If You Want to Speak Out, Speak Out!

photo by John Montgomery

This morning, a not so well feeling DearSweetDave joined me in his first ever protest.  Okay, I have to stop right there.  First, I find that rather incredible.  The man is 38 years old!  And this was his first protest.  For anything!  Secondly, I'm married to him.  I didn't know this.  It's like I forgot to ask.  When I was going down my check-list of qualifications for a good match for Nakedjen I was so dumbfounded by his very good looks and quite charming attitude and oh so dear and sweet ways that I completely and utterly didn't even bother to ask if he had ever been involved in a political protest?  Not that it REALLY matters, but because I am me.  Nakedjen.  Who protests over just about anything and everything I found it really rather eye-opening that I had actually married a man who had never protested anything and I had forgotten to even ask him about it. I've been married to him for seven years and I just learned today that he'd never done this before.  Isn't it lovely that we can learn something new about the loves of our lives every single day?  I love that.  Just love it.

So back to this morning.  We drove to San Francisco to particpate in the Impeach on the Beach project.  Here's a bit from the press release about it:

Over 1000 people gathered in Nancy Pelosi's
district, on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, to spell out the message "Impeach!"

"Amerca is a great country," said event organizer Brad Newsham, a local cab
driver. "But President Bush has betrayed our faith.  He mislead us into a
disasterous war, and is trampling on our Consitution.  He has to go.  Now.  I
hope Nancy Pelosi is listening today."

A majority of Americans share Newsham's sentiments.  A 2006 Zogby poll found
that 52% of Americans agreed with the statement: "If President Bush wiretapped
American citizens without the approval of a judge, do you agree or disagree that Congress should consider holding him accountable through impeachment."

And a few more photos:

The sign that was explaining the event to all who arrived. 

DearSweetDave waving his peace sign at his first protest ever.

Lynda, my family, who is always up for a good protest! There was a naked guy!  I didn't get naked because, well, this wasn't about being naked.  But obviously, someone got naked.  He was in the other part of the H across from me. Stella on the beach after the protest enjoying a treat!

It all went very well and was so well organized.  Go Brad!   We were blessed with a beautiful day.  Imagine if we'd been lying there in the drizzle and heavy fog?  It's always easier to protest in the sunshine.  And I will admit that it is always easier to protest in San Francisco.  But honestly, it is important to protest.  Period.  We still have a voice in this country.  They haven't taken away those rights, yet.  So as long as we're able, we should speak out.  Even if you're like DearSweetDave and you've never done it before.  If there's something you feel passionately about, I urge you to get involved.  Right now.  Speak out.  Grab a sign.  Sign a petition.  Just do whatever you feel compelled to do.  But don't sit silently.  Because nothing is going to change if you don't share your voice. 

You can be the change you want to see in the world.  You really can.