….I saw young children sprawled on the Capitol lawn. Judging by the school buses parked in the area, it appeared that these young people had traveled from rural areas of Wisconsin to visit, perhaps for the first time, our grand Capitol and to develop a patriotic sense of democracy. Their smiles and enthusiasm were indeed a heart-lifting scene in contrast to the bitterness and hatred on the other side of the building.
Continuing down State Street and through campus, I saw hundreds more people, mostly young, optimistic students, hurrying off to classes and choosing not to participate in destructive rhetoric, but instead choosing to enjoy the day by pursuing the truth through education and civil conversation. They too were a refreshing contrast to the depressing gathering on the other end of State Street.