April 20, 2008

Peaceably to Assemble

…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So I peacefully assembled, with some 35,000 others Friday night. Right out in front of Independence Hall. Smack between it and the Constitution Center, right next to the Liberty Bell on a side walk on 5th Street. Sacred soil to me.

I was there to see a presidential candidate. There were so many of us assembled that I was too far away to see much of anything other than a lot of other peacefully assembled folks. A heck of a lot of'm. That was actually cool in its own way. So I didn't "see" the candidate.

I did have a nice view of the Constitution Center. The preamble is carved into its stone facade. Even from a block away I could read the words; We the people…

So in this huge crowd about all I could do was to talk with a few of the people on our little piece of side walk. 35,000 people, a dozen to talk with.

Still it was moving to be there in such a large crowd and having conversations with a small group. I think this assembly would have made the guys who brought the constitution to life, proud. I doubt it would have surprised them. I think they expected us to go to political events, hang out and talk.

I was a good speech. Strong on Independence and Health Care if not particularly specific. That’s fine. Our 16 year old is into this election. That a good thing. She had a great time. That was the point. Go forth and become a good Citizen my daughter. You make me proud.

I don’t much care what peoples' politics are, heck I am not all that sure what mine are. I have called myself a Schizopublicrat. I doubt that helps define me much. I am however thrilled that people are participating, that primary turn outs are up and that people care.

I hope my fellow Type 1 families will petition the Government for a redress of grievances, what ever they may be. Delaney and I did. I am not so sure we had much of a grievance to redress.

We were more interested in being seen than aggrieved. If we had a grievance it was that type 1 kids can be invisible. In a lot of ways that is what they want – to be no different.

Sadly they can’t be no different. Maybe if we get to see our leaders and they see us, even as faces in the crowd, there will fewer grievances for us to peacefully assemble about.

So since the 18th amendment was repealed, here's a toast to the First.

Our Constitution at its finest.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

No comments :

Post a Comment