Democracy in Action

"Ask about democracy?"
"This is our democracy!"

"Am I right or wrong?
"You're right!"

"Are we going strong?"
"We're strong!"

"Sound off?"
"One, two!"

"Sound off?"
"three, four!"

"Bring it on home?"
"One two, three, four - One, two, three, four!"

So went the chant and refrain of more than 100,000 (some estimated as many as 400,000) people of conscience who journeyed to our nation's capital for this weekend's massive march on Washington. We gathered on the National Mall, between the front of the Capitol building and the Washington Monument, to demand peace, justice, and an end to the war in Iraq.

In what can only be described as democracy in action, the National Mall was awash in a sea of humanity: black, white, and brown people from around the nation and world. There were people wearing tie-dye and pin stripes! I even saw a smattering of signs declaring Republicans for Withdrawal from Iraq!

A distinguished group of speakers included active duty military (who spoke truth to power), families of soldiers killed in Iraq, clergy, students, human rights activists, and members of Congress. Robert Watada, the father of Lt. Ehren Watada (currently on trial for refusing to fight in the Iraq War) spoke with passion and pride for his son's courageous "refusal to serve in and illegal and immoral war."

After listening to a host of speakers, we marched and sang from the front of the Capitol, past federal agencies and congressional offices, past the U.S. Supreme Court and Library of Congress, the Botanic Gardens and back to the National Mall. Beautiful black, white, and brown children carried signs calling for a shutdown of Guantanamo Bay prison, and Palestinians and Jews marched together for peace in the Middle East.

Not since opposition to the war in Vietnam have so many active duty soldiers, sailors, and veterans voiced their opposition to war. Declaring themselves patriots, these active duty soldiers and sailors spoke for their buddies who could not speak because they're either in Iraq, wounded, or dead.

These soldiers spoke, knowing they were putting their military careers on the line, but for them, it is a matter of principle. Although, military regulations allow active-duty service members to speak their minds -- short of disrespect for the commanders or the president -- some have claimed retaliation from their superiors.

Beyond the newly Democratic Congress, a new day is on the rise. The American people have a new sense of optimism.

Coming from the frigid Northeast, even the weather was on our side -- the temperature in D.C., was a mild 53 degrees. Along with the warm sun and blue skies, the optimism of the people made it feel like early spring.

Clearly, this is a new day and democracy is on the move.