Right2Know March, Part 2: Always
Start a Day of Protest with a
Good Breakfast

For part 1, read here.

I knew right away where I had to have breakfast the morning of the Right 2 Know March in Washington, DC. No, not in bed at the Hay Adams (although I did have coffee in bed); I had to take Eve to The Tabard Inn. Since it was Sunday, and the inn’s brunch is reserved weeks in advance, we had to get up early and go to the regular breakfast; we got there at 8:15, and it was just, just, just as I remembered.

You see, 25 years ago I lived in Washington. And while I was traveling to DC to find an apartment—and then afterwards, whenever I came back—I would stay at the Tabard. The Tabard was where, in the brick courtyard that is the closest to Paris one can get in DC, I began my memoir, which took 25 years to finish. While staying at the Tabard in those early days, I hung out with people like the great investigative reporter (and former writer for Rolling Stone) Howard Kohn, who wrote Who Killed Karen Silkwood. My first job was working for David Fenton, of Fenton Communications, and we were determined to fight every good fight and change the world for the better.  My guidebook was Saul Alinsky’s Rules For Radicals and yes, I was a single parent of a 4-year-old before it was cool, but there was no stopping me.

While eating huevos rancheros in the cozy and eclectic restaurant at the Tabard, it was hard not to think about all that happens in 25 years of a life.  I thought of all the deaths, the births, marriage, the work, the adventures. Had I changed the world like I wanted to? A bit, perhaps. Still not enough, though. Perhaps I need to read Rules for Radicals again. I hear the Republicans are using it quite heavily these days to execute their strategy of disruption and disobedience.

And now David Fenton and I are again working together, trying to get the government to label GMOs. He and I have both changed a bit, but not that much. We both struggle with running businesses, which makes things like the Occupy Wall Street protests both interesting and conflicting. After all, not all businesses are bad. Just the ones that are bullies.

Last night as Eve and I were walking to dinner, we walked by the USDA and I showed her the People’s Garden, which is the first certified-organic garden the USDA ever planted (and proudly, is grown in compost from the Rodale Institute!). Nowhere on that small corner spot did it say anything about organic. Nowhere. So I was explaining to Eve about how Monsanto is a bully and the USDA is afraid to offend the company for fear of “consequences.” And then we started talking about bullying at school and how totally wrong it is for our government to allow bullying by big business. It’s like Obama is the principal, the USDA is the teacher, and not only are they allowing the bully to beat up all the little kids, but they are also assisting and abetting. What message does that send to the people of America? What message does that send to the children of America?

Dear American Children,

Because I am afraid of losing funding for my campaign, and of unleashing a monster of bad press about me, I am going to allow one company to poison you, destroy the planet, and contaminate all your food.

Sincerely,

President Obama, the USDA, the FDA, and the Republicans who are going to block any change just because they hate the fact that Americans elected a black President

Sheesh. What was in those huevos rancheros?!

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6 Responses to Right2Know March, Part 2: Always
Start a Day of Protest with a
Good Breakfast

  1. Bonnie October 19, 2011 at 6:21 am #

    Too bad you are including politics in what I was hoping to be an informational site.

    I loved the magazine Organic Farming.

  2. Holly October 19, 2011 at 6:33 am #

    Maria,

    You are my HERO! My vocal cords aspire to your wide open range:-)

    XOM,
    Holly

  3. Joanne J-K October 19, 2011 at 3:27 pm #

    Too bad Bonnie that you, like many people I know, have their head buried in the sand when it comes to the food made available to us. Food and politics are forever twisted together, from poor oversite of sanitary conditions to Monsanto’s march to own the rights to every seed grown. Every vote cast in this country affects the quality of the food available to consumers. Bless you Maria for fighting the fight with us and for us.

  4. Lisa Trollinger October 19, 2011 at 10:08 pm #

    You go right ahead and include politics. How can you not?

  5. Sarah Stack October 20, 2011 at 9:27 am #

    We can wish the politics separate, but unfortunately,
    they are not. Keep it coming, Maria….you’re saying it
    straight and the moment of truth is here!

  6. Ray Murphy October 20, 2011 at 12:11 pm #

    If we do not think this issue is a Political issue just read these books. GMO Trilogy and Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey M. Smith.
    This kinda reminds me of a quote by Forrest Gump “Stupid is as Stupid does”Nothing else needs to be explained about Monsanto!

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