After-Action Report: Springfield, MO

November 3, 2005 | Prov3456

[Prov3456]

After reading about a planned "WorldCantWait" protest on November 2 in Springfield, Missouri, I decided I had to do something in response. Bogeyman and I drove there on Tuesday afternoon, first to find the location and then to determine where we might want to stand.

It was a good thing we went early: the Mapquest directions were wrong! I had to ask a woman leaving her office where Park Central Square was. Thankfully, she knew and gave me great directions. Thank you, whomever you are.

Wednesday morning we arrived at the square about 10:30 am, parked in Springfield's free downtown parking lot, and walked around the square. We knew someone from wcw was on the scene when we spotted a small car parked (legally) in a handicapped zone, with two bumper stickers on the back window: "We're creating terrorists faster than we can kill them." and "These colors don't run the world." After walking around the square, we waited in our car, listening to Rush, until just before the noon start-time. Bogeyman headed off to take photos of the wcw crowd, and I took our sign and flags and stood at our pre-determined location. Unfortunately, we didn't get full photos of their signs. I saw one that said, in part, Impeach Bush, Illegal War, Illegal Torture, Oil....

Our corner was opposite the square, at the intersection of the primary one-way street which entered the square. Before I could completely unfurl my American flag, I received the first thumbs-up and honk from a man in a passing pick-up truck. The honks, thumbs-up and words of thanks came so quickly and steadily that within 15 minutes I had already lost count. It was incredible! Bogeyman completed his photo-taking assignment and joined me within minutes.

About 12:15 we heard the commotion and saw a group of people across the square, in "parade" fashion. These "cheerleaders" paraded past the wcw pavillion and around the entire square. What an interesting group, to say the least. We never could decide if they were part of the wcw event or if they used it to express themselves. Either way, their presence and actions through the remainder of the protest overshadowed anything wcw tried to do.

After the first lap of the parade, a male reporter from the Springfield News-Leader took our picture, spoke with us for a few minutes, and went back to the square to cover the main protest. By then the paraders had encircled the solitary "torture victim" who was kneeling in the center of the square. As they took hands and circled him, they sang Ring around the rosie, pocket full of posies, Fascist, Fascist, they all fall down. We nearly fell down laughing! After a few moments of that, the paraders dispersed around the square (though none ever joined the wcw group at the pavilion) and talked to anyone who would engage them in conversation. During the rest of the event, they made random parade laps: the largest group we counted had 30 participants.

While watching all of this, bogeyman and I were constantly interrupted by honks of support, thumbs-up, and passersby who stopped to talk. A couple who was in town on vacation spoke to us. As he drove by, one man yelled, "It's a fine representation of the opposition over there...." Several people who were outdoors on their lunch hour came by. One woman shook our hands and said," Thank you for coming out. I have to be at work, so ....," shook our hands again and returned to work. A man who identified himself as a Desert Storm vet shook our hands and said, "Thank you for being here and for your support." A Marine in his pick-up truck shouted "Thanks for the support" as he drove past. Another marine thanked us on behalf of himself and his entire family who is military. We thanked each military person for their service and remarked that it was only because of THEIR service that we (and wcw) could be doing what we were doing.

Not all reactions were positive. We also received several one-finger-salutes and a few other name-calling shouts. When an SUV carrying two female college students circling the square for the third time passed us with shouts of derision, I couldn't stop myself from shouting back, "All about oil? Get out and walk!" They left the square on the fourth lap, giving us the "salute" as they drove by.

Following the cheerleaders' last parade lap, a young lady stood across the street holding her sign, Spred the love for all to see. When Bogeyman yelled over to her that "spred" was misspelled, she responded, "You don't gotta be smart to love." Oh well.... Just then, a female reporter who had spent most of her time following the paraders around and talking to several of them came over to ask us questions. She was also with the Springfield News-Leader; she said the man took the photos and she wrote. (They both wrote; he was the only one with the camera.) We spoke briefly. She said the report would probably appear in Wednesday morning's [today's] issue of the News-Leader. Bogeyman and I both have enough experience with the press to know that whatever we said may or may not appear correctly, or at all, in printed form. By the time that interview ended, the festivities across the street had fizzled out so bogeyman and I left the scene.

We had a great time. I was glad to be there in support of the President, the troops, and American freedom. It is really ironic that the protesters do not understand that the people and groups whom they oppose are the very ones who secure and maintain the very freedom that allows them to protest in the first place. May God continue to bless and protect this nation and all who serve to defend it.

[Prov3456]

StarCMC will post photos.

The Springfield News-Leader article may be found (if it's published, I haven't looked yet) at www.news-leader.com

[Prov3456]

Ping

[StarCMC]

Prov standing in front of Park Central Square before the crowds began to gather.

 

 

World Can't Wait group gathering in the pavilion

 

 

One of the World Can't Wait Signs. (I apologize that we didn't get the full text.)

 

Prov and Bogeyman take their post.

 

News-Leader reporter takes a picture of wcw "torture victim." Ironically, the poor lad sat/kneeled in that position, with the black hood over his head, for so long that near the end of the protest he had to lie down. Was wcw torturing one of its own?! :)

 

News-Leader reporter interviewing wcw members

 

"Parade" leaders. These people arrived on the scene about 12:15 and paraded around the entire square. Their presence completely overshadowed the wcw effort for the rest of the event. At their greatest number, they led a group of 30 around the square.

 

 

"Impeach Bush"

 

 

"Ring around the Rosie" with wcw group quietly in the background, left.

 

"Ring around the Rosie." The parade leaders and others encircled the "torture victim" and sang, "Ring around the rosie, pocket full of posies, Fascist, Fascist, they all fall down."

 

 

Her sign says, "Spred the Love."

 

 

 

 

[TruthFactor]

This is a good job/thank you ping from a VET!

[Prov3456]

The article is posted on the News-Leader website. The first sentence reads, "The parade leader and head cheerleader had on fishnet stockings and a skirt, but he was reluctant to give his name."

[bluesagewoman]

Way to go!!! Have the Springfield leftists ever encoutered dissent before? Thanks for being there.

[L98Fiero]

Do your sides still ache from laughing at those morons?

[bmwcyle]

Great work!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The article is posted on the News-Leader website.

[bluesagewoman]

(link to local news article)

Wonder if that gorgeous photo of you two was in the hard copy?

[armymarinemom]

You don't gotta be smart to love.

True but if your stupid it really helps you appear as a horses patoot! Great job!

[4integrity]

Great job!! God bless you for your patriotism, courage and for your willingness to ACT not just talk. Our troops need to know that we support them! Thanks for representing those of us who love our country, our military and our President.

[rightinthemiddle]

ping

[rightinthemiddle]

Thanks for coming down! If I'd know about it, I would have bought you lunch.

Thank goodness these people are definitely in the minority in Springfield.

[thescourged1]

Actually, this is a pretty good sign. There are several colleges in 'Springtown', and that is all that came out!?

[knuthom]

Have the Springfield leftists ever encountered dissent before?

We were regularly on Battlefield Road during the 2000 election "recount". I still have my "Sore/Loserman" signs.

Park Central Square is not a good location for visibility. But I don't suppose they could could host a peace rally on Battlefield Road.

[tgslTakoma]

Thank you for doing this. If we don't go out and counter the leftist protests, the media will only report the leftists' side of the story. All it took was the two of you guys, and the media mentioned your counter-demonstration.

Great work!

[bluesagewoman]

You got a point. LOL.

[bluesagewoman]

[Doctor Raoul]

Good job, great report. Thanks you two for being there and standing up fopr the troops. The battle for public opinion is one they are in no position to fight and you had their back.