Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Big-government protesters descend upon Washington
By Donna Volmerding
This article was published in the September 16, 2009, edition of The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Can ordinary Americans make a difference? For several years, many of them have witnessed an already bloated government spend their hard-earned tax dollars on more big-government programs. Compelled by growing alarm that their government is out of control, common people took to the streets, literally, on Sept. 12 in Washington, D.C. With some media estimates as high as 2 million, the country witnessed the American spirit of grass-roots activism that had its beginnings in Philadelphia 1776. The sea of individuals, comprised of a mixture of local groups, the physically challenged, black, white, old and young, representing all 50 states, gathered peacefully waving signs or wearing buttons, tags or ribbons. Signs ranged from the profound (“235 years ago, an ocean separated us from an oppressive government. Now it is just a river” and “If not us, who? If not now, when?”) to the humorous — (“Think of your posterity above your posteriors” and “Put your porker on a grass-roots diet”). As in every demonstration for any cause, some were over the top, but they were the exception. Chanting “USA!” and “Can you hear us now?”, the multitude filled the streets for more than a mile between the Washington Monument and the Capitol building.
“The politicians who do not hear … the voice of the people do so at their own political peril,” said Dan Harman, 54, New Haven. “For these reasons, the march on Washington was unbelievably successful.”
Most at the march were unfamiliar with such commitment to activism. They are typical Americans, taxpayers who lead busy lives that include jobs, volunteer work, church and family. Yet at their own expense, they cleared their schedules to participate in what they believe to be a higher cause — the future of their country.
“We must expose this tangled web of covert manipulations by government, media, education and other groups to deceive ordinary Americans,” said Karen Quinlivan, 52, Fort Wayne.
Joan Bromelmeier, 74, from Fort Wayne, said, “I came to the march in hopes that huge numbers of people would ignite a concern in other Americans that … our country is being transformed in ways we had not anticipated when we voted.”
“I am the first-born of European immigrants (who came) in 1950,” said Margaret Rumpel DeMeritt, 59, of Fort Wayne. “I am committed to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the freedom my parents sought and found in America.”
Norma Jean Wiley, 62, Hillsdale, Mich., said, “I went to protest the ultimate greatest threat to personal liberty of my lifetime. For me to do less would not have been enough.”
For many, their first priority was their families. “I have 33 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I am concerned that their constitutional rights and liberties will be gone because of big-government control over their lives,” said Bonnie Corn, 65, from Wabash.
“I went to the rally for my kids, my grandkids and for all those in my family who served in the military to preserve our freedom,” said Louella Krom, 71, Roann. “Our government is totally out of control with spending, taking away our freedoms and intruding into our personal lives.”
Bruce and Beth Lamb, both 55, from Milford, Mich., said, “We made the trip to D.C. out of a sense of duty and responsibility to our children, grandchildren and our country. Our concerns are the negative, destructive direction of our government, taking power away from the people. … We had to take a stand.”
The atmosphere was electric with people who were passionate, focused and determined. “This was not a crowd of fractious, angry people,” said Sharon Kuhn, 48, Fort Wayne, “but a people with loyalty to their Constitution. What I experienced was a unified, peaceable multitude flooding into Washington bringing their love for America … to preserve her Constitution from excessive governmental control ….”
Shortly before the bus rolled in to its Fort Wayne stop, the group offered a prayer of thanksgiving and sang “God Bless America.” “I cannot think of a more personally gratifying trip,” Harman said.
Ordinary Americans went to Washington to have their voices be heard and, perhaps, change the course of an intrusive government that has grown obese and arrogant with taxpayer money. Will they succeed on their mission to bring their country back to its constitutional roots, or are those in power too well-funded by special interests, too dug in to change, too corrupt to be fixed? No one can be certain, but the group was undeterred.
Ben Haiflich, 34, Ossian, came “to make a difference,” he said. “I would do it a thousand more times if that is what it would take. I love my country.”
“I went to the march on Washington hoping to get a firsthand sense of the positive passion, enthusiasm and commitment of mainstream Americans to change the direction of my beloved country,” said David S. Ridderheim, 73, Fort Wayne. “I returned invigorated with an improved outlook and optimism.”
“We must all work together if we want our children to live in the wonderful free country we had,” said Rod Berger, 82, Fort Wayne.
Love for country was evident, as well as love of liberty, heritage and family. Connie Kovas Moreno, 60, Fort Wayne, a member of Hoosier Patriots and the local coordinator for D.C. accommodations and buses, summed up her feelings by adding, “What better way to honor my American heritage and preserve it for my granddaughters than to march at this historic event.”
This article was published in the September 16, 2009, edition of The News-Sentinel newspaper.
Can ordinary Americans make a difference? For several years, many of them have witnessed an already bloated government spend their hard-earned tax dollars on more big-government programs. Compelled by growing alarm that their government is out of control, common people took to the streets, literally, on Sept. 12 in Washington, D.C. With some media estimates as high as 2 million, the country witnessed the American spirit of grass-roots activism that had its beginnings in Philadelphia 1776. The sea of individuals, comprised of a mixture of local groups, the physically challenged, black, white, old and young, representing all 50 states, gathered peacefully waving signs or wearing buttons, tags or ribbons. Signs ranged from the profound (“235 years ago, an ocean separated us from an oppressive government. Now it is just a river” and “If not us, who? If not now, when?”) to the humorous — (“Think of your posterity above your posteriors” and “Put your porker on a grass-roots diet”). As in every demonstration for any cause, some were over the top, but they were the exception. Chanting “USA!” and “Can you hear us now?”, the multitude filled the streets for more than a mile between the Washington Monument and the Capitol building.
“The politicians who do not hear … the voice of the people do so at their own political peril,” said Dan Harman, 54, New Haven. “For these reasons, the march on Washington was unbelievably successful.”
Most at the march were unfamiliar with such commitment to activism. They are typical Americans, taxpayers who lead busy lives that include jobs, volunteer work, church and family. Yet at their own expense, they cleared their schedules to participate in what they believe to be a higher cause — the future of their country.
“We must expose this tangled web of covert manipulations by government, media, education and other groups to deceive ordinary Americans,” said Karen Quinlivan, 52, Fort Wayne.
Joan Bromelmeier, 74, from Fort Wayne, said, “I came to the march in hopes that huge numbers of people would ignite a concern in other Americans that … our country is being transformed in ways we had not anticipated when we voted.”
“I am the first-born of European immigrants (who came) in 1950,” said Margaret Rumpel DeMeritt, 59, of Fort Wayne. “I am committed to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the freedom my parents sought and found in America.”
Norma Jean Wiley, 62, Hillsdale, Mich., said, “I went to protest the ultimate greatest threat to personal liberty of my lifetime. For me to do less would not have been enough.”
For many, their first priority was their families. “I have 33 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I am concerned that their constitutional rights and liberties will be gone because of big-government control over their lives,” said Bonnie Corn, 65, from Wabash.
“I went to the rally for my kids, my grandkids and for all those in my family who served in the military to preserve our freedom,” said Louella Krom, 71, Roann. “Our government is totally out of control with spending, taking away our freedoms and intruding into our personal lives.”
Bruce and Beth Lamb, both 55, from Milford, Mich., said, “We made the trip to D.C. out of a sense of duty and responsibility to our children, grandchildren and our country. Our concerns are the negative, destructive direction of our government, taking power away from the people. … We had to take a stand.”
The atmosphere was electric with people who were passionate, focused and determined. “This was not a crowd of fractious, angry people,” said Sharon Kuhn, 48, Fort Wayne, “but a people with loyalty to their Constitution. What I experienced was a unified, peaceable multitude flooding into Washington bringing their love for America … to preserve her Constitution from excessive governmental control ….”
Shortly before the bus rolled in to its Fort Wayne stop, the group offered a prayer of thanksgiving and sang “God Bless America.” “I cannot think of a more personally gratifying trip,” Harman said.
Ordinary Americans went to Washington to have their voices be heard and, perhaps, change the course of an intrusive government that has grown obese and arrogant with taxpayer money. Will they succeed on their mission to bring their country back to its constitutional roots, or are those in power too well-funded by special interests, too dug in to change, too corrupt to be fixed? No one can be certain, but the group was undeterred.
Ben Haiflich, 34, Ossian, came “to make a difference,” he said. “I would do it a thousand more times if that is what it would take. I love my country.”
“I went to the march on Washington hoping to get a firsthand sense of the positive passion, enthusiasm and commitment of mainstream Americans to change the direction of my beloved country,” said David S. Ridderheim, 73, Fort Wayne. “I returned invigorated with an improved outlook and optimism.”
“We must all work together if we want our children to live in the wonderful free country we had,” said Rod Berger, 82, Fort Wayne.
Love for country was evident, as well as love of liberty, heritage and family. Connie Kovas Moreno, 60, Fort Wayne, a member of Hoosier Patriots and the local coordinator for D.C. accommodations and buses, summed up her feelings by adding, “What better way to honor my American heritage and preserve it for my granddaughters than to march at this historic event.”
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