Sunday, March 13, 2011

Report from the Madison Front of the Next Revolution

By Cynthia & Michael Orange
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Michael, Cynthia & Friend at the Gate
of The Banksters
Madison, Wi -Here's just a quick note about the rally last night at the packed Barrymore Theater in Madison sponsored by the Progressive Magazine (see video of event here: http://www.progressive.org/). The energy and sincerity brought tears to my eyes.
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A highlight was Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D. Ohio). He got the crowd jumping to its feet so often you'd have thought we were in an exercise class (in spite of the hours of marching that preceded the event). We were screaming our approval so loud that at several times I couldn't even hear Dennis but I saw his arms flap so much I swear he started to lift off the stage just a little. When Jim Hightower followed him, he calmed us with his slow Texas drawl, charmed us with Texas humor, and inspired us with calls to action for the causes we all believe in. It was the perfect close to the incredible day.
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Cynthia and I marched with the Veterans for Peace sign, "How's the War Economy Working for You?" Cynthia had the idea of simply holding it up in front of the M & I Bank building on Capital Square right in the heart of the protest marching. We sparked a lot of comments and photographs. Teachers, firefighters, and cops targeted the bank for a boycott because of the bank's support for Governor Walker (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117756068.html).
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I woke up chuckling this morning, as I reset my watch to Daylight Savings time and remembered one of the Tweets: "If you're in Madison Sunday morning, remember to set your watch back 50 years."  We'll get a more comprehensive report later today as we try to encapsulate this experience with more than the small anecdotes thus far. As Buffalo Springfield sang so long ago, "Something's happening here and what it is ain't exactly clear." History will show that whatever it is, it started here in Madison.
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Peace,
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