Posted on 05/01/2006 6:47:02 AM PDT by PleaDeal
I took the opportunity to observe the various elements and parties involved in the event at Bethesda Naval Hospital and to note the part they played.
The dedicated Freepers of the DC Chapter decided it was necessary to counter the most egregious protest mounted by the Phelps Clan. They obtained a permit and planned the event. Several Freepers from out of the area responded to the invitation to come add to the weight of the DC Chapter.
There were two primary groups involved in the days events and a host of minor groups and individuals. The Phelps group were gathered at the end of the very long block as far away from the facility gate as could be and still be adjacent to the grounds. Their permitted area was against the iron fence, on the sidewalk and extended up the street to a line drawn by the police with yellow tape across the side walk.
Up the street , nearer but not right adjacent to the gate was another yellow taped line and three officers. This line marked the Free Republic permitted area. To my eye, it appeared to be at least twice the area of the protesters.
The yellow tape demarcated the assigned areas and also restricted pedestrian traffic up and down the sidewalk. Casual walkers were directed across the street so as not to get mixed up with either of the groups. There were several people who showed up and learning what was happening picked up signs or flags and joined out FR group for a while. The opportunity was just too great to resist.
It was also important to mark off the side walk because there was an even larger group to use the side walks that beautiful Saturday. There was a “Walk for Breast Cancer “ I believe sponsored by Avon that had many, many participants that lasted the whole time. They were directed by the police across the street to avoid both of the other groups. They were mostly all women and mostly all young women. There was a certain amount of consternation among some Freepers who were disturbed by the waving of hands and shouts of support coming from the pink clad walkers. Their path took them right by the bad guys. The shouting began at what seemed near the Phelps freaks. The approval waving and shouting continued as they past the Freep site and it was concluded that they began yelling approval as soon as they actually saw the Freep line and all the waving American flags. Their disgust with the obscene was replaced with relief and gladness when they saw all the flags and counter protest signs.
Then there was Rolling Thunder. Perhaps it is wrong not to consider them primary because there were a lot of them and the weight of their literal thunder is extremely impressive. They roared up and down the street a few times, stopping once directly in front of the bad guys and gave a fortissimo concert of full throated, ground shaking motorcycle engines. The police then told them to cease and presumably directed them to a parking place. The dismounted motorcycle cops then marched (escorted ) them across the street and up the block across from the Freep line. They then stopped traffic and allowed the Rolling Thunder brigade to cross to join us.
Another group with numerous members present was the police. I’m not certain exactly who they were. I think they were Montgomery County Sheriff’s officers but there were some vehicles labeled “Police” . They were present in Force. There were several regular officers who manned the yellow tape lines effectively preventing the opportunity for thee two demonstrating groups to converse. They also enforced the street and if someone ventured into the street for too long asked to get back on the sidewalk. There was a squad of riot police in full gear including lexan shields and batons that literally cadence marched from their assembly area to and area across the street form the Freepline. The area was chosen not because it was across from us, but because it was large enough to provide room for them all. There were some motorcycle officers who were tasked with Rolling Thunder. They dismounted and escorted the group on foot as they passed by the bad guys, crossed to the other side of the street and up to the Freep area where they crossed back across the street to join us. Across from the Phelps group was a mounted patrol of I believe three horses and riders. Some might say there was overkill. Some might say it was On the Job training. Others might and did say thanks guys.
Keeping in mind that the events took place on the street, the turf of Montgomery county, the back boundary was the iron fence, across which was the hospital, presumably a military reservation and the turf of hospital security. There was a lone hospital security SUV that patrolled the large grassy fields behind both groups. We were literally surrounded.
There was a freelance reporter there. He had been at the Walter Reed Hospital Freep the night before and was at the Correspondents dinner later Saturday as well. I’m not sure of his objective but he spent a lot of time observing and interviewing Freepers. I’m told his name was Kevin and a good guy.
There was a crew of 4 or 5 TV types. The arrived early on and took shots of the DC Chapter erecting banners and setting up. They then went down to get their footage of the bad guys. They didn’t stay very long. They came back to the American zone and stayed the rest of the day. The arrival of Rolling Thunder and their colorful individuals provided good TV and interviews. I don’t think they ere news types. I think they were doing a documentary for the Hospital.
I think there were other press people present but not major and certainly not bigtime TV.
So what was the point of it all? Was it worth all the time and energy and money?
That brings up the biggest group. These were the motorists who drove up and down the heavily traveled street. They were the primary recipients of the messages. The Phelps clan presented churlish faces and garish dayglo pink and green signs that offended both the eye and the mind. Graphic depictions of homosexual conduct are repulsive.
Freepers presented an overwhelming message of red, white and blue….. many many flags rippling in the good breeze. There were many positive signs and smiling faces. Some said “Honk if……” and the drivers responded. There were simple toot toots and many prolonged toots. There were lots of waves and thumbs up. It would be wrong to say that all who passed were in agreement, but there were several periods when the honking was near continuous. The motorists probably did not know what the Phelps clan was protesting but the Freeper counter message was abundantly Ameican and clear There are American Troops that need to be supported.
Lastly, there were groups who were not present. There were no Bethesda Naval Hospital patients present to receive the vile message from the Phelps Clan. Given the fact their area was far from the gate it is reasonable to assume practically no one inside the fence was even aware of the event.
Most importantly there was no Media. The event went unreported. It did not clutter the TV news. The vicious antiwar media establishment in DC ignored the Phelps Clan.
There was a lesson from the Bethesda Naval Hospital Freep of June 29, 2006. The Phelps had their 15 seconds in the spotlight and that time is over. The Phelps Clan is but a very minor footnote in American History..
I saw your, ahem, "impatient" comment on Kristinn's thread and thought I'd better get the lead out! Thanks for waiting and please add all you want to this thread. :)
Thank you sooooo much for bringing the FReepups and Wheelbarrow and having a great time with us this weekend.
LOL! Another phrase (even pithier) would be "INCEST MUTANTS" or "MUTANT ZOO".
The feathers are too pretty for them, but I like the sentiment.
Question is, what are you doing checking out the Clowns? They're as sick as Phelps. Now go take a shower.
Glad to see you made it home safely. You sure brought some nice weather.
Perfect addition, Bert!
And, I heard that their spies had already posted "not so nice" things about me and this graphic! I had to see. I hope they got the message but I'm sure they are too dense for the 'real' meaning! Wanna bet how quickly this one makes it on their site? Going to take that shower now.
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I am sorry for excessive finger tapping!, I am just a grapic/photo nerd & couldn't wait to see what everyone else captured on pix & what their comments were! Your thread is much more thorough than mine would have been.
guess I haven't been there enough to know.. the few times I was, I saw attempts to put various FReepers down but I also saw some defending various ones.
I would much rather be with Clown Posse people than Code Pink, Phelps Phreaks, etc. - guess everything is relative in life & I try NOT to let myself get worked up over folks who don't like me. Life is much too short. So if they want to crucify me somewhere else, so be it!
Good report.
You wrote such an extensive report and ended with a great conclusion that I recommend you edit the date you mistakenly wrote, ask a mod to delete that post and repost it with the correct date - April 29.
Thanks for being there and describing your observations and insights so well.
Went over to CP. I don't normally go to their site. I don't know what their beef is with FReepers, but I have no particular animus toward them. I wish them well. There's enough lefties to go around.
To Dean Wormer: Not too much effort. Glad you liked the sign. Have a nice day!
I am glad that they agree with us about the Phelpsians. WBC must be opposed.
I had a lot of help from Trooprally [Mr. and Mrs.]. I like posting pictures a lot more than writing, too!
Arguments can be made pro and con about being up close the Phreaks. Personally I think as cars sped by they would have had trouble discerning us from the Freaks if we had been positioned right next to them. As traffic traveled northbound on Wisconsin the first thing they saw was the Freaks vile signs ... and then us. A little distance was appropriate.
I'd see if differently if I thought we could have blocked their signs from view.
BTW, JJNJ, I bummed the cigar off of TR.
.....There was a lesson from the Bethesda Naval Hospital Freep of June 29, 2006......
Actually, the lesson was learned on April 29, 2006 not June.
Bad Bert, Bad Bert.
Hey, sweetie, maybe we will all be together in DC for something on the 29th June.. ???
don't worry about it..I am still writing 19__ on checks!
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