How ‘free’ will our ‘Freedom Walk’ be?

August 11, 2005

There are any number of reasons to find the upcoming “America Supports You Freedom Walk” disconcerting. This is an event, organized by Rumsfeld’s Defense Department, which will honor the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with a “freedom walk” from the Pentagon’s parking lot, past Arlington National Cemetery, to the reflecting pool on the National Mall. The event will culminate with a concert by country-music artist Clint Black, who, presumably, will play “I Raq and Roll.”

Some have said that this is ham-fisted nationalism gone awry. Others have noted the distastefulness of exploiting the attacks like this. Salon mentioned the less-than-subtle effort to connect 9/11 to Iraq. James Wolcott noted that the whole thing sounds “like a bad charity fundraising walkathon through the park.”

But here’s the part that caught my attention: to participate in the “Freedom Walk,” you’ll need to register with the Department of Defense.

Participants are encouraged to arrive at the Pentagon South parking lot between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. for screening to avoid long lines. The first 1,000 to arrive for screening at the Pentagon on September 11, will receive the official America Supports You campaign lapel pin.

And while I’m certain it’s a handsome lapel pin, what, exactly, does “screening” mean?

Indeed, the event’s organizers (Rumsfeld’s Defense Department) have set up an online registration form that explains, “The Freedom Walk is free and open to anyone who registers…. You MUST have your registration number to check-in!”

That’s right, in order to participate in a government-sponsored “Freedom Walk” on public streets past public monuments, from one outdoor public landmark to another, you have to give your name address, phone number, and email address to the Pentagon.

Perhaps, you’re thinking, there are security concerns. Maybe, but that’s not a good reason to “screen” people who want to participate in this walk. DC hosts elaborate 4th of July festivities, with thousands of people going to the exact same places this walk will go, but no one is screened or forced to register. For that matter, people can watch a presidential inauguration and/or inaugural parade in DC just by showing up.

But before commemorating 9/11 and walking to a Clint Black concert, the Pentagon has a few questions for you.

I don’t live in DC anymore, but it’d be fascinating to be on hand to see who gets “screened out” before the event. What if, by chance, someone shows up with a “No Blood for Oil” bumper sticker? Or worse, t-shirt?

Exactly how “free” will our “freedom walk” be?

This is ridiculous. Someone ought to save that registration page because I bet Rumsfeld may tinker with it before the day is up.

  • Recruiters have got to get their leads from somewhere, right? People who don’t check the small print sure will be surprised when they’re doing a tour of duty in Iraq.

    I’m all for shipping all of the Clint Black fans off to do the fighting.

  • This is sick. Should we be expecting a concert by Toby Keith and a huge bbq on the next anniversary of Oklahoma City? How about a luau this Pearl Harbor Day. I think we should take all of our countries days of great tragedies and mark them with huge ambiguous ‘freedom marches’ and parties—thats how you really show respect for the victims.

    (said with tongue planted firmly in cheek).

    My post here: http://reasonablyascertainablereality.blogspot.com/2005/08/marking-devastation-with-celebration.html

  • Registration and pins implies that there will some sort of official escort monitoring who belongs to the official group. I wonder how in the world they plan to control who’s part of the walk and who’s not. Are they going to close the streets and the mall to all other pedestrians? This sounds like it’s hasn’t been thought through completely. Imagine that.

  • I think Leni Reifenstahl would join the march.

    Note there is no stated requirement for ID, just the registration number when you show up. I’m a bit far to go down there, but I think marching with a serious Freeper T Shirt might send the right message, especially if done in a group.

  • “The first 1,000 to arrive for screening at the Pentagon on September 11, will receive the official America Supports You campaign lapel pin.”

    A lapel pin? Do they expect a phalanx of Clint Black fans to show up in three piece suits and wingtips? Talk about insular Republicans.

    I don’t think I’ll be going. But if they change their minds and decide to give out decoder rings which translate Republican Spin into truth, I’ll be there.

  • I bet the the info goes into the Pentagon’s giant database.

    I’d really, really like to know more about the Pentagon’s intelligence operations. I am especially concerned with its increasing interest in domestic matters.

    From the Atta story, we know that the defense intelligence had access to the entire INS database and information from other unidentified as well as early as 1999. I read the other day that Social Security now shares info with the FBI. What about the Pentagon?

  • Hold it!

    You guys are way ahead of me. I haven’t got
    past CB’s first sentence:
    There are any number of reasons to find the upcoming “America Supports You Freedom Walk” disconcerting

    What in the world has 9/11 got to do with freedom?
    The Patriot Act? Where we traded in our freedoms
    for increased security? Which has resulted in far more
    (Iraqi) civilian deaths than our own, and which has killed
    2000 Americans counting soldiers and mercenaries,
    and led to a whopping increase in global terrorism?

    And, as Bush reminds us so often, we’re winning
    the war on terror, so one might logically ask why
    we have to beef up the Patriot Act and make
    it permanent, to reduce our freedoms even more.

    Explain it to me. I’m having a dumb-down day
    today. Practicing so I can fit in this new anti-
    science, anti-intellectual society of ours.

  • “America Supports You”? Kinda sounds like a big jock-strap when you say it that way.

    And 1,000 pins? C’mon, throw some more copper on the mint if you expect a crowd.

  • Hark, you’re having a bad day. On 9-11, they showed us just how much they hate our freedom. Don’t you remember? According to the preznit, that’s why they attacted us. We’ll show them how free we are when we register and march. It makes perfect sense.

  • I’m sure they’ll be checking party affiliation and whether or not you voted for Bush, before they allow people to join the march. Because all of Bush’s events are pre-screened and staged.

    Another aspect of this I find odd, and maybe it’s just me, but the Washington Post and ABC/WJLA-TV Channel 7 and News Channel 8 will be among the events funders. In other words, two corporate media groups will be funding a government event they will be reporting on. How often does that happen?

  • Everyone should write or email Clint Black and tell him not to do the concert. The easiest way to get the message through to Rumsfeld would be to get his headliner to pull out.

    This insulting propoganda program of the neocons has got to stop.

    Contact Clint Black at:

    Equity Music Group
    P.O. BOX 331666
    Nashville, TN 37203

    Email:
    info@equitymusicgroup.com

  • Only 1000 pins: that’s it? Sponsored giveaways at ballgames number in the tens of thousands. They can’t be expecting many people to show up at all if that’s their incentive to arrive early. You’d think you’d get the pin if your registered early, as opposed to checking in.

    And this is an “official” pin. Are they expecting bootleggers?

    BTW, if anyone is interested in how marches at the Pentagon used to be, read Norman Mailer’s incredible “Armies of the Night.”

  • It seems most commenting aren’t in the DC area, but for those who are there is another concert/rally; Operat ion Ceasefire Music Festival on September 24th.

    International recording stars Thievery Corporation will bring together several notable musical acts such as: Punk-rock bands Anti-Flag, Le Tigre, Bouncing Souls, Country music recording artist Steve Earle, Socially conscious Hip-Hop groups like The Coup, along with our own local Hip Hop legend and staunch progressive activist Head-Roc, Jello Biafra, Wayne Kramer of the MC5 and many others will unite on one stage for one cause!
    As Live Aid and Live 8 raised desperately needed funds and awareness for hunger and poverty, Operation Ceasefire intends to raise money for the fight against the misguided and immoral war and occupation of Iraq!

    Reminds me of the South Park with “I’m a little bit country, I’m a little bit rock n’ roll.”

  • I wouldn’t look out my kitchen window to see Clint Black if he was playing in my back yard let alone register personal information about myself with the Pentagon to be screened for the pleasure of walking with a crazed group of knuckle dragging rednecks who will be discussing what a swell guy W is. WTF?

  • I can’t believe that no one is even questioning what the PENTAGON is doing throwing this sort of thing. How do they have anything to do with creating a public event like this. That’s scary enough alone, but when you throw in the newspaper and TV stations funding and covering it, how can this thing even happen? It’s too much. I can’t believe it’s going on. This government needs so much reform.

  • Or worse, t-shirt?

    Maybe the added this to the registration form, but they’re asking for T-Shirt sizes for all walkers. It looks like if you want to march you have to wear the “official uniform” of freedom and won’t be allowed to express yourself through a decorative chimpy t-shirt.

  • Don’t forget that this administration is of, by and for “corporate America” and has pushed that right down into the top echelons of military America. In that world, as we saw with Enron, you pump out the cheerful “news” as your real worth plummets to get your customers and even employees to buy deeper into the junk. If your product is trash, you add glitter and a PR push.

    That is what has happened to what integrity we once expected in our government. Sure, there have always been slips and gaps. But since when have we seen our tax funded agencies putting out propaganda as news stories and our military tax dollars spent for war rallies rather than fighting to this degree? Since a corrupt corporate takeover of the national government with the election of 2000.

    I’d have no problem with DoD sponsoring a candle light vigil for 9/11 victims at the site even if there were also included those who have lost life, limb and brain function due to wounds in the military operations–numbers they work to keep out public sight and mention. That is one thing. This is too clearly a partisan political rally funded by tax dollars.

  • I contacted both The White House and Clint Black’s hotline & email commenting how much in bad taste this is. To be “celebrating” on one of the darkest days of our country’s history 9/11/01. This is just another attempt to link 9/11 to the War on Iraq. We as tax payers are paying for this? As all of you might know The Wash. Post has pulled out of the event. I gave some s..t to Subway for sponsoring the event. They gave me some lame excuse that they will use the money raised from stuff to go toward this so called Pentagon Memorial. I told them I wouldn’t eat at another Subway and will spread the word until they change their mind. I’ll support another merchant who has respect for the tragedy that occurred on 9/11/01. Peace for all.

  • This freedom walk is crap. We’ve spent 200 billion to establish a training environment for terrorists in Iraq and this adminstration can’t even organize an effective timely effective response to Katrina. Thousands have died in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast and more are dying while George tried to decide whether to end his vacation or not. Talk about a failure of homeland security.

    Provide some “alternative” registrations to the freedom walk crap.

    1. Go to the freedome walk registration site

    Register with a creative name. Like
    Dumpta Bushnow

    Use the address of the Superdome (where so many unfortunate people are suffering.

    1 Sugar Bowl Drive
    New Orleans, LA 70112

    For email, use one from the many spam or scam messages
    that clutter up one’s mail box.

  • I walked in the Freedom Walk, to support the victims of 9/11. Not the war, not Bush, not Rumsfield. And I didn’t have to do any of the registration to walk. I showed up, I said I wanna walk, and they gave me the tag. No one asked me for my address, phone number, anything. I have heard of all this extra security and checking and I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I also walked w/ people w/ very diverse views on the Iraq war, which I only found out later was somehow supported by my participation. The protesters that I saw were mostly this strange group with signs that read, “God Hates US” or “US Sin = 9/11”..the anti-war protesters were relatively small and not ugly and garish as this other group.

  • Whoooaaaaa…

    I just finished reading some articles on the upcoming uses of RFID tags. Seems rather disconcerting. Just what was inside all those lapel pins?????

  • This is sick, non of you experience this. Usual Liberalism… You disgust me as democrats. I am a democrat who went, to experience. I have lost 3 family member to the wars. I feel no remorse or angst against the DOD. You’re all ridiculous and sick. Do some good for your country. For the record there is 2 wars going on. IRAQ IS NOT A WAR AGAINST U.S. TERRORISM! Some people actually love our country…

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