Collegiate Times

We’re all guilty of it sometime in our lives: Reading too far into a boyfriend’s text message, a comment that our parents make to us or a lecture our professor gives us.

And sure, it’s true that the media blows things out of proportion on occasion, but I think that the media’s common misinterpretation of Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor Rally” is a simple mistake of reading too far into things.

Beck’s intentions were upfront and published for all to see. His “Restoring Honor” freedom rally was not about politics, and it most certainly was not about race.

The rally was planned to raise spirits in a time of doubt and to thank our troops for their sacrifices. All proceeds raised were donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation that awards scholarships to the surviving children of special operation military families. The rally was to renew that sense of patriotism we should all celebrate daily and not just on the Fourth of July.

The controversy begins in the date chosen for the rally. A few steps above where Beck spoke, 47 years earlier, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke the famous words, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

That day, Martin Luther King Jr. held a celebration rally. A freedom rally some may say.

His gathering was not to advocate one way of thinking is better than another, or one race is above another, but to unite the country in freedom. Beck openly admits the date was not purposefully chosen but worked out well because Martin Luther King Jr. is one of his idols.

King’s niece, Alveda King, was even a guest speaker at Beck’s event. Alveda said, “I’m joining Glenn to talk about faith, hope, charity and honor. Those are things that America needs to reclaim. Our children need to remember to love each other and how to honor each other, their parents, God and their neighbors. I agree with Glenn on all of those principles. So that’s why I’m here. For me it’s principles over politics.”

In the days leading up to the rally, Beck asked his followers not to make the rally about politics, even though he is a conservative political commentator.

For the most part, the audience complied. Those who attended brought few signs and wore little political clothing. The event was a peaceful one, which is a rarity when it comes to large gatherings such as this.

It is my opinion that the media has read entirely too far into Beck’s event by making comments such as, “The only thing being restored by Beck is prejudice.”  

Even democratic Florida Congressman Alan Grayson chimed in with a misled comment of his own. On “The Stephanie Miller Show,” Grayson described the individuals at the rally as those who, “Twenty-five years ago, wore sheets over their heads.”

It baffles me that a political figure that was voted into office would publicly speak such words.

The media, and people like Grayson, are completely misled.

It’s sad that an event that was so inspiring and philanthropic had to be turned into a matter of race.

The intentions were spelled out in black and white: 500,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. to celebrate their country, their faith and their freedom.

The event was sadly turned into a so-called “racist action” by skeptics.

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 14 issue of the Collegiate Times.