City takes to streets for day of mourning (Ft. Collins, Colorado)

Fort Collins Coloradan ^ | 3/21/04 | Sara Reed

[Robert Teesdale]

Fort Collins residents rallied Saturday as part of a global day of protest, joining cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, London and Rome in speaking out against U.S. military action in Iraq.

More than 150 people gathered at United Campus Ministry, 629 S. Howes St., for a rally marking the one-year anniversary of the war in Iraq. They then marched down College Avenue to Old Town Square, where a eulogy was read for those who have died in the war. Marchers carried a coffin draped with the American flag, tombstones bearing the names of American and Iraqi casualties and signs bearing slogans such as "An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind" and "Life is always a gift," drawing honks and thumbs-up from passing motorists.

[Robert Teesdale]

150 protesters on her side represents the entire city. But she used the negative adjective "few" for the numbers in your group.

LOL... good point. Well, the Fourth Estate does have its own ideological preferences, does it not?

Our group was definitely smaller. On the other hand, we were better groomed, much more polite, certainly more dependable in civil emergencies, and on the whole far more likely to be armed in defense of life, liberty and property. So I think I'll keep the company. :)

I admit to one lapse in decorum during the day. When the leftists were preparing to leave their assembly point, I used a momentary pause in noise on the street to announce loudly, "NEXT STOP: SYRIA!".

I thought it was kind of funny, but they weren't amused. No accounting for political taste, I suppose.

[dirtboy]

Here's some more bias:

Marchers carried a coffin draped with the American flag, tombstones bearing the names of American and Iraqi casualties and signs bearing slogans such as "An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind" and "Life is always a gift," drawing honks and thumbs-up from passing motorists.

But according to your report, most of the honking was for your side.

[dirtboy]

I thought it was kind of funny, but they weren't amused.

Hey, the Million Moms didn't appreciate the "Gun Free Home" yard signs you guys offered them a few years back. Some folks just have NO sense of humor. But then again, if they could laugh at themselves, they probably wouldn't be liberals.

[Robert Teesdale]

Yes, also true. You know, dealing with the press is always fascinating. Some are honorable, some are not. I've had some good relations with some reporters. I've seen others use their work to drive their agendas. It's always a toss-up which you'll end up speaking to.

[Robert Teesdale]

That protest against President Clinton in October of 2000 was fun. I though it was quite hysterical when Bob Glass wore an oversized Clinton rubber head, and would ask attractive women entering the hotel "Hey, baby, want a job?" through the megaphone at his waist....

[Prov3456]

"Life is always a gift"

Hmmmm: I wonder if they would include unborn children/fetuses in that?!!!

[Robert Teesdale]

Certainly. Why wouldn't they? Of course, they also likely feel that personal feeling weighs more heavily on the decision scale than life.

[Trteamer]

CardCarryingMemberVastRightWC did a head count of the lefties as they started on the mearch. Ther were exactly 92 of them, not 150.

According to their website, the purpose of the march was "to protest the unilateral action of the United States and the occupation of Iraq".

We did a good thing by counter portesting them. The leftist leaning reporter tried to be fair, even with her bias.

God Bless President Bush! He got the most honking of all!

[Trteamer]

I'm coming out to Fort Collins for my graduate studies in August.

That means you can join us to FReep! Cool!

We welcome you!

[Trteamer]

Here is a link to our Counter Protest with pictures. If you are drinking or eating please stop before reading this one or you will be cleaning it off your computer screen LOL!

www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1102076/posts

[JenB]

Thank you - and you'd better bet I'll be out there every Freep!

I'm looking forward to Colorado. Is it reasonably conservative out there?

[Trteamer]

Actually, the northern part of Colorado is a Republican stronghold. Fort Collins is trying to catch up with Boulder, thanks to the University, but the surrounding counties are All Republican. There is not a stronger pro-gun movement anywhere in the country. We have Bob Schaefer running for Ben Nighthorse Campbell's U.S. Senate seat and he is Conservative all the way. We can always use more conservative minded folks so it will be great to have you here. So what are you studying?

[JenB]

Computer science! I'll be going for my doctorate. I will be registering to vote once I move there, in August, so I'm trying to learn a little about the local politics.

I understand Fort Collins is a very nice place to live. I'm doing research now into apartments and churches and such and everything I see, I like. Actually it reminds me of where I live now (rural Pennsylvania) only with real mountains.

[Trteamer]

Hey Gang! JenB is moving to Fort Collins, ping!

I know just the right people for you to meet. We love it when new FReepers come to town!

[Trteamer]

Local politics, lets see:

U.S. Sentor Wayne Allard; Strongly Pro- gun, Pro-Marriage and fiscally conservative. Sponsor of the Pro-marriage bill in the Senate.
U.S.
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, our fantastic Freshman Congresswoman, sponsor of the Pro-Marriage bill in the House.

Our national politicians are very good Republicans, Thank God.

I'll let the rest of the gang fill you in on the local stuff.

[JenB]

Thanks! I've heard of Allard. Your governor's Bill Owens, right?

Sounds like you have a good core of Freepers there. That will be a nice change from out here - too many old steelworkers, union people, that sort of thing.

Is the weather out there as nice as I've heard?

[Trteamer]

Currently 77 degrees and clear.