Posted on 03/20/2004 4:13:18 PM PST by RedWing9
Today, a few individuals from the Chicagoland Chapter of the FR Network stood toe-to-toe with the Leftists from ANSWER, and they heard our answer.
In attendence was ChiTown-Chief;justshutupandtakeit;jamesnwu;Bismarck; {one other}, plus we pulled in at least one person (hope she chimes in).
The day started when I arrived at 10:45a to find no one recognizable on location. I walked around a bit and looked upon the 100+ Cook County Sheriffs in full battle gear. Then I noticed a group of individuals unloading 8' tall signs. When I walked over I knew they were from ProtestWarrior.com, and oh boy where they. 6 strong to start, three cameras, 12 signs!
After introductions, and finally meeting the "I got lost on the way to O'Hare" jamesnwu (LOL) we just kinda hung around. The stage was still being set up and sound system being checked. Soon, about 10-15 others appeared, ready to join our group, including the aforementioned FReepers.
I was kinda bored waiting for the Leftists to appear, so I and ChiTown took to the corner of Adams and Dearborn with our signs. We recieved many thumbs up, a few frowns. After about 1/2 hour of this, this 'I voted for Bush, but he's a rich draft dodger and I served in Vietnam wanna see my picture here's me with my purple hearts bush sucks and ...' {I typed it like that because they guy was un-shut-up-able). After trying to get in a point or two, and somewhat being successful considering he now turned to the 'you didn't serve so you suck' tactic, I, and ChiTown gave up.
At the same time this gentleman who had a very deep Yugoslavian accent, even after being here since 1959, started to lay into me because 'Bush sucks'. This was definetly getting tiresome, considering that this guy was impossible to understand due to his accent. I tried. I really did.
Back to letting traffic see our signs... Then the fun began.
The ProtestWarriors, who had taken up position about 30' from the stage where told that they couldn't be there. The Leftists had the permit, afterall. Well, the cops where convinced that only those without the ProtestWarrior signs (someone from PW tell us what the entire story was) were to be allowed. Us FReepers with handwritten signs were out... So we moved. To a GREAT PLACE.
ChiTown, myself, and our newfound companion headed down the other side of the block to try and be in full view of the protestors. Once we got there, we were able to have some enjoyable conversation with individuals, including anti-war protestors, a member of Rainbow PUSH, and others. At some point, the Sheriff's pinned us in, we were told if we stood here we would have to march when they arrived. BONUS!!! Heck, what's a FReeper to do?!? At about this time, a gentlemen who was fantastic appeared across the street. Dressed in a Saddam mask and somewhat olive drab garments, he began displaying ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS signs that mocked the Leftists and all those around (where was a notepad). I hope ChiTown, or a gentleman who was a FR fan but not signed on, can help me remember what was written.
We eventually got into a mode were we waited, and waited, and waited... With some dribbles of those not marching... Then they came into sight and things were good.
Even though some heated conversation occurred, we were definetly on the high road. Two great indicators of that were the full combat gear Chicago Police officers that could not keep from laughing at how we addressed what was parading in front of us. Several times a few of the officers had to turn away from the Leftists to literally LOL. We also cannot forget the poor Chicago Trubune reporter who was trying to interview ChiTown and myself but could not stop laughing, I can't wait to read her article.
The typical trash was paraded in front of us. Bush lied, Bush this, Bush that, get our troops out, blood for oil, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's amazing how easy it would be for us to create the script for these marches. We've seen it all, it's the same old same old. In fact, we saw the "Bush killed Wellstone" sign.
We did have some extra 'fun' though. The black bloc paid special attention to us. Along with anti-war infiltrators who reported the PW to 'command' early in the day. At one point there were three late teen, early twenty, individuals who were trying there best to 'threaten' us during the march. It really was laughable and I only report it because they tried their best to scare us off.
After the march had passed, we walked around to get to the back of Federal Plaza. They had a crowd that was deeper than our "Support the Troops" rally last spring, so according to WLS-AM, about 700! LOL They did have about 5000, atleast in the sense that we had 2500-3000.
After having some quaint discussions with individuals in, and around the back of the rally, I ran across a few of the black bloc. On of the individuals recognized me from earlier and we begun to converse. I will not pretend to say that we changed each other, but I will say that the individual who I spoke to was approachable, more approachable that I could have imagined. That is good. After all, he admitted to carrying a sign that said eff'Communism' - though he was refferring to the state-run version.
Dropping the gloves and throwing the jersey over his head? :)
Hope to see you this summer at some freep. I miss everything about Chicagoland except the weather.
Leni
Was their really a "Bush Killed Wellstone" sign?
I wouldn't lie about such idiocy! It's V-E-R-Y true! ChiTown and I are positive that it was the same guy who was carrying it last year in Roger's Park.
No thanks necessary - THEY deserve the thanks! From my non-marine enabled voice - HoooooRaah!
Well, normally I would believe this, and it was probably a 95% inevitability giving the general history of the groups involved. I did have an uplifting conversation with one of the scarf faced black bloc individuals just before we left.
Remember the eff "communist" sign, this young adult was conversive, something I was surprised at after he recognized me as "oh, you"...
In short, you're probably right, sh%^ would have happened, but I do feel a little more optimistic about having conversations. Not that I believe we can turn these individuals into anything but leftists, but...
I have a B&B that is very hard to get reservations for. Give it a try!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.