The Washington Monument and Pride
For the past week, save one incident, I have had the most incredible luck imaginable.
Last Saturday I lucked into Berlin’s mp3 Experiment, Pittsburgh was a far more interesting city than I could have anticipated, and I was in Washington DC for today’s march against California proposition 8, coordinated by Join the Impact. It was exciting to be a part of protests and marches occurring in all 50 United States, plus Washington DC, at the same time.
It’s a bit difficult for me to explain how I feel about all of this—and I have to confess that on November 4th, I really wished that I could have actually been at home, in the States, to enjoy the Obama victory—to join the spontaneous street joy that erupted in Washington outside the White House. To watch the students of Pittsburgh pour onto the streets to celebrate the victory—something I was told that has only happened for athletic championships in the past, never politics.
There are times that being an expatriate is emotionally difficult.
As I note right at the top of this page, I am an expatriate, not an ex-patriot. I am forced to watch developments on issues close to my heart from afar without a realistic opportunity to be personally involved.
Today busted my drought in political activities: being a part of the crowd was a great experience and emotionally fulfilling. Along the 2 mile march, I talked to an older lesbian couple from the DC area, and they, like me were amazed at the length of our march. When I was passing the Washington Monument on its west side, I looked back I could see just south-east of the monument and I couldn’t see the end of the people in the march.
Midway through the march, we were hit with a massive downpour and, although I had an umbrella, my legs got drenched and my shirt got fairly damp. Said Items are now draped on various objects in my room, hopefully to dry before I pack them into my suitcase (I fly tomorrow).
Although I am about to leave my nation of citizenship, heading back to my nation of residence, I feel proud to have participated in the protest.
There is no place for hate.
My favorite question of the day!
Lucky you! I was reading about all the protests marches this morning and wishing I could have been in the US to participate in one…
I wish I could have been there, my mom couldn’t drive me to Little Rock, which was the closest protest in my state, because she had to work unfortunatly…
@Jul: Thanks! We’re going to have to meet some day… hopefully sooner, rather than later.
@Beth: That sucks–I felt lucky to be near a protest at all. Better luck next time!
I read your tweets, but it is nice to see pictures, too. That question is especially profound. That is what makes you so amazing TQE, flying home for something like this.
@NewWrldYankee: I didn’t actually fly home for the protest–A meeting in DC had been planned over a month ago, so it was lucky timing for me.
Reading news in the newspapers is so dry. Reading this post makes it so real n not something from somewhere across the world. Thanks for sharing.