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Well, I’m afraid I have some good news to report: Democracy is not yet dead in America. Try as they might, George Bush and pals have not quite hammered into place the final nail of the Constitution’s coffin.
There was a march in New York City on Sunday. People, signs, puppets, banners, music, costumes, shouting, cheering, dancing -- it was all there. Crowd size estimates, always a great game, ranged from half a million by the organizers (who did a fantastic job, by the way) to, oh, around a couple dozen or so by the corporate media. Judging by the three hours I spent watching the proceedings on C-SPAN, here’s my best guess: Lots.
The First Amendment was fully on display, and it was a grand and glorious thing. The streets of the Big Apple were full of the usual suspects who appear at such events: Americans. Old ones, young ones, white ones, black ones, brown ones, gay ones, straight ones, but best of all, all patriotic ones.
It must have been a pretty disheartening sight for the ideologues in charge of the GOP these days. No doubt Dubya himself was safely ensconced in his usual truth-averting bubble in which his handlers have always kept him, but the handlers themselves surely noticed the scene. And naturally, when they are asked about the demonstration, they will grit their teeth, give their best little tight-lipped smiles, and dutifully report: “Ah, yes, Paula/Brit/Sean/Bill, this is what democracy is all about,” all the while feeling a tightening of their dark little shriveled hearts (or the knots of ugly black muscle where their hearts used to be, all except for Karl Rove, of course, who was born/hatched/found sans the standard blood-pumping organ) as they realize there are obviously a lot of citizens out there who have done some independent thinking and are turning it into action.
In reality, of course, the last thing the Bushies care about is democracy, for it is anathema to their true number one concern: control. If one controls the image and the environment, one can control the message, and once the message is owned, so is the money and power, the real goals of the thieves running and ruining the country today. The Bush White House is like a giant information transmogrification machine: something goes in, gets an extremist makeover, and emerges looking nothing like what entered originally (sort of like what’s happened to Michael Jackson). Anyone deemed the least bit likely to upset the imaging applecart is deemed a traitor or rat -- or a traitorous rat. Just ask Richard Clarke, Paul O’Neill, or Joseph Wilson.
This obsession to retain an iron grip on information is felt even by citizens who attend personal appearances by Dick Cheney and the Bubble Bush, manifesting itself in the form of loyalty oaths that folks are “required” to sign before being allowed to hear either one speak. (Well, in Bush’s case, attempt to, anyway.)
That’s right, loyalty oaths. I must have skimmed over that part of the Constitution. Steve Larese of the
Boston Globe
reports that in July in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, “several people who showed up [to attend a Cheney speech] complained about being asked to sign endorsement forms [for Bush]…” Larese also writes that in May in Dubuque, Iowa, Nick Lucy was denied a chance to see Bush at a rally “because he is not a registered Republican.” Though no one requested the 64-year-old veteran to sign an oath, the police were summoned to remove him from the premises.
When asked about the incidents, Republican National Committee minion -- uh, check that -- spokesman Yier Shi explained oh-so-logically that “everyone is welcome at the rallies as long as they support President Bush.” True democracy in action, all right—that is, as long as you’re referring to the old separate-but-equal kind practiced in parts of America where everybody was welcome to sit in the front of the bus or at the counter as long as they, too, were properly “affiliated.”
It’s not just someone’s party registration or refusal to swear fealty to the imbumbent and his sneering sidekick that gets the GOP all in a rights-smothering dither, though; apparently, “inappropriate” apparel appears apt to also activate apoplexy.
The
Saginaw News
reports an entire family was tossed from Saginaw’s (Michigan) Wendler Arena while awaiting a speech there by Bush. Barbara Miller “had carried in a rolled up T-shirt emblazoned with a pro-choice slogan.” She explained to the
News
she uses the shirt for running, hadn’t pondered the garment’s wording, and had only brought it to put on in case she got cold. No matter: mama, papa, and daughter got the old heave-ho.
Defending the Millers’ inglorious ejection, a lackey -- er, sorry -- spokeswoman for Bush, Jennifer Millerwise (no relation), said, “These events are put on…for people of an open mind who are interested in hearing (Bush’s) positive message and his vision for a future.” She didn’t specify, but by “open mind” I assume she means those who have had their craniums removed and brains sucked out. (Sorry, this stuff makes me a tad cranky.)
Meanwhile, over in Missouri in early August, the John Kerry/John Edwards train tour stopped in Sedalia, where no oaths were required and, thumbing a collective nose at Republican sartorial sensitivities, people could wear whatever they damn well pleased. It still didn’t prevent some right-leaning locals from heckling the Democratic ticket. Perhaps some were just leaning, period, as the
Globe’s
Patrick Healy reports “one woman swore at [Kerry] and then added, ‘I hate you!’” Inside the train later, an unperturbed Kerry said, “She was so drunk. Did you see how drunk she was?” I did think, though, this might actually explain a lot of things many of us have wondered about Bush supporters for a long time. (Please see “cranky” remark above.)
Say what you will about Kerry and the Democrats (and I know a lot of what can be said ‘cause I’ve said a lot of it myself), but at least they’re not cherry-picking which Americans they’ll address or get near. They understand that, in a democracy, people must have access to their leaders, which naturally carries certain risks -- like people speaking their minds (imagine!). The self-righteous mugs who comprise the Bush administration, however, have from day one said to hell with the people’s right to know and embraced secrecy with an ardor that would make even Dick Nixon envious. Access is allowed only to those on a need-to-know and able-to-pay basis, even including at rallies and speeches, and the Constitution, transparent government, and the American people all be damned.
I’ve honestly wondered if Bush has ever even read the Constitution. His incuriosity is no secret. He gives no indication of understanding that, by law, he works for us and not the other way around. On the contrary, his remarks and actions show he clearly believes he possesses unlimited power, a belief he regularly demonstrates whether he is issuing extensive executive orders or declaring American citizens “enemy combatants.”
And then, of course, there is the matter of Bush’s ineloquent speech (which really is an unwarranted maligning of ineloquence). The very few times he has worked without a net have exposed him for the malapropism machine he is. But Bush’s eye-popping and ear-crunching misspeaking is not the main problem; it’s his startling lack of knowledge about things a man in his position simply must know. (His “answer” to a question about “tribal sovereignty” at the recent Unity Journalists of Color Convention was, even for Bush, astounding -- and I don’t mean that in a good way.) His almost prideful non-attention to details is a direct affront to the institution of democracy itself. Again, Rove, Cheney, and the others couldn’t give a lying leap about such piffle, but still must remain ever mindful of their driving maxim: appearances uber alles.
Hence, since the very beginning of his reign, a super-protective moat has surrounded the boy emperor and been tended by his inner circle (dubbed Bush’s “praetorian guard” by O’Neill in Ron Suskind’s book
The Price of Loyalty
). Having been isolated thusly from not only the bothersome little details of running a democracy but also any opposing views that may interfere with foregone conclusions, it’s a good bet Bush truly is unaware of how much he is despised around the world and in this very country. He almost assuredly would have been surprised to read (or have read to him) the signs at Sunday’s uplifting march in New York City: “The True Patriot Act: Dump Bush,” “Quagmire Accomplished,” “Neither Compassionate…Nor Conservative,” “Re-Defeat Bush.” I’m sure “Let’s Start a Democracy” would have gone right by him. Hell, it might even be news to Dubya that people have a right to engage in such demonstrations since he’s hardly ever allowed to see them.
It doesn’t matter much now, though, what Bush or any of his henchpersons think. They’ve taken their best shot at keeping their dirty deeds private, morphing all messages, and burying our rights, and they’ve failed -- miserably. Pulsating throngs of Americans proved Sunday they know what democracy is all about, even though their mis-leader hasn’t a clue, and they demonstrated it proudly and peaceably. There’s more of that energy and power to come, and on November 2, it will concentrate and sweep George Bush and his rotten crew right out of the White House. Dubya will have plenty of time then to catch up on the Constitution if he is so inclined.
In addition to all of the signs held aloft and various activities taking place during the march on Sunday, there were, of course, plenty of chants. The following call-and-response sums up best, had Bush somehow mistakenly been allowed by his watchers to take a peek, exactly what was unfolding beautifully in America’s streets:
“Show me what democracy looks like!
This is what democracy looks like!”
Copyright © 2004 Mark Drolette. All rights reserved.
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