Faith, Hope, Charity, & Other Political Stuff

Restoring Honor Rally August 28, 2010

The overnight rains soaked the tennis courts and washed away my Saturday morning game. So I started pouring over the news shows from Friday night and early Saturday morning on my DVR. This is a task I normally save for Sunday afternoon. Much to my surprise, the main topic of discussion on both MSNBC and CNN on Friday night was Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor Rally” in Washington D.C. C.N.N.’s John King led with the Beck rally story. King and his main guest Roland Martin could not hide their disdain for Beck. Hints of racist accusations tinged the dialogue.

CNN's John King

For the most part there was eye-rolling and sarcasm steered in Beck’s direction in response to Beck’s claim that the rally would NOT be political in nature. One had to wonder why his detractors couldn’t have at least waited until after the rally to refute Becks’ assertions and show all the visual examples of why his claims were false.

With our handyman back in town, my wife Kristi off to New York, most of the urgent chores done, and no dry courts available, I started looking for coverage of the rally on television. Much to my surprise the hated FOX News Network did not broadcast the rally. It was only on C-SPAN.

Dr. Alveda King

What I saw surprised me. The theme of the rally was Faith, Hope, and Charity. It actually was not a political rally. It was a spiritual rally. Gospel singers with magnificent voices moved the huge throng of people in attendance to sway, clap, and wave. Medals were given to people like baseball player and public servant Albert Pujols and philanthropist Jon Huntsman for their generous contributions to the betterment of others.
Dr. Martin Luther King’s niece, Dr. Alveda King, was one of the final speakers. Dr. King reminded those in attendance and viewers on C-Span that first and foremost, her uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Christian man with Christian values.
Finally, it was Beck’s turn. What Beck did not do is tell anyone how to vote or who to vote for. What he did do was remind Americans that the poorest among us are far better off than the average human being living outside our borders. He also reminded attendees and viewers of where our place in the great scheme of things is. The Beck message was one of restoring honor on a personal level first. It was also a reminder that the best two places to look for help in times of trouble was above to almighty God and inward to the vast personal energy and resources God has given us. He pointed to the giants in American history, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and King and cited them as proof that one person can make a difference.

Glenn Beck

At the end of the rally Beck brought several hundred members of the clergy up on the stage with him. There were men and women from all faiths including Islam. He closed the rally by saying that while the people on the stage could not and would not agree on everything, everyone who stood with him did agree that ultimate faith in God was the one value they all shared. And it was perhaps in his closing remarks that the greatest sin Beck has yet committed was done in the eyes of his many detractors. Nowhere in the entire faith-based rally was the “worship” of the institution of “big government” ever mentioned.

Faith, Hope, Charity, & Other Political Stuff