I just read an excellent diary by RantingRooster about the Bernie Sanders in Grand Prairie, Texas on 2/27/2016. Thank you!
My daughter and I attended and I have a few reflections to add.
We arrived at about 11 AM and were finally in our seats at 1:22 PM. The line was already ginormous by the time we got there. The front steps were packed and we had to walk around the side of the building to find the end of the line. Soon the line was far past us. I took a video of the line. It grew about 2 more football fields in length after the video! People just kept coming!
Reflection #1 I found out about the rally in an email the night before. So 7000 people show up for a rally on the basis of receiving an email announcement less that 24 hours earlier? That’s amazing!
Like RantingRooster mentioned, all of those folks waiting for hours were good-natured and friendly. Many held home made signs. Others were going up and down the line selling buttons and t-shirts, or signing up volunteers for phone banking and canvasing.
When we finally got inside and sat down, the air was electric with enthusiasm. Long before the rally started there was chanting and cheering.
Reflection #2 The enthusiastic cheers, chants, and applause were deafening. Yet when Bernie spoke, all was quiet and everyone was attentive . . . hanging on his every word.
The third reflection came from my teenage daughter. She said this . . .
Reflection #3 “There is a really good feeling in here. It is because everyone feels the same as Bernie. I am glad I came. Bernie gives me hope.”
I have watched many Bernie Sanders’ rallies on YouTube. I know his message, but somehow this felt like it was tailor made just for us.
Reflection #4 Like my daughter said, the atmosphere was surprising. After thinking about it, I would call it reverent. Here was a large group of informed serious people who were well aware of the importance of Bernie Sanders’ words for this moment in history. It was stunning.
My daughter and I stopped at a Barnes and Nobles on the way home. While chit chatting with the clerk about the rally he asked, “so what impressed you the most?”
I said, “the enthusiasm of the crowd . . . and how everything Bernie said is important.”
The clerk replied, “it is really something that he is taking on the Clinton war machine.” That was an interesting juxtaposing remark from a stranger that sort of startled me.