Should I have gone to the immigration rally today on the mall? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Honestly, it's probably been about a decade since I felt patriotic, but today did more toward that than any sort of display or parade or speech ever could. The people standing there with their American flags and signs demanding to be heard had an odd Capra-esque quality to them that I wouldn't have expected. Somehow adorable little girls waving American flags and wearing signs that say "I am not a criminal" are more effective at making me appreciate my country than any civics class or monument. It's alive and idealistic. I know that I'm being naive, but it's nice to think that people taking to the streets to protest for what's right is the quintessential American moment.