Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck hosted a rally in Washington D.C. today that more closely resembled a religious revival than a political rally. Beck urged the large crowds at his “Restoring Honor” event to “turn back to God” and return America to the “values on which it was founded”. I was fairly certain that freedom of religion was one of those values. I am also quite certain that freedom of religion includes freedom from religion.
In a bout of religious rhetoric, Beck told participants at the rally “Something beyond imagination is happening… America today begins to turn back to God. For too long, this country has wandered in darkness.” Empty words, from a political opportunist who presumes to speak for America. I for one say that if Beck were to be the face of the American Citizenry, I would proudly stand-up and sing “Oh Canada”.

Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" Rally resembled a religious revival
The rally rightfully drew fire for its timing and location.
People filled the park by the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool, on the anniversary of the most pivotal civil rights address in America’s history — the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which was delivered at the same location 47 years ago.
Although he denied it, and denied that the rally was political in nature, Beck clearly tried to usurp the day for his own political gain. The Rev. Jesse Jackson was quoted by CNN saying Beck was mimicking King and “humiliating the tradition.” Beck insults the intelligence of all of us if he expects us to believe he is absent minded enough to have picked this date purely coincidentally.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, perhaps the perfect antithesis for Beck & certainly an intellectual equal, and his “National Action Network” gathered nearby with a “Reclaim the Dream” rally. Participants in this rally marched from a high school in northwest Washington, D.C., to the site of the future Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, just a few blocks from the Lincoln Memorial.
Beck said the site of his rally was appropriate to reflect on the legacy of King, “the man who stood down on those stairs and gave his life for everyone’s right to have a dream.”
Beck repeatedly claimed his rally was nonpolitical and its mission was to honor American troops. But as a veteran of Iraq & Afghanistan, and an open atheist, I can tell you this rally did little for me other than make me ashamed of the direction our country appears to be heading. I was saddened to see how many people actually rallied to support this mad man.
Beck struck a spiritual tone throughout the day, saying his role was to wake America up to the backsliding of principles, values and most importantly, faith. Earlier, he said “God dropped a giant sandbag on his head” to push him to organize the event.
Beck, keenly aware of his critics, opened the rally shortly after 10 a.m. with the national anthem and immediately drew attention to the large crowd that stretched for six city blocks from the Lincoln Memorial along the parks surrounding the reflecting pool.
“I have just gotten word from the media that there are over 1,000 people here today,” Beck said sarcastically.
“We are humbled that you are here,” he said. “The reflecting pool holds about 200,000 people. This field back here holds about 250- to 300,000 people. They are not only full here, they’re full in that field, they’re full behind me, and they are now across the street approaching the Washington Monument.”
Tea Party activists from across the country attended the event. Turning out in what was surely one of the most manufactured and insincere events ever held in this historical location.
Speakers included former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who said she came to speak not about politics but as “something more” — as the mother of a soldier. She said America’s men and women in uniform exemplified the virtues and values of America.
“Say what you want to say about me, but I raised a combat vet and you can’t take that away from me,” she said to a crowd that broke out in chants of “U.S.A! U.S.A!”
She also noted the anniversary of the famous civil rights speech, saying, “We feel the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Beck had been heavily promoting the event on his Fox News Channel program and on his radio broadcasts. He claims that the timing of the rally wasn’t intentional. But that seems like a pretty big coincidence to me…
“Whites don’t own Abraham Lincoln. Blacks don’t own Martin Luther King. Those are American icons, American ideas, and we should just talk about character, and that’s really what this event is about. It’s about honoring character,” Beck said.
Lenny McAllister, an African American Republican, was asked by the Tea Party to speak at Saturday’s rally but declined. He said the rally was disrespectful to the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I cannot sit on stage and co-sign on this irresponsibility,” he said. “I made sure I wore my elephant pin today. I am a proud Republican but I am also a proud African American man.”
I for one think anyone who honestly believes this rally was not political in nature is deluded. It’s no coincidence Sarah Palin was there, this is all apart of her build up towards her 2012 campaign. It’s just sad to me that people like Palin and beck will stoop so low as to use the troops as a back drop for their political aspirations, and tarnish the anniversary of such a pivotal moment in civil rights history.