Freedom’s On The March

Brian Cook

Wow! What can you do but doff your cap to the good folks at the Pentagon, who have now taken a long-standing form of pacifist and left-wing social protest and adapted it to their own militaristic ends. Yesterday, Rumsfeld announced that the Department of Defense will be sponsoring the ASY ("America Supports You") Freedom Walk on September 11 this year. Marchers will walk from the Pentagon to the National Mall, where they will then be treated to the delightful country stylings of Clint Black, whose set list may very well include his hot new remix, "We Shall Overcome [Our Increasingly Low Poll Numbers]." Aside from the Pentagon, other sponsors include Stars and Stripes newspaper, Lockheed Martin, the Washington Post and Subway. Lovers of freedom should also take note that while "backpacks, duffels and bags are allowed," the DoD reserves the freedom to "subject [them] to screening."

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Brian Cook was an editor at In These Times from 2003 to 2009. He now works on the editorial staff of Playboy magazine.
Illustrated cover of Gaza issue. Illustration shows an illustrated representation of Gaza, sohwing crowded buildings surrounded by a wall on three sides. Above the buildings is the sun, with light shining down. Above the sun is a white bird. Text below the city says: All Eyes on Gaza
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