The Rally: We Are Still Here

I wasn't sure what I was hoping for from today's 'Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear', hosted by Jon Stewart (with assistance from Stephen Colbert), but I think I got more AND less than I expected.

Let me explain ...

Part of me was hoping Stewart would say some of the things the politicos in the Democratic party, including the President, were afraid to say about the conservatives running for (or are already in) office in this country. I was hoping he could just blurt out exactly what destructive political games they are playing - humorously, of course. The President either won't, or can't spell it out, he just beats around the bush on the subject. And it's never funny.

But no, The Rally was mostly apolitical. And that was the Less.

I was also hoping for a bit more from the stellar cast of his show, but his crew were used sparingly, though fairly effectively, including a cute bit with Jon Oliver as 'Peter Pan'.

Stewart surprised though, with his address late in the event, in which he squarely blamed the media (mostly cable news) for inflaming passions and magnifying differences out of their real proportions. It was an effective speech, and anyone hearing it had to believe afterward that we aren't so far apart after all. Stewart said the only people in America not working together were in Washington, DC and in the media, and that statement rang true.

I hadn't expected him to make such a thoughtful speech. And that was the More.

Also adding to the experience were the performances (brief though they were) of Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam) and Tony Bennett. Sounding as good as ever, and looking healthier than he ever did back in the day, Stevens sang 'Peace Train' as part of a comic battle with a rusty Ozzy Osbourne, who sang 'Crazy Train'. Bennett belted out an abbreviated 'America the Beautiful' more powerfully than anyone his age should be able to. Truly good stuff.

In the end, will the thousands who showed up at the Mall in DC - estimated at anywhere from 70,000 to 250,000 (can't anybody count at these rallies) go home transformed in some meaningful way? Will the millions more who watched on TV?

Probably not. Those who made their way to DC were almost certainly all Daily Show and Colbert Report fans already. As were most of the viewers at home. Those conservatives who tuned in or turned up will probably wait to hear what their leaders say about the event, before they make up their minds to despise and ridicule it.

But the Rally did let those in power - and those trying very hard to get back into power, know that there exists a very large group of Americans who hate the nastiness of current politics and government. A group who, when aroused, can make things happen - things like the election of the nation's first african-american President, and the bench-clearing of the Republicans who steered us into War and economic distress.

We may be disenchanted with Mr. Obama, just as Jon Stewart, once a strong supporter, clearly has become, but we are still here. The Rally to Restore Sanity was just a reminder.