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FrankRep
08-30-2010, 07:56 AM
http://www.thenewamerican.com/images/stories/glennbeckdc-t-ap.001.jpg



Glenn Beck’s August 28 Restoring Honor rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial showcased Marcus Luttrell, Pastor C. L. Jackson, St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Tony LaRussa, John Huntsman, Sr., and Sarah Palin. by Raven Clabough


Nearly a Million Flock to DC for Beck's Restoring Honor Rally (http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/family/4444-nearly-a-million-flock-to-dc-for-becks-restoring-honor-rally)


Raven Clabough | The New American (http://www.thenewamerican.com/)
30 August 2010


Glenn Beck’s August 28 Restoring Honor rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial confirmed that oft-used infamous quote from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” And after Beck worked tirelessly for the past year to create the awe-inspiring event, come they surely did! While there is no official estimate on the number of attendees of the D.C. rally as of yet, estimates range from 300,000 to 1 million people.

As promised, the event was non-political and instead focused on remembering America’s roots, and honoring worthy individuals, from members of the United States military to individuals who prove the case for American exceptionalism. Likewise, Restoring Honor was intended to help Americans turn back to God for answers, and has the potential to be the next Great Awakening.

With a variety of references to the Bible, and specifically to Moses and the Burning Bush, Beck proclaimed, “God is the answer. He always has been.”

Beck began by declaring that Americans have focused for too long on America’s scars and blemishes, and asserted that August 28 would be about focusing on all the good that Americans have accomplished.

With that, American military heroes like Marcus Luttrell, sole survivor of a Taliban ambush, Eddie Wright, a Marine who lost his hands in Iraq but managed to lead his men to safety, and Thomas Kirk, Korean and Vietnam War veteran who spent five and a half years in a POW camp, two of which were spent with McCain, were honored for their efforts. Each man received a thoughtful and heartwarming introduction from Alaska’s former governor Sarah Palin, who appeared at the event as nothing more than a military mom.

In addition to the military, individuals who espoused honorific characteristics were paid tribute at the event. Beck contends, “To restore America, we must restore ourselves. The way to do that is through faith, hope, and charity.” As such, Beck awarded three individuals with merit badges, or purple hearts (http://www.history.army.mil/html/reference/purhrt.html) in keeping with the tradition set by General George Washington during America's War of Independence, one for faith, one for hope, and one for charity.

The recipient of the “Faith” award was Pastor C. L. Jackson, who has worked diligently in his community to spread God’s word and exemplify the teachings of the Bible.

A surprise guest appearance was made by St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Tony LaRussa, who presented the purple heart of “Hope” to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, who has helped to restore the hope of many through his charitable contributions, both in the United States and his native home of the Dominican Republic.

Justice Raul Gonzalez presented the “Charity” purple heart to John Huntsman, Sr., a philanthropist and self-made billionaire who has donated more than $9 billion to charity and vows to “die broke” after having donated all of his wealth to worthy causes. Among the many organizations that have benefited from Huntsman’s charitable contributions are shelters for the homeless and for battered women, as well as the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Beck faced harsh criticism from liberal and civil rights groups for having hosted the event on August 28, the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech that took place only steps away from where Beck stood at the event. While Beck contends it was unintentional to choose the anniversary of MLK’s speech as the date of the event, he asserts it was “Divine Providence.” At the rally, Beck focused on the language of MLK’s speech and announced, “We must all carry MLK’s dream in all our hearts today.”

On Sunday, Beck was interviewed by Fox News host Chris Wallace, who questioned Beck’s focus on MLK. Beck explained that he wanted to reclaim King’s dream for ”people of faith,” regardless of color, race, or ethnicity. Beck asserted that the dream has not yet been achieved, noting examples of racism seen today such as the recent video footage of Black Panther (http://thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/3995-new-black-panthers-on-their-violent-remarks) voter intimidation and racially motivated decisions made by the Department of Justice (http://thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/crime/3961-former-justice-official-testifies-against-doj). Beck proclaimed that if Americans put aside politics and focused on the dream itself, the nation would be a better place.

Matthews noted, however, that the civil rights movement under MLK was in fact political, and often placed economic demands on the government, but Beck said, “I am not Martin Luther King and do not agree with all that he stood for. I simply believe that the one thing we can agree on is that MLK’s dream is both ideal and achievable.”

Despite Beck’s positive and unifying message, civil rights leader Al Sharpton railed against Beck’s rally, electing to host a rally of his own on the same day, entitled “Reclaiming the Dream.” Sharpton’s rally was attended by approximately 3,000 people.

Other notable moments at Beck’s Restoring Honor rally include an appearance by Martin Luther King’s neice, Dr. Alveda King.

“It’s wonderful for Glenn Beck to use his popularity and influence to bring us together,” announced King.

Likewise, attendees were regaled with patriotic and spiritual songs like “Unity,” “Rebuild,” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the James Weldon Johnson poem set to music.

However, nothing was more moving and spiritually lifting than hearing nearly one million people sing “Amazing Grace.”

Beck closed the event with a charismatic speech that likely instilled hope in every attendee at the rally. Describing American exceptionalism, Beck explained, “The American experiment is the idea that man can rule himself.” Noting, however, the dangers plaguing the American experiment Beck asserted the importance of fighting for the Republic. He proclaimed, “The American experiment shall not end now or in my generation or your generation! It is up to us!”

He closed, “We are at a crossroads, today. We must decide who we are. What is it we believe? Will we advance our Republic or allow it to perish? I choose advance!”

In order to advance, however, Beck instructed that Americans must do the following: Look to God, accept responsibility, stop allowing themselves to be divided, and pledge their sacred honor to always tell the truth.

“The truth will make you miserable first, but then will set you free,” he joked.

He emphasized, “America is only what we choose her to be. We must be good so she can be great.”

Overall, the rally was another major success for Beck, serving as a source of encouragement and hope for Americans across the nation. Beck called upon Americans to remember the foundations of America and the Christian tenets on which the American dream is based, specifically faith, hope, and charity.

Most importantly, the Restoring Honor rally managed to raise $5.5 million for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that funds the college education of the children of fallen special operations warriors.

Shortly after the rally’s conclusion, conservative blogsters feverishly spoke of a possible “Beck-Palin 2012” ticket, but to the dismay of Beck fans across the country, Beck quickly put those speculations to rest.

“Absolutely not,” he later told Chris Matthews.


SOURCE:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/culture/family/4444-nearly-a-million-flock-to-dc-for-becks-restoring-honor-rally

Bruno
08-30-2010, 08:00 AM
Good estimating skills they have. :rolleyes: 300,000-1,000,000.

Danke
08-30-2010, 08:12 AM
YouTube - Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly make a bet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKK_qmO_U-A&feature=player_embedded)

rprprs
08-30-2010, 08:14 AM
Is Bill back as host this week? Might be interesting to hear his comments.

Elwar
08-30-2010, 08:18 AM
I caught a bit of it...

It seems that God spoke to him and told him to hold a rally and give the sheep a message.

That message?

Grow government under the guise of religion, war and blind patriotism.

MelissaWV
08-30-2010, 08:20 AM
I caught a bit of it...

It seems that God spoke to him and told him to hold a rally and give the sheep a message.

That message?

Grow government under the guise of religion, war and blind patriotism.

It's sad, because the more Christian thing to do would be to stop the damned war, and stop the senseless taking of life (whether they be Christian lives or not). The more Christian thing to do would be to not worship a flag and the concept of country, but to worship God and remember Jesus' sacrifice. That could go on and on all day.

There was a sea of people with their thinking and listening abilities turned all the way to zero during the event. At least there's a glimmer of hope that some people were able to reach Beck-lovers with a genuine message or two, but that's no thanks to Beck.

Elwar
08-30-2010, 08:26 AM
I heard Beck on my local radio station today talking to the morning crew saying that the guy who helped him to coordinate the whole event was the same guy who was responsible for the overtaking of the Republican Party by the religious right during the Reagan administration.

Jeremy
08-30-2010, 08:47 AM
It's sad, because the more Christian thing to do would be to stop the damned war, and stop the senseless taking of life (whether they be Christian lives or not). The more Christian thing to do would be to not worship a flag and the concept of country, but to worship God and remember Jesus' sacrifice. That could go on and on all day.

There was a sea of people with their thinking and listening abilities turned all the way to zero during the event. At least there's a glimmer of hope that some people were able to reach Beck-lovers with a genuine message or two, but that's no thanks to Beck.

Nicely put.

ronpaulhawaii
08-30-2010, 09:02 AM
...individuals who prove the case for American exceptionalism...

:confused:


It's sad, because the more Christian thing to do would be to stop the damned war, and stop the senseless taking of life (whether they be Christian lives or not). The more Christian thing to do would be to not worship a flag and the concept of country, but to worship God and remember Jesus' sacrifice. That could go on and on all day.

There was a sea of people with their thinking and listening abilities turned all the way to zero during the event. At least there's a glimmer of hope that some people were able to reach Beck-lovers with a genuine message or two, but that's no thanks to Beck.

+1

Elwar
08-30-2010, 09:51 AM
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/cdevers/qpxartnekitHtslfykAhujgkhrArffyjHIJuglcymJzDDumfyo qEpkynmwyw/media_httpphotoshakfb_xfqbl.jpg.scaled1000.jpg

JacobG18
08-30-2010, 11:49 AM
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/cdevers/qpxartnekitHtslfykAhujgkhrArffyjHIJuglcymJzDDumfyo qEpkynmwyw/media_httpphotoshakfb_xfqbl.jpg.scaled1000.jpg

how did sinclair lewis say that before he was born

Bruno
08-30-2010, 12:00 PM
how did sinclair lewis say that before he was born

He was just THAT talented.

Brian4Liberty
08-30-2010, 12:18 PM
how did sinclair lewis say that before he was born

And before Fascism too... :rolleyes:

Promontorium
08-30-2010, 12:29 PM
Wasn't Sinclair "burn down the factories, workers unite" Lewis a socialist? Orwell was a socialist, I guess some of the best critics are the closest to the fire.

According to my local news it was "tens of thousands" at the Beck rally.


As for accuracy, I've read it's a pain in the ass for statisticians to measure how many are in large crowds. You have to decide how much space each person occupies, you have to set parameters like where the crowd starts and where the crowd is now some other crowd, you have to factor time, and putting that all together it's a continuously changing density, area, and population.

ronpaulhawaii
08-30-2010, 12:36 PM
...
According to my local news it was "tens of thousands" at the Beck rally.
...

Quite a few "tens of thousands"

http://daytontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Glenn-Beck-Restoring-Honor-Rally-300x200.jpg

And a summary of reports

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/08/29/2010-08-29_crowd_estimates_at_glenn_becks_restore_america_ rally_depend_dramatically_on_who_.html

Matt Collins
08-30-2010, 12:37 PM
YouTube - What We Saw at the Glenn Beck Rally in DC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CY5aFvRe2E)

tangent4ronpaul
08-30-2010, 08:32 PM
Quite a few "tens of thousands"

http://daytontribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Glenn-Beck-Restoring-Honor-Rally-300x200.jpg

And a summary of reports

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/08/29/2010-08-29_crowd_estimates_at_glenn_becks_restore_america_ rally_depend_dramatically_on_who_.html

someone on FBN earlier tonight quoted a "source at the NPS" that their estimate was 102,,000 people.

-t

sofia
08-30-2010, 08:41 PM
these are decent people...damn shame they are under the influence of that piece of shit neo-con CIA agent Glen Beck....

the great struggle for 2012 will be in wooing these folks away from Beck's girl Palin

oyarde
08-30-2010, 08:50 PM
these are decent people...damn shame they are under the influence of that piece of shit neo-con CIA agent Glen Beck....

the great struggle for 2012 will be in wooing these folks away from Beck's girl Palin

If Beck is working for the CIA , I think he holds the salary record.

crazyfacedjenkins
08-30-2010, 10:46 PM
YouTube - What We Saw at the Glenn Beck Rally in DC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CY5aFvRe2E)

Interesting analysis at the end. Another interesting analysis made by Alexis de Tocqueville close to 200 years ago but still oddly relevant:


Moreover, almost all the sects of the United States are comprised within the great unity of Christianity, and Christian morality is everywhere the same. In the United States the sovereign authority is religious, and consequently hypocrisy must be common; but there is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.

The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other; and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren traditionary faith which seems to vegetate in the soul rather than to live.

There are certain populations in Europe whose unbelief is only equaled by their ignorance and their debasement, while in America one of the freest and most enlightened nations in the world fulfills all the outward duties of religion with fervor.

Upon my arrival in the United States, the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more did I perceive the great political consequences resulting from this state of things, to which I was unaccustomed. In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom pursuing courses diametrically opposed to each other; but in America I found that they were intimately united, and that they reigned in common over the same country.
---source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville#Democracy_in_America)

Matt Collins
08-30-2010, 10:56 PM
Interesting analysis at the end. Nick Gillespie said that he took away from the event the theme that "If we transform ourselves then that will transform the country"; yes there is truth to that. Restoring liberty can only happen electorally if the hearts and minds of the People desire it first.

ronpaulhawaii
08-31-2010, 07:18 PM
someone on FBN earlier tonight quoted a "source at the NPS" that their estimate was 102,,000 people.

-t

That is sounding fairly accurate. Here is more on crowd size including a photosynth link (http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=20e143f6-2e3c-43ce-ad35-7c91a7b25f56&m=false&i=0:0:23&c=-0.0326945:0.00564689:-0.155881&z=456.487753646045&d=3.20724838548858:-2.11638966347034:-1.35131803732056&p=0:0&t=False)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20015214-503544.html


As part of our coverage of Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally Saturday, CBS News commissioned the company AirPhotosLive.com to offer an independent estimate of how many people showed up for the event. AirPhotosLive.com calculated that there were approximately 87,000 people there, plus or minus 9,000 people. It was the only scientific estimate made of the number of people at the rally.

The estimate generated criticism from conservative bloggers as well as from Beck himself, who suggested the rally attracted at least 500,000 people...