Dear Editor:

I attended the Aug. 28 Restore Honor Rally sponsored by Glenn Beck in one of three busloads arranged by the Boiling Springs Tea Party. The crowd was massive and well behaved. The dissidents I saw were ignored, by the peaceful attendees, and left before the event ended.

The event was huge, and Metro Transit was overwhelmed by the crowds. Our group waited in line for over two hours just to get a Metro ticket, and the line behind us seemed to go on forever.

We arrived at the event after it was well underway, and the crowds were so massive that we could not even hear the speeches, or see the stage.

My physical experience included eight hours overnight on an uncomfortable bus, little if any sleep, and a 2-hour delay at the Metro, being unable to hear the speakers, or see the headliners due to the huge number of attendees, not to mention the miles of walking, and money spent to be there.

Physically it was exhausting, expensive, and disappointing.

Spiritually, it was inspiring, and beautiful.

People from all over the country arrived in cars and over 1,000 busses all expressing their love of America as she was and should be.

Everyone I talked to was happy to be there whatever the cost, only wanting to restore honesty and integrity to us as a people, and our politicians.

No one on our bus was sorry they attended in spite of the disappointments and we all felt like our being there somehow would make a difference. It wasn’t about having a good time seeing the “show” but standing up for the America our forefathers formed and protected by the Constitution. We all felt the America we love is disappearing because of the loss of honesty and integrity in her citizens and politicians.

I want the America back that is proud and honest. I don’t want our soldiers to have suffered and died for nothing. I don’t want an America where snipers are set up on the Lincoln Memorial at a public gathering as they were on Aug. 28.

We are Americans. We are supposed to have freedom of speech and gathering. The Lincoln Memorial belongs to all of us. Don’t tread on America’s Constitution. Don’t ignore the wishes of “We the People.” Don’t transform us into anything other than the America our forefathers created without our permission!

Anne Clements

Gaffney, S.C.