Did my first Sunday peace rally today

[LittleClarkie]

There is a place right outside the library of a nearby city where I'd noticed folks protesting on a Sunday afternoon about a year ago.

I'm told it's also where folks used to stand to protest the Vietnam war. A year ago there were some veterans for peace there and other folks, but not alot. Well, after watching folks talk about their problems with ANSWER at DC, and commenting myself that it was more a matter of grassroots, and why did we need such groups anyway to lead us when we could do it ourselves, that I decided the next time I had a chance to join those folks down at the library, I would.

So I did. Today.

It was interesting. There were about 20 or 30 of us, each with pre-painted signs and some stuff that was made by the partipants. The intersection by the library is a T-intersection, with us at the top of the T. We got beeps, and thumbs up, more than you'd think in the middle of Sensenbrenner's district.

I got the feeling I was sorta like Kerry in 1971, a bit too moderate for the rest of the crowd, but that's okay. I found a nice spot next to a vet for peace who described being over in Vietnam. We talked about chicken hawks, and he said it was his impression that most of the military voted for Kerry. Hmm. I'd like to believe that. But I haven't see stats.

Across the street there was one lone guy with "I support the troops and our president" on one side of his sign, and "Stay the Course" on the other. He got some beeps too, but not as many.

One girl from a disability home next door came over and said "I'd beat you all up but I'd get arrested." She was missing some teeth, and wearing a tshirt about doing something nekkid (I didn't quite catch it.) I muttered something about knocking out the rest of her teeth, except that we were peace people, so she was lucky.

That scandalized the nun to my left, but the vet chuckled. I was reminded that the protest was sponsored by a PEACE group. Yes, ma'am. I'll be good if I go again. (mutter, mutter)

Our one man counter protester was joined by a couple of able bodied youth. Maybe I'll bring recruitment forms next time. The veteran to my right liked that one too.

We ended up the hour long protest with getting our picture taken, so that we could give them to family and friends to encourage them to join us. All in all, they say their numbers are slowly growing.

And thus ended my first real experience with peace protesting. Ta da.

[ClassWarrior]

1. I'm proud of you LC.

And I have a PDF of the official recruitment form. If you want me to send it to you, PM me your email.

:yourock:

NGU.

[LittleClarkie]

6. Thanks. Oddly enough, I was standing there with a sign that said

Frodo Lost. Bush has the ring. I thought that appropriate for a Dungeon and Dragon player.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Good for you

This is something I need to do as well. Your stroy inspired me to get off my arse and start attending the rallies in my community.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. As to the comment taht most of the military voted for Kerry

in '04, yuo can believe it... one command, my husband's boat... the chief's locker, almost all voted for Kerry... the boat overall most of it voted for Kerry

you will not see the stats precisely because of this... the mithology, which you have bought into it, is that the military is behidn the failure in chief... they are not

[LittleClarkie]

4. Would you say the numbers are being hidden?

I haven't really bought into anything, exactly. Just like proof, is all. Good to hear your husband's experience. My former hometown, Norfolk VA, went mostly Kerry too, but I'm told that doesn't necessarily mean military folks, so much as city folks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Absolutely, in 2000 they were shownig

the numbers to everybody, in 2004 nope, no way, no how... they need to hide them numbers