American Liberal
May 22, 2001
Personal Account
By S. L. McKay

As we began to make our way to the Voter March East gathering in Lafayette Park, a group of college-age youth walked past us, sneering and rolling their eyes. They were about half a block ahead of us when one of males turned around and shouted, "Get a life"!

The rain had stopped and we had found a great parking space on 17th NW. Auspicious signs on the Saturday morning of the first Voter March for Democracy in Washington, D.C. We were dressed for success, with anti-coup signs that read "Toxic Texan" and "Resign Thief" as well as buttons and T-shirts with similar sentiments. As we began to make our way to the Voter March East gathering in Lafayette Park, a group of college-age youth walked past us, sneering and rolling their eyes. They were about half a block ahead of us when one of males turned around and shouted, "Get a life"! Such wit! Such bravado! Most definitely a Bush supporter, the young man was a perfect mascot for those who not only do not question a coup, but also get agitated when they see Americans exercising their free speech rights. Sad citizens such as he apparently believe that understanding and believing in the Rule of Law and the U.S. Constitution and gathering to defend it means that one has no life.

Perhaps these "Americans" also think a woman who has spent her existence tending a home, raising a family, and going to church on Sunday has no life. "I have never protested in my life, can't quite explain it. I just had to come," soft-spoken Cletties Self stated flatly. The unassuming grandmother from Louisiana went on to tell me about how the hard-edged philosophy of the New Right has invade her daily life as well as our national elections. Her decision to march in D.C. was no more profound than her decision to leave her church, where she had worshipped for decades, because the Sunday sermons had become political lectures about the sins of Left and salvation of the Right.

When her son asked her what she wanted for Mother's Day, Cletties didn't hesitate "a round-trip bus ticket to Voter March." She and her husband traveled a thousand miles and two days with a busload of Texans. The group arrived shortly before the march began and were leaving soon after it ended in order to get back to their daily lives.

I only spoke with her for a few minutes, but she had the quiet wisdom that only comes from a full and wonderful life.

Voter March for Democracy could also have been called Americans March for Democracy. Citizens from as faraway as Alaska made the journey to our nation's capital. Buses carried many from Texas and New York. Some folks flew, but most packed up the car or van and trekked from the Plains, Great Lakes, Mississippi Delta, and Ohio Valley. They drove in the rain and through the night, across the Great Smoky and Appalachian ranges. Caravans formed along the eastern seaboard down from Maine and up from Florida. Hippies, Yuppies, Gen X, Y and Z showed up. Men and womenmarried and single, gay and straightwalked side by side. Veterans from World War II to the Gulf War were present. Seasoned activists and newbies mingled. People of all agestikes, teenagers, newlyweds, and grandparentscarried signs and symbols expressing their outrage at the past and hope for the future. Christians, Jews, agnostics, atheists; Greens, Democrats, Independents, conservatives, moderates, liberals; people of all colors and socio-economic walks of life chanted "This is what Democracy looks like! This is what Democracy sounds like!"

The diversity and comradarie among the marchers was summed up well by Fitz Fleenor of Nashville, Tennessee, "Observing plenty of Greens, made me realize that you don't have to be a Democrat to care about the "Toxic Texan" stealing the election. It was inspiring to get to meet people from different groups whom I communicated with over the Internet. You know*putting the name with the face. I really love D.C., and being with others who echoed my feelings about being patriotic. Not exactly textbook patriotism, but patriots (all of us)--just the same. I'm particularly empowered by the "Voters Bill of Rights," which gives me a banner to carry into the future."

Finding fulfillment through meeting and finding common ground with people from different walks of lifeMr. Fleenor not only has a life, he has a lust for life.

The marchers were simply the faces of America. Citizens united to protest the illegitimate Regime, widespread voting irregularities and possible fraud (in Tennessee, Missouri, and Michigan as well as Florida), and promote positive solutions to make sure that what happened in election 2000 will never happen again. Those that participated in Voter March believe in civil rights, which include the right to vote and have that vote be counted. They understand that having a voice in our representative democracy is the birthright of every American.

"I had to do something," commented Darryle Heslop of Neosho Falls, Kansas. In addition to traveling to D.C. to stand up for the "Voter's Bill of Rights," he has gotten involved back homea place he calls "GOP territory." Coup2K motivated him and two of his daughters to run for local offices. All three democrats were electedthe election of one democrat in the area was a surprise, three was a miracle! It indicates that conservatives willing to look past partisan rhetoric are not too pleased with the direction their leaders are taking their party and our country. Turning anger into positive action by working to improve one's community. Sounds like this guyand his daughter share very productive lives.

We gathered at Lafayette Park to reaffirm what our minds, hearts, and souls have been telling us: Americans do not get over a coup. One person, one voteand that vote must be counted. The first leg of our protests was mostly about building and drawing energy from one another. It was as easy as breathing clean air. Thousands of complete strangers unified by a universal belief in fairness, equality, and justice. A community of humans, who readily agreed to discard the layers of social and economic veils that separate us in order to work together to repair and strengthen the core beliefs that unite us.

Jack Hamilton, a student at Texas A&M, told me that he "came to D.C. to tell others that the good people of Texas do not support Bush." He expressed personal embarrassment about the selection of Bush by the United States Supreme Court because Bush was from Texas. I then reminded him that Bush has spent quite a bit of his life in Connecticut, Maine, and Washington, D.C. He is as much a Texan as Larry Hagman.

A young man who is willing to speak out against a member of his state's ruling dynasty is rare. Sounds like he is already more of his own man than the Resident will ever be. Jack's definitely got a life.

As we streamed from Lafayette Park onto the streets of our nation's capital, something magical began to happen. One would think that as the group spread apart its energy would dissipate. Yet it did not. With each step, the dynamism increased. It wasn't until we were marching along Constitution Avenue that it hit me. I should have been exhausted, not only from the hike, but also from the continuous chanting of slogans "Selected, Not Elected," "Cheney needs a heart; Bush needs a brain," and "Gore Got More"but I wasn't tiring out, I was firing up! We all were.

Without a doubt we drew strength from one another, but something else was propelling us. My epiphany came as we approached a somewhat average looking middle-aged man dressed in a sports coat and slacks. He was standing on the street corner across from us, waiting for the light to change, seemingly oblivious to the loud humans that were flowing past him like a river. Then suddenly, as if jolted out of a trance, he put his thumb and index finger up to his mouth and gave us a blaring whistle and pumped his other fist in the air. This caused our section of the line to cheer wildly and even more loudly.

We were focused on creating awareness, on breaking through the haze of apathy. We, the People, formed a rainbow of humanity, streaming along the streets as far as the eye could see and filling two of five lanes normally reserved for motor vehicles. The looks on people's faces were pricelesscuriosity and confusion replaced by dawning recognition and gleeful affirmation. Folks responded, as Americans must, in their own unique way. A bus driver beep-beep-beeped while his passengers pressed their faces against the windows, cheering and waving. Car after car slowed and honked, passengers waved and whistled in agreement. Pedestrians applauded, whooped, waved, and snapped photos. A beverage vendor on the street corner nodded in appreciation. A man on a bike, who rode by twice, and then followed us to the Capitol. A couple across the street seemed to want join in us, so we waved them over and they did! My personal favorite was when the few sour-faced hecklers were drowned outnot by our chantsbut the cheers and car horns of other Americans that had no prior knowledge of the scheduled march.

Like lightening rods, each time our energies sparked an observer's interest, the sensation heightened and expanded. Their response did not simply buoy us, it catapulted our message beyond our physical reach. The observers connected with us and became part of the march. The marchers physical boundaries, but the spiritual boundary expanded in all directions. There were barriers, to be sure. Walls of closed minds existed but could not stop the potent positivity created by a pro-active group projecting sentiments that struck a chord with other open minded individuals. We connected! And it was a truly groovy experienced.

"I'm here to get the word out. Florida was not the only state where odd things happened," explained Marvalene Pankey of St. Louis, Missouri. She is part of OPERA:

Opposition Parties Election Reform Alliance, a grassroots organization dedicated to looking in to voting irregularities in Missouri.

The afternoon was spent on the steps of our nation's Capitol listening to a www.votermarch.org/speakers.htm range of speakers. Some reiterated the stunning events of the past six months, covering moral, ethical, social, legal and political dynamics and offering perspective. More importantly, all offered constructive ways to effect change. The blame game has no winner. We must be willing to do what we can to educate and empower ourselves, and then reach out to others. Success begins and ends with each of us.

"After speaking with and listening to several people, young and old, from Florida about the outrageous voter fraud that went on from early in the morning until the closing of the polls in the evening on November 7, 2000, I will NEVER compromise what I believe should be done to George W. Bush, his brother Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris and the felonious five! Impeachment is too good for them!" exclaimed Nancy Lynn Nagy, a Tennessee Fringe Folk. Those of us who have followed the presidential campaign, what transpired in Florida and the unmandated agenda that is being forced down the majority's throat know that Nagy's sentiments are justified and shared by millions of Americans. Yet at some point, we must move past the anger in order to heal, and to stop the obscenity. Ironically, the righteous anger stirred up as a result of Coup2K is a potent part weapon, once it is channeled toward positive change.

Ms. Nagy's willingness to turn her anger into action to effect positive change is a big step toward this end. She, along with thousands of other citizens from across our country, can feel proud about their contributions to improving our democracy. Their individual participation in Voter March East on May 19, 2001 may not seem significant right now, but history has shown nothing is more powerful than the human spirit.

Those that don't "get it" can only respond to those of us that do in single-syllable corporate-driven slogans like "get a life." To them, I do not waste my time. Yet to any that have not dead-bolted their hearts and minds, I say: I have a life and choose to strive for a more enlightened one. If that bothers you perhaps you should check your pulse for you seem to lack that which separates human from machine.