Freedom: A Raised Voice
A prominent feature of a mass demonstration are the signs. Most are conceived, constructed, and hand-lettered/drawn by individuals. The signs are an enduring appeal to anyone who 
is within viewing distance. Signs are a persistent assertion of the objectives of the individuals who are compelled to raise their voices in the public square and in the streets. The appeals are strident, felt deeply 
enough to suspend the normal routines of traffic for a few hours in a major city.
The next to the last sign displayed belonged to our group of friends who participated. The final sign is of the logo emblazoned 
on the side of the Trump tower. Those who marched recognize that he is the visible symbol of misogynistic, xenophobic, racist intentions. It is going to be a long fight.
2 thoughts on “Freedom: A Raised Voice”
Dear Jerry,
Thank you for posting these images. One of the many chants emanating from the crowd that day was, “This is what democracy looks like”. And indeed, this is what democracy looks like; the people raising their collective voices though chanting slogans and holding signs to proclaim deeply felt sentiments about the direction of our nation. On occasion I read comments on social media or hear them in passing that those who feel we are on the wrong path should just be quiet. They will say things such as “Donald Trump won the election and that’s that, so accept it.” The marches over this past weekend and the many instances of plain folk taking up the banner of resistance against what we view as a move towards autocracy tells me that many of us will not and can not accept this view. The comments I hear remind of a time when many of us once before raised our collective voices against an unjust and devastating war in Vietnam. During that time one could read bumper stickers proclaiming “America: Love It or Leave It!” What the drivers who pasted that slogan on their bumpers did not understand and what those who tell us to keep quiet today, do not understand, is that despite what they believe, we love our country as much as they believe they do. We value the freedom afforded us to raise our voices and hold our signs, for we see dark days ahead where we may lose those freedoms. Where those who hold as sacred the ideals of money, greed and power will do their best to silence anyone who disagrees with their nefarious goals. So it is our duty to march and speak out, for that is our tacit agreement with the founders of this great nation. And I will not be silent.
Tobin Fraley
As you have indicated, we chose our ideals. And we make them sacred. Ideals which do not intersect imply different worlds, ways of life, different nations. The slave holders in 1862 contended for a slave holding nation. In retrospect we can understand why no “middle ground” of compromise was possible. A person is free or a person is property; a nation is slave-holding or a nation of free citizens.
We are faced with a similar situation it seems to me. We owe our ancestors, the founders to raise our voices and contend for a humane society for everyone.–no one excluded.