This past Saturday this was the line to buy tickets to ride the Metro at East Falls Church, VA. We had to catch a train west to be able to squish onto a train east to the National Mall. It was that crowded. When the doors opened at one stop and it was obvious there was no room for anyone else, Mitchell yelled, "If you can make yourself intangible, come aboard!"
The National Mall was packed like sardines. Tuck me in a tin and call me smelly. I only wanted for us to beat the numbers that showed up for Glenn Beck. Of course, there is some debate. The media is reporting 150,000. The National Park service reported closer to 250,000. The Metro reported 600,000 rode that day. Halve that for round trips and the National Park service estimates seem closer to the truth. They reported Beck to have 87,000. I was satisfied.The highlight for me was when Jon Stewart announced a special guest, Yusuf, known to many of us as Cat Stevens. I wept. Mitchell asked me why I was so emotional and I told him about Cat Stevens and how much his music had always meant to me. My son wrapped his arm around me and we swayed to "Peace Train".
You can read Yusuf's take on the event at his site. After his treatment by our government, it was really poignant for me to witness this in person. I am an Ozzie fan, too.
According to the Christian Science Monitor, they raised hundreds of thousands of dollars without selling a single ticket. All the proceeds made by Jon Stewart went to the Trust for the National Mall. Colbert's share went to DonorsChoose.org, a charitable clearinghouse where teachers can describe classroom needs and donors can pick which project(s) to fund. These two men showed the rest of the media how it is done.
A big shout out to our friend, Jeff, and to his sister, Judith, who let us stay at her place in Arlington. It is a day we three Tagues will never forget. (I am the gray head in the foreground, center.)
