There were 2 'loonies', ----- the athiest, and the one in pink spreading his version of religion.
The athiest was a kid (?teens?) who sported a buzz job, under a comb over of long unkempt hair. He was so proud to say that dead was dead, that there was no God, and so on. He was like an annoying mosquito/gnat/lice who wouldn't go away. Arguing with the likes of him was futile. He tried to put us in a bad light by writing a sign saying something about our sending out soldiers to be killed. (I forget the wording) Several times I just stepped in front of him to hide his sign. Finally he left when his audience dwindled and he drifted somewhere else. I told him to go home and grow up.
That Code Pink, guy with the pink sneakers and torn pink shirt and unkempt blond hair was another fanatic. He had evidently served and had a medical discharge, but he also was unbendable. Something funny happened with him. There was a group of students from several upstate NY schools who were visiting DC. At one point, when the Pink guy was head to head with Dr. Raoul, the students chaperone/teacher asked the good Doc and the Pink guy to move a bit so that he could get their exchange in a picture with his kids in the background! The Pink guy couldn't get anywhere with Raoul, so he started to direct his remarks at those kids, who argued back at him, holding their own. It was funny to watch this guy with these clean-cut kids, with him getting nowhere. I mentioned to the teacher that his group was getting a great lesson in street civics.
One man (50s?)came by and wanted to know what was going on between the two groups. I'm always careful when I don't know their stand, so I always just stick to the basic facts. He must have sensed my hesitation to point fingers at the Pinks, because he then assured me that he definitely sided with us --- so I let it all out. He thanked us for being there ------- as did many others.
I was delighted to see so many young people agree with our side. Many wanted to know what we were all about and were interested in Free Republic. I saw this, also, at the Hilton. There's hope!
Yeah, that's the guy I remember. You couldn't help but notice this "clueless wonder" who was constantly in our faces... LOL
You've described an interesting exchange with the other guy - the Code Pink guy - between Raoul and the students. I don't remember him, and neither does zelig. This must've happened after we left (?), or we were distracted by something else going on and didn't notice.
I was delighted to see so many young people agree with our side. Many wanted to know what we were all about and were interested in Free Republic. I saw this, also, at the Hilton. There's hope!
Yes, I noticed this also... there IS hope! I hope they discover FR and we notice a new crop of FReepers here, then joining us out on the streets. :-)