Hallelujah, Hallelujah, The People are Marching!
Admit Hasan wrote on facebook: "I like this spirit! You are great, Mr. Jesse Turner. My reply ~ "No Amit , I am just one little person, but one little person can become great and do something beautiful when he is joined by others. It's the otherness that achieves greatness; it is the otherness that moves the spirit. Yesterday was Democracy in Action; it was Grassroots in Motion. Maybe even the sound of the people singing their Hallelujahs to the Lord. We were Great; We were Beautiful;We were marching on Washington. This is what Dr. Martin Luther King taught us to do. Martin was with us there yesterday, and he too said "Hallelujah"
Leonard Cohen wrote the song
I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
It was no coincidence that Barry Lane sang that song yesterday; it was no coincidence that the thousands there sang along with him; it was no coincidence that great children, great parents, great teachers, and administrators were there yesterday. No Admit, I am not great, but our people together are great.
We never look down, we didn't cry, we didn't beg, we did not bow down, no indeed, we marched, we marched just like Dr. King taught us to do.
Dylan sang:
“Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth saving”
My friends, I cannot even begin to put into words the beautiful feeling that marching brought yesterday.
"Show me what democracy looks like ~ This is what democracy looks like"
Thousands of children, parents, teachers, and administrators chanted yesterday as we showed a president, a secretary of education, and a nation what democracy does indeed look like.
Today 11:00am and it's Save Our Schools Congress; you can bet your bottom dollar that we will be calling for another march next year!
The time to march with us is now America.
Jesse
Just in case you like to know what the Walking Man is listening to on his way to this morning's Save Our Schools Congress...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NEU6Xf7lM&feature=related
Go,Walking Man, Go!
ReplyDeleteHi Jesse, Here is the link to the blog: http://teachersaschangeagents.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/this-is-what-democracy-looks-like-the-save-our-schools-rally-and-march-in-washington-d-c-73011/
ReplyDeletexoxo
Katie
Your blog is absolutely amazing...and so is your message. When I read this, I got goose bumps, because it was as though you were able to open up my head (and my heart) and understand what was inside, all the frustration and sadness I feel for the kids, yet the glimmer of hope that if we come together and stand strong, "we will prevail". I am a NYC teacher fighting for the same cause as you are: our children are not numbers, they are whole people who deserve to be celebrated for all their talents and taught in a manner which is equitable. I told my sixth graders this on the day of the NYS ELA test with one ear towards the door, fearing someone in admin would hear me. I was unable to march this weekend, and was very upset about it, and I obsessively followed it on twitter whenever I could. NOTHING short of a tornado, a wildfire, or a Tsunami will stop me from marching next summer in DC. I admire your tenacity, your strength, and most of all, your love, commitment, and understanding of the children of America. I am an ed blogger as well, adding your blog to my blog roll, and joining your group on FB. www.americasfutureinsidestory.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThank you Chalk Duster, Last year we had 50 people, this year the National Parks Service said 8000. The conference for trainning anti NLCB activist were sold out as well. My thinking is 100,000 sounds reasonable since it is an election year. I enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteSee you next year in DC,
Jesse