are direct descendants of the native American tribe that welcomed the settlers when they landed on their shores and he introduced Pastor Paul Jehle, a direct descendant from those pilgrims who arrived here on the Mayflower. Pastor Jehle then delivered a beautiful prayer. He reminded the audience the role that God has played in our history…. It was God who opened the shores of America. It was God to brought the settlers to the new world. It was God whom the Pilgrims knelt to. It was God whom John Winthrop addressed when he delivered a sermon to inspire his settlers on their perilous ocean voyage to Massachusetts Bay. It was God who inspired our founding documents. It was God who was addressed in the Declaration of Independence as the “Creator.” It was God who guided us to our separation from England. And it was God who inspired our nation to secure for its people the largest grant of freedom in the world. It was also God who punished us when we broke our treaties with our native American friends and when we refused to treat all men with equality. And he may well punish us further for not modeling marriage after his laws. But God is a forgiving Lord. Pastor Jehle said that we, as a nation, need to ask God for forgiveness, for redemption, for reconciliation…. “He will honor those who honor him.” “God is the answer. He always has been.”
John Winthrop, on a charter to the New World to start a colony to embrace their Puritan religious beliefs, delivered a sermon to inspire them. (They would form the Massachusetts Bay Colony): “We must Consider that we shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our god in this work we have undertaken and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.” (These words went on to inspire speeches by both JFK and Ronald Reagan).
Beck urged the crowd: “Go to your churches, synagogues, and mosques… Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but we have today to make a difference!” The crowd applauded.
Next, Deborah Argel-Bastian, mother of a fallen Special Ops soldier, delivered a heartfelt and tearful remembrance to her son, Captain Derek Argel, who was killed in Action in Iraq. She spoke about the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which Glenn Beck has personally endorsed, and which honors brave soldiers like her son. Deborah has raised several thousand for the cause, and in just the few short hours of the rally, over $5 million was raised for the cause. The Special Operations soldier is indeed a rare breed of human: expertly skilled, highly trained and wholly dedicated. Their challenges are particularly dangerous and unpredictable, but it is soldiers like Captain Argel who rescue hostages and take out high-risk targets.
Beck then introduced the speaker who received the loudest welcome from the crowds – Sarah Palin. She was asked to speak not as a politician and not as a powerful force for the Tea Party movement, but rather as the mother of a soldier. She started with these words: “We stand today at the symbolic crossroads of our nation's history. May this day be the changing point.” She told the crowds: “We must not fundamentally transform America as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor!”
Her message was that of the extraordinary character and dedication of the American soldier. To that point, she told the remarkable stories of three brave servicemen who joined her onstage – U.S. Navy SEAL Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, US Marine Sergeant James “Eddie” Wright, and Air Force Colonel Tom Kirk.
“The first is a man named Marcus Luttrell. His story is one of raw courage in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s also a story of America’s enduring quest for justice. Remember, we went to Afghanistan seeking justice for those who were killed without mercy by evil men on September 11th. And one fateful day in Afghanistan on a mountain ridge, Marcus and three of his fellow Navy SEALs confronted the issue of justice and mercy in a decision that would forever change their lives.
They were on a mission to hunt down a high-level Taliban leader, but they were faced with a terrible dilemma when some men herding goats stumbled upon their position, and they couldn’t tell if these men were friend or foe. So the question was what to do with them? Should they kill them or should they let them go and perhaps risk compromising their mission? They took a vote. They chose mercy over self-preservation. They set their prisoners free. The vote said it was the humane thing to do. It was the American thing to do. But it sealed their fate because within hours, over a hundred Taliban forces arrived on the scene. They battled the four Navy SEALs throughout the surrounding hills. A rescue helicopter came, but it was shot down. By the time the sun set on June 28, 2005, it was one of the bloodiest days for American forces in Afghanistan. Nineteen brave, honorable men were lost that day. Marcus was the sole survivor. Alone, stranded, badly wounded, he limped and crawled for miles along that mountain side. What happened next is a testament to the words: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” Marcus and his team showed mercy in letting their prisoners free. And later he was shown mercy by Afghan villagers who honored an ancient custom of providing hospitality to any stranger who would ask for it. They took him in. They cared for him, refused to hand him over to the Taliban. They got him back safely to our forces.
Marcus’ story teaches us that even on the worst battlefield against the most brutal enemy, we adhere to our principles. This American love of justice and mercy is what makes us a force for good in this world. Marcus is a testament to that…. (With that last remark, she asked the crowd to join her in honoring Mr. Luttrell. She gave him a big huge as he stepped forward and thanked the crowd).
From the time he first heard men marching to a cadence call, Eddie Wright had one dream in life, and that was to be a United States Marine. And as a Marine serving in Iraq, his company was ambushed in Fallujah. He was knocked out when a rocket propelled grenade hit his humvee. When he came to, he saw that both his hands were gone and his leg was badly wounded. He couldn’t fire his weapon, he could barely move, and he was bleeding to death. But he had the strength of mind to lead the men under his command, and that is exactly what he did. He kept them calm, he showed them how to stop the bleeding in his leg, he told them where to return fire, he had them call for support, and he got them out of there alive.
His composure under fire that day earned him the Bronze Star with Valor device….. (She then asked the crowd to join her in honoring Mr. Wright, whom she gave a great hug. He waved to the crowd with his metal prosthetic hands).
Tom Kirk was an Air Force squadron commander and a combat pilot who had flown over 150 missions in Korea and Vietnam. One day on a routine mission over Hanoi, his plane was shot down. He spent the next five and a half years in that living hell known as the Hanoi Hilton. Like his fellow prisoners, Tom endured the beatings, the torture, the hunger, the years of isolation. He described it, saying, ‘There was nothing to do, nothing to read, nothing to write. You had to just sit there in absolute boredom, loneliness, frustration, and fear. You had to live one day at a time, because you had no idea how long you were going to be there.’
After two years of solitary confinement, pacing back and forth in his cell — three and a half steps across, three and a half steps deep – Tom was finally moved to a larger holding cell with 45 other Americans prisoners, among them was a man named John McCain. In circumstances that defy description, this band of brothers kept each other alive, and one by one, they came home.
Tom was released on March 14, 1973. You might think that a man who had suffered so much for his country would be bitter and broken by it. But Tom’s heart was only filled with love – love for America – that special love of country that we call patriotism.
Tom wrote, ‘Patriotism has become, for many, a ‘corny’ thing. For me, it is more important now than at any time in my life. How wonderful it is to be an American. How wonderful it is to be an American who can come home!’ (The crowd joined her in honoring Mr. Kirk)
Their stories are America’s story. We will always come through. We will never give up, and we shall endure because we live by that moral strength that we call grace. Because though we’ve often skirted a precipice, a providential hand has always guided us to a better future.”
Sarah Palin ended by re-enforcing her initial message: “I know that many of us today, we are worried about what we face. Sometimes our challenges, they just seem insurmountable. But, here, together, at the crossroads of our history, may this day be the changing point! Look around you. You’re not alone. You are Americans! You have the same steel spine and the moral courage of Washington and Lincoln and Martin Luther King. It is in you. It will sustain you as it sustained them….. So with pride in the red, white, and blue; with gratitude to our men and women in uniform; let’s stand together! Let’s stand with honor! Let’s restore America!”
I had been standing just outside the WWII Memorial at the time of Sarah Palin’s speech and a man standing next to me, from Minnesota I believe, said: “I wish there were more opportunities to honor our troops and military like this event.” And he was absolutely right.
Three people were then singled out for the values of Faith, Hope and Charity. The Faith Merit medal was presented to the Reverend C.L. Jackson, a lifelong pastor and civil rights pioneer. The Hope Merit medal was presented to baseball superstar Albert Pujols, of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has remained true to his wife, himself, the sport, and to his faith. In fact when he received the medal, he thanked his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all he has been blessed with. The Charity merit medal was presented to philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., who has given billions of dollars to charities, including those for cancer research, domestic violence shelters, and homeless shelters.
Alveda King, niece of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., a minister, a conservative political activist, an anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion activist, author, politician, and mother of eight, spoke about rebuilding and uniting America. “If Uncle Martin were here today, he would surely commend us for giving credit where credit is due…. We are united by one race, the human race. We are all children of God and we must love one another. We are one human family. We must not oppress each other but help those who are oppressed.” She also asked rally-goers to "focus not on elections or on political causes, but on honor, on character ... not the color of our skin."
“Forty-seven years ago, Uncle Martin compared our nation’s promise of Equal Protection to a check marked “Insufficient Funds.” Today, in more than one sense, American is nearly bankrupt. Our material gains seem to be going the way of our moral losses. We are still suffering from the great Evil Divide of racism. Our children are still suffering in the education system and our sons and daughters are being incarcerated at astronomical rates. The sickness, disease, and poverty of the spirit and soul are plaguing our communities. The procreative foundation of marriage is being threatened, and the wombs of our mothers have become places where the blood of our children is shed in a womb war that threatens the fabric of our society. The economy reflects the girth of our moral poverty. Yet we are not without hope and faith. Hope, faith, and love are not dead in America. Hallelujah. We still trust in God. Our honored heroes here today bear witness that there is still hope in the human heart….” She asked the crowds: “When will we know when the check that Uncle Martin spoke about is good? We will know when we have arrived when prayer is once again welcomed in the public squares of America and in our schools. We will know when our children are no longer in peril in our streets and in our classrooms and in the wombs of our mothers.”
Echoing the words of her Uncle, she ended with these words: “I too have a dream. I have a dream that one day that the God of love will transcend color and economic status and cause us to turn from moral turpitude. I have a dream that Americans will repent from the sin of racism and return to Honor. I have a dream that America will pray and God will forgive us our sins and revive us in our land.”
When Ms. King concluded, the crowd was treated to some gospel songs touching on faith and unity. Red-headed country singer Jo Dee Messina also took the stage to perform her beautiful song “Heaven was Needing a Hero.” No better song could have been sung on such an occasion.
The closing prayer was delivered by Vietnam veteran Dan Roever, a man of honor who survived having a phosphorus grenade blown up in his face. His burns were so severe that he literally lost his entire face and one eye. He tried to commit suicide before he ever got home because he didn’t think his young wife could bear to look at him. He began with these words: “There are two reflecting pools here. One is the Reflecting Pool, of water, in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The other is the pool of people gathered here in your name. We reflect upon you. We are your reflecting pool.” In his prayer, he reminded us of Romans 8:28. He reminded us that this verse assures us that in all things – slavery, civil war, segregation, war, terror, and even the Holocaust – God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Beck closed the event with words that were sure to instill hope in every attendee at the rally. He said that Americans have a choice between allowing the scars of the past to crush or to learn from the mistakes and move forward. He pointed to the nearby monuments as examples of Americans who have given their lives to the service of the country, singling out Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King.
"So what did these great people give their lives for?” he asked. “They gave it for the American experiment. And that's what this is -- an experiment. It's not just a country, it's an idea. It’s an idea that man can rule himself. And that's the American experiment."
At that point Beck began to become visibly choked up while describing visiting the Lincoln Memorial with his children. He also quoted the Gettysburg Address at length and said he has been staying in the same hotel where Dr. King completed his "I Have a Dream" speech and where the "Battle Hymn of Republic" was composed.
In talking about Martin Luther King, he noted that his monument hasn’t been completed and he hasn’t been carved in marble yet. “He’s still a man,” Beck said. With that he noted that the only difference between the great leaders memorialized nearby and individuals in the crowd was their determination to do the right thing, regardless of difficulty. "Have trust in the Lord, and recognize that Moses and Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were men, they were just like you. They just picked up their stick," he said. "Do not stand and look to someone else. Look to yourself. Pick up your stick and stand."
Beck said too many Americans have been looking to someone else for help with their problems, when instead they should be looking inside of themselves and then extending a hand to the needy around them. "We are a nation quite honestly that in about as good a shape as I am. Because we've had a soft life," he said. "The poorest among us are still some of the richest in the world. The poorest among us have blessings beyond wildest imagination of anyone that Mother Theresa visited. And yet we don't recognize it."
Instead of recognizing our blessings, he said Americans have allowed themselves to become easily knocked down and disillusioned. They have grown tired, weak, and increasingly divided. Beck told the crowd: “There is growing hatred in the country. We must be better than what we've allowed ourselves to become. We must get the poison of hatred out of us. No matter what anyone may say or do, no matter what anyone smears or lies or throws our way or to any American's way, we must look to God and look to love. We must defend those that we disagree with, as long as they are honest and have integrity."
In order to succeed, Beck explained, Americans must first look within themselves and make sure that they are honest, faithful and charitable in their everyday lives. He emphasized the importance of honesty and faith by relating his own journey, which took him to a low place where he hit rock bottom, had no friends, and disgraced himself in every possible way before finding God and turning his life around.
"America is great because America is good. But that isn't the entire story. America is only what we choose her to be. We as individuals must be good so America can be great," he said. And that was the take-home message of the day. We need to be the best that we all can be… for ourselves, for our families, for our God, and for our country. We need to restore faith, hope, charity and honor in our own lives first and then through our character, we can restore honor to our country. That’s how we take the country back.
He closed, “We are at a crossroads, today. We must decide who we are. And what is it we believe. Will we advance our Republic or allow it to perish? I choose advance!” (To which the crowd cheered !!) With that, the historic rally was concluded.
The rally was over just before 2:00. It went precisely as scheduled. I walked back towards my hotel with my sweaty, smelly, tired family but felt more alive than I have in a long time. I imagine thousands felt the same exact way. As one attendee commented to me afterwards, as we both sat down to rest our throbbing feet: “The crowd was extraordinarily courteous and polite. I saw people go out of their way to help people navigate through the crowds, even when it meant that they were uprooted from their chairs or were being stepped on. I saw people helping others to get something cold to drink. I didn’t see any signs except on the way to the gathering. Once I actually got to the mall ground, I only saw American flags and some yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flags, which people were proud to carry. There were plenty of conservative t-shirts and I enjoyed reading their messages. Some were really clever and unique, but not a single one was offensive or tasteless. The speeches were exactly what I expected. They weren’t about politics, as Beck said, and instead they were about things like honor, courage, patriotism, love of God, unity, and charity. Beck and Palin and the other speakers were calling for the
need of a national revival of these virtues. And as I looked around, I could see that everyone in the crowd agreed. I even saw grown men crying when they talked about honor and God. When I left the grounds and I looked back, I saw the grass completely free of litter and debris. It was truly a respectful crowd.”
On a site just off the mall, another rally was being held – the “Reclaim the Dream” rally – which was organized by the Reverend Al Sharpton. The rally was promoted by Mr. Sharpton as a peaceful, non-political rally to share the message that while blacks still have “the dream” – “We aren’t there yet.” In fact, that message – “We aren’t there yet” – was going to be the theme. As it turned out, it wasn’t necessarily “non-political” nor “peaceful,” although there were no acts of assault or violence. Rather, there were plenty of insults and finger-pointing and a lot of disrespect. (At least, that is what several attendees of the Restoring Honor rally were talking about at the hotel, at the Museums we attended, and even when we stopped for ice cream and dinner. There was no where you could go that day without running into someone who had gone to the rally and wanted to share their experience).
A group of over a million Americans, almost exclusively white, from all corners of the country, and devoted solely and entirely to the positive, truthful message about restoring not only honor but hope, faith and charity in our nation, was criticized and
attacked by the group, which was predominately black. They carried signs and called Glenn Beck “racist” and claimed that his rally would amount to nothing. "They are having a anti-government march on a day where King came to appeal to the government," Sharpton said. "You can't have it both ways… In '63, they went to Washington for a strong national government to protect civil rights. Beck and Palin are going there for a weak national government and to advocate state rights." I personally didn’t see much criticism from members of this rally except for a group of people just on the edge of the Restoring Honor Rally who shouted “Beck is a racist” and “the Tea Party is racist” as we walked by. When my husband asked why they didn’t have a flag, they answered that they didn’t need one. Other attendees said they were called “Tea baggers” as they left the mall area and others said that Sharpton’s crowd used foul language in regard to Beck and the rally. In the paper the following day, the “Reclaim the Dream” attendees complained that they received some foul comments as well. One told them to “go back to church.”
While the Restoring Honor rally was respectful and non-political, many of those who attended Al Sharpton’s rally specifically did so to protest Beck’s rally. The truth is that the two rallies could not have been any more different, though both inspired by the words and acts of civil service and sacrifice by Martin Luther King Jr. The contrast between the rallies couldn't have been sharper -- One was divinely-spirited and the other was mean-spirited. One had a positive message and the other had a negative message. One represented unity and was inclusive of all persons who wanted to praise the Lord and the military, and the other was exclusive. One recognized the Lincoln Memorial as a site for all Americans and as a symbol of national unity and brotherhood and the other used angry tones to claim that the site belongs exclusively to MLK and his cause. One was about putting the needs of the nation and its integrity and longevity first and the other was about putting their needs first. Lastly, one was about race and the other was not.
Go Back
Glenn Beck had a dream. He thought that if Americans can unite in order to restore honor to our nation, it would be the first step in taking our country back and taking it back for all the right reasons. It was perhaps fitting then that he held his “Restoring Honor” rally on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s 1963 March on Washington, when the civil rights leader talked about his own dream to bring honor to our nation.
The "Restoring Honor" rally in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Aug. 28, attracted at least a million Americans who, while searching for answers to the many dire problems plaguing the nation, wanted to show solidarity behind Glenn Beck’s dream. For months Beck reported that the event would not be political but would be spiritual and reflective. It would be an occasion to celebrate our military and to reflect upon the honorable values that at one time defined our nation. Perhaps most of all it would be an opportunity to honor God, who has been out of the equation for far too long. We cannot continue to ask His blessings when as a nation we are told we must deny him. Good things happen to us when God is on our side and blesses us with his Providence. And the best way to get our house in order is to start with the individual. As Beck said: "The message I was trying to send was to be your highest self and stand in the burning bush (reference to the God), stand in the fire, because that's the only thing that's going to save us. I've come to the place where I believe there's no way to solve these problems, these issues ... unless we solve it through God, unless we solve it through being our highest self, and that's a pretty tall order."
It was a beautiful day for the rally. Not only was it hot and sunny, but the air was filled with an energy that most people admit they had never felt before in their lives. My family and I spent the week-end in the DC, only blocks from the mall where the rally was to take place. We wanted to use the occasion to learn and to re-acquaint ourselves with history. From the minute we checked into the hotel, clerks and local folks were awestruck at the attendance in the city. They had never seen the city so packed and so busy. There wasn’t a single hotel room available in the city and not a single parking space. On every street were hundreds of people taking in the sights or getting something to eat, all in preparation of the big event on Saturday. People had come in from everywhere imaginable… Iowa, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Jersey, and others like ourselves, from North Carolina. These are just a few that we rode in the elevators with.
On Saturday morning we got up at 6:30 am and looked out the window of our hotel room. We could already see crowds walking past the hotel and towards the area of the mall. We knew then we would have to get moving ourselves. Quickly we showered and had a quick bite to eat, and were out of the hotel by 8:00. We walked to the mall with a huge mass of people. There was barely any room to move around on the sidewalks. Once we hit the mall, there was even less room to walk around, and all you could do was move with the crowds.
By 8:30, the mall area was already packed from the Lincoln Memorial straight back through the WWII Memorial and onto the lawn to the Washington Monument. It was a sea of people, all packed together. We were unable to get any closer than right in front of the WWII Memorial, but at least the kids had the chance to sit by the water and fountains to cool off. Talking to people who live in DC, they said without a doubt
that they had never seen the city so crowded. “We’ve never seen anything like this in DC, even for the 9/12 March.” One man estimated the crowd (at 8:30am) to be at least 1.3 million. A couple who had attended the 9/12 March last year estimated the present crowd at at double the 9/12 event. A man who attended the Million Man March said there was absolutely no comparison between the two events. He said the Million Man March was a minor event compared to the Restoring Honor Rally. All in all, the estimate that I got from talking to so many people was that there was at least 1.2 – 1.5 million people in attendance.
The crowd was wonderful … just the greatest group of people you would want to spend the afternoon with…..the greatest group of people you would want to call your neighbors, and the greatest group of people you could want to share a country with. These people are undyingly patriotic, warm, generous, gregarious, respectful, caring, focused on the right values, and for the most part, religious. They all know that they can no longer sit by and watch the destructive forces that have gained power continue to “transform” the nation into something they can no longer be proud of. And pride in their country was the very reason these average Americans traveled from their homes to share in the event with Glenn Beck. Just before the event was set to begin, a flock of seagulls flew straight in over the Reflecting Pool, in perfect V-formation. The crowd around the Pool clapped heartily. One man next commented: “It’s God’s version of a fly-over!”
Glenn Beck took the stage, in a shirt and tie and headset, at precisely 10:00 and opened with a public service announcement: “I have just gotten word from the media that there is over 1000 people here today.” The crowds, numbering over a million at that point, laughed and cheered wildly.
Beck asked the crowd to take notice of where they were standing, for all around them were monuments to those who have served this nation immeasurably, either in word or in deed. In one
direction was the majestic George Washington Monument on which is engraved the words “Laus Deo” which means “Praise Be to God.” George Washington - “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen” – devoted his entire life in service to his country. He was pulled out of retirement on three separate occasions because his country had further need of his leadership, one at the Constitutional Convention and another in service as our nation’s first President.
To the side was the Jefferson Memorial, a beautiful monument to our liberty, for it was Thomas Jefferson who gave us religious freedom and who pushed James Madison to include a Bill of Rights in our Constitution. Inscribed on one wall are his words: “"God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath?”
In front was the stunning WWII Memorial, which celebrated the 65th Anniversary of the end of the war against Japan on August 15th. There were veterans on hand to patrol the Memorial and some seemed awfully nervous that somehow it might be disrespected. They were reassured however when rally members went up to them and thanked them for what they did for the country. Immediately off to the side and in front was the poignant Vietnam War Memorial to which Beck exclaimed: “When they came home, they weren’t given a warm welcome home. But today, we celebrate their service.” In back of that was the KoreanWar Memorial.
And then there was the Lincoln Memorial itself, from which the rally would be broadcast…. As Beck described: “Abraham Lincoln rests on a seat of dignity, a throne of authority.. The face of equality… solemn, dignified, resolved.” On one wall is engraved his Gettysburg Address and on another is engraved his second inaugural address. “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Beck kicked off the rally by telling the crowd: "Something beyond imagination is happening. Something that is beyond man is happening. America today begins to turn back to God. For too long, this country has wandered in darkness and we have wandered in darkness for periods from the beginning. We have had moments of brilliance and moments of darkness. But his country has spent far too long worried about scars and thinking about the scars and concentrating on the scars. Today we are going to concentrate on the good things in America, on the good things what we can accomplish together and what we can do tomorrow. For the story of America is the story of human kind.” Glenn then discussed the power of God. On the other side of the world, God fulfilled the scripture and delivered his chosen people out of bondage. He sent the deliverer. People then began to listen to God and take his word seriously. And then he fulfilled scripture again and sent his son Jesus Christ, this time to deliver those who believe from the condemnation of sin. On this side of the world, God also delivered his people from oppression and guided them to freedom. And they also listened to him. They secured charters from England and got in their boats and came to America. Their story is our story.
Glenn said: On this side of the world, “God’s chosen people are the Native Americans and the pilgrims.” And with that he introduced a man and a woman who are direct descendants of the native American tribe that welcomed the settlers when they landed on their shores and he introduced Pastor Paul Jehle, a direct descendant from those pilgrims who arrived here on the Mayflower. Pastor Jehle then delivered a beautiful prayer. He reminded the audience the role that God has played in our history…. It was God who opened the shores of America. It was God to brought the settlers to the new world. It was God whom the Pilgrims knelt to. It was God whom John Winthrop addressed when he delivered a sermon to inspire his settlers on their perilous ocean voyage to Massachusetts Bay. It was God who inspired our founding documents. It was God who was addressed in the Declaration of Independence as the “Creator.” It was God who guided us to our separation from England. And it was God who inspired our nation to secure for its people the largest grant of freedom in the world. It was also God who punished us when we broke our treaties with our native American friends and when we refused to treat all men with equality. And he may well punish us further for not modeling marriage after his laws. But God is a forgiving Lord. Pastor Jehle said that we, as a nation, need to ask God for forgiveness, for redemption, for reconciliation…. “He will honor those who honor him.” “God is the answer. He always has been.”
John Winthrop, on a charter to the New World to start a colony to embrace their Puritan religious beliefs, delivered a sermon to inspire them. (They would form the Massachusetts Bay Colony): “We must Consider that we shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our god in this work we have undertaken and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the world.” (These words went on to inspire speeches by both JFK and Ronald Reagan).
Beck urged the crowd: “Go to your churches, synagogues, and mosques… Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, but we have today to make a difference!” The crowd applauded.
Next, Deborah Argel-Bastian, mother of a fallen Special Ops soldier, delivered a heartfelt and tearful remembrance to her son, Captain Derek Argel, who was killed in Action in Iraq. She spoke about the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which Glenn Beck has personally endorsed, and which honors brave soldiers like her son. Deborah has raised several thousand for the cause, and in just the few short hours of the rally, over $5 million was raised for the cause. The Special Operations soldier is indeed a rare breed of human: expertly skilled, highly trained and wholly dedicated. Their challenges are particularly dangerous and unpredictable, but it is soldiers like Captain Argel who rescue hostages and take out high-risk targets.
Beck then introduced the speaker who received the loudest welcome from the crowds – Sarah Palin. She was asked to speak not as a politician and not as a powerful force for the Tea Party movement, but rather as the mother of a soldier. She started with these words: “We stand today at the symbolic crossroads of our nation's history. May this day be the changing point.” She told the crowds: “We must not fundamentally transform America as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor!”
Her message was that of the extraordinary character and dedication of the American soldier. To that point, she told the remarkable stories of three brave servicemen who joined her onstage – U.S. Navy SEAL Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, US Marine Sergeant James “Eddie” Wright, and Air Force Colonel Tom Kirk.
“The first is a man named Marcus Luttrell. His story is one of raw courage in the face of overwhelming odds. It’s also a story of America’s enduring quest for justice. Remember, we went to Afghanistan seeking justice for those who were killed without mercy by evil men on September 11th. And one fateful day in Afghanistan on a mountain ridge, Marcus and three of his fellow Navy SEALs confronted the issue of justice and mercy in a decision that would forever change their lives.
They were on a mission to hunt down a high-level Taliban leader, but they were faced with a terrible dilemma when some men herding goats stumbled upon their position, and they couldn’t tell if these men were friend or foe. So the question was what to do with them? Should they kill them or should they let them go and perhaps risk compromising their mission? They took a vote. They chose mercy over self-preservation. They set their prisoners free. The vote said it was the humane thing to do. It was the American thing to do. But it sealed their fate because within hours, over a hundred Taliban forces arrived on the scene. They battled the four Navy SEALs throughout the surrounding hills. A rescue helicopter came, but it was shot down. By the time the sun set on June 28, 2005, it was one of the bloodiest days for American forces in Afghanistan. Nineteen brave, honorable men were lost that day. Marcus was the sole survivor. Alone, stranded, badly wounded, he limped and crawled for miles along that mountain side. What happened next is a testament to the words: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.” Marcus and his team showed mercy in letting their prisoners free. And later he was shown mercy by Afghan villagers who honored an ancient custom of providing hospitality to any stranger who would ask for it. They took him in. They cared for him, refused to hand him over to the Taliban. They got him back safely to our forces.
Marcus’ story teaches us that even on the worst battlefield against the most brutal enemy, we adhere to our principles. This American love of justice and mercy is what makes us a force for good in this world. Marcus is a testament to that…. (With that last remark, she asked the crowd to join her in honoring Mr. Luttrell. She gave him a big huge as he stepped forward and thanked the crowd).
From the time he first heard men marching to a cadence call, Eddie Wright had one dream in life, and that was to be a United States Marine. And as a Marine serving in Iraq, his company was ambushed in Fallujah. He was knocked out when a rocket propelled grenade hit his humvee. When he came to, he saw that both his hands were gone and his leg was badly wounded. He couldn’t fire his weapon, he could barely move, and he was bleeding to death. But he had the strength of mind to lead the men under his command, and that is exactly what he did. He kept them calm, he showed them how to stop the bleeding in his leg, he told them where to return fire, he had them call for support, and he got them out of there alive.
His composure under fire that day earned him the Bronze Star with Valor device….. (She then asked the crowd to join her in honoring Mr. Wright, whom she gave a great hug. He waved to the crowd with his metal prosthetic hands).
Tom Kirk was an Air Force squadron commander and a combat pilot who had flown over 150 missions in Korea and Vietnam. One day on a routine mission over Hanoi, his plane was shot down. He spent the next five and a half years in that living hell known as the Hanoi Hilton. Like his fellow prisoners, Tom endured the beatings, the torture, the hunger, the years of isolation. He described it, saying, ‘There was nothing to do, nothing to read, nothing to write. You had to just sit there in absolute boredom, loneliness, frustration, and fear. You had to live one day at a time, because you had no idea how long you were going to be there.’
After two years of solitary confinement, pacing back and forth in his cell — three and a half steps across, three and a half steps deep – Tom was finally moved to a larger holding cell with 45 other Americans prisoners, among them was a man named John McCain. In circumstances that defy description, this band of brothers kept each other alive, and one by one, they came home.
Tom was released on March 14, 1973. You might think that a man who had suffered so much for his country would be bitter and broken by it. But Tom’s heart was only filled with love – love for America – that special love of country that we call patriotism.
Tom wrote, ‘Patriotism has become, for many, a ‘corny’ thing. For me, it is more important now than at any time in my life. How wonderful it is to be an American. How wonderful it is to be an American who can come home!’ (The crowd joined her in honoring Mr. Kirk)
Their stories are America’s story. We will always come through. We will never give up, and we shall endure because we live by that moral strength that we call grace. Because though we’ve often skirted a precipice, a providential hand has always guided us to a better future.”
Sarah Palin ended by re-enforcing her initial message: “I know that many of us today, we are worried about what we face. Sometimes our challenges, they just seem insurmountable. But, here, together, at the crossroads of our history, may this day be the changing point! Look around you. You’re not alone. You are Americans! You have the same steel spine and the moral courage of Washington and Lincoln and Martin Luther King. It is in you. It will sustain you as it sustained them….. So with pride in the red, white, and blue; with gratitude to our men and women in uniform; let’s stand together! Let’s stand with honor! Let’s restore America!”
I had been standing just outside the WWII Memorial at the time of Sarah Palin’s speech and a man standing next to me, from Minnesota I believe, said: “I wish there were more opportunities to honor our troops and military like this event.” And he was absolutely right.
Three people were then singled out for the values of Faith, Hope and Charity. The Faith Merit medal was presented to the Reverend C.L. Jackson, a lifelong pastor and civil rights pioneer. The Hope Merit medal was presented to baseball superstar Albert Pujols, of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has remained true to his wife, himself, the sport, and to his faith. In fact when he received the medal, he thanked his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all he has been blessed with. The Charity merit medal was presented to philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., who has given billions of dollars to charities, including those for cancer research, domestic violence shelters, and homeless shelters.
Alveda King, niece of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., a minister, a conservative political activist, an anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion activist, author, politician, and mother of eight, spoke about rebuilding and uniting America. “If Uncle Martin were here today, he would surely commend us for giving credit where credit is due…. We are united by one race, the human race. We are all children of God and we must love one another. We are one human family. We must not oppress each other but help those who are oppressed.” She also asked rally-goers to "focus not on elections or on political causes, but on honor, on character ... not the color of our skin."
“Forty-seven years ago, Uncle Martin compared our nation’s promise of Equal Protection to a check marked “Insufficient Funds.” Today, in more than one sense, American is nearly bankrupt. Our material gains seem to be going the way of our moral losses. We are still suffering from the great Evil Divide of racism. Our children are still suffering in the education system and our sons and daughters are being incarcerated at astronomical rates. The sickness, disease, and poverty of the spirit and soul are plaguing our communities. The procreative foundation of marriage is being threatened, and the wombs of our mothers have become places where the blood of our children is shed in a womb war that threatens the fabric of our society. The economy reflects the girth of our moral poverty. Yet we are not without hope and faith. Hope, faith, and love are not dead in America. Hallelujah. We still trust in God. Our honored heroes here today bear witness that there is still hope in the human heart….” She asked the crowds: “When will we know when the check that Uncle Martin spoke about is good? We will know when we have arrived when prayer is once again welcomed in the public squares of America and in our schools. We will know when our children are no longer in peril in our streets and in our classrooms and in the wombs of our mothers.”
Echoing the words of her Uncle, she ended with these words: “I too have a dream. I have a dream that one day that the God of love will transcend color and economic status and cause us to turn from moral turpitude. I have a dream that Americans will repent from the sin of racism and return to Honor. I have a dream that America will pray and God will forgive us our sins and revive us in our land.”
When Ms. King concluded, the crowd was treated to some gospel songs touching on faith and unity. Red-headed country singer Jo Dee Messina also took the stage to perform her beautiful song “Heaven was Needing a Hero.” No better song could have been sung on such an occasion.
The closing prayer was delivered by Vietnam veteran Dan Roever, a man of honor who survived having a phosphorus grenade blown up in his face. His burns were so severe that he literally lost his entire face and one eye. He tried to commit suicide before he ever got home because he didn’t think his young wife could bear to look at him. He began with these words: “There are two reflecting pools here. One is the Reflecting Pool, of water, in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The other is the pool of people gathered here in your name. We reflect upon you. We are your reflecting pool.” In his prayer, he reminded us of Romans 8:28. He reminded us that this verse assures us that in all things – slavery, civil war, segregation, war, terror, and even the Holocaust – God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Beck closed the event with words that were sure to instill hope in every attendee at the rally. He said that Americans have a choice between allowing the scars of the past to crush or to learn from the mistakes and move forward. He pointed to the nearby monuments as examples of Americans who have given their lives to the service of the country, singling out Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Dr. Martin Luther King.
"So what did these great people give their lives for?” he asked. “They gave it for the American experiment. And that's what this is -- an experiment. It's not just a country, it's an idea. It’s an idea that man can rule himself. And that's the American experiment."
At that point Beck began to become visibly choked up while describing visiting the Lincoln Memorial with his children. He also quoted the Gettysburg Address at length and said he has been staying in the same hotel where Dr. King completed his "I Have a Dream" speech and where the "Battle Hymn of Republic" was composed.
In talking about Martin Luther King, he noted that his monument hasn’t been completed and he hasn’t been carved in marble yet. “He’s still a man,” Beck said. With that he noted that the only difference between the great leaders memorialized nearby and individuals in the crowd was their determination to do the right thing, regardless of difficulty. "Have trust in the Lord, and recognize that Moses and Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were men, they were just like you. They just picked up their stick," he said. "Do not stand and look to someone else. Look to yourself. Pick up your stick and stand."
Beck said too many Americans have been looking to someone else for help with their problems, when instead they should be looking inside of themselves and then extending a hand to the needy around them. "We are a nation quite honestly that in about as good a shape as I am. Because we've had a soft life," he said. "The poorest among us are still some of the richest in the world. The poorest among us have blessings beyond wildest imagination of anyone that Mother Theresa visited. And yet we don't recognize it."
Instead of recognizing our blessings, he said Americans have allowed themselves to become easily knocked down and disillusioned. They have grown tired, weak, and increasingly divided. Beck told the crowd: “There is growing hatred in the country. We must be better than what we've allowed ourselves to become. We must get the poison of hatred out of us. No matter what anyone may say or do, no matter what anyone smears or lies or throws our way or to any American's way, we must look to God and look to love. We must defend those that we disagree with, as long as they are honest and have integrity."
In order to succeed, Beck explained, Americans must first look within themselves and make sure that they are honest, faithful and charitable in their everyday lives. He emphasized the importance of honesty and faith by relating his own journey, which took him to a low place where he hit rock bottom, had no friends, and disgraced himself in every possible way before finding God and turning his life around.
"America is great because America is good. But that isn't the entire story. America is only what we choose her to be. We as individuals must be good so America can be great," he said. And that was the take-home message of the day. We need to be the best that we all can be… for ourselves, for our families, for our God, and for our country. We need to restore faith, hope, charity and honor in our own lives first and then through our character, we can restore honor to our country. That’s how we take the country back.
He closed, “We are at a crossroads, today. We must decide who we are. And what is it we believe. Will we advance our Republic or allow it to perish? I choose advance!” (To which the crowd cheered !!) With that, the historic rally was concluded.
The rally was over just before 2:00. It went precisely as scheduled. I walked back towards my hotel with my sweaty, smelly, tired family but felt more alive than I have in a long time. I imagine thousands felt the same exact way. As one attendee commented to me afterwards, as we both sat down to rest our throbbing feet: “The crowd was extraordinarily courteous and polite. I saw people go out of their way to help people navigate through the crowds, even when it meant that they were uprooted from their chairs or were being stepped on. I saw people helping others to get something cold to drink. I didn’t see any signs except on the way to the gathering. Once I actually got to the mall ground, I only saw American flags and some yellow "Don't Tread on Me" flags, which people were proud to carry. There were plenty of conservative t-shirts and I enjoyed reading their messages. Some were really clever and unique, but not a single one was offensive or tasteless. The speeches were exactly what I expected. They weren’t about politics, as Beck said, and instead they were about things like honor, courage, patriotism, love of God, unity, and charity. Beck and Palin and the other speakers were calling for the
need of a national revival of these virtues. And as I looked around, I could see that everyone in the crowd agreed. I even saw grown men crying when they talked about honor and God. When I left the grounds and I looked back, I saw the grass completely free of litter and debris. It was truly a respectful crowd.”
On a site just off the mall, another rally was being held – the “Reclaim the Dream” rally – which was organized by the Reverend Al Sharpton. The rally was promoted by Mr. Sharpton as a peaceful, non-political rally to share the message that while blacks still have “the dream” – “We aren’t there yet.” In fact, that message – “We aren’t there yet” – was going to be the theme. As it turned out, it wasn’t necessarily “non-political” nor “peaceful,” although there were no acts of assault or violence. Rather, there were plenty of insults and finger-pointing and a lot of disrespect. (At least, that is what several attendees of the Restoring Honor rally were talking about at the hotel, at the Museums we attended, and even when we stopped for ice cream and dinner. There was no where you could go that day without running into someone who had gone to the rally and wanted to share their experience).
A group of over a million Americans, almost exclusively white, from all corners of the country, and devoted solely and entirely to the positive, truthful message about restoring not only honor but hope, faith and charity in our nation, was criticized and
attacked by the group, which was predominately black. They carried signs and called Glenn Beck “racist” and claimed that his rally would amount to nothing. "They are having a anti-government march on a day where King came to appeal to the government," Sharpton said. "You can't have it both ways… In '63, they went to Washington for a strong national government to protect civil rights. Beck and Palin are going there for a weak national government and to advocate state rights." I personally didn’t see much criticism from members of this rally except for a group of people just on the edge of the Restoring Honor Rally who shouted “Beck is a racist” and “the Tea Party is racist” as we walked by. When my husband asked why they didn’t have a flag, they answered that they didn’t need one. Other attendees said they were called “Tea baggers” as they left the mall area and others said that Sharpton’s crowd used foul language in regard to Beck and the rally. In the paper the following day, the “Reclaim the Dream” attendees complained that they received some foul comments as well. One told them to “go back to church.”
While the Restoring Honor rally was respectful and non-political, many of those who attended Al Sharpton’s rally specifically did so to protest Beck’s rally. The truth is that the two rallies could not have been any more different, though both inspired by the words and acts of civil service and sacrifice by Martin Luther King Jr. The contrast between the rallies couldn't have been sharper -- One was divinely-spirited and the other was mean-spirited. One had a positive message and the other had a negative message. One represented unity and was inclusive of all persons who wanted to praise the Lord and the military, and the other was exclusive. One recognized the Lincoln Memorial as a site for all Americans and as a symbol of national unity and brotherhood and the other used angry tones to claim that the site belongs exclusively to MLK and his cause. One was about putting the needs of the nation and its integrity and longevity first and the other was about putting their needs first. Lastly, one was about race and the other was not.
| The Governor's visit was plum embarassing | For Love of God and Country, Editorials | The Achievement Gap |
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