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Not going to talk about what is happening in Madison - we all know it - it's all over National news now - front page in the USA Today, MSNBC has turned into 24/7 Madison, FOX has turned into 24/7 Madison (saying the protesters are carry guns - can you believe that?). CNN is all over the place.
How about personal experiences.
I was at the rally (again) and it was basically like the previous day, 20,000+ people and I walked around taking a few photos and realizing I have the wrong lens (corrected today - these kinds of opportunities are a learning experience - take a longer lens) and I snapped some shots.
Best food cart on the Square - doing good business -
until there is tear gas I suppose
As I was wondering around I climbed up on top of an area I would normally get arrested at but saw this.
After seeing what was going on on the busy side I wanted to see what was happening on the State Street side. I walked around and as I was nearing the State Street side I spotted Joel DeSpain who was on CH 3 and now a member of the Police Force (not a cop but a go between kind of guy).
I saw him looking down State Street and immediately saw what he watching. We looked at each other and he asked me, "who do you think that are?" I looked and I actually had chills! By that time others were gather and asking . . "who are they?".
There were already 20,000+ on the other side of the square and perhaps another 5,000 mingling around on this side. The crowd of onlookers kept growing and a woman beside me looked at me with watery eyes and said "My God my heart is pounding so hard" and I said "mine is too" and Joel said "this is so amazing".
As they turned to corner on the square and marched most people had their backs turned but as the chants grew louder and louder people were turning around and nudging the strangers next to them. The closer and closer they got cheers started to go out until it was a frenzy that put the crowd over the edge. I honestly saw people with tears in their eyes! As the students neared a hole opened up and they were assimilated into the rally among wild cheers.
I did not get inside the Rotunda yesterday (I will today with my decibel meter) but stayed outside. I WISH I would have been present for the Fire Fighters. A friend explained what had happened and I was searching for a Youtube video of the event and found it on Facebook. A friend of mine was there and she said she was almost overwhelmed with joy. A very moving experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc4TXdPxUcE
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Many people, including myself like to call themselves Independents yet when you really think about it . . your not.
ON a scaled of 1 to 10 with 1 being a far right, 5 being independent and 10 being far left, I would put myself as a 7. I have friends that say they are independent but in reality I feel they are 3's.
I have no problems at all with 3's. 3's and 7's are what make America great! We can disagree but at the same time listen to each other while not agreeing.
When Obama was running for Pres I was hearing about how there were Republicans switching sides and I pretty much thought this was a lot of BS and for the most part did not believe it.
But now - I have had friends and co-workers who were 3's telling me they will never again vote Republican. Seriously, I find this amazing. THEY find it amazing. One person said she has voted Republican all her life and is so angry NEVER again! I had one person tell me that they voted for Walker but NEVER expected this!!
No matter what side you are on we are witnessing something REALLY big in American politics and it's fascinating.
Rod
I guess what I'm saying is during all of this it's fine to have arguments but let's not make it personal.
I think it is disgusting that teachers were not in their classrooms. What are parents to do, take a day off from their own jobs because they can't afford a babysitter?
ReplyDeleteTeachers are in a pickle. But desperate times call for desperate measures. When your furture is a stake, you do what you have to do. Hooray for the student support.
ReplyDeleteGrinder, if one wanted to partake at the Capitol, where would you suggested is the best place to park?
Thanks for the coverage Grinder and the great pics....
ReplyDeleteGood to hear people that had voted Republican now will be thinking twice that is awesome!
I think I might be turned up all the way to "11" on your scale : )))))
this is exciting, democracy in action as they say it can get messy but it is so exciting to see so many taking part and speaking and standing up for themselves
I work in a school system and teachers work hard but for them to walk out and abandon their students, there is no excuse for that. What about the seniors and juniors in high school, these are important months for applying to colleges and SAT's. I guess making sure you keep your money is more important. It used to be that teaching was a profession, like nursing and being a doctor. No more, it is all about following the union like sheep and walking out on your kids!!
ReplyDeletecallie - yes take a day off - what's the problem - not enough money? wow - that must suck to have no control over your job.
ReplyDeleteLOL - and don't give me that crap about how the students will suffer - they are learning WAY WAY WAY more now then in a classroom. Trust me - I was a kid once.
ReplyDeleteI make enough money to live and I don't WANT to take a day off!! I enjoy immensly working in school. Who the hell needs control over a job? That is not what working is about. It is about going in, giving 200%, and then going home. If the kids are learning way more, then how much are they missing on the two days schools are not in session? How long is this going to go on, the rest of the year? What are parents supposed to do if THEY need to get to work? Nobody cares about that. Who gives a crap about those kids anyway!
ReplyDeletehmmmmm sounds like parents that NEED to get to work should have a union doesn't it!
ReplyDeleteAs one parent said
"Today my girls learned about democracy, Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Fighting Bob, and Jesse Jackson. Most importantly, this day has left an impression on them that will influence them (and how they vote) for the rest of their lives.
can they learn that in school?
callie - I'm sorry if I got personal - you love your job and would work for free it sounds like - but the rest of us can't work for free.
We enjoy weekends (unions gave us that) we enjoy not having 8 year old's work 12 hour days (unions gave us that) We enjoy a week vacation and sick days (unions).
That, is what is being taken away!
I'll tell you what scares me most in tomorrows blog.
But callie - I'm sorry if I got angry and personal, but this is a BIG deal.
How long will it go one? Last time in the 70's, 4 weeks -
But really all Walker has to do is way "I will sit down and we can discuss this". That's it. That is all he has to do!
Is that so much? "I will sit and listen".
In school do they teach people to NOT listen?