Joined a little protest today

[blonndee]

at my campus. It was small, and we got hassled quite a bit. A few people threw plastic bottles and kicked trash at these three guys who were dressed up like hooded "detainees" and kneeling w/leashes around their necks. Those guys were GOOD too. Very brave young men. I was one of about six or seven who had actually brought a sign.

It was a little intimidating, a LOT harder than the giant DC protest, since we were so outnumbered among the snickering sorority girls and the smartass young Rethug-types who shouted "I looooooveee George Bush" and other such witticisms. Funny thing, the only people who got angry were the ones who were supposedly on the "freedom-lovin" side (THEIR side, obviously). One armed forces guy got up in the leader's face, doing the intimidation-chest thing. He got all red in the face and was screaming at the top of his lungs, saying that we didn't know jack shit about "being in Iraq." But the protest leader was calm and spoke to him reasonably, despite the angry guy trying to scare him and throwing a fit. Finally the police persuaded the screaming guy to get out of his face. I didn't really get into anything ugly with anyone--one guy called me an idiot and said that the war was helping Iraqis. So I just told him that if he supported the war so much, he should enlist. He just looked at me so I continued, "yeah, you should enlist. If this war is about protecting our freedoms, why aren't you in Iraq helping? You're just sitting here, going to school, ENJOYING those comforts and freedoms while OTHER guys get to die." I really expected him to argue, but he didn't say ANYthing else. (Not that this war IS about that, but HE thinks it is.)

Why is it that they consider themselves patriotic but don't DO anything, while those of us who DO get involved and CARE about the soldiers are the unAmerican ones?!? It's frustrating....

One positive note, the police were really cool, which surprised me a little, to tell you the truth. I mean, this is Oklahoma and nearly everyone is conservative. Not that I think a conservative police officer wouldn't do his or her job correctly, but what I mean is, they weren't sarcastic or rude or anything with us. They even asked us when the crowd died down as classes started again if we were going to stay awhile, so they could stay too to make sure everything went smoothly. (They did have one guy in a black suit taking pictures of us with a telephoto lens, though. Weird. I kept giving him the peace sign.)

So anyway, just thought I'd share and vent a little...I'm glad I did it. I just wish more people would wake up and care enough about this to at least stand in one spot and hold a freaking sign.

[babylonsister]

1. Good for you, blonndee! I applaud your efforts

and you did a great job with the guy who called you an 'idiot'. You made him pause, and dare I wish, think! :applause:

[Demaholic]

2. you're in a blood red state

that's for sure...

Nice work!

[adigal]

3. Kudos to you!! You give me hope for the future

especially knowing that there are so many neo-cons in training in colleges.

Thank you for doing this for all of us.

[uppityperson]

4. Good job!

Good job staying peaceful also, can be difficult when people are ranting at you. Thanks for protesting, brave person.

[ret5hd]

5. power to ya...from a tulsa native. (nt)

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Sounds good!

I agree with you on the whole freedom ordeal. They proclaim it but don't do shit themselves. My grandfather was in the navy when he didn't have to (his brothers were in WW2) and he was against Iraq and thought Bush was a moron. I always miss him. :( But I think it's great you went out and glad the police were great to you guys. :) :yourock:

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Good fer you

I just twsited knee, so I had to stay home

As to that I still remember my first demo, we were oh 16 of us... it was intimidatign for one out of two well didn't like us... I think that was the ratio, might have been higher against us.

now well last vigil we had one disruptor and one counter protestor, and yes there is a difference.

Anyhow... good for you, tellign this guy to enlist, shuts them off FAST

[Talismom]

8. What you did was very courageous and patriotic and I'm glad you shared

your experiences and observations. I could really see how it could be frightening to join a small protest in such an environment--having never lived in such a place. But it's so important that people there be exposed to a different point of view, so what you did has real meaning! I was impressed that you could stay cool enough to challenge that "patriot" to walk-the-walk instead of being such a big talker--that was great!

[blonndee]

10. It was hard and I felt like I was shaking all over inside but somehow

the words came out just about how I meant them to. Most of the time I stayed quiet. I don't know if that guy actually LISTENED to what I said or if he just didn't think it was worth arguing. At any rate, I WASn't cool on the inside, and when that one guy came up screaming my hands shook for a long time afterward.

[cmd]

9. Take a bow, blonndee

I'm clapping for you.
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Mr_Spock]

11. This is fantastic.

I heard there were some school protests today on Ed Shultz show - not sure if they were in any way related to yours but I'm extremely proud of the action you took. I think more of this is necessary to keep the awareness of the war criminal administration front and center...

[JJackFlash]

12. Good fer you

Ain't easy standing up to fascism.

[crispini]

13. Good Gad, in Oklahoma?!

You have much courage, girl. From one red stater to another, I salute you! :applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[sweetladybug]

14. Hey I have an idea. If you are going to protest the war, how about

getting some military enlistment forms and hand them out to anyone condemning you for protesting the illegal war.

[rosesaylavee]

15. Good for you. It takes real courage to stand up for

what you believe in. I have done it here in a very small town in the middle of a very Republican county. My memory of it is not pleasant. I was amazed how rude people will be... even our mayor made a point walking by with a flip remark about didn't we have something better to do. I think that was the protest that our leader was distributing quotes of peace wrapped in ribbon to anyone walking by our courthouse.

Good for you.

[yorkiemommie1]

16. good job!

i'm proud of you !

[gratuitous]

17. Tough stuff

And good for you and your fellow protestors for not taking the bait to get into it physically with the folks who disagreed with you. It takes a great deal of discipline, and even though your hands were shaking, and your gut was probably churning, but you stood up for your rights and for your freedom. Good for you. Good for the rest of your cohort.

[riderinthestorm]

18. My 9 year old daughter read your account

And was inspired!

We have gone to a few vigils and hosted an anti-war protesters at our house.

"We are on your side, we like you, and we think you are great!" direct quotes from my daughter.

Keep up the good work!

:patriot:

[blonndee]

24. Oh, thank you! How sweet!

You made my night. O8)

[shance]

19. Kudos to you Blondee****

Im sorry I wasn't out in the street to join others today like you.

Sounds like you and the others did a great job.

[callady]

20. keep it up

:toast:

I'm out in the streets tomorrow

[seg4527]

21. ah, keep it going

last year i attended my first campus protest here at the U of Minnesota, Twin Cities. 80 people would be a very liberal estimate, although I wasn't counting.

Today, just 11 months later, I'm a part of the Anti-War organizing League on Campus and we had a walkout today with 1,500 people. So just don't ever give up!

[PretzelWarrior]

22. but did they pelt you with Oreos? that's what I wanna know.

because apparently that is almost the same as "WHITE ONLY" signs in the Jim Crow era to rightwingers.

[blonndee]

25. Huh? I have no idea about that.

I never heard of anything about Oreos. What is that all about?

[roguevalley]

23. You are the good guys. You lit a candle for peace today, each of

you. God bless you all.

[Rd11]

26. Protests in Santa Monica, Ca.

Wednesday I witnessed well over a hundred high school students parade down a crowded 3rd Street Promenade during the lunch hour. They were carrying green "World Cannot Wait, Drive Out the Bush Regime" signs and chanting "Bush must go".

The march also happened on the opening day of AFM (American Film Market) convention, and exposed worldwide attendees to the sentiments of our youth.

The march ended at Wilshire with students surrounding the intersection. Most of the students were from Santa Monica High school, as well as several other High schools on the west side.

rd

[amerikat]

27. You are a true patriot.

Dissent is what pulls us back from the brink of despotism. Well done.

I had similar experiences protesting the war in Vietnam. I feel confident that the torch has been passed to a new generation. Carry on.:Yorick: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock:

[countryjake]

28. Your bravery and activism is the ONLY thing that will save this country!

Thank you for standing out there with your sign, and showing Oklahoma what you believe in!

The ones who shout you down do it because they are comfortable with the fascism this democracy is promoting; it suits them to a tee. Your fear is healthy, too; we should all be wary of those who try to squash dissent...they will try to destroy our demonstrations and silence our voices with every trick in the book, because they know that we stand with a majority of the people of this World and THAT is the power that will drive this regime OUT, once and for all!

The little group you stood with today sounds like the little bunch I gathered with, clear on the other side of this country in another "red-zone", but there were lots of those little groups, all over, out in plain sight, making people think, making people question their own apathy, making people understand that every single one of us is responsible for the policy-making of this nation and we who hold up our signs of protest absolutely refuse to accept ever being labeled Fascist! We did the World good today and it can only get better!

[blonndee]

29. It made the student paper, at least! Here's the link

http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/02/43699e341739e

There's a picture there, too--I'm the one with the "Stop the War Machine" sign.

[countryjake]

31. Great pic! The Feedback has a great comment, too!

Did you check out what Nicholas J. Wahpepah had to say in the "Feedback" section? His statement about that Iraq War veteran is right on!


"A protest? At OU? I thought this was a "conservative" university. I was so glad to see that some people here have the backbone to stray from the status quo. I was starting to think that nobody wanted to believe that our current administration could do any wrong and that the only news station on campus was Fox. The protest was a welcome sight. Yes, some other methods may have been more informative, but anything is better than ignorance."

read much more at your link...

[annabanana]

32. great pic and article

You done good..

[merbex]

30. You have courage and you inspire me. It is easy to live here in MA

(although last night I was at a DFA meeting and our conversation bothered a bushbot sitting at another table so badly he interrupted us and told us we were crazy - guess we pushed his buttons)

Huge kudos to you

[stop the bleeding]

33. Very cool thinking about going to a protest on Saturday. n/t