The protest in my little corner of the world today [View All]

[Sydnie]

My town has a parade every year on the first full weekend in September. It is not a political occasion, but rather a celebration of the local apple/peach growers in our area. This parade and being the home of Titleist golf balls are our only claim to fame.

Anyway, the parade was today. It always passes in front of my house. Last year, after Katrina, I took that opportunity to make a statement with signs in my front yard expressing my disgust with this administration.

This year, I just had to do it again.

Here is this years offerings placed in my yard for all the parade and passersby to see today.



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Reaction was very somber and sober today, as compared to last year. Perhaps it was because the parade started earlier this year, although the time change it wasn't advertised at all. Perhaps it was because the parade was much shorter and seemed less enthusiastic than in previous years. Perhaps it was because the traffic, which usually is stop and go for hours after the parade, with those cars attempting to slowly make their way to the festival ground, was not that congested at all. Traffic was back to normal in less than 30 minutes after the parade passed. Normally, this is a big draw for our town but this year I don't think there's as much expendable cash to support this kind of community activity. There just didn't seem to be that many people visiting this year at all.

I did get two opposite reactions openly expressed however. One big, big SUV passed with a real "meathead freeper" type in the passengers seat. They were in the slower traffic right after the parade so they got a good eye full of the signs. After they passed the second sign, the casualties sign, this meathead yells out his window "Cut your grass, you communists". Now, mind you, the grass IS a tad bit long and could use a cutting. It just so happens that our lawn mower was currently at my room mates parents house since her son had been taking care of their yard this week. Her father is legally blind and recently released from the hospital and well, he just can't do it for himself any longer, so her son does it. Needless to say, we do need to retrieve the lawn mower. Fair enough comment. But Communist? Because my lawn was a bit long? It just showed how void of a real argument this guy was. I had to laugh at his pathetic attempt to verbally bash me. Communist because my lawn was a bit harry was the best he could muster.

The other was a guy in a car. He was at the tail end of the slowed traffic. He was actually moving at a good clip for the amount of time that had followed since the parade had passed. Yet, he slowed down just a bit, gave us a thumbs up, a great big smile, and said "thank you". We smiled and waved back, gave him a thumbs up and felt better about our efforts all together.

My neighbor summed it up quite nicely. When I asked what he thought of my signs this year, he said "It's about time someone reminded them just how costly a gallon of gas really is". I beamed with pride at that point, knowing that I had a created a sleeper experience this year. Something that might not even hit them until they were three or four houses down the road. But they would get the message and were getting the message. I could see it in many of the faces that were gazing at the signs and reading them aloud to their drivers and other passengers. And, for a brief moment, they were reminded. And I hope, humbled as well.

These signs will stay up in my yard for weeks. The casualty sign was built in such a way that it could stay indefinitely and be updated (heaven forbid) as required. I will keep reminding them everyday just what the cost will be in the long run for the foolishness of fear economics and manipulated voters and outrageous national policies.

Just doing my part in my little corner of the world to make sure that no one forgets them, and maybe, just maybe, get someone to add their voice to those of us asking them to bring them home ... alive.