"Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast" -Oscar Wilde |
"The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself." -- Proverbs 11:25 |
Few marches in Washington, for example, feature people like Rumsfeld as a star, which gave the scene a distinct air of propaganda. A master of ceremonies announced from the stage when he arrived, "Our defense secretary is in the house!"
Black introduced Rumsfeld by saying that his own niece thinks Rumsfeld is "a hunk." Rumsfeld took the microphone to rally the crowd to march again next year. "This is our first March for Freedom and by the size of the crowd, I suspect it will not be the last," he said. Department of Defense materials said organizers will try to hold marches next year in all 50 states.
Marchers said the event provided a tangible way to show support for U.S. troops fighting overseas. Some said they were unaware that the Department of Defense had organized the day's events. Others, like Jack Lynch, from Lenah, Va., said they did not care who organized the march and concert, so long as troops get the message of support. "We came out to support our troops," said Lynch. "We support them no matter where they are at."
Kemp, the marcher from Nazareth Pa., had said she was a bit worried about talking to Salon, which she described as "liberal weenies." She eventually agreed. "I am a 30-year Navy wife. I very much support our people in Iraq and Afghanistan. I thought this was something constructive to do," she said.
But Kemp said she has her own concerns about Iraq, where the United States is "getting bogged down." Still, the event gave her a chance, she said, to show support for U.S. troops even on missions that might be "less than perfect." She said she does not care if the Pentagon organized the event; the message for the troops is still the same.
"You may not agree with the reason we are there," said Kristy Kuhn, from Arlington, Va., who was with Kemp. "But you have to support our troops. That is the only reason I came. They deserve our support and thanks."