Posted on 03/20/2004 3:38:12 PM PST by IAmNotAnAnimal
Edited on 03/21/2004 7:59:26 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
My thoughts on my first Freep ever today in Fayetteville, NC. I arose early and set out on my two hour journey to Fayetteville. During the course of my trip, I kept going over different scenarios in my mind on responses to any sort of idealogical or factual argument I may have with the other side. I admit I was a little stressed.
arriving, the word was that we would have about 30 FReepers (if lucky), and that there were going to be about 1,500 "peace" people. As we gathered and waved our flags, spoke our mantras, the "enemy" slowly ascended the hill. My anxiety about being quick-witted in response to reasoned arguments rapidly vanished. The rag-tag crew that ascended the hill (about 600-700) people looked to be a mish mash of seasoned citizens wearing torn clothing and trash bags, and junior high school students waving such signs as "My dad is a Navy veteran, and he opposes the war".
Okay, so where's your dad? I can't help but mention the ecletic dancer with black and red hair who was "dancing" to the beat of homemade drums. It made me long for the sixties, even though I was born in 1968. I looked around at the 90, yes 90 Freepers and family assembled, all with flags and signs, reciting the pledge of allegiance, I looked at the Vietnam Vets against John Kerry, the veterans from various wars, the wives, and the babies, and then I had to laugh. Not at us, at them. I saw signs that were very germane from "Affordable Housing" to "Dennis Kuchinic" (who)?, and other such mind provoking drivel. I had to laugh, I just had to.
The reporter asked me if I had lost my legs in combat. I explained to the reporter that I had leg braces on, as exhibited by my very visible feet, that my legs were still there.
We marched behind this stately peaceful crowd where we joined up with our brothers and sisters in leather and on Harleys.
We would have loved to debate the other side, but no one seemed to want to come to "the line" to do that. So, I just watched one misguided veteran from the 101st, who upon weighing roughly 300 pounds shout to us that we didn't "get it". I would've shouted back, but he had already turned and gone down the hill, presumptively to get another hot dog.
The FReepers were great, it was like being amongst old friends, but I had just met them. We all shared in fellowship, and were quick to offer help to those who needed it. I would like to thank all the FReepers who were there for their kindness and patriotism. I am only left with one question - when we got to the park there were about a hundred open black umbrellas laying on the side of the "peace" people, and it wasn;t raining. What gives?
Looking forward to the next one. Ranger out.
I am told that for a fee, you could paint an umbrella and add it to the "peace tree" which they built by hanging the umbrellas on the cone shaped jungle-gym in the adjacent playground. By the end of their rally I only saw about 10 umbrellas on their "tree".
It was great meeting you and all of the other Freepers.
My thoughts on my first Freep ever today in Fayetteville, NC.
I arose early and set out on my two hour journey to Fayetteville. During the course of my trip, I kept going over different scenarios in my mind on responses to any sort of idealogical or factual argument I may have with the other side. I admit I was a little stressed.
Upon arriving, the word was that we would have about 30 FReepers (if lucky), and that there were going to be about 1,500 "peace" people. As we gathered and waved our flags, spoke our mantras, the "enemy" slowly ascended the hill. My anxiety about being quick-witted in response to reasoned arguments rapidly vanished.
The rag-tag crew that ascended the hill (about 600-700) people looked to be a mish mash of seasoned citizens wearing torn clothing and trash bags, and junior high school students waving such signs as "My dad is a Navy veteran, and he opposes the war". Okay, so where's your dad?
I can't help but mention the ecletic dancer with black and red hair who was "dancing" to the beat of homemade drums. It made me long for the sixties, even though I was born in 1968. I looked around at the 90, yes 90 Freepers and family assembled, all with flags and signs, reciting the pledge of allegiance, I looked at the Vietnam Vets against John Kerry, the veterans from various wars, the wives, and the babies, and then I had to laugh. Not at us, at them.
I saw signs that were very germane from "Affordable Housing" to "Dennis Kuchinic" (who)?, and other such mind provoking drivel. I had to laugh, I just had to.
There was a lot of press coverage, including Reuters. A Reuters reporter came up to talk to me, which I did out of my deep respect for Reuters (okay, she was really cute). The reporter asked me if I had lost my legs in combat. I explained to the reporter that I had leg braces on, as exhibited by my very visible feet, that my legs were still there.
We marched behind this stately peaceful crowd where we joined up with our brothers and sisters in leather and on Harleys. We would have loved to debate the other side, but no one seemed to want to come to "the line" to do that. So, I just watched one misguided veteran from the 101st, who upon weighing roughly 300 pounds shout to us that we didn't "get it". I would've shouted back, but he had already turned and gone down the hill, presumptively to get another hot dog.
The FReepers were great, it was like being amongst old friends, but I had just met them. We all shared in fellowship, and were quick to offer help to those who needed it.
I would like to thank all the FReepers who were there for their kindness and patriotism. I am only left with one question - when we got to the park there were about a hundred open black umbrellas laying on the side of the "peace" people, and it wasn;t raining. What gives?
Looking forward to the next one. Ranger out.
He's right, you don't "get it" ....and neither do I. We just don't get how anyone could want our troops to pull out of Iraq now that a very dangerous dictator - who WMD'd his own people, bombed Israel with rockets, attempted to assassinate a U.S. President, and was most likely involved in 9/11 (at least peripherally) - is gone and the Iraqi people are just starting to put their lives back together with our assistance. ....and I don't they we ever will "get it."
Oh man, you should have RACKED him. LOL!
They showed a wide shot of us at the Hay/Franklin street location and included the comments of one of the Rolling Thunder vets that were with us. Not bad.
Not all veterans really are.
I once met a guy who claimed to have been an 'Army Lance Corporal' who served in Desert Storm. He apparently thought it was a cool sounding rank but didn't even know that it's a Marine Corps rank and isn't used by the Army.
BTW, I've also met a 'Marine Corps pilot' who flew the F-17 fighter. (There's never been an F-17, at least not in any of the U.S service branches.)
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