Time has slipped by. The furor has subsided. The media has turned to fresher meat. The “Rally to Restore Honor”” is over.
It was an event made for the media. The iconic steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The clean, crisp banners of red and white with Lincoln off-center at the bottom edge. Was it a Freudian slip that the color blue was minimized? Or was it a subliminal reference to the bold red and white flag of the Hitler Youth? Mr. Beck appears to have a fascination with that era. I felt ill just looking at a web site hawking 1936-1944 Deutch memorabilia to confirm that the Reich had such a flag.
It was a day when the American martyr of non-violence was hailed as a Republican and a proto-Tea Party member. An event where a white, faux middle class entertainer with estimated earnings of over $20 million a year and a governor who resigned her elected post to become an influence peddler declared themselves the new underprivileged class. Of course there was a representative of the family to lend credibility to the event. But was this a display of a commitment to the cause espoused from the speaker’s platform? Or was it stagecraft?
“THROUGHOUT history America has seen many great leaders and
noteworthy citizens change her course. It is through their personal virtues and
by their example that we can live as a free country. On August 28th, come
celebrate America by honoring our heroes, our heritage and our future.
Join the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin
and many more for this non-political event that pays tribute to America’s
service personnel and other upstanding citizens who embody our nation’s
founding principles of integrity, truth and honor.
Our freedom is possible only if we remain virtuous. Help us restore the values
that founded this great nation. Come join us on August 28th in our pledge to
restore honor at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.”
~ from the flyer included in the media talking point kit dated April 10, 2010.*
“5) What CAN’T I bring?
Please no helium balloons, pets, alcohol, fireworks, or glass containers. Please refrain from bringing signs (political or otherwise) as they may deter from the peaceful message we are bringing to Washington.” ~from the same document
Lofty words calling for a heartfelt response. A recitation of the highest and best of the American civilization. But isn’t one of the most valued American traditions to have the opportunity to display one’s thoughts and convictions via signage. Was this request made to maintain a “polished” presentation or made to eliminate sayings that might offend the organizers or detract from the overarching message of traditional American values? Is there another option for this request? Perhaps, the fear of the sentiments that may be displayed.
Commitment to a cause inflicts a high personal cost. Thomas Jefferson penned these words into the Declaration -words that reminded his fellow representative the true import of their signature:
“And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
Stagecraft feigns commitment. The player faces danger but is protected by the stage master’s craft. The fire is real but confined. The swords clash with dulled blade and protected tip. The fall from a precipice is cushioned by a mattress. The accompanying words are brave, but hollow. The actor does not pay, but is paid. There is only a faux allegiance – the inconsistent duty of a hired shepard. On the Lincoln Memorial steps 48 years ago, a man stood boldly before a crowd that could have contained an assassin’s hand. That weekend, the proclamations were made by a man wearing a bullet-proof vest. He depended upon Kylar and not Jefferson’s “Divine Providence.” He was not willing to pay dedication’s price. He was the hireling receiving compensation for a day’s entertainment. Lofty words extolled by a master artist. A shadowed replica of courage. At an event made for the media and those easily swayed by an actor’s wiles.
After musing; Mr. Beck acknowledges that he wore the vest at the request of his wife. Would Abigail or Martha have made a similar request to their spouses? Would John Adams or George Washington have complied?
This is the html version of the file http://media.glennbeck.com/828/828kit.pdf.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ka_kSo7VJ7IJ:media.glennbeck.com/828/828kit.pdf+no+signs+at+rally+press+release+glenn+beck&hl=en&gl=us
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Just the Facts, Please 