I recently had a chance to visit our nation’s capitol, while attending the Conservative Political Action Conference or CPAC. I arrived in town a day early in order to do some exploring and really get in touch with what our nation is about again.
I visited Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, some various war memorials and the White House. The last thing I saw on my tourist day was the Occupiers in McPherson Square, but we will get to them later.
The monuments and memorials were a sight to behold. Being at the Lincoln Memorial and reading the famous speeches carved into the walls really gave me a new awareness of the tireless resolve and dedication that has gone into making America great.
The Korean, Vietnam and World War II memorials were really very moving and gave me a sense of the sacrifice and hardship that everyday average Americans freely exposed themselves to for me and every other American.
The overwhelming feeling of gratitude and inspiration again moved me when I visited Arlington National Cemetery. Having never visited Arlington before I was awed at the size of the cemetery.
As I walked through the cemetery I made a point to stop and read some of the headstones and visited a few presidents who are buried there. The conclusion that I came to while standing in that field of seemingly unending white grave markers was that we truly do all come from very different places and cultures but in the end we all rally together to help and defend one another because we are all Americans.
I was filled with a large amount of pride as I watched the men from the 1st Battalion 3rd U.S. Infantry carry out the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
As I stood at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier I thought to myself that America is more than just a country, it is an idea and belief that we must hold on to now more than ever.
No matter how much division the Left tries to instill in us they can never defeat the belief in America. Whether it is differences in race, finances or party affiliation we are ALL Americans and we will succeed or fail together as Americans.
On my way back to the hotel I was walking to the Metro Station located at McPherson Square. Just blocks from the White House, McPherson Square is home to the Washington chapter of the now infamous Occupy Wall Street movement.
Although I didn’t come into contact with many of them on my way to catch my train, I saw all I needed to. As I passed through in my sinful name brand shirt I was glared at and mocked. I sat down on the train for the ride back to my hotel and had a thought that would be further affirmed to me later in the week. I thought to myself, “These are the people who are destroying everything we stand for and spitting on everything that I saw and felt that day.”
Below is a short slide show of all the places I visited while going around Washington.
My Time at CPAC
I arrived at the Marriott where CPAC was being held on Tuesday and stayed until Sunday Morning. Along the way I was able to meet, hear and talk to some wonderful people. However I also, by way of the Occupy CPAC rally, met some of the worst people.
While being at CPAC I was able to meet some of the speakers and politicians that were at the conference and it was very inspiring to me to see how many people are fighting everyday to take back America.
Andrew Breitbart gave an inspiring speech and really drove home the point that conservatives are rising up and we are not going to be silenced for fear of being label as racists and bigots.
Ann Coulter also gave a very good speech even though it was light hearted and sometimes downright snarky in typical Ann Coulter fashion. I personally wouldn’t have it any other way.
Three of the GOP presidential candidates spoke and none of them disappointed. Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich all gave extremely rousing speeches that left me invigorated and ready for the general election. It is time for Barrack Obama to answer for what he has done for the last three years.
Sarah Palin was the final speaker for CPAC and she did a wonderful job. Her speech was a rallying cry for conservatives and she received many standing ovations from the capacity crowd. Even when Occupy CPAC stood up in order to disrupt her speech she was not shaken. The crowd broke out into a continuous chant of “USA, USA” which she joined in on and responded that the crowd had won.
Aside from the speeches there were several days of panel discussions, which I had the opportunity to watch. Grover Norquist and several others held a panel on tax reform that was very informative and lead me to pick up his book and give it a read. Some of the other notable panels that were held dealt with conservative journalism, over criminalization in America and a panel featuring Otto Reich on Latin America, Chavez and Castro.
Occupy CPAC invades CPAC
There were some issues with the Occupy CPAC crowd. They did break into some of the panels, speeches and at one point caused a small disturbance in the lobby. During one of the nights they made it up to the doors of the hotel and were chanting and basically making fools of themselves.
Members of law enforcement and CPAC security, both of which did an amazing job through the entire conference, quickly 
disbursed them.
Several things were gleaned about these protesters while they were accosting CPAC participants, all of which again affirmed to me that these people were the end of America if we permit it. Almost all of the protestors had no knowledge of what CPAC was or why they were meeting. They were paid to be there, sixty dollars a day to be exact. They also have very little respect for the constitution and government they claim to be protesting for.
Occupy has hidden behind the guise of free speech and right to assemble in order to carry out small-scale riots and lawlessness across America. What I learned is that they believe in free speech and the right to assemble until it is speech and causes they don’t like, then you no longer have that right.
Before I move on I have to commend Andrew Breitbart for his efforts against the Occupy movement and his steadfast opposition that lead him at one point to go out and engage them toe to toe as they descended on the Marriott.
I left CPAC empowered by all those that I heard speak, had an opportunity to meet with and seeing how many young people hold the same conservative politics that I do. I saw for the first time in quite awhile that we have the power to change the outcome and we are not fighting a losing battle.
I was sad to leave because it was such a good time, however I was excited to get home and make my contribution to the conservative movement and fight back against the scourge of Leftist Socialism that is taking over America.
Going forward I was reassured that being in the political trenches and fighting for conservatives and America is where I want to spend my life. I used to think that these people who are pillars of the movement like Andrew Breitbart, Allen West and Rick Santorum were super heroes. What I learned was that they are everyday people who dedicated their lives to making a difference and when the dust clears I want to be shoulder to shoulder with principled conservatives and counted among those who stood up for America. At the end of the day resolve, dedication, hardship and sacrifice is what is going to save America just as it did in the time of Lincoln.
For more on CPAC and all thing politics you can check me out at Truth About Bills and The College Conservative. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
