Posted on 08/05/2004 8:11:25 PM PDT by weegee
by Kay Lucas / Crawford Peace House / Friends of Peace
A very big THANK Y'ALL from Texas. This was such an incredible experience. We are all so grateful to Michael Moore and his staff for helping the Crawford Peace House facilitate freedom of speech in Central Texas. Many of us had been told by both 16 screen corporate movie theaters in Waco that they were absolutely not going to show 'Fahrenheit 9/11.' For three weeks after the original release, the closest theater showing the movie was Austin, an hour and a half away. So we began working on including the movie with an August 14th event planned for Bush's usual vacation in Texas.
But then Michael gave us a challenge. On July 23rd we were informed by the Moore group, to plan for July 28. That's five days, folks. So a core group of about 6 to 10 volunteers began scrambling to find a venue in a community of Bush supporters and arrange logistics for the event, wherever it eventually landed. Obstacle after obstacle was thrown up by city, school district and private property owners. We began to think we might be relegated to a tent on our small property with capacity for only 150 people. But this event was meant to be. And it was meant to be BIG. And it was.
Finally, late Monday, the 26th, the powers that be, in Crawford, relented and allowed us use of Crawford original "Free Speech Zone," the football stadium parking lot.
Tim League, owner and Adam Joseph, of Original Alamo/Rolling Roadshow and Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas along with their crew had a site to set up their truly awesome screen and equipment so that an unbelievably large audience were accommodated.
On Tuesday, the 27th, Crawford Peace House director, Skip Londos was told Michael would come to Texas to introduce the film. An added bonus, to be sure. The phone began ringing, news crews began showing up, friends we hadn't met yet began showing up to volunteer help at the Peace House. Our recently arrived House Host, Josh Collier seemed unfazed by all the commotion.
There is a line in a favorite book of mine that says, "Miracles are natural, when they do not occur, something has gone wrong." This event was a demonstration of that principle. I feel so incredibly inspired by such a tremendous experience of people pitching in, an almost miraculous response by people in support of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, American principles and the example of how people working together in peaceful pursuit of a goal can accomplish so much. Everything just flowed.
There were people who drove from Tennessee, and Illinois, not to mention cities all over Texas. Even a large group of exchange students from the Netherlands. So many people told us thank you, over and over for doing this. Many, many people would not take their change from the modest donation of $8.00. Local Democrat organizations came to offer help.
We were not able to get an exact head count, probably between 2,000 and 3,000. Most paid, some did not. Of course the media and Republicans are making a big deal about Michael not showing up. But our original intent, after all, was to just make the movie accessible to Central Texans who wanted to see it. And Michael was right. It was about getting the movie to Bush country and sending the message that Americans don't submit to censorship.
Facing almost overwhelming time restraints, limited seed funds and using volunteers, we produced about 700 buttons as tickets proclaiming "I saw 'Fahrenheit 9/11' in Crawford, Texas on July 28, 2004." When we ran out of those (we apologize) we gave Crawford Peace House buttons. Three hundred white T-shirts with the same statement were produced for sale. (Great for tie dying folks.) We acquired chairs, small tents, traffic cones, concession goods, and port-a-potties, etc.
(If you didn't get a button and are on one of the sign up sheets, please let us know and we will send you one.)
Our volunteer chef, Gus Cox, produced a large stir-fry meal for volunteers and many movie goers who were on the grounds of the Peace House around 6:30 PM.
Our founder, Johnny Wolf, organized site preparation, including but not limited to, roping off the separate areas, construction of stage, sound system, a large mural of "My Pet Goat," parking, etc., etc., etc. And then, along with one of our directors, Hadi Jawad and Paul McDaniel of Friends of Peace was one of the platform moderators. Local poet, Pat Long, read a poem, another local lady came up and offered to lead the crowd in singing the Star Spangled Banner just before screening began.
We were not able to get an exact head count, probably between 2,000 and 3,000. Most paid, some did not. Of course the media and Republicans are making a big deal about Michael not showing up.
Attaching Michael's name to this event made it possible to sell tickets and draw people to the area. It also generated controversy and publicity. It was another LIE.
Have Michael's lies, lies by omission, exagerations, and flip flops totalled 911 yet?
There were people who drove from Tennessee, and Illinois, not to mention cities all over Texas. Even a large group of exchange students from the Netherlands. So many people told us thank you, over and over for doing this. Many, many people would not take their change from the modest donation of $8.00. Local Democrat organizations came to offer help.
Anyone know who received the donated funds? Anything to make sure that the Dutch students didn't make illegal foreign contributions? Can minors donate to elections?
I was in the area at the time,I heard they had more like 800. And according to the Waco paper that poopyganda film was showing somewhere I saw the ad for it.
Yep, that's why they are threatening to sue any station that runs the swift boat vets ad.
Not to mention the efforts by dem congressmen and other leftists to intimidate and censor Fox News.
These people really need to put their bongs down and get some fresh air.
YET...... Let 7 or 8 Swift Boat Vets speak about their experiences serving with John Kerry in Vietnam and their issued legal papers and the media is warned not to air the Ad. They immediately question a $100,000 donation to Swiftvets.com by a Texas Republican and point fingers at President Bush for being responsible for the Ad.
YET....... George Soros can donate millions to MoveOn.Org to compare President Bush to Adolph Hitler...
NO BIAS HERE, NONE AT ALL < /sarcasm > OFF
Campaign Finance Reform does far more to censor political speech. Big Media will readily air Michael Moore's film. If conservatives want to air a rebuttal, they are prohibited from buying the airtime as the election nears.
I thought this was a joke, but failing to see the punch line, I guess it was the masses that were the punch line.
So where is Micheal Moore & Moveon.org country? Where is the central place for these Moore-on's? Have to make sure "Micheal Moore hate's America" has a special showing down there.
' many movie goers...were on the grounds of the Peace House around 6:30 PM. ' (headquarters of the moment for warring against love, truth and honor.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.