Raleigh NC, Patriot Rally Report

me | February 15, 2003 | mykdsmom

[mykdsmom]

It's a GREAT day for a FReep. We had a fantastic turnout at our rally to support our troops. At our largest point we had 100 people. Not bad for having 5 days to organize.

Suprisingly most of the people that showed up were not FReepers but rather people that had seen our rally mentioned in the newspaper and/or heard it on TV. All free advertising that didn't cost us a dime. One attendee is in advertising for a local paper that the peace rally advertised in. The peace people took out 2 full page ads to promote their rally. She informed us that the going rate for one full page ad is $10,000. Wonder where that money came from?

We will be having a lot of new FReepers signing up after this rally based on the responses that we got from people.

FReepers that were there were Constitution Day, wimpycat and hubby, overtaxed, blackbag, Helms, ncweaver, Jimidallas, dstarr, JNW74, shaunnc, shapka, mattwilloughby and daughter, GOP Pat, mykdsmom. I apologize if I left anyone out, I really tried to talk to everyone to find out if they were FReepers or not.

dstarr and her veteran hubby came up from Fayetteville, we had 2 women come all the way from Wilmington which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive away. They just lurk on FR but hopefully they will sign up.

One father came and brought several children that are all homeschooled. This rally was part of teaching them about their country and the freedoms they enjoy by living here. I can't think of a better way to do it.

I was pleased to see the number of young college age students on our side. It really gives me hope for our future generation.

We thanked the police officers that were there and they thanked us in return for showing up. They were definately on our side. I asked one officer for an estimate of how many showed up on the pro-peace side. He claimed they were saying 7,000 but he estimated closer to 2000-3000 total. Only one arrest though so everyone was fairly well behaved.

We got the bull-horns fired up and had some fairly good hearted banter back and forth across the street.

I will post the pictures that I took and welcome anyone to add to this because I'm sure I left some things out.

MKM

[ncweaver]

Guess it depends on what the meaning of "is" is or the meaning of "patriotic" is. Guess we need to be more "sensitive" to their little patriotic feelings. /sarcasm

[Overtaxed]

I've got your "sensitivity" right here.

[Ides of March]

Wonder what kind of girls they were figuring to meet.

Perhaps the one in front with the green hair?

[Overtaxed]

LOL!

[ncweaver]

Perhaps the one in front with the green hair?

Or perhaps the one who walked in front of us with the peace sign made out of twigs and leaves?

[Overtaxed]

Yeah....Topiary Girl!

[Howlin]

I missed you guys yesterday; I've been on FORCED (as in "I best do it here or you can call me at Rex") bedrest for "the walking pneumonia," as my grandmother use to call it, since late Friday.

But I did see you all on TV late last night; you all looked great! And you certainly seemed saner than the pinkos they had on camera for the haters. (Where DO they find those women??)

[wimpycat]

Oh, I hope you get better soon!

My mom saw us on the news, and she saw the female from the other side who was interviewed, who said, "I don't believe Iraq has WMD's and even if they did, they are a long way away from us." My mom said they should put people like that on TV more often, to show how stupid they are.

[Howlin]

I saw her, too! I hardly know what to make about people like that. Except that I don't want them NEAR me. (That's why I'm staying away from my in-laws.)

[wndycndy]

Great job Freepers!!!!!!!!!!

[mykdsmom]

We missed you Howlin and you missed a HE!! of a great time.

Hope you're feeling better soon. Doesn't look like you'd be going anywhere today anyhow. We just went out to the car to try and go to the camper show at the fairgrounds. We ended up coming back in the house, there was a thick coating of ice on all of the windows of the car and the braches were starting to get covered. Looks like we're gonna get hit again, lets hope we keep our power this time.

MKM

[ncweaver]

OH NO...I can't believe how many people are sick! We are dealing with the flu over here which is why I'm up at 3 AM. Just praying I don't get it, but my chances of avoiding it are probably SLIM.

Take care of yourself! Maybe we can get together for our March 4th FR meeting.

[Howlin]

Hey, at least we have power!

[dei23]

Why is the press not asking who is funding these so-called "anti-war" protests? The World Workers Party is one of the groups behind and funding the protest. Here is their stated view "What is our basic view? We're for socialism." There is an agenda behind the "anti-war" movement and it has little if anything to do with war.

I have begun e-mail the press to ask them this very question.

[Constitution Day]

BTTT

[rintense]

I am so proud of you guys!!!!

[Constitution Day]

Peaceniks on the Confederate Monument.
Note what appears to be a Palestinian flag held (appropriately) left of center in the photo.

Wider shot of the peacenik crowd. Sorry about the minivan!

[Constitution Day]

Ping!

Photo taken looking down our side.
Guy in green jacket just read about the rally in the paper; arm in camo jacket belongs to FReeper 'dstarr'.

More of OUR SIDE!
The gentleman in the VFW hat is dstarr's husband.
I believe I saw a Bronze Star on his hat. Thanks for your service, and for coming out to join us!

[Constitution Day]

BUMP

[NeoCaveman]

Good job Bud.

Damn, do I hate hippies.