By Max Kyburz

It’s no secret: there’s a lot to be pissed off at these days. The economy is still in the pits, arrogant talking heads mislead the public and political extremism rises at an alarming pace. In the middle of a media that washes viewers in fear, two figures stand alone and raise their middle fingers.

Their names are Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and they are the long-standing masters of satire. I break no ground in stating that their TV shows, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, bring huge sighs of relief to a public hungry for honesty. As a fan I have always applauded their willingness to transcend their platforms and reach out in new ways.

As it turns out, on Oct. 30th, Colbert and Stewart reached a new high with their Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, a long-awaited gathering that took place at the National Mall in Washington D.C. I say with pride that I was among the estimated 215,000 in attendance, as such an event was monumental in its uniting of activists from all different backgrounds. The crowd varied in age, ethnicity and political ideology, and surprisingly there were no throat slashings as a result. If there was one amazing feat to come from this rally, it was the comedians’ ability to bring together throngs of people as a harmonious one, despite any differences that usually come with hostility.

Beginning with the beats of The Roots and John Legend, the rally impeccably began at noon. During this time, the crowds grew larger, and there was no shortage of costumes and funny signs to provide extra entertainment. Following this, the Mythbusters took the stage, keeping the crowd busy before quickly wearing out their welcome. Their efforts were commendable, but it’s kinda hard to jump unanimously when there’s an inch-wide buffer zone between you and the next person. Plus there’s no excitement in getting everyone to cheek pop all at once (I guess you can call that myth “busted”).

I briefly mentioned the signs before; in every rally, the most entertainment comes from the slogans endorsed by attendees. They were in a wide range of hot topics: healthcare, the Tea Party, marijuana decriminalization, Justin Bieber, etc. My motive was the awareness of Festivus, personally. Some signs were sincere, others just for fun, but just the fact that there was such a variety proves that the duality that needs to present in politics in order to keep people, well, sane.

But I digress, the hosts of the show must be mentioned. Jon Stewart was the first to appear, and Stephen Colbert followed suit, but not without his typical parodic extravagant fashion. With Stewart in plain clothes and Colbert in Evel Knievel garb, there arose somewhat of a plotline that drove the stage antics, starting with Stewart’s proposal of a benediction (conducted by Saturday Night Live legend Father Guido Sarducci). Colbert, of course, practiced his narcissism by having his own poem read by Sam Waterston (Law & Order).

As if it couldn’t get any more hilarious, Stewart brought the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, Yusef Islam, aboard to sing his anthem “Peace Train.” In typical Stewart/Colbert fashion, however, the moment couldn’t stay sincere for very long, and soon Colbert brought Ozzy Osbourne on stage to sing about a different kind of train. It became a “Duel of the Trains” that was finally resolved by the arrival of the O’Jays who sang their classic “Love Train.”

Given the unnavigable sea of attendees, I unfortunately had to leave soon after this point. Had I left at the designated end time, it would have been impossible to leave. Nevertheless, leaving the green and seeing the masses of people hanging onto lamposts and climbing trees and portajohns just hoping to catch a glimpse was an astonishing sight in itself. It just goes to show just how important these shows have become to the American people.

Upon arriving home, I was able to check out the final stuff I missed (except Kid Rock, thankfully). Though I regret missing Mick Foley, R2D2 and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, my biggest gripe was missing the final moment of sincerity. Stewart gave a heartfelt speech that brought together what the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear was all about. Indeed it was inspiring; the more we live in an acid pit of fear and blame, the further we will be from a unified nation. Judging by the event’s impressive turnout, we seem to be getting on the right track. America is a conflicted and marred state, but as Tony Bennett closed with a soulful rendition of “America the Beautiful,” we’re reminded that we are indeed capable of wonder, no matter how cliched that may sound.