Posted on 09/29/2005 11:17:59 AM PDT by Chickenhawk Warmonger
The anti-war crowd held another well-publicized “End the Occupation” rally in Washington DC this past weekend. The rally’s primary sponsors were ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and United for Peace and Justice. The rally was also the final stop for the Cindy Sheehan bus tour.
Thanks to CSPAN’s live coverage, America got to see the anti-war crowd in all its glory. Peace signs, “Bush is a Liar and War Criminal” t-shirts and Palestinian scarves were haute couture at the rally. There was even an American Flag but not in the usual sense. Someone had replaced the 50 stars with a giant peace symbol. Some fun-loving rally attendees wore orange jumpsuits just like Nick Berg wore when he was beheaded. After the announcement about the Amtrak closure conspiracy, I am sure that there were some tin foil hats. The obligatory red donation buckets were passed throughout the rally.
A rally such as this would not be complete without note-worthy well-known speakers. Jesse Jackson called for an end to racism in the United States. Cindy Sheehan gave her standard “Bush is a Liar” speech but failed to mention her son, Casey. Leslie Cagan, the avowed Socialist, and Lynne Stewart, the convicted terrorist messenger, took their turns at the podium. Jessica “I hate America” Lange even showed up to lend some Hollywood credibility to the event.
The world of politics was well represented. There was Ralph Nader pandering to the greens in the crowd. George Galloway, replete with a Palestinian scarf, took time off from his US tour to sling a little more hate at Americans. Of course no anti-American – oops, I mean anti-war - rally would be complete without Cynthia McKinney.
Even Saddam Hussein had representation at the rally. The little traitor, Ramsey Clark, managed to pull away from defending Saddam Hussein long enough to call President Bush a “war criminal”. It defies comprehension to hear the man, whose client list includes Milosevic, Saddam and the PLO murderers of Leon Klinghoffer, call OUR President a war criminal. But what do you expect from the man that announced during the rally that Aristide would be a better president that George W. Bush.
This rally was so much more than an anti-war rally. Causes, such as freeing the Cuban 5 to ending the American occupation in the Philippines, were promoted by the speakers. The Bush Administration’s racism during Hurricane Katrina was a hot button issue. A little bit of “Free Mumia” was thrown in - just for good measure. Each and every speaker expressed support for the Palestinian people being oppressed by the new axis of evil – the United States and Israel. I lost count of how many times the phrase “American Imperialism” was shouted into the microphone.
Speakers accused the United States of occupying everything from Iraq to Puerto Rico to New Orleans. No place in the world was safe from America according to the speakers. The USA was accused of committing genocide, homicide and worst of all, Katrina-cide. For all the blather about wanting to bring our troops home because of the love this group feels for them, I did not hear a single speaker discuss the brave heroics of our soldiers.
Unbelievably some grassroot members of the Liberal left were disturbed at the way the rally switched from being about the war to being about every other pet issue the radical groups support. Message boards expressed concern that the rally only perpetuated the view that the Right Wing held about the anti-war groups. Cries of “diluted message” echoed across the Internet. Others feared that the blatant anti-Israel message would turn people off (they had no problem with the blatant anti-American message). Especially after the “crowd” at the rally was down to five people by the time the last speaker walked off the stage. Well if you lay down with the dogs, you get up with fleas.
Those of us that know the backgrounds of ANSWER, United for Peace and Justice, Code Pink etc. were not surprised at the evolution of the rally. It was exactly what we expected – another diatribe about how the evil United States oppresses everyone. These groups and their comrades fling the First Amendment around to justify their hate-filled, anti-American agenda. They seek to usurp the very Constitution that they hide under. It is despicable that the soldiers defending our Constitution are used as a soapbox for these groups to spread the hate. For those that missed CSPAN’s coverage, I am sure that Al-Jazeerah will be replaying the rally in its entirety.
Uh... guys? We are all judged by the company we keep. Look around you. It's not something new.
"Message boards expressed concern that the rally only perpetuated the view that the Right Wing held about the anti-war groups."
It's not just the "right". Huge numbers of moderate voters see this stuff and cringe. Good for our side! Keep it up. These folks are delusional and it is obvious to folks with common sense.
Funny how the self-described "anti-war" people are only anti-US war. Other wars are just fine with them. They never protest African wars or ethnic cleansing in Tibet.
Sometimes, I almost feel bad because we seem to be winning by default. I wish we were playing against a better team so we could get stronger. I think.
Nah. This'll do for now.
It's been going on for years. Some of the administrators of particular indymedias are outright Jew haters, (they will erase comments supportive of Israel), and there's some obvious recruitment effort going on there (and other Leftist sites) by Stormfront, who also wanted to do it here. There's a "woman" by the name of Wendy Campbell who is the most visible. She's been caught posting to Skokie Nazi type sites, and yet she doesn't get erased like Israel supporters do.
Make no mistake - the hippies and BrownShirts are now One.
When I looked at the crowd, I was amazed to see so many normal people. How did they get mioxed up in all this?
If thos people think they are the ANSWER, it must have been one hell of a stupid question.
Be careful. There's no such thing as "normal". What makes a civilization is in what's functional.
Some of the most idiotic people I've ever known never wore a Che' t-shirt. :)
"Sometimes, I almost feel bad because we seem to be winning by default."
There was a letter this morning in my small, local paper that was nothing more than an anti-Bush rant. The writer called him names, insulted all the stupid republicans, etc. etc. It made me angry, and then I thought about how unhinged the writer sounded.
But I too am very concerned with the republicans. Its like they are trying to out liberal the liberals sometimes. They are going to lose BIG in the mid-terms unless they start acting like republicans. I'm about 60% ready to stay home on election day as it is.
Don't do that! I'm begging you. That will let THEM win by default. Instead have a sit down with your representatives and let them know just how important it is to hold the line and start standing up to the big government thing.
We need a grassroots "Don't bring me any bacon" campaign.
I think if enough of us talk to our own reps, in our own districts...they will listen and respond. If we let the Democrats win, they will think they need to move further left.
Please do stay home. Anyone so easily defeated shouldn't be allowed to vote.
"That will let THEM win by default."
You make the proper arguement, of course, and I like your solution - very creative. My representatives are all far-left whack jobs (Calif.) and I doubt they would even listen to me.
I have voted proudly in every election since Reagan and will probably hold my nose once again. I understand pragmatism and that nobody gets everything they want, but "liberal Lite" is starting to wear thin. Many of us are extremely frustrated. Liberal big government isn't that much different from conservative big government in terms of taking my money and controlling people's lives by forcing dependency. At this point, I'm in it for the Supreme Court picks and the WOT.
Part of me thinks that a democrat victory will shake the republicans up. Another part dreads that outcome. They're taking us for granted and it just don't sit right.
Your thoughtfulness gives me hope.
You sound like my 8-year-old.
Your comment is ridiculous. Normal is a word that has a meaniong. Suggest you look it up.
were there any 'Free Mumia' signs about?
Oooooh, we got us a combative little snot here.
Hey, Einstein, tell you what - how about you regale me with the meaning of normal?
On second thought, save your breath. Luckily for you, I had my psychological evaluation just tonight.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1493814/posts?page=43#43
Toodles....
Substituting a psych exam for a dictionary in the nanny state. And nasty and defensive about it to boot.
Nasty and defensive? Perhaps you never noticed the little smiley in my first post?
What's "normal" is transitory, which you'd see if you asked yourself if you're the same person you were, say, 20 years ago. There are so many ways of thinking and being in the world. What's functional is cherishing Life and defending it, which they don't do. What's so hard for you to understand?
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