Tag Archive for 'Dennis Kucinich'

National Prayer Service

jackson published on January 21, 2009 in celebrity and zeitgeist. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Bidens and Obamas meet Clintons

Good Morning SuperForest!

Jackson here.

Still in D.C. and having a great time. This morning I attended the National Prayer Service and got a chance to see the President. (See photo above.)

Held at the Washington Cathedral, the Inaugural Prayer meeting is a multi-faith opportunity to bless the new President and Vice President and wish their administration godspeed, (as it were.) We got there early, lucky enough to be hosted by John Chane, the Bishop of the Washington Cathedral, which meant we had great seats.

Here’s the President and First Lady Obama entering the Cathedral with Joe and Dr. Biden:

President Clinton and Mrs. Clinton are sitting to their left. They were very sweet to each other before the service, chatting quietly and smiling.

As I subscribe to no formal religion, to be in such a hallowed place, among such devout people was educational and provided a delightful peek into a modified Episcopal service.

To sit at the base of the Canterbury pulpit, from which Martin Luther King gave his last sermon, (He was killed a week later,) and listen to representatives of so many faiths pray sincerely for the safety and success of Barack Obama was the perfect benediction for this new year.

So much is going right, everybody. There is so much good in the works! What a thrill to be alive right now.

After the service I was fortunate to speak with Bishop John Chane, and we discussed putting together a cultural exchange program between the United States and Iran, and why not? This is America 2.0, yo.

So, SuperForest is now planning on heading to Iran to engage in a cultural exchange. To share in our common humanity in the name of sustainability and our impressive new President. To spread the DNA of the Humanifesto and tell of the new potentials for growth and prosperity that our new President and new technologies have to offer.

Just think of it, a SuperForest trip to Iran. The mind boggles.

And under the protection of the US Gov, no less! Should be fun. I will obviously keep you updated. We’re definitely planning on filming a lot more videos.

After our time at the Washington Cathedral we headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest, as Congressman Dennis Kucinich had promised to meet us at the Capitol and show us around (!)

But that’s another post…

Love to all,

Enjoy the SuperForests all around you.

-Jackson

America 2.0 – Day One

jackson published on January 21, 2009 in celebrity and zeitgeist. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Good Morning SuperForest!

It’s 2 AM, and I’m in a hotel room in Washington D.C. I’m up way too late and am way too excited to sleep.

Today has just been a whirlwind of awesomeness. I will try to briefly sum up.

Up early for a quick coffee and oatmeal, then my father, brother and I walk to the mall where we’ve got tickets for the Yellow Section, meaning we could stand in the second section back, stage right.

The line to get into the standing areas was long, dense, and friendly as all get out. Everybody smiling, everybody laughing, everybody acting courteously. Happy human beings unable to contain a collective thrill are quite a sight to behold.

I got to stand less than a hundred yards from the viewing stand, watching President Obama as he was sworn in, (standing next to Garrison Keillor!), and since it was really chilly a nice man and woman lent me their blanket to wrap myself in.

After Barack’s speech, we split pretty quickly, hearing only snippets of the Inaugural Poem. The lines of people were so funny. Since everyone was bundled up pretty well, and because we were all corralled into tight lines, the day had a “March of the Penguins” feel to it. We then had a frigid walk through a fleeing exodus of people, during which, totally randomly, I ran into a bunch of friends from New York, and we laughed and hugged and quickly drank hot tomato soup we bought from an organic street vendor.

Back to the hotel for a nap.

Five PM, we head over to the Natural History Museum, which was closed for the Health Ball. Which meant that my brother and I got to walk the museum almost completely alone, taking in the wonders at our leisure before all the guests started to arrive at 8.

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At 10 PM, Graham Nash and Jackson Browne began playing, and there were gobs of fabulous and shiny people. I got to meet Congressman John Hall, (who jumped onstage and wailed on the guitar during “Running on Empty” and a few other tracks.)

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Congressman Dennis Kucinich gave me a very firm handshake and a look right in the eye, and I got to tell Howard Dean that he’d lost weight. It was loads of fun.

Here are some movies I shot on my flip:

Abraham Lincoln street vendor:

The line to get into the viewing area:

Some folks raffling off homemade Obama sculptures:

Obama’s motorcade passes the Capitol building just before the Inauguration:

The scene inside the viewing area:

Everyone stands for Obama. What a moment:

The streets of D.C. post-Inaug:

I have always been proud to be an American, but never prouder than today.

I’m going to sleep. Tomorrow we wake up for America 2.0, day 2. Should be fun.

Much love to everybody.

-SuperForester Jackson