Bookeristas have much more to say about Saturday's event, which drew at least 350,000 people:
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| Ms. Gardner (pictured left) with Ms. King |
Asserts the conservative head of the National Black Pro-Life Union: "From the Lincoln Memorial, past the Washington Monument, as far as the eye could see in any direction, American people of all colors stood shoulder to shoulder to honor the one true God -- to show love for our great country, a country founded on the Solid Rock which is the word of God -- to fix the places where we are broken -- to help the weathered masses -- to see the humanity of unborn children -- to heal the terrible hurts -- to lift each other up and to never stand down until the 'dream' is restored and I was there."
Jerome Hudson: "A Black Man Goes To Glenn Beck's Rally" The conservative in Florida writes about participating in the rally: "I was probably the only 24-year old black college student in the crowd. It's hard to know, because we had over 300,000 people there. But that didn't matter to me. As we all stood hand-in-hand, American shoulder to American shoulder, our myriad faces streaked with tears as we sang 'Amazing Grace.' It was a moment I will be proud to tell my grandkids about one day. What that moment taught me is this: Something profound is happening in America that runs far deeper than politics. The ground is shifting, and it's in freedom's direction. As a nation at war, standing in division and debt, Beck challenged the crowd to return to God."
Mr. Hudson continues his commentary: "The message I took away is that we cannot continue to pick at the scab of America's past but must become the balm that heals it. That's the way forward — arm in arm, moving together, toward a better future. Standing in a crowd that stretched from the Washington Monument to Lincoln Memorial what happened on 8/28 was the most inspirational thing I had ever experienced. Standing there, unhyphenated and united, this black man has never felt more free in his life."
Nadra Enzi: "I Salute Lenny McAllister's Decision To Decline To Speak At The Rally" Asserts the moderate Republican in Savannah, Ga., in a statement emailed to Booker Rising: " By opting out of Glenn Beck's August 28th Restoring Honor event [black conservative commentator] Lenny McAllister showed rare independence from a movement marching lock step with the Imperial Right, as I call the most extreme conservative brand. He cited headliner Sarah Palin's defense of Dr. Laura's N-Word commentary and other uniquely Black reasons why he couldn't participate, despite being conservative and Republican. I reference 'uniquely Black' reasons because of the element of racial escapism (to these jaundiced eyes) witnessed among some Black conservatives."
More: "I applaud Mr. McAllister's stance. He's definitely not a 'Me Too!' conservative blindy walking behind the Imperial Right band wagon. If we can't tell White counterparts when we think they've erred on racial matters, isn't that just Jim Crow reloaded for the Ipod era? Any resultant ostracism he may exprience by the Right means freedom of thought is no more welcome here than on the Left. For my money this was his personal profile in courage moment. If the cost to be a Black conservative is a racial gag order, except against liberals, it's a price too high to pay."
Harry Alford: "Chasing Glenn Beck"The president of the National Black Chamber of Commerce gives kudos to the conservative commentator for organizing the rally: "As a student of Dr. King and a direct benefactor of his work, I am impressed and appreciative of what Glenn Beck is doing. No one else thought of it. The human rights groups’ reaction was knee jerk as they were caught sleeping. They had no plans whatsoever to honor the anniversary. It was reactionary and on demand from the Democratic National Committee. It is so tough to be an organization when you have a 'boss' telling you what to do. As my grandmother would say, 'they were like chickens with their heads cut off.' They were running and ranting with no distinct purpose. Mr. Beck with his 500,000-plus followers had an agenda and mission. They accomplished it. Glenn Beck is now touting that his movement is going back to the roots of conservatism. 'We were the first ones to shout freedom for everyone and we are reclaiming that.' He flipped the script and the traditional colored groups took the bait."
Ron Miller: "The Rally Exceeded My Expectations"The conservative Republican in Maryland, who attended the rally, states: "'I've attended and spoken at several tea party rallies, but Glenn Beck's rally exceeded my expectations,' observed Miller. 'The others were like pep rallies to fire up the team before it takes the field. Restoring Honor was a revival, calling us to honor those men and women who gave everything they had, including their lives, to defend us. Beck got it right when he asked us to get down on our knees and repent to God for the salvation of our nation.'"
More: "'Those naysayers who compare us to the Ku Klux Klan are despicable,' Miller said. 'By making such a ludicrous comparison, they have revealed themselves to be morally bankrupt, so they no longer warrant a hearing from Americans of good will."
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| Mr. Marcus (at left) with Mr. Beck |
The conservative Republican in Florida writes: "I wish to thank and celebrate Brother Beck for his efforts to get America back on track, inspiring Americans to restore honor in our great country, take pride in keeping our word and doing the right thing, and expecting our politicians to do the same."
More from Mr. Marcus: "I also wish to thank Beck for breaking the politically correct ban of God from the public square. No other secular radio or TV show host boldly shares his or her faith and encourages others to join in -- pretty radical in America today. Congratulations, Glenn, for an absolutely wonderful and inspired rally. I, for one, vow to strive to, as you challenged, 'Be my higher self!' I pray my fellow Americans will do the same."
