Today is the day of the important vote on legislation for health care reform in America. A few months ago, I decided to trust my own judgement rather than the television, and I downloaded a copy of the health reform bill and read all 1,500 pages of it. It took a long time to get through it, page my page, and article by article. I made various notes along the way way and in the end came to the conclusion that while it fails to actually fix the abominable health care in the United States, it is an necessary step in the right direction. As someone who has worked hard to put himself through school and receive an excellent education, yet is equally feeling the economic squeeze of our times, I look toward health care reform as a very important element in my life. Until then, I hope nothing bad happens and I fear to get sick, given my own inability to acquire health coverage.
Having recently moved to DC, I was quite curious about the nature of activity going on at the capital building. I actually live just down the street from the white house, and thought I would go investigate any protests and counter protests regarding the health care bill. After all, while the news might show the rallies of 'tea parties' I presume there are likewise advocates for the bill on attendance as well. So I grabbed my camera and jumped on the metro to see whats up.
Upon arrival I expected all sorts of raucous behavior and 'patriotism' to be swarming the lawn. I expected to see a bunch of white people complaining about how this would be an introduction to socialism, in an identical manner as the protests against medicare, medicaid, social security, and civil rights. But what I found was something far better.
The tea party protesters were out protested. Not only that, but they were overrun by a mass of white, black, latino, arab, gay, straight, young, and old folks all advocating migration reform. It was gorgeous. Thousands upon thousands of people marched from the Washington Monument, past the capital, and to a stadium rally, advocating for changes in migration policy. To present pathways for citizenship, to recognize the equitable right to education and labor protection. Naturally, as someone who works within and studies the dynamics international migration, I couldn't be any happier.
As for the tea party folks... well they didn't look quite so satisfied. Most disappeared, and the few that were left ...eh, maybe just disappointed. One guy sauntered down the street with a crumpled banner in his hand that just said 'No,' while another slept at the wheel of his RV.
As for myself, as much as I was pleased by the spectacle, I was content to just snap a few photos and walk around for awhile. For the first time, I walked around the grounds took a loop back toward the White House. It was the first time I had really looked at the White House outside of the Bush administration, and I was surprised how different it looked. Previously you could hardly see the building as it was hidden within massive pine trees. Now all those trees are gone, and it sits in a pristine and serene fashion.
