The DC 9-12 Experience first hand

Guest Post by Mike Walsh

Mike had the opportunity to go to DC and march with the up to 2 million others that wanted to send a message to the DC political establishment.  Even if the 2 million is cut in half, and slice up even more, there is no arguing that LOTS of people, at their own expense, told a story (If I dare summarize it):

We are not alone in TELLING you – no further! This is about who is in charge: the people or its Government (and there’s been too little of the former and too much of the latter)

Here is Mike’s report (and we thank him for it!)

Thank you for all prayers and thoughts. Thank you for the e-mails of encouragement I received in reply. That was an amazing event. No matter which early estimate you believe (10s of thousands or higher 6 figures) the crowd was amazing. We had to start marching early because there were many more marchers than expected and we were overfilling our assigned staging area. It took over 3.5 hours for the entire crowd to march just over 12 blocks. That’s how many there were. Even as I was leaving the city for an earlier flight, those stuck in traffic or on delayed flights/buses were still walking toward the capitol with their signs and flags.

People were passionate, they were awake. They were done taking what Washington has been shoveling for too long from both parties. I heard the same sentiments everywhere: this is not about one party vs. another. This is not about simply about the policies of this president. This is not a group of greedy people organizing others to save their tax dollars from government waste.

The common theme that united all of these individuals who took their own time and money to get to DC (from as far as Alaska/Hawaii) was a love for the Constitution, and the God-granted rights we all have that were so eloquently pointed out in our Declaration of Independence and protected in the articles and amendments to our constitution. "We the people" was a common theme.

We were there to put DC on notice as well as our own state capitols. We were there to remind our elected representatives that they are just that: elected REPRESENTATIVES. Not kings or tyrants who are there to devise how to share power amongst the "warring" factions of party politics, keep wool over our eyes and get reelected. They are there to serve us as our representation to our government – a government of, by and for the people. That is the beauty of our republic. That is…

the piece of our Republic that is missing from many other governments. We were all proud Americans in love with our nation but worried about its future. Lamenting over its past. I wonder if others were also lamenting over a lack of past involvement in previous administrations. Rather than stay focused on the past we are now active. We are now motivated and I don’t think we will be backing down. It would seem that more and more are noticing and asking what they can do.

One thing that struck me was the politeness I have seen anti-war, environmental, anti-globalization, etc. protests. They had plenty of pictures of problems with police, property destruction, etc.  Here police officers were thanked at every road crossing by countless people. Veterans were repeatedly told, "Thank you for your service". Vietnam veterans were proudly showing their patches and hats on the same streets that they were spit at over 40 years ago. A WWII POW marched past me with his sign. Immigrants from Cuba, Russia and Western Europe all were saying they were concerned with the writing on the wall. Babies, Kids, parents and grandparents.

There were lots of signs reminding America to pray, to repent for personal sin, to come back to God as individuals and a nation. I saw lots of signs reminding us that God had a part in our founding and without Him there would be no concept of liberty. There were signs and stickers about the woes of abortion, little feet pins everywhere. Another of the striking moments was at the announcement of a missing 9 year old. While there wasn’t an organized prayer, I can assure you there was at least one person and likely many more praying for that boy and his mom. When, 15 minutes later, it was announced he was found safely the crowd erupted in cheers. We were there as one family…Like a family not all agreed on everything but we agreed on what our family is about and that we love being a part of it.

I pray that America can find her roots. That we can acknowledge our unique story. That we can acknowledge the divine inspiration for our creation and that we can fully understand the concept of liberty. How much more could we do for those less fortunate if we were doing it on our own, in our own way rather than through forced government waste. Without the overhead, inefficiencies and corruption that we often find in government solutions.

At the Rochester, NH 912 meeting tomorrow (Monday 9/14) at 6:30 (I believe… might be 6) there will be a lot of folks who were in Washington from NH as well. We will probably see pictures, maybe hear some stories of what we saw. I have never been to one of their meetings and have been putting it off for work or family reasons. If you want to join me tomorrow, give me a call or e-mail and I’ll get you more info. I will be there.

Thanks,

Mike

In this, I see a hunger to return to that vision of the Founding Fathers.  It is not about "stability and security" as the Liberals all over are saying.  It is not about government having the government "taking care of us".

Rather, it is about Freedom from an over-bearing Government.  The Fathers knew that a growing Government would only grow more and in self-justifying itself, would require more of its citizens’ treasure to pay for itself and restrain their freedoms in their daily lives by increasing regulations and laws.

The people are speaking; woe to the pols that are not listening.  Some, like Senator Jim DeMint from SC and Congressmen Mike Pence and Ron Paul have been fighting the good fight to "return to the Constitution and limited government" for years.  As Pence said of yesterday’s event:

"It feels like the cavalry is coming"

We need to elect and send more PRO-LIBERTY politicians that speak of the Constitution FIRST, that speak of whether Government should be doing "this at all" because of the enumerated powers FIRST, and then putting their words into action by voting as they speak. THESE are the type of politicians NH needs to recruit, finance, work for, and send to Washington.

You can be sure that the ‘Grok will be identifying these PRO-LIBERTY type candidates and will talk up their cases at every opportunity!