Reflection

Photo taken from: MSNBC.com

If I've learned anything in the past week, it's that the voice of the American people can't be ignored, and that it does have some impact on how our government interacts with the general population. I look to the number of arrests resulting from yesterday's demonstrations as evidence of this. If the events we participated in had absolutely no significance , and were, as some people alleged, absolutely pointless, the Metropolitan Police Department wouldn't have bothered with arresting protesters. People wouldn't have waved and flashed the peace sign at us from their office windows as we picketed their buildings. Others wouldn't have ignorantly flipped us off or made idiotic comments as we exercised a right afforded to us the same Constitution that allows them to behave in such a moronic and immature manner.

This trip has definitely given me a broader perspective on political activism. Although I was all for taking a trip to DC during spring break, I had a bit of trepidation and apprehensiveness regarding what we were coming here to do. I've always struggled with the notion that political activists are a legitimate vehicle for change, and that fact alone makes them valuable. I'm aware of the fact that our country wouldn't have made the progress it has without the candor and dedication of political activists and demonstrations, but in light of how far we've come, protesting just always seemed to be a colossal waste of time, money, and effort.

My opinion changed when I participated in Wednesday's events, particularly the March of the Dead demonstration. It was then that I realized that what I was doing mattered, that I was taking a stand against an unjust war and demanding that my government end the nonsense immediately. The March proved to be a bit of an emotional thing for me, especially after I researched the fallen soldier who I represented in the March. It's something I'll never forget.

The trip wasn't all business, however. We were given some time to ourselves on Thursday, which allowed me to go trolling for potential internships and take photos whenever I could. Overall, I'm glad I got to be a part of this, and I encourage anyone reading this to take advantage of similar opportunities in the future.
I found this by accident, but considering that the thirteenth anniversary of the OKC bombings are upon us, I decided to take it and share it with you all.