AFTER ACTION REPORT: RALLY FOR THE TROOPS IN WILLIAMSBURG VA - CINDY'S DITCH TOUR GETS FREEPED

09-19-05 | paltz

[Flora McDonald]

All of us arrived at Crim Dell Meadow and the caravan of aging hippie throwbacks had already setup shop. According to Flora McDonald she had spoken to William and Mary previously about our counter protest. She was reassured we would be seen by both students and anti-war protesters. We were shocked to learn that the school had gone back on its word and sent us a football field or so away from the antiwar protest. Worse than that, the area had little foot traffic and shade (something the cindy sheehan’s group did have).

So I walked over to the college admin guy who allowed the groups to come on campus. He fed me the line that its school policy that groups have their right to free speech without being disrupted. I went on and said that nothing was being disrupted we just want the same foot traffic that they were getting. Standing there with U.S. flags and supporting our troops with our support the troop signs should not cause some disruption. We continued going on back and forth until he tried to pull authority and ask if I was a student. With a big smile on my face…I said “no”. I told him his new name was “bureaucratic college administrator”

So, while we ended up in the middle of bumble, with signs and flags, a bunch of CR’s and freepers went to the streets of Williamsburg with our stuff. We got a lot of thumbs up and honks. The school sent police cruisers to kick us off the street island we were standing on. So we stood on the sidewalk with our signs.

An oldish couple came up and used the same old tired line of “why don’t you go and serve if you’re for the war” My reply was simply “ Because the troops need to see groups of people like us on college campuses who support what they are doing not just Zarquai supporting groups like yours that bring down morale”. This went on for a while until they told me I’d be supporting Hitler if he were alive today. I nearly started laughing. Then they said I represented the worst of America. So I told them that coming from them that’s compliment. After they couldn’t give any alternative policy except saying the current one is a bad one, they walked away.

We met up with the other freepers at Crim Dell Meadow on campus.

[Just A Nobody]

For your perusal ping!

[paltz]

Oh that bureaucrat of a college admin really got me steamed!

[Flora McDonald]

I was totally unprepared for him. He had been polite over the phone although he thought it was necessary to give me a long lecture about how nice the anti-war types are and they really do support the troops and they really are patriotic and they just don't like the war.

When we get there he comes charging over snorting smoke and tries to imply that I am lying about what he had told me.

He was one of the rudest state employees I've ever come across.

Thank you for stepping into the breach.

It was very nice to meet you and I hope we FReep again soon.

[dstarr]

I love the messages that you want on signs. The DC Chapter should put those on some signs for the Friday night Freeps.

[concretebob]

That was the idea, Dstarr.
Last Friday night one of the Code Pinkos had a sign in Spanish and neither I nor Landryfan could figure out what it said.
So, I figure if they're gonna use an alternative language, so should we.
I almost got one my Ukrainian friends to put it in Russian for me, but that may be gonig a bit too far.
Thanks Flora..we really don't need anything fancy, I'm not a fancy knida guy.
Just need to get the message out.

[Apple Blossom]

Hats off to all who attended! Sounds like it was quite an event. With Paltz debating skills...any chance she's available this weekend. Would love to start with this list of hard workers and have that carry over to this weekend in DC!

[Apple Blossom]

Good for you! The best news is that you keep getting better all the time! The place for practice are too many to mention.

[concretebob]

If you check out my website, and take a look at the Iraq slideshows, the fellows you see are all over 40, and have full time jobs back in the world.
The fellow holding the Christmas in Iraq sign is a friend of mine, building inspector, and he ain't no spring chicken.
They are all part of NMCB Twenty-three.
They were in Mosul and Ramadi, teaching the Iraqi men and some kids, how to work for a living.
My heart went out to those poor guys who had to batch concrete in a portable batch plant.
That's what part of this mission is about, teaching a society how to think for themselves, be productive, and not be at the mercy of some tin-pot, crack-pot, despot.
The Twenty-three held classes in plan reading, carpentry, form-work, concrete mixing, placeing, and finishing.
There was a graduation at the end of the class, and all the attendees received tool belts, hardhats, tools, and a nice diploma.
Doesn't seem like much, unless you've never had the opportunity to learn something new.
I speak from experience, because in the last two years I have received more certifications in construction technology, than most people get in a lifetime, and I ain't through yet.
Next on the list is my Reinforced Concrete Special Inspector Associate's certification.
After that, my Commercial Mechanical Inspector's certification, after that, the American Welding Society's Certified Welding Inpsectors degree.
After that, who the hell knows, but it wil be something to do with construction.
Damn I ramble..someone please shut me up.

[Apple Blossom]

Thanks for sharing that there really is hope out there! How refreshing.

[concretebob]

Well, how about breakfast Saturday morning?
My treat, Bra.
Maybe we can get a bunch of us together at Waffle House...I love Waffle House.
or Denny's.

[Azbushgal]

The next signs should say, "Send Cindy to Club Gitmo" and post it on Rush's site. LOVE the Freepers!

[Apple Blossom]

One issue at a time, good thinking, that way they won't get too confused by your answers.

[Apple Blossom]

Any audio on the speech? Did anyone invite him to DC this weekend. Articulate, informed veterans are a great asset. We sure could use more like him.

[concretebob]

Ahh shucks, Mam'm tweren't nothing. ;)

[concretebob]

I don't have everybody, but I know we had at least 15 non-FreeRepublic attendeees.
I'd never admit too this in public, but when those kids came walking up, and I realized they were there for US...well, I'm glad I had my Ray-Bans on.
I swear, I never expected that, not in a million years, and that young man who spoke..same thing..God Bless Ray-Bans...they can keep an old Marine from appearing soft.
What a day..I'll remember this one, and I'm sure the ones to come, til my dying day.
Jeez, where's my damn Ray-Bans??

[MEG33]

Pictures of this and the signs are usually picked up from the internet and emailed to a loved one in the armed services..I know it helps.

I was glad to read all the new comments,too..Again,thank you all so much!

[csvset]

Thanks for the pics and recap.

Flora, TV-10 showed a clip Sunday evening, you had a "sound byte" , were you state that not all military families felt the same as the Cindynistas, (my paraphrasing).

Unfortunately, TV-10 did not post the video on their site. It also did not include any footage of the W & M folks. Perhaps the cameraman got lost on the way ?

They did a longer clip of a Cindynista claiming that the country was against the war.

[concretebob]

OK, Mike, you know anyone still in-country that would get a lift out of this?
Send 'em my website, send'em this website, send'em everything, and while you're at it, find out if they need anything.
After sending Larry about 100 pounds of stuff, I need to use up these stupid forms the Post Office makes us use.
And BTW...THANK YOU