Hans Blix After Action Report, Richmond, VA 04/22/04

Richmond Times Dispatch ^ | 04/23/04 | Flora McDonald

[Flora McDonald]

Members of the Richmond Conservative Forum met in front of the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. yesterday evening to protest the taxpayer funded appearance of Hans Blix and to support President George W. Bush, our Troops and the Mission they have been deployed to accomplish. FReepers in attendance were Alpheus, GottaLuvAkitas1, tva, GeorgeW23225, helmut113 and Flora McDonald.

[Flora McDonald]

Although no one from the newspaper spoke to us, the Richmond-Times Dispatch gave us a oneline mention today.

"A group holding placards denouncing Blix and urging the withdrawal of the United States from the U.N. stood outside the Siegel Center before his appearance."

[gilliam]

Now you need to follow it up with a letter to the Editor and tell the same story you told us.

[GeronL]

FreepBump

[Flora McDonald]

helmut113


tva and GottaLuvAkitas1 brave the wind. Going in, some of the people thought she had made up the Blix quote on her sign, but coming out one of the students told us he actually used it in his lecture! Once a maroon....


GeorgeW23225 and Alpheus


Flora McDonald and Alpheus


GeorgeW23225 and Alpheus engage in a sidewalk debate with two men who proudly proclaimed they were Anti-Zionists.

[Flora McDonald]

Thanks!
Pictures are up (finally)!

[Flora McDonald]

I haven't been able to get published in the Richmond-Times but I'll keep tryin'.

[Watery Tart]

FReepin' Blix Bump.

[tgslTakoma]

Alpheus, GottaLuvAkitas1, tva, GeorgeW23225, helmut113 and Flora...

Fantastic work, you guys!

There are still people who wonder what good we do with our protests, and the answer is right in Flora's report:

I must comment on how well the members of our group responded to questions from passersby. GottaLuvAkitas1 and tva spent a long time conversing with a young lady who sincerely wanted more information about world affairs and politics. David and Alpheus articulated their opinions masterfully with students and other pedestrians.

Educating the uninformed/misinformed public - one, two or three people at a time. You guys did good!

And one final note about the good that we do by standing in the street with our signs (and sometimes costumes :-)

A young Marine stopped to thank us for being there to support the President and the Troops. He was in Iraq last year and grieves for the 28 men they lost. Now his brother is stationed over there. He told us that when they were waiting to go in right before the war started, the news about all the huge anti-war protests caused their morale to plummet but they knew that what they were doing was just and they carried on with their mission. He still believes the war in Iraq was the right thing to do, he said.

P.S. Flora, I have your signs from NC and will bring them with me tomorrow.

[sultan88]

Great report. Excellent job all!!

(Could not find anybody named 'tva')

[BillF]

Super FReep and report! (Could not find anyone named tva.)

Hope that you guys and other Richmond FReepers will join us at 4 PM on Saturday, May 1, for the FReep of the White House Correspondents Association dinner.

[Flora McDonald]

Thank you for that picture! Now that puppet would make some great street theatre.

[John Lenin]

bump

[Flora McDonald]

"Could not find anybody named tva..."

tva is GottaLuvAkitas1's husband but I didn't want to call him Mr. GottaLuvAkitas1, being a former military man and all.

We'll be in DC tomorrow (the 25th) but the Richmond folks will be down on 15th St. I'll be at the other end (Navy Memorial) with the DC FReepers to pick up the signs from the Fayetteville FReep.

[Flora McDonald]

Thank you, tgslTakoma! The DC Chapter is an inspiration for all of us, not to mention your great photography.

I'll see you tomorrow and thank you for taking care of the signs!

[GeorgeW23225]

The "emotional young leftist" you referred to will hopefully never repeat what he said to me before he started to run away. These people are cowards when confronted, and while I "usually" stay calm, cool and collected, this "lefty" needed to be confronted, so confront him I did. And while I will not repeat what he said, he will now think twice before he utters those words again. Besides, I think the police who were watching, were familiar with the kid, and enjoyed the fact that I wasn't going to stand for his crap.

Other than that one instance, I enjoyed speaking with the other passersby, and engaging in discussions. Actually, I was surprised with the positive reception we received. I thought it was going to be far more confrontational.

The best part occurred when I was leaving. Walking up Broad Street, I received a "standing ovation" from my nephews dorm room, which overlooks Broad Street.

All in all, a good night !!

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

Flora, Thank you so much for the write-up and for posting the pictures ( you need to fix the camera so I look 10 pounds lighter though) heehee.

You forgot to mention however that the "young Marine" gave you a teary-eyed BIG HUG and told you how much it meant to him to see you /us out there supporting our troops. You really made that man's day, but you are always too modest to write about all that you do when you these write reports. You also left out the fact that you educated 2 other people, and explained our position to them as well.

If you are going to talk about the good things we do then you have to tell the good you do too!!! Stop being so modist girl!!!!

Is there anyway you could get 2 copies of the paper for us? I will pay whatever expense. We don't get the paper.


LISTEN UP ALL:
FLORA IS OUR GROUPS VERY OWN "WHITE LIGHTER" or ANGEL on earth. SHE IS THE BACKBONE TO OUR PROTESTS, AND SHE MAKES MOST OF OUR SIGNS :o)


Wish us luck tomorrow because we are all going to DC.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

LOL George that guy was bad to the bone for sure! When he threatened to get his gun and shoot you I was ready to leave. I am glad you all explained to me he was just a punk and not to worry. You handled that guy very well and kept him off of me for which I can't thank you enough!!!

You are so right when you said we had a positive response. Other than about 3 bad guys, tons of others asked questions and thanked us.

George, you are a true Warrior for the cause, and I thank you for all the work you have done to prepare us for tomorrows protest.

Al, Tim, and I went inside for awhile to listen to Blix and I must quote Al in saying "Blix makes Kerry sound exciting"! LOL He was such a bore!!!!! Most of the people listening were students because they got extra credit for taking notes. Other than the students there might have been about 20 adults (older people like myself). Blix didn't even do a question answer after he finished putting the room to sleep. There were 3 pr-prepared questions, and they were not even remotely challenging.

The nicest thing I can say about Blix is that he was a bore, and not worth the air he consumed while in a our city.

[GeorgeW23225]

You're welcome!! Glad to be of help. I'm just glad I diverted him away from the "ladies" we had in attendance, and I'm glad you didn't hear what he said before he started to run away. You can bet he won't repeat his words again. At least not when I'm around!! I dislike "confrontations", but if I'm "confronted" I won't back down.
You've got to draw the line somewhere, and he stepped WAY over the line!!

See y'all in Washington tomorrow.

Drive carefully !!

George

[GeorgeW23225]

I agree !! Flora is da' bomb!!

[sultan88]

"( you need to fix the camera so I look 10 pounds lighter though) heehee."

Nope. You (all) look GREAT!!

Wish I was younger and healthier so I could get more involved in these FReeps.