[RedWing9]

Post your thoughts, pictures or other links here...

[Amerigomag]

Hit the wrong topic button did you?

[cfrels]

Great Rally, Great Job Chicagoland Freepers! Do you think the Commies are still over in the corner banging their drums?

[Chi-townChief]

A quick repost:

The Harleys (Rolling Thunder Club, I believe)were fantastic! Somebody mentioned that it was like a fly-over. The only problem was the one pass they made during a prayer but the lady who was leading it proceeded valiantly to the completion. AMEN!!!

And:

I also dug that semi that came by laying on the air horn, the driver giving us the thumbs-up.

[SierraWasp]

How did this thread get here with no mandated TITLE?

[RedWing9]

A bump to some of my FReeper friends. I also want you to know that the 5p news here made NO mention of the Rally for America outside of Chicago. They mentioned all the other anti-war protests, but not once the FRN.

[MinuteGal]

Congrats to all Chicagoland freepers! I was at the Sarasota, Florida rally today, but my heart was with all youse Windy guys, also. See ya when I make my next trip northward!

Leni

[sistergoldenhair]

Awesome turnout! Well done Chicagoland FReepers.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

This was my "report" from the other "live" thread, posted around 5:15pm:

Missed seeing you there. Today's circumstances dictated that I could only be there for the last hour, but I loved every minute of it. Loved the fact that we outnumbered the COMMIE Anti-American demonstrator idiots 3 to 1. WOO HOO!!!!!!! I think the cops were grateful that we were the peaceful ones. Did you all notice that the RIOT POLICE were all located on the south side of the Federal Plaza?!!!

Just heard Andy quoted on WLS-AM - the 50,000 watt blower!!!!!! WAY TO GO, ANDY!!!!!!!!

[GRRRRR]

As promised, MORE pictures from today---Much THANKS to KevHead for putting these on his site for us to link... HERE

Hugs to ALL, GRRRRR

[harpo11]

Bravo Chi-Town Patriots!!! Most Awesome sight this town has seen in years.

[822mpwife]

if you want to send a nasty email to fox news...go to FOXCHICAGO.com and click on VIEWER FEEDBACK!

[822mpwife]

Here's the email I sent Fox News....

This is regarding the Support our Troops Rally coverage.
I'm sorry, but you guys interviewed me and nt only did you show only the BEGINNING of the Support our Troops Rally but only a single line from my interview. You made it look like I was there because I was angry with the antiwar protesters, not because my husband is over there fighting this war and I wanted to support him and all the other soldiers. My 3 small children and I are at home wishing he was here! They ask for him every day! And the sooner this war is over the better, but I am proud of his being there. I am proud to be an American! And I am proud to say that I beleive this war couldn't be avoided and Iraq needs to be free! My husband is doing what he's meant to do and what he joined the army to do! His 6 month old daughter won't even know who he is when he comes home, and his children will be afraid every time he walks out the door that he's leaving again. But he's there and we are surviving and I'll do anything it takes to support him and his fellow soldiers. And from the numbers at the rally (which weren't portrayed correctly by you!), there is a majority that will too!
Sincerely,
Ann Mulligan

[822mpwife]

Found this on FoxChicago.com---a whole 2 sentences about the rally (more of the protests)

Anti-war Protesters March Across Country

(3/22/03) — Tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators, spanning 30 blocks, marched down Broadway on Saturday as part of a fresh cross-country protest drive against intensified war on Iraq. Military backers also showed their support in cities around the country.

In Chicago, troop supporters came within 20 feet of anti-war activists outside a federal building. As the protesters shouted, "killers, killers, killers," a military backer yelled back, "idiots, idiots, idiots."

Carrying peace signs and wearing costumes, demonstrators in New York streamed toward Washington Square Park. By midday, police estimated the crowd at 40,000, but within an hour said it had climbed considerably higher. March organizers later Saturday said it was closer to 200,000. "I believe if you really want to show `shock and awe,' you should show love and justice," said Bob Edgar, an officer at the National Council of Churches.

Carol Laverne wore a pair of angel's wings and carried a sign saying "Thou shall not kill." Susan Sonz and her 9-year-old son, Ruben, came to the march from their home near the World Trade Center ground zero site. The boy carried a sign saying, "Ground Zero kids against the war." "We don't want to see more innocent people die," Sonz said. Some celebrities joined in, including actors Roy Scheider, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, and singer Patti Smith. "We support the troops, but we do not support the president," said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., a Korean War veteran.

About 2,000 police were assigned to the rally, including undercover officers with beeper-sized radiation detectors and other counter-terrorism measures. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly surveyed the march from 35th Street. No arrests were reported, but police chased some protesters who had moved onto a side street away from the park. "Things are peaceful and moving fairly quickly," he said.

In Washington, several hundred protesters, chanting "No blood for oil," strode through the streets and rallied in front of the White House. Their pink and orange signs read "No war against Iraq" and "Money for unemployment, not war." In Lansing, Mich., war supporters rallied at the state Capitol with American flags. Patriotic music rang out, and the crowd of hundreds chanted "USA." Backers of the American military also converged on a baseball stadium in Millington, Tenn., home to a military base, to voice support for the troops.

At the stadium, Ricky Hunt held a poster with an 8-by-10 photograph of a young Marine he knows in Iraq. He also slung a Marine Corps flag over his shoulder. "We're really tired of all the protesters. I don't understand them. I think they ought to remember where they got their freedom," Hunt said. Abroad, tens of thousands of angry protesters from London to Japan again marched against the war. Some denounced their governments for backing the United States.

Since the outbreak of war, peace demonstrations have spread to dozens of American cities large and small in one of the widest outpourings of anti-government protesting in many years. Anti-war activists have blocked traffic, sat in at federal buildings, prayed at somber candlelight vigils, and laid down on sidewalks to symbolize the war dead. Mostly smaller counterdemonstrations have sprung up too, appealing for support of the invasion or U.S. troops. Nearly all protests have been peaceful, though scuffling with police broke out on a few occasions. More than 3,000 arrests have been made, usually as police tried to clear streets and keep buildings open.

[CyberCowboy777]

You got coverage in Portland, OR!

Good coverage -

The Anti's were screaming "KILLERS" at you and you were yelling back "IDIOTS"!

The anchor had a hard time not laughing!

[Bigun]

FANTASTIC!!!

GREAT JOB!!!

GREAT Pics!

Thank you all!

[March I up]

OUTSTANDING! Indubitably, the message of support for our troops & the Iraqi people was ennunciated, in a most vocal fashion! My congratulations to both the organizers & participants: the attendees were palpably left with a hunger for more such events!

I myself was very much impressed with the seamless quality of the entire event; spontenaity & impromptu events blended together with the program as if all were choreographed from beforehand. The MC did a masterful perfromance! Such a pity that the media trivializes & sensationalizes the issues by gratuitously inserting antagonism; a true (& unanswered) debate was unfolding. The incisive logic of the points made was equalled only by the deep conviction of the sentiments expressed. The press has done themselves a grave disservice by merely focussing on the superficial. Yet such to a lamentably large extent is our "free press", as is well-known.

The presence of the Assyrian community also truly bolstered the stand taken; I had the pleasure of enging one individual in brief conversation who stated that what was happening in Iraq right now was "a dream come true". Prayer for the Iraqi people underscored that our fight is not with them, but with the malignacy of the evil regime.

The crowd was marvellous, overflowing the packed plaza to all surrounding streets. The enthusiam was too contagious. All ages & all walks of life were represented. I myself journeyed down from Waukegan (30 miles north) via train. I perceived before the next stop that a couple, two seats behind me, were also rally-bound. I have the full assurance that many more such were on that train before we arrived downtown. Demonstrably, heretofore reticent citizens are willing to pay the price to vocalize their support for our troops & commander-in-chief.

I was gratified to see so many FReepers old & new. I am very grateful for the efforts of those who organized this event!

Thank you all...

[Dengar01]

We made the front page of the Chicago Sun Times!!!

[unspun]

Happy sunny Sundsy... Let's all finish documenting yesterday's rally as it's convenient, including any speeches and summary of comments. I wonder of we can get the texts of speakers such as Roger Plummer, Patrick O'Malley, etc. And maybe even RW9! --and the rest of the FReepers!

Here is my speech at the end of the event. (Have done just a wee, wee bit of "revising and extending of my remarks," which I sort of did there, too.) If anyone does sees something of value in it, use it! No charge.
---

(Began with prayer for our troops and their families.)

Thank you all for coming and showing our bravest of citizens across the world that America rallies for freedom!

 

I'm the last one to speak.  That means I can edit my message way down, because most of it has already been given... ;-` so I can be brief.

 

Our citizens engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom face giving their last full measure of devotion, as Lincoln said, to the cause of liberty and virtue.  At times they are looking over their shoulders to see how those at home regard them.  Patriots of America, do you appreciate the members of our American Armed Forces!?

 

We will not let the voice of America be usurped by people lead by the Marxist/Stalinists of the Workers World Party, who call themselves A.N.S.W.E.R.

 

But those who protest against Operation Iraqi Freedom have something to teach us.  They teach us the dangers of a failed public school system and especially they show us what we get, when American History is not taught with intellectual honesty in our public schools.

 

You know, I appreciate your joi d'vie, your esprit du corps!  0ops... Pardon my French!

 

I love the French, but you have to wonder, what's up when history records that a nations's greatest war hero since the dark ages was a teenage farm maiden... and they had her captured because she wanted to fight for her country?  ...must be someting in the grapes, I guess.

But since we have such confusing and self-conflicting assessments out of the American media, let me suggest a quick way to test what America's purposes in the world should be: Listen to what France is suggesting and just assume the opposite....

And how about Hollywood?  [immediately received by boos]  Now some of those guys are all-right, but I suggest we begin a citizen's campaign of diplomacy with Hollywood, with emails and by phone, calling out, "Hollywood - dismantle your weapons of mass dysfunction!"

 

I love your spirit.  Let me test your knowledge.  What individual or group is the hightest ruler of America?  Who is America's sovereign authority?  [We are!  The People!]  Yes, that's right, "We the People" are and thank God we elected a President and a Congressional majority {ed. note: Congressional majority, in some ways] which upholds the Creator endowed rights of the People! -- and which defends our lives and liberties!

  

But we've been hearing a wagon load of lies told against America and our government.  We keep hearing the Blame America Firsters telling lies about why we have gone into Iraq.  As surely as the cause of freedom tore down the Berlin wall, we call out to all the citizens of our nation, of every party and every role, even our news reporters: Americans, "tear down" those lies....

 

Here are some of those lies:

 

Opposers of the defense of freedom say it's all about the oil.

--We say, it may be, for France, but now the oil of Iraq will be the oil of the formerly oppressed and starved and  tyrranized People of Iraq.

 

Opposers of the defense of freedom say that we are wrong to be unilateralists who don't act according to the authority of the United Nations.

--We say, we are leading a coalition of well over 30 respectable nations and we do not accept any authority over the sovereign United States of America.

 

Opposers of the defense of freedom say that we're being distracted by Iraq, from the War on Terrorism.

--We say that the B'ath Socialist Regime of Saddam Hussein was a terrorist regime and notice I said, "was."  And they made known their intentions to terrorize and destroy America, Israel and other free nations.  And by the way, we're continuing to smoke all rest of the terrorists out of their holes, too, wherever they are in the world.

 

Opposers to the defense of freedom say that our advance on Iraq tempts North Korea to aggression.

--We say, Dear Kim Jong Il, Take a look at what is happening in Iraq and know that should it become necessary, we've got the big stuff prepared for you.

 

Opposers of the defense of freedom say that a bold stance in the Arab world means that we hate Muslims.

--We say we love all people, whether or not each understands the nature of their own beliefs.  We even love any enemies we may have to kill in battle.  Whodathunkit?  But we do, because that is our way of life.  But while many Muslims love fredom, and many Americans are Muslim, we are under attack by the militance of Islamism and we do not fail to recognize it.

 

Opposers of the defense of freedom say that we are biased in our support of Israel.

--We say without ambiguity:  The call of the freedom of Israel and the peace of Jerusalem is the very beating heart of the hope of freedom, for all the world.  In fact, a test of whether one is truly free in one's own heart and mind may be made by answering to oneself: Are you committed to the maintenance of a free and well defended nation of Israel?

 

Opposers of the defense of freedom have called Operation Iraqi Freedom an unjust, "pre-emptive attack."

--We say this is a resumption of the suspended assault on Iraq which began with thier invasion of Kuwait on their way to Saudi Arabia twelve years ago.  Imagine the millions of lives saved, had we driven back Hitler's invasion of the Sudatenland, and then after repeated violations of the terms of his surrender, we then continuted to liberate Germany from the Nazis in the Thirties.  How many millions of lives would have been saved?
  Now imagine the terrible evil of Saddam Hussein and the B'ath Socialist Party with weapons of mass destruction including nuclear missles, holding the entire Middle East hostage and taking control.  We Americans have learned from history.  Never again, can we allow such an evil empire to form and dominate a region.

Opposers of the defense of freedom have tried to use any means to slander our President.  They criticized his Texas straight talk, they've called him a smirking shallow thinker and... a dangerous "cowboy."

--But there is an appraisal greater than the antagonistic judgements that come from the DNC and their faxes to the media.  There is a virtue by which a President may most accurately  be evaluated... and that is the virtue of wisdom.  And let me tell you something...

 

I believe that American History will record George W. Bush as being one of the very wisest Presidents in the history of the United States of America.

 

And in closing, with our precious security forces abroad and our first responder community at home... with our People and our People's God, to quote our President:

We will not waver,

We will not tire,

We will not falter,

And we will not fail.

Peace & Freedom will prevail!

Peace & Freedom will prevail!  Peace & Freedom will prevail...!

May God continue to bless the Unted States of America!

[Barnacle]

Nice going. I wish I could have been there too.