Ten years ago Doris finished her long walk and ascended the steps of the U.S. Capitol. There were 2,300 people walking with her for those final steps, including a dozen Members of Congress or more.
John Anthony, who provided brilliant press relations for her walk and arrival, sent this note this morning: “Doris “Granny D” Haddock ascended the east steps of the U.S. Capitol after walking from her pacific shore in an effort to weaken the grip special interests have on our democracy. It was a day I’ll never forget. The journey as well.”
Doris spoke to the throngs gathered on and below the steps. Her remarks were stirring:
“This morning we began our walk among the graves of Arlington –so that those spirits, some of whom may be old friends, might join us today and that we might ask of them now, Did you, brave spirits, give your lives for a government where we might stand together as free and equal citizens, or did you give your lives so that laws might be sold to the highest bidder, turning this temple of our Fair Republic into a bawdy house where anything and everything is done for a price? We hear your answers in the wind.”
From my log:
“Over 2,000 walkers came, and from as far as Alaska. Press crews came from as far as Japan, Germany and England just for the story. In that hardhearted, jaded old city, Go Granny Go signs dangled from office windows, horns honked, and folks came down elevators to join the walk. When she climbed the Capitol steps, she was met by a dozen Members of Congress, swarms of Capitol staffers, and hundreds of people who couldn’t walk far with her but wanted to be there to welcome her. The crowd was so large that the Capitol Police insisted in breaking it up into manageable groups. The speeches were many and all were profoundly worth hearing. When Doris finally spoke, Members of Congress were rapt and amazed. They looked at each other and shook their heads. Members of the Press put down their notebooks and clapped and cheered.”
“Sen. Chris Shays said yesterday morning (at a meeting in the Capitol Building with Doris, Sen. Levin and representatives of Americans major religious organizations) that he wished he had walked with her earlier in her trek, because he fully expects that people will someday talk about their participation in this walk in the way people now talk about having walked in Selma. I think he was right.”
Dennis
This was surely a moment of hope and promise. How sad that the ensuing years have not brought about the needed changes to turn this country back into an America we can all be proud to call home. I dream of a return to a nation that is based on the Rule of Law, not the obfuscation of law. A nation where individual rights are respected, not trampled upon by injurious and capricious laws and the enforcement thereof. A nation built on confidence, truth, and justice instead of fear, falsehood and chicanery. Thank you, Granny D, for trying. We should all have listened more closely to you and not our political “leaders” who are merely directing us to keep marching off the cliffs – driving our beloved America into a deep abyss from which we may never recover. God bless you, Granny D!