IAmNotAnAnimal: My thoughts on the Fayetteville, NC "pro-peace" March

me | 03-20-04 | me

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

My thoughts on my first Freep ever today in Fayetteville, NC. I arose early and set out on my two hour journey to Fayetteville. During the course of my trip, I kept going over different scenarios in my mind on responses to any sort of idealogical or factual argument I may have with the other side. I admit I was a little stressed.

arriving, the word was that we would have about 30 FReepers (if lucky), and that there were going to be about 1,500 "peace" people. As we gathered and waved our flags, spoke our mantras, the "enemy" slowly ascended the hill. My anxiety about being quick-witted in response to reasoned arguments rapidly vanished. The rag-tag crew that ascended the hill (about 600-700) people looked to be a mish mash of seasoned citizens wearing torn clothing and trash bags, and junior high school students waving such signs as "My dad is a Navy veteran, and he opposes the war".

Okay, so where's your dad? I can't help but mention the ecletic dancer with black and red hair who was "dancing" to the beat of homemade drums. It made me long for the sixties, even though I was born in 1968. I looked around at the 90, yes 90 Freepers and family assembled, all with flags and signs, reciting the pledge of allegiance, I looked at the Vietnam Vets against John Kerry, the veterans from various wars, the wives, and the babies, and then I had to laugh. Not at us, at them. I saw signs that were very germane from "Affordable Housing" to "Dennis Kuchinic" (who)?, and other such mind provoking drivel. I had to laugh, I just had to.

The reporter asked me if I had lost my legs in combat. I explained to the reporter that I had leg braces on, as exhibited by my very visible feet, that my legs were still there.

We marched behind this stately peaceful crowd where we joined up with our brothers and sisters in leather and on Harleys.

We would have loved to debate the other side, but no one seemed to want to come to "the line" to do that. So, I just watched one misguided veteran from the 101st, who upon weighing roughly 300 pounds shout to us that we didn't "get it". I would've shouted back, but he had already turned and gone down the hill, presumptively to get another hot dog.

The FReepers were great, it was like being amongst old friends, but I had just met them. We all shared in fellowship, and were quick to offer help to those who needed it. I would like to thank all the FReepers who were there for their kindness and patriotism. I am only left with one question - when we got to the park there were about a hundred open black umbrellas laying on the side of the "peace" people, and it wasn;t raining. What gives?

Looking forward to the next one. Ranger out.

[BillF]

It was great meeting you and FReeping with you.

I don't recall you telling me your screen name, just your real name. However, I believe that you were the gentleman whose sign I carried down the hill and who was given a bottle of water by the officer. (Wish I had gotten that officer's name so I could commend him to his chief.)

Thank you and all veterans for my freedom!

[TaxRelief]

Good coverage here with a video link:

http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/?ArID=58236&SecID=2

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

Don't have to thank me, it is an honor to serve. ANd the police there were obviously on our side and showed great professional restraint in staying "neutral". Those guarding the memorial form the "peace" people turned and said the pledge of allegiance with us when we started. We will persevere, we will win, be we the lone survivors.

[onyx]

Pinging myself a place to see the photos tomorrow.

[IAmNotAnAnimal]

ping for tommorow

[onyx]

Thank you for the ping.

Your wrote a fabulous report!

[TaxRelief]

      

[onyx]

Oh thank you.

I love that sign in top photo.
Whose is it?


Off subject, but that house in the background is to die for. :)

[RightOnline]

Was unable to make it (from Raleigh) today......and sorry we missed it (The Lovely Wife is in Spartanburg, SC over the weekend for a karate tournament.........and took 2nd place in sparring in this LARGE tournament :) ). Glad y'all had fun. Could use another good FReep; been too long. God bless.

[funnynurse]

Thank you is more than sufficient. Like every soldier I have ever met, my spouse does not seek recognition. He seeks freedom for his family, his fellow Americans, his future.


I wish I knew how to post an article from the F'ville paper here. In the edition coming out tomorrow there is an article about the rally/counter demonstration. It says something along the lines of "speaker after speaker, many of them military spouses..."

Ok, I was there, but did I miss all the spouses??

I surely did not miss the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual speaker, the pro-Palestine speaker, the International Socialist speaker, etc, etc.

Just wondering if any of y'all caught the spouse bonanza!

Freepers/other groups at this rally did not appear to have speakers lined up. Is there a reason?? I don't mean to criticize, just wondering again.

[jocon307]

"That may explain some of the rabble rousers but not all."

Well, that's the rest of the explanation, they're rabble rousers, we're not. Unless we need to become such, then I imagine we'll be able to rise to the occassion.

[pop-aye]

I worried about this for a while too; "Why is it that the lefties always manage to get more people at their demonstrations than us?" I was concerned especially after attending my last FReep.

Then it came to me as I was driving home. The reason that they always get bigger crowds is because they have too much time on their hands. College kids, unemployed, street bums, welfare recipients, etc...

I drove home watching families having picnics in parks, playing little league, working in their yards, and otherwise "LIVING" the American dream. Most of these people beleive in America and are willing to defend it. They are the people who stand, stay quiet, and put their hats over their hearts when listening to the National Anthem. And they are doing what they should be doing... Taking care of their families, living, being free.

I think the most important part is to make sure that these people don't get too complacent, that they vote, at the ballots and with their pocketbooks.

I just keep this in mind....

A "Peace" protest doesn't make peace, just like A uniform doesn't make a patriot. (J. F'n Kerry, you listenin?)

[Huber]

I love that sign in top photo. Whose is it?

That was one of Flora MacDonald's masterpieces! They were incredibly effective - funny. concise and engaging. They really got the point across, especially with the media, the police and numerous passers by!

We'll find a way to get lots more photos up later. (The connection here at the hotel is sooooo slow that it's just not worth it.)

[Tax-chick]

Great photos ... love the sign!

[Tax-chick]

You can post a message to AdminModerator about fixing the formatting in your original report, if you want to. Don't know if they'll do it, but you can ask.

[Huber]

Here's the photo from the front page of the Fayetteville Observer. The sign says "AMERICAN SOLDIERS PROTECTED YOUR WHINY HINEY TODAY - FreeRepublic.com".

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/

[Huber]

I worried about this for a while too; "Why is it that the lefties always manage to get more people at their demonstrations than us?" I was concerned especially after attending my last FReep.

Then it came to me as I was driving home. The reason that they always get bigger crowds is because they have too much time on their hands. College kids, unemployed, street bums, welfare recipients, etc...

I drove home watching families having picnics in parks, playing little league, working in their yards, and otherwise "LIVING" the American dream. Most of these people beleive in America and are willing to defend it. They are the people who stand, stay quiet, and put their hats over their hearts when listening to the National Anthem. And they are doing what they should be doing... Taking care of their families, living, being free.

Great points! Our mission is not to outnumber the underemployed rabble rousers, but rather to present an effective message to those people who are living the American dream that there are many others, like them, and that the protestors are not like them! We point out that the "peace protestors" are socialists, traitors, supportors of terrorism, race agitators, homosexual activists and members of other similar groups, and that their objective is to weaken America, both culturally and militarily.

By doing so, we help to reassure these good Americans that they are not alone, and that the unwashed protesters are an aberration, a wart on our society, but not the mainstream of our society.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

The fact that the silent majority is in the streets at all says the times are changing. We stayed home and harumphed during Vietnam. We stayed home when Reagan put Pershing missles in Europe. Most of us stayed home during the Clinton years when we had something to be truly outraged about.

We finally got off our butts during the priod of the great inconvenience.

For the socialists this is their avocation. We for the most part volunteer in the hospitals, the Scouts, the schools... So the fact that we are in the streets at all should be taken as a positive sign.

[TaxRelief]

Now that we have a Fayetteville connection, we'll have someone "local" to line up speakers for the next Fayetteville Freep!

[Huber]

Here's a view of the Freepers on the Grassy Knoll along Hay St!