Patriots Rally for America V: Liberty Weekend in Washington DC Sunday March 23

The D.C. Chapter of Free Republic invites all patriotic Americans, including Freepers and lurkers in good standing, to join us at the east front steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC Sunday, March 23, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to Rally for America.

This rally is organized by the DC Chapter of Free Republic as a part of the Free Republic community and is held in conjunction with Free Republic Network's rallies nationwide next weekend.

We will be making a patriotic moral stand against the marchers' anti-Americanism and willful silence about the barbaric, terrorist regime of Saddam Hussein.

We will also be sending a message of support to our men and women in uniform fighting the war on terrorism overseas and on the home-front.

Bring your American flags and show our troops -- including the many active duty military that may be hard at work at the Pentagon and other places in our immediate community -- that we support and respect their hard work.

Where: Lincoln Memorial, the foot of the east steps (facing the reflecting pool and monument)

Directions: Closest Metro stop is Foggy Bottom on the orange line. Detailed driving directions for people coming from out of town will be posted below in this thread.

Rules: We have obtained the proper permits for this peaceful rally and we do not expect any counterprotests. As always, the D.C. Chapter's rules for protesting will be in effect. Briefly, they are: No violence, no profanity, no racism, no provocations, obey the law and treat all law enforcement officers with respect.

Bring: American and Gadsden flags (large and small), along with signs bearing messages supporting our troops, President Bush, America and the war on terror.

Weather: Too soon to tell, but it's been beautiful here recently. Mostly sunny, temps in the low 60s, this weekend. Cherry Blossom Festival will be upon us next weekend, although the trees may not yet be in full bloom.

If you're coming from out of town, send any message/question you have to our out-of-town contact guide for this rally (that would be me, FreeTheHostages).

We had a great rally this last weekend and gots lots of national news broadcasts to our beloved troops that we support them. Let's do it again! Do it for the Troops!

Well, I took the day off and brought my family to your rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. We arrived just in time to hear the Pledge of Allegiance being recited with the words UNDER GOD left out. We were stunned. The people around us were stunned. Whose brilliant idea was that? I was standing next to a WWII veteran and I said, “I think they left something out.” He just shook his head sadly and said, “Boy, have you got that right.” The last thing we expected right out of the gate at a rally sponsored by conservatives was big dose of political correctness. I thought for a moment we were at the wrong rally–-you know, the one on the other side of the Mall sponsored by the people who are embarrassed to be Americans and are ashamed of our heritage and traditions. I was disgusted, and we felt like leaving, but we stayed because we supported the overall theme of the event. Nevertheless, that was an extremely disappointing way to start things out. So much for the “conservatives” at FreeRepublic.

You signed up to Free Republic today.

There are one of 3 possibilities: (1) you misheard the pledge; (2) Taxman erred; or (3) you're a leftist troll trying to disrupt us.

I'm going to assume it's not (3). So we're left with (1) or (2). The idea that we intentionally left out "under God" is not a possibility. We have previously held signs mocking the Ninth Circuit's absurd decision. If such an error was made, it wasn't on purpose, I assure you.

We worked very hard all weekend to put on a good weekend for our God and country. You should showed up and listened and then posted a mostly negative comment on a 1,000 person rally than overall went quite well. And your comment assumes that something like that happened on purpose. Is there any chance you want to reconsider your approach?

Well, if you were there and heard the pledge recited properly, i.e., with UNDER GOD, then me, my wife, my son, the vet next to me, and the other people standing around us must have been standing in some kind of acoustic bubble where words mysteriously evaporate, because we didn't hear them. Were you there? If you don't want to own up to leaving it out, or admit to leaving it out by mistake, fine, but don't call me a leftist troll or insinuate that I'm a crankcase making things up just to be negative--address the issue, please, not the person.

BTW, the rest of the rally was great, esp. the Iraqis speaking out against Saddam, although I doubt there were even 500 people there, probably closer to 300. Certainly not 1,000. Believe me, I was hoping for a LOT more, it being Washington and all, but they just didn't turn out. But that really doesn't matter--what we lacked in quantity, we certainly made up for in quality.

"Were you there? If you don't want to own up to leaving it out, or admit to leaving it out by mistake"

I was the lady working the press table. I was completely exhausted and sunstroke from spending the previous day leafletting on the mall. So while I recall standing silently during the pledge and trying to focus, I honestly can't say whether the words "under God" were included.

I do recall we opened with prayer. I recall that very well. We talked and discussed it.

I'd also agree that it's BIG MISTAKE if we made it. Yes, I was there. But I was *exhausted* for helping to prepare the rally, so I'll make a deal with you: I won't accuse you of being a leftist troll (never did, and your last post showing offense at the idea indicates you are truly sincere) and you don't accuse me of weaseling (LOL -- truly, honestly, God as my witness, I *was* exhausted and I just don't know).

As to 1000, we had a 2.5 hour rally with some people coming and going, and a lot of people/famlies on the steps of the Lincoln memorial (there wasn't really anywhere to sit between the podium and the reflecting pool, except on those side walls). I think we had 500 at any given time, and I think as people came and left, overall it was "nearly 1000." The press tends to low ball this stuff and one press group that was there all day and saw we had people coming and leaving said that too. But I'm not in to numbers.

I am glad you can come. I wouldn't disagree that it's a big mistake and you seem certain we made it so I'm certain we did. But I'm certain as the day is long that we opened with a prayer.

I very much hope that the troops will see footage of our rallies and that families of deployed military and active duty military in this town will hear about this rally and know that we care and that we -- and that includes me -- are praying for them.

Thank you for coming.

>Wait -- something else -- we *opened* the rally with a prayer. Did you arrive after that? We had discussed opening with a prayer in our planning thread. See for example here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/870639/posts?page=109#109 where I ask that the prayer include remembrance of those who have died.<

Yes, and we were glad to see that, as well as the many other prayers and moments of silence throughout the event. We were there from 1:00 to 3:00, and drove almost 2 hours to get there. We participated as enthusiastically as anyone else. I never said anything about prayers--I'm only voicing our dismay over hearing Under God left out of the pledge.

Well, I definitely believe that we didn't now. You're behaving like you really care and not like a troll (forgive me for raising that even as a possibility, but we get people who sign up very recently just to flame us so I get overly suspicious about that).

I really, really swear that was on purpose. I'm waiting to hear from Taxman, who did our pledge: but he's a God-fearing Christian, I know it for a fact. That's just an incredibly unfortuante error. Frankly, I think our organizing group was too busy and tired at that point to notice.

It's really hard to explain to you why, of all words, *those words* -- "under God" -- were left out of the pledge. I'd agree that it's very peculiar. But I also just absolutely know the people I'm working with and I just *know* it wasn't on purpose. The more I think about it, the more I shudder because it's fair to assume that the crowd would assume we were doing some political correct version.

We truly have held signs on other occasion mocking that 9th Circuit decision. I'm awaiting Taxman's presence in this thread -- he left the service as a decorated Naval aviator -- so he can also assure you: this was just one real bad error, and nothing more was meant.

My sincere apologies.

Please let me thank you for all your hard work putting this rally together. I realize it’s no fun to work your tail off only to have someone pop up criticize what went on (guess that falls under the category “no good deed will go unpunished”). I guess my initial post was a tad harsh, and if it offended, I apologize. You all did a great job and I’m certain the fact that the event was held was a great comfort to any of our troops who heard about it. And that’s what's important, after all.

Thank you again for your efforts and God bless.

LOL -- even as you're less offended I hope you can tell with each post that as this fact sinks in I become more shocked. Of all the words to be missing. This was *not* good.

As a feeble effort for some recompense, let me share with you this poignant story. The organizers and I (I'm not actually a big fish in this -- I'm one of the worker bees) had the honor of having dinner last night with Mr. Aziz Al-Taee, the president of the Iraqi-American Council.

Mr. Al-Taee was delighted that Al-Jeezera came and filmed him talking about democracy in Iraqi and different types of Muslims -- Suni, Shiite, Kurds -- working together against Saddam. This is an important message that rarely gets out on Al-Jeezera. Egyptian television also covered his speech. He is working to establish a moderate Muslim voice as predominate and to stop the "cult," as he calls it, of Wahabism.

I know he has a son in Baghdad, so I asked him: "But if your speech is carried on Al-Jazeera, aren't you worried that the Republican Guard will hurt your son?" And he said to me, "I am not important. My son is not important. The liberation of Iraq and the end of Saddam is what maters. Part of this war is being fought in the media, and today we had a great battle victory."

Wow.

He's right. This war is being fought on the homefront through the media too. That's why he lingers in the States -- to conduct that part of the war for the liberation of his people. Many Iraqi dissidents are already in Baghdad working with our special forces. This is where Mr. Al-Taee can be most useful.

It made me realize that you and I and the others today were also, in a concededly small way, doing more than just lending support to our troops. We were, again in a very small way, joining the battle. I wish I could do more. That's all I wish. (On this website, you'll find link to ways you send emails to active duty military, and I guess I'll be off now to do that.)

God Bless our troops.

P.S. There was lots of military news guys there and some film people from Quantico, I understand. So the military's going to make sure the word gets to our troops too. But our troops get satellite feeds from CNN, and CNN did live cut-aways. So I know at least some troops heard we were there. Remember this website is part of a national coalition and there were nationwide support-our-troops rallies today. (In fact, about 10,000 in Richmond -- that may be why our numbers were smaller -- I think a lot of patriotic Americans in Virginia chose to drove West and I don't blame them. :)

Taxman here.

I am responsible for leaving the words "Under God" out of the pledge of Allegiance.

I did it on purpose. For the shock factor you describe.

As you know, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because it includes the words "Under God," and is therefore a prayer, violating the bogus "Separation of Church and State" prohibition.

I am glad you noticed. I got heckled because I left the words out. I intended to shock you and the rest of my fellow conservatives at the Rally.

If you will recall, I then read the last paragraph, as follows:

"Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that it would be eliminated from schools too? God Bless America."

I then led the cheer "USA! USA! USA! FREE IRAQ! FREE IRAQ! FREE IRAQ!" and left the podium.

For the record, I strongly disagree with the Ninth Circuit, and hope and pray that their opinion will be overruled by the Supreme Court.

"I am glad you noticed. I got heckled because I left the words out. I intended to shock you and the rest of my fellow conservatives at the Rally."

Wow -- while waiting for you to arrive on this thread, I talked with others and they said you were reading the Red Skeleton version which predated the inclusion of the words "under God." So that's what I assumed - an innocent error.

You did it on purpose????? You know, I remember you saying something like "Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that it would be eliminated from schools too? God Bless America." at the end and was wondering why. I was tired and just wasn't following.

Hmm, "shocking" by leaving out "under God"? Shock and horror.

Yup. Did it on purpose. For the shock value. More people noticed this time -- at the last Rally, I included "Under God" when I led the Pledge, and if you will recall, Congressman BillyBob mentioned the Ninth Circuit ruling in his opening remarks.

If you don't remember, then I made my point, maybe better than BillyBob, which is hard to do!

It may be "my bad," but I hope not. The point was, the Pledge is under attack FRom the radical left, and if it is taken FRom the schools, in a generation, no one will know how to say it.

We conservatives need to step up to the plate on this one and let our voices be heard to preserve the Pledge of Allegiance.

Perhaps yesterday some people were rudely awakened to a reality of life in the 21st PC Century?

Well sir, that certainly explains things, although I would humbly suggest that next time you might consider another way to make your point--as my initial post demonstrates, using such a technique led to a misunderstanding by myself and others, and was kind of a rough way to start things out.

If you don’t mind a friendly critique, I think such an approach might have worked better in a more controlled setting, like a lecture hall, where your subsequent explanation would have been heard clearly and understood in context. As it was, given the noisy and somewhat chaotic atmosphere of a rally on the Mall, I think it was lost on many of us. The desired shock value was achieved, but the reason for it really didn’t come across. Also, since the theme of the rally was to support our troops and the liberation of Iraqi, I don’t think we were mentally prepared for a surprise about the Pledge of Allegiance. Although it’s an important issue, it was somewhat unrelated to the events taking place.

If you use decide to use that approach again, you might consider warning the audience that it’s coming or assist them somehow in quickly recovering from the shock you’ve delivered. For example, after omitting the words, while everyone is stunned, you could say something like, “Did that sound right? No! So, let’s do it again, and this time, do it right!” Then lead everyone through the pledge again, forcefully emphasizing the words “Under God.”

In any event, that’s my two cents on the subject. I’m no great orator, so my free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it. ;-)

I hope there are no hard feelings over my inital post on the subject--I really didn't know much about your group other than you had sponsored the rally, and should have given you the benefit of the doubt before jumping down your throat.

I am very relieved to hear that it wasn’t a case of political correctness gone awry, and now that you’ve explained it, I can certainly appreciate the point you were trying to make.

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