Saturday, August 30, 2008
Blue Hearts -Last day, Convention
Hey all,
The last day before leaving came and I wanted to make the most of it. I woke up excited about the speech. But first I headed to The Big Tent for two great lecture opportunities. I got to hear from Crystal Clinkenbeard, Director of Communications for No on 48, who moderated the first panel. This frightening legislation defines a fertilized egg as a person. Check out this informative link: http://www.protectfamiliesprotectchoices.org/ and definitely watch the YouTube video.
Panel Discussing "No on 48" (lt to rt: Clinkenbeard, Eliza Buyers, M.D., Nancy Keenan, President NARAL Pro-Choice America, Ruben Alvero M.D. (fertility specialist), and Cecile Richards, President Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)
Next was a discussion on Politics and the Internet led by Rachel Maddow of Air America and MSNBC fame. Love her!!! She interviewed Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. They talked about privacy and security issues, openness, Google tools, and the direction for the future. I think most of the audience were bloggers and reporters so they spoke to information access issues. Even at 10 in the morning (and you know Maddow had a late night working) she was sharp as a tack. And Schmidt clearly has a masterful knowledge of all things computer and internet.
One of the points made that I hadn't really given much thought to was how, because the internet was invented/made popular in the US, our value system is "forced" on the rest of the world. This is something we take for granted. We believe freedom of information is a right and should be for all. But that's not necessarily true for other countries. Yet the internet forces/allows this access. Just something to think about.
My hero, Rachel Maddow
Maddow and Eric Schmidt, CEO Google
After returning to the loft, I took my hosts to lunch at this delicious Moroccan restaurant. (My hosts lived in Morocco and Tunisia for many years.) We had the tasty lunch buffet for only $7.99. It really was good so if you're in Denver, check out Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant, 1530 Blake Street, for an affordable, delectable meal.
Next step was to get ready for an all-day affair of walking, waiting, sitting, and watching. I didn't know what to expect but that the doors would be open by 1 p.m. Hat on head and comfortable shoes on feet, I set off to get the ticket my aunt left me at the Grand Hyatt where a lot of the members (Congresspeople) were staying. I went to the Hyatt Regency by mistake, not knowing there were two so near each other. I had to be escorted into that hotel; security was tight. That's where the DNC was staying. Weird, huh? The members' hotel was open but the DNC's was under lock and key.
Finally, I got the cool holographic ticket. I set off, at about 2:15 from the hotel to the convention which was only about a half mile from where I was. I walked briskly and excitedly to Invesco Field (formerly Mile High Stadium). Got to the field and had to find the end of the line.
No Joke! It was 1 to 2 miles long. I just kept walking and walking with no end in sight. Ridiculous!! I had NEVER seen anything like it.
Just a snippet of the line
Finally got to the end and walked for one and a half hours before arriving at the stadium again. Notice I said our? I was hanging out with two charming seniors from the University of Colorado. Thomas is majoring in Advertising and one of his classmates mentioned she had a couple of extra tickets when he called about a project they were working on. So he and his buddy Jeremy (Business/Econ major) came down for the day. Turned out they were literally in the next section to mine. So they kindly stayed with me through security and all.
My convention buddies, Jeremy (lt) and Thomas (rt)
You may have noticed all week there were a variety of signs people held up at the convention. This is strategically orchestrated. Staff would say something like, "Don't hold up the signs until 4 minutes into his speech!". I guess this is to achieve maximum effect for television. Very curious.
Anyway, they gave everyone these little American flags and there were huge American flags being waved in each section. It was a beautiful sight. I'm a sucker for the red, white, and blue, what can I say.
View from my seat. We had the best, flag-waving section in the park!
Proof I was there.
The man of the hour
Loved the confetti.
All in all, it was a tremendous, moving experience. Jeremy, Thomas, and I discussed how we were a part of history and the importance of it all. The crowd was so into it. People were screaming, applauding, dancing, and smiling. That was it. You couldn't help but smile. We were all so happy and fired up to go to work. It was an amazing feeling to be among so many motivated, intelligent, optimistic, energetic Americans/Democrats/people.
I am really thankful for the experience. And, I'm grateful to have had the chance to share it with you. You kept me going and writing. Otherwise I might have sat on my butt and watched it all on tv. So, super thanks to you.
For the sake of our country and, not to overstate, the world, now we know what we have to do. Please let me know if you want to get involved in the campaign. We'll do it together.
Thanks,
Kristin (go O'Biden) Amend
The last day before leaving came and I wanted to make the most of it. I woke up excited about the speech. But first I headed to The Big Tent for two great lecture opportunities. I got to hear from Crystal Clinkenbeard, Director of Communications for No on 48, who moderated the first panel. This frightening legislation defines a fertilized egg as a person. Check out this informative link: http://www.protectfamiliesprotectchoices.org/ and definitely watch the YouTube video.
Panel Discussing "No on 48" (lt to rt: Clinkenbeard, Eliza Buyers, M.D., Nancy Keenan, President NARAL Pro-Choice America, Ruben Alvero M.D. (fertility specialist), and Cecile Richards, President Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)
Next was a discussion on Politics and the Internet led by Rachel Maddow of Air America and MSNBC fame. Love her!!! She interviewed Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. They talked about privacy and security issues, openness, Google tools, and the direction for the future. I think most of the audience were bloggers and reporters so they spoke to information access issues. Even at 10 in the morning (and you know Maddow had a late night working) she was sharp as a tack. And Schmidt clearly has a masterful knowledge of all things computer and internet.
One of the points made that I hadn't really given much thought to was how, because the internet was invented/made popular in the US, our value system is "forced" on the rest of the world. This is something we take for granted. We believe freedom of information is a right and should be for all. But that's not necessarily true for other countries. Yet the internet forces/allows this access. Just something to think about.
My hero, Rachel Maddow
Maddow and Eric Schmidt, CEO Google
After returning to the loft, I took my hosts to lunch at this delicious Moroccan restaurant. (My hosts lived in Morocco and Tunisia for many years.) We had the tasty lunch buffet for only $7.99. It really was good so if you're in Denver, check out Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant, 1530 Blake Street, for an affordable, delectable meal.
Next step was to get ready for an all-day affair of walking, waiting, sitting, and watching. I didn't know what to expect but that the doors would be open by 1 p.m. Hat on head and comfortable shoes on feet, I set off to get the ticket my aunt left me at the Grand Hyatt where a lot of the members (Congresspeople) were staying. I went to the Hyatt Regency by mistake, not knowing there were two so near each other. I had to be escorted into that hotel; security was tight. That's where the DNC was staying. Weird, huh? The members' hotel was open but the DNC's was under lock and key.
Finally, I got the cool holographic ticket. I set off, at about 2:15 from the hotel to the convention which was only about a half mile from where I was. I walked briskly and excitedly to Invesco Field (formerly Mile High Stadium). Got to the field and had to find the end of the line.
No Joke! It was 1 to 2 miles long. I just kept walking and walking with no end in sight. Ridiculous!! I had NEVER seen anything like it.
Just a snippet of the line
Finally got to the end and walked for one and a half hours before arriving at the stadium again. Notice I said our? I was hanging out with two charming seniors from the University of Colorado. Thomas is majoring in Advertising and one of his classmates mentioned she had a couple of extra tickets when he called about a project they were working on. So he and his buddy Jeremy (Business/Econ major) came down for the day. Turned out they were literally in the next section to mine. So they kindly stayed with me through security and all.
My convention buddies, Jeremy (lt) and Thomas (rt)
You may have noticed all week there were a variety of signs people held up at the convention. This is strategically orchestrated. Staff would say something like, "Don't hold up the signs until 4 minutes into his speech!". I guess this is to achieve maximum effect for television. Very curious.
Anyway, they gave everyone these little American flags and there were huge American flags being waved in each section. It was a beautiful sight. I'm a sucker for the red, white, and blue, what can I say.
View from my seat. We had the best, flag-waving section in the park!
Proof I was there.
The man of the hour
Loved the confetti.
All in all, it was a tremendous, moving experience. Jeremy, Thomas, and I discussed how we were a part of history and the importance of it all. The crowd was so into it. People were screaming, applauding, dancing, and smiling. That was it. You couldn't help but smile. We were all so happy and fired up to go to work. It was an amazing feeling to be among so many motivated, intelligent, optimistic, energetic Americans/Democrats/people.
I am really thankful for the experience. And, I'm grateful to have had the chance to share it with you. You kept me going and writing. Otherwise I might have sat on my butt and watched it all on tv. So, super thanks to you.
For the sake of our country and, not to overstate, the world, now we know what we have to do. Please let me know if you want to get involved in the campaign. We'll do it together.
Thanks,
Kristin (go O'Biden) Amend
# posted by Blue Hearts @ 11:16 AM 
