I had a blast. This was the most fun I have had at a protest. This is surprising, considering that we were SOOOO outnumbered! I arrived there just before noon. RonDog had us assemble well in advance of the Horde's arrival. The Horde was late, too. We must have stood there at least an hour waiting for the incoming. In the meantime, Ted Hayes helped us limber up our vocal chords and during that time, we had the intersection to ourselves. Some of the enemy did not participate in the march and instead gathered on the corner across from us and at some point a handful of them tried to barge into our position, but we let 'em have it. They retreated and the offending cluster of the Pod was a few minutes later seen being addressed by perhaps a half a dozen LAPD. I assume they were being instructed to stay out of our faces. Time dragged on as we awaited in our figurative "battlement". Helicopters began to buzz overhead, signalling to imminent arrival of our rival. Time dragged on still further. At last, beloved Ted stepped out on the street looking eastward on Hollywood Boulevard. He turned to us, raised the megaphone to his lips and said, "LOCK AND LOAD!!!!" I have been to a few protests before. Usually the positions of the participating groups are static in that each group has their respective corners that they are entitled to occupy by permit. That is, until the ill-mannered lefties subvert our permit rights and do the crossing-the-street thing. They attempt to minimize our presence by incessantly parading from "their" side of the street to "ours", so the most prominent impression probably retained by those passing in traffic is that every participant there is a leftist. Then, "Oops, the light just turned red and we just happen to be standing in the permit area of the Conservatives. Where else can we go? What else can we do with our signs while we stand here except cover theirs up and hurl expletives at them? Anyway, this was much more fun because we were in position already and they had to parade past us in all their anger and fury and they were mighty offended by our presence. How long was the parade, guys, like, a half an hour? They kept coming. I assume their adminstration was aware that we would be there, but it seemed like the rank and file was caught a little off-guard. I dunno. I reckon they would have hollered at us anyway, but this was great. I have not laughed that much in a long time. Interactively speaking, the impact (IMO) was as great as it would have been if there were 3X as many of us. It sure felt as if some of these "peace-lovers" would likely have resorted to physical violence were it not for the line of LAPD dividing us. They cussed us out and displayed their middle fingers generously. To be fair, there were many that preferred to show the peace sign instead. But there sure is an astonishing level of hostility in their verbiage and signage. It's breathtaking. I even saw some friends of mine in that crowd. There was a quartet of guys sorta dressed like superheroes, playing instruments. They are known as "The Superbroke Brass and Tin and Strings Marching Ensemble" I informed the FReeper next to me that I knew them as I waded into the Horde to get their picture, and she graciously reserved comment. They are very good and dear souls, but we sure don't agree politically. This was a fine day.
(reposted from earlier thread)
To: Rabid DogI had a blast. This was the most fun I have had at a protest. This is surprising, considering that we were SOOOO outnumbered!
I arrived there just before noon. RonDog had us assemble well in advance of the Horde's arrival. The Horde was late, too. We must have stood there at least an hour waiting for the incoming.
In the meantime, Ted Hayes helped us limber up our vocal chords and during that time, we had the intersection to ourselves. Some of the enemy did not participate in the march and instead gathered on the corner across from us and at some point a handful of them tried to barge into our position, but we let 'em have it. They retreated and the offending cluster of the Pod was a few minutes later seen being addressed by perhaps a half a dozen LAPD. I assume they were being instructed to stay out of our faces.
Time dragged on as we awaited in our figurative "battlement". Helicopters began to buzz overhead, signalling to imminent arrival of our rival. Time dragged on still further. At last, beloved Ted stepped out on the street looking eastward on Hollywood Boulevard. He turned to us, raised the megaphone to his lips and said, "LOCK AND LOAD!!!!"
I have been to a few protests before. Usually the positions of the participating groups are static in that each group has their respective corners that they are entitled to occupy by permit. That is, until the ill-mannered lefties subvert our permit rights and do the crossing-the-street thing. They attempt to minimize our presence by incessantly parading from "their" side of the street to "ours", so the most prominent impression probably retained by those passing in traffic is that every participant there is a leftist. Then, "Oops, the light just turned red and we just happen to be standing in the permit area of the Conservatives. Where else can we go? What else can we do with our signs while we stand here except cover theirs up and hurl expletives at them?
Anyway, this was much more fun because we were in position already and they had to parade past us in all their anger and fury and they were mighty offended by our presence.
How long was the parade, guys, like, a half an hour? They kept coming. I assume their adminstration was aware that we would be there, but it seemed like the rank and file was caught a little off-guard. I dunno. I reckon they would have hollered at us anyway, but this was great. I have not laughed that much in a long time.
Interactively speaking, the impact (IMO) was as great as it would have been if there were 3X as many of us. It sure felt as if some of these "peace-lovers" would likely have resorted to physical violence were it not for the line of LAPD dividing us. They cussed us out and displayed their middle fingers generously. To be fair, there were many that preferred to show the peace sign instead. But there sure is an astonishing level of hostility in their verbiage and signage. It's breathtaking.
I even saw some friends of mine in that crowd. There was a quartet of guys sorta dressed like superheroes, playing instruments. They are known as "The Superbroke Brass and Tin and Strings Marching Ensemble" I informed the FReeper next to me that I knew them as I waded into the Horde to get their picture, and she graciously reserved comment. They are very good and dear souls, but we sure don't agree politically.
This was a fine day.
I really would like to know in coherent, intelligent words exempting all foul language please.