Seeing Red in SoCal: FReepers Take On The [American?] Red Crass (Pics inside!)

3/10/02

[AnnaZ]

Fed up FReepers got together on a flawless (sunny, breezy, warm) SoCal day (as planned: Kids' chance to sing dissolves in discord MY TITLE: Red Cross Double Cross) to let The (American?) Red Crass know how some of us feel about their exclusionary philosophy.

 

(Which, in case you just got out of your Y2K bunker, can be explained even further by following these links):

**UPDATE** Red Cross BANS Declaration of Independence and God Bless the USA

Red Cross nixes 'God' from 9-11 program [also Call for Boycott]

News Release: American Red Cross Statement Regarding Orange County High School Music Program

 

FReepers BadJoe and WillaJohns provided signs and refreshments and FReeper seenenuf gave up five years of lurking to finally sign up, log on and join us.

 

We were photographed and interviewed by the Orange County Register, and received pretty decent support from people entering the Hyatt parking lot. (Okay, and one guy who yelled at us to "get a G*dd@#^ life.)

 

As a bonus, when we were leaving, we met a man approaching with his own sign, a man who had called around and found out on his own where these people could be protested. A FReeper in the making! Love the self-motivation.

 

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[rwfromkansas]

There were some shocking allegations about the Red Cross using funds for advertising and violating its own policies of helping everyone, regardless of insurance coverage.

It focused a lot on the San Fran...or maybe was the San Diego...chapter.

But anyway, it was not a very positive piece.

I am taping the 9-11 special right now. I think it would be wise to do so in case I would want to show it to my classes when I get start college, get off on my own and teach history to students. I am a senior in HS right now, so it is not that far off. Frankly, 9-11 may end up being a tremendous historical event and I thought I better be prepared....showing video inside the towers would do much more to get kids emotions going about the attack than anything I could ever say.

[WillaJohns]

What was the reaction of the people walking and driving by?

We first set up on the corner of Main and Jamboree, which was a ways down from the entrance to the hotel. Seenenuf had the brilliant idea to move down to the driveway to the hotel, the main driveway where everyone attending the function had to come through and get a long view of our signs. Before we moved most of the drivers looked with bored expressions on their faces, typical Orange County, busy with their own lives, places to go things to do. We had a few honks but I had the feeling most of the people didn't know what was going on.

After we moved was another story. Every single participant in the Red Cross luncheon passed us by. We got a bunch of honks and thumbs up. One older lady with a car full of other older ladies stopped (all the other cars behind her had to wait) and asked us where to park. We told her we didn't know, we were protesting the Red Cross's actions. She said, "I know, we're all very upset about it."

I'm sure most of these people work very hard in their volunteer efforts and perhaps their eyes have been opened. Having a group standing on the corner outraged to the point of picketing with signs can't hurt.

All in all, and speaking only for myself, I feel much better having stood on that corner with my signs. I had my "voice" heard and feel like I've done SOMETHING about the Red Cross and their anti-American position.

One last note: A man carrying a sign similar to ours came up to us when we were packing to leave. He had driven by earlier, gone home and made a sign and come back. He has never heard of Free Republic. Apparently he went inside the hotel before he came out to see us and protested inside until they kicked him out. This man is a freeper and he doesn't even know it.

[afraidfortherepublic]

And I got to use my new "Big Boy's little red wagon", The tool cart you see in the one pictre. It was damn handy to hall FR bumber stickers, the cooler, the boombox and tools to fix and make signs. It was a 'birfday' present fer me from Willa.

Kewl! I was admiring that. Did you bring it in a van or a truck?

[Snow Bunny]

I am so blessed to have met you all on here at FR. I am proud to know you all.

[afraidfortherepublic]

... 9-11 may end up being a tremendous historical event...

That is the understatement of the year!

[BADJOE]

In my pick up truck.

[StopGlobalWhining]

Terrific job folks! Love the pics. I second the suggestion to just call them REDS.

[WillaJohns]

Great fix on that pix. Thank you!

[diotima]

ANNA! You should have called! Bob and I were at ANV's and drove home right past it. IN FACT, we called Joe and Willa because we were going to stop by on our way home. (No one was home.)

Next time, for sure.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Well, it's a great idea to bring something like your cart for all the stuff Freeps need. Angelwood uses a shopping cart, but it is not as easy to sort through stuff as it would be on your cart. Congratulations on an effective FReep. I wonder when we are going to hear about this on the national news?

One guy that is getting off scot free on this question is the principal of the school where this choir is associated. What a jerk for taking sides AGAINST the teacher! He deserves a good FReep too -- or at least a few letters.

I hope Fox News invites this choir to perform on air. I'd love to hear their tribute to the victims and the rescuers of 9/11.

[Quix]

THANKS 4 A GREAT JOB!

[Quix]

THANKS 4 A GREAT JOB!

[VaMarVet]

Kudos on a job that needed done. Thank you all so much for taking a stand on this issue. Just when you think people are starting to "get it" an organization goes and pulls another stunt like this latest PC action by the Red Cross. Thanks again and Eagles Up!

[MissAmericanPie]

Oh, this is great! Cuddo's AnnaZ and all the attending Freepers.

[breakem]

10-4

[henbane]

I'm sure most of these people work very hard in their volunteer efforts and perhaps their eyes have been opened.

Having a group standing on the corner outraged to the point of picketing with signs can't hurt.

A standing ovation for a great Red Crass FREEP.

You can be sure you Freepers opened a lot of eyes and got many people talking who had no idea of the Red Cross Double-Cross outrage.

GREAT JOB!

[WaterDragon]

That sign saying the word God is on $, so don't send your $ to the Red Cross!

[seenenuf]

bring it in a truck ? ? ? And the rest of the story is,,,,BadJoe and Willa also brought an electric scooter, just to fetch what ever from the parking lot. That's service!

[Faraday]

I just heard the story about the Red Cross banning the children on CBS (?) national radio news on WISN in Milwaukee. Didn't mention the FReep, but you have drawn the attention of the media. Congratulations. I really believe that the media monitors FR to know what is going on and what people are thinking.

[lowbridge]

bump