Rally for America - Lone Star Style! (LIVE THREAD)

Live reports from Dallas | 05/28/2003 | Interesting Times

[Interesting Times]

Good morning, campers.

Yesterday in Dallas, Texas, members of GreenPeace and other assorted leftists pestered attendees at the annual Exxon-Mobil shareholders meeting by way of expressing their loathing for free-market capitalism. As is their custom, most of the leftists managed to get themselves arrested in the process. Nothing new there.

Today we're offering something a bit different -- a rally in celebration of capitalism.

[Interesting Times]

ReaganGirl reports that things have quieted a bit, with all the shareholders inside the building. The union folks have yet to emerge from their meeting in the church.

[Interesting Times]

From the press release:

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TEXAS CITIZENS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF USA

FREE ENTERPRISE AND AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE TO BE CELEBRATED DURING EXXON-MOBIL ANNUAL MEETING

DALLAS – In a show of strength and solidarity of cause, citizens from across Texas and the nation will be rallying in front of The Morton H. Meyerson Center in Dallas to express their support for the USA at a time when some have sought to drag it down.

Members of the Texas Chapters of FreeRepublic.com, the Free Republic Network, Texas Citizens for a Sound Economy (TCSE), Texas Citizens Action Network (TexasCAN) and The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) along with other Texas citizens feel the Exxon-Mobil Shareholders meeting is the perfect place to rally.

“This annual meeting is the embodiment of the American free enterprise system at its best,” said Kenda Spaulding, contact for the FreeRepublic Chapter of North Texas. “Corporations like Exxon-Mobil are among America’s largest employers, and citizens who invest their money in a great company like Exxon-Mobil help to provide jobs and stimulate the economy. They are the life blood of our economy and we want them and everyone else to know that we support them and love our country.”

The rally will feature hundreds of citizens and a colorful bit of street theater as a way of expressing support for the USA. “Our men and women in uniform are protecting our way of life while anarchists are screaming invectives,” Spaulding added. “What they don’t seem to want to acknowledge is that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness aren’t possible without oil – just ask the Iraqis.”

[Interesting Times]

The latest from AP (about 3 hours ago).

It will be interesting to see if the national establishment media has any interest in rallies by *supporters* of capitalism.

Based on their dismal coverage of the pro-troops rallies, I'd say probably not.

Paging Fox News...

[Smile-n-Win]

The centerpiece of the rally is a *huge* banner featuring cute stick children with big smiley faces, butterflies, green trees under a rainbow. And an oil rig. It reads:

"Oil - For the Children!"

GREAT job! Love the other signs, too!

[Smile-n-Win]

Some of their signs: ... Stop Corporate Greed. ...

Wow, now there's an imaginative slogan. Very novel, too...

[Interesting Times]

Ms. AntiFeminazi says she'll post photos later, including shots of the classic 'For the Children' banner.

The oil-loathing leftists evidently have no idea how food gets to the cities...

[William McKinley]

Even more scary, I believe that some of them do understand how food gets to cities. They are fully aware of what they really want.

[Interesting Times]

ReaganGirl reports that at 10:17 Central Time the last RedPeace protestor packed up its signs and departed, leaving the field in the hands of the proponents of capitalism and freedom. The latter still number about 50, and media coverage continues both inside and outside the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Hall.

You know, I used to work for Mort at EDS. Of course, that was before he turned into a Symphony Hall.

[Interesting Times]

By the way, kudos go to hellinahandcart for creating the 'For the Children' banner.

[Interesting Times]

Even more scary, I believe that some of them do understand how food gets to cities. They are fully aware of what they really want.

And that understanding is the line that divides the communists from the useful idiots.

[Smile-n-Win]

ReaganGirl reports that at 10:17 Central Time the last RedPeace protestor packed up its signs and departed, leaving the field in the hands of the proponents of capitalism and freedom.

Victory! If it weren't for Freepers, the RedPeaceniks would probably still be there.

Way to go, Texas Freepers!

(Wonder if the media will still begin their questions asking, "Even though you're outnumbered...")

[Registered]

You are giving them more intellectual credit than they deserve. They are simply fools.

[Interesting Times]

One of our guys wandered over to the former site of the RedPeace gathering and picked up an interesting sign. It had 'Exxon-Mobil' covered by a red circle with slash, and the legend "Don't Fuel Discrimination."

On the bottom, in small print, is the following:

Paid for by the Human Rights Campaign, Equality Project, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Transgender Advocacy Coalition, Out and Equal, PFLAG, and Pride at Work.

This charming little sample of spontaneous grassroots activism also sports a 'union bug' and a 'recycle paper' symbol.

[Interesting Times]

The RedPeace ecothugs arrested yesterday were released a few minutes ago. It isn't clear if they will try to hassle the shareholders after the meeting ends about an hour from now.

If so, their efforts may be impeded by the fact that Exxon-Mobil has obtained a restraining order against GreenPeace. If they get within a couple of blocks of the Meyerson center, it's back to the pokey.

[Interesting Times]

ReaganGirl reports that during an earlier conversation an Exxon shareholder mentioned that at last year's meeting the leftist protesters were so abusive that many attendees expected to be physically attacked. 'GreenThug' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Of course if you remove intimidation from their arsenal, the leftists don't really have all that much left -- it isn't like they're going to persuade anybody with rational argument. Even having a largely sympathetic media doesn't help. During the Battle of Iraq, local TV affiliates were begging the national networks to quit endlessly airing the anti-war protests, because every time they did people reached for the remote.

[Interesting Times]

With no sign of RedPeace monkeywrenchers in sight, the pro-capitalism Rally is now wrapping up on schedule, having dined on a fine repast of sandwiches and chips.

Freepers who attended are welcome to add their thoughts and observations to this thread when they get home.

Congratulations to all who participated.

FRegards,
I.T.

[The Shrew]

I loved the fact that I DROVE to work today. I get to exercise for fun and not because I have to ride a bike ten miles to get to work! Did I tell you it's all uphill?

Great Work!

TS

[Interesting Times]

ping.

[The Shrew]

I had the great good fortune to see hellinahandcart's sign and it is simply outstanding! The perfect parody of the Redpiece type of artwork!

Outstanding!

TS

[Interesting Times]

I loved the fact that I DROVE to work today. I get to exercise for fun and not because I have to ride a bike ten miles to get to work! Did I tell you it's all uphill?

Uphill both ways, right?

New cars emit 95% less pollutants than those of 20 years ago. Previously dry oil wells are mysteriously regenerating. The air, land and rivers are far cleaner than in the 70's. Former members of GreenPeace are rethinking their cult teachings and writing awful, hateful books. The best solution to pollution appears to be (gasp!) capitalism and technology.

What a dismal time to be a eco-alarmist.