Last night, I took a time-out from packing for New York to march in an anti-escalation peace rally in Laguna Beach.
What’s the appropriate attire for a peace demonstration, anyway? I wasn’t entirely sure. I’m too young to have any hold-over hippie clothes hanging in my closet, so I had to forego the prototypical tie-dyed T-shirt, peace pendant, and daisy-embroidered jeans. Since it was an after-dark gathering by the water, I figured I’d wear something California Casual and warm. I pulled on a hoodie, jeans and leather jacket, and stopped for a non-fat, sugar-free vanilla latte – extra hot – to warm up my hands. Peace Now, new-millennium style.
Here, a quick run-down of some of the sights and sounds of our rally, before I finish my packing:
*A line-up of about 150 candle- and placard-carrying protesters, waving at people who drove past on Pacific Coast Highway. In front of us, a steady stream of cars; behind us, this lifeguard station and the reassuring sounds of ocean waves lapping against the shore.
*Honking horns — a frequent automotive “amen.” Toyota Prius drivers seemed most likely to bleat their horns in support. But — big surprise! — a Hummer limo also blared its approval as it passed.
*A silver-haired lady listening to Neil Young’s War Song on her iPod.
*Dogs as billboards…for instance, a dachshund wearing a leopard-spotted coat covered with End the Occupation stickers, and an obese Labrador who sported a T-shirt covered with anti-war slogans.
*A potential trophy wife, auburn hair extensions blowing in the breeze, dressed for activism in stiletto-heeled suede boots, Lucky jeans and a calf-length cardigan coat.
*A scruffy middle-aged man, carrying a large American flag, standing sentry behind our line-up.
*Ubiquitous tea candles in plastic cups, flames flickering in the wind…and the miner’s flashlight, shining brightly from a Birkenstock-wearing woman’s forehead.
*A seventy-year-old man (or so I’m guessing), pacing and punching the air with an uplifted fist, shouting, “No.More.War!”
*A photographer stepping out into traffic to get a panoramic picture; a woman approaching him to ask in a nervous whisper, “Are you sending that to Homeland Security?”
*Code Pink activists carrying pink peace signs and, in one case, a slogan-covered pink umbrella.
Sadly, while our group of activists (and nearly 500 similar groups across the country) availed ourselves of our Constitutional right to express our opinions, 300 soldiers’ voices were actively suppressed. From the Washington Post:
“To ensure that there would be no discordant notes [at Fort Benning during President Bush’s visit], Maj. Gen. Walter Wojdakowski, the base commander, prohibited the 300 soldiers who had lunch with the president from talking with reporters. If any of them harbored doubts about heading back to Iraq, many for the third time, they were kept silent.”
Totally unrelated: If scandalous or happy news breaks while I’m away, leave me a message, will ya? You already know how much I like to stay “in the know”!
Melodye,
I wish I would have come. I’m so glad you posted this account of the scene while you were there. I have to admit, I’m one of those people who often thinks about what I should do, who cheers others who do what I wish I had, but who often stays on the sidelines, silent. Your missions and how you fight for your beliefs and for the rights of other people is inspiring. I’m happy to know you and proud to call you my friend.
Have a safe trip–I’ll be thinking of you.
I wish you would have been there, too, dear friend of mine! I think you would have felt at home — a point I was trying to make by describing the people who showed up. I’m often like you…thinking about going out there, but in the end, settling into the sofa. Not this time. Did you hear John Edwards’ speech? He quoted MLK, saying in effect that silence is complicity.
Next time, I’d love to have you along!
See you Thursday night at Pure Fiction League?
Are you going tonight?
Yep, I’ll be there. I hope you’ll come!!!
Are you going tonight?
Melodye,
I wish I would have come. I’m so glad you posted this account of the scene while you were there. I have to admit, I’m one of those people who often thinks about what I should do, who cheers others who do what I wish I had, but who often stays on the sidelines, silent. Your missions and how you fight for your beliefs and for the rights of other people is inspiring. I’m happy to know you and proud to call you my friend.
Have a safe trip–I’ll be thinking of you.
Huzzah for you and your doughty companions!
Thank you! (and thanks also for teaching me a new word, which I love). 🙂
Huzzah for you and your doughty companions!
way to go, M.
and {{hugs}} and thoughts for your nephew(?). sorry I missed the other thread. safe travels to you.
Thanks, Doc. We’re doing our best to heed Edwards’ challenge, aren’t we? That’s the point… 🙂
you should see the emails I sent to Kit Bond (Senator) and Todd Akin (Rep) telling them that they better do everything in their power to stop this nonsense or else they’d get the Jim Talent treatment at the next election. Neither of them responded yet.
way to go, M.
and {{hugs}} and thoughts for your nephew(?). sorry I missed the other thread. safe travels to you.
Fashion concerns? Dogs wearing clothes? Non-fat, soy latte things? Wow, quite the gathering of yuppie anti-war activists, eh? Sounds like yours was far better put together (and attended) than the one in Long Beach. Good on you all for braving the cold weather to make your voices heard. It sounds like quite the gathering. And I just love the Code Pink girls… they’re always so enthusiastic. 🙂
How long are you going to be in New York for? And what occasions the trip? Bundle up, I heard it’s freezing back there!
Yeah, it wasn’t exactly a 60s-style protest (or so I’m told). I wanted to give a lighthearted (I hope) report on the sensory images so people could see that it’s not so threatening, really, and maybe a bit fashionable to get out there and protest. I hope that’s what came across…
Sorry ’bout the one in Long Beach. Next time, maybe you can organize one. I’ll bet it’d be far better organized and attended!
You write for DailyKos? Good on you! I hope you blog on LJ to let us know when you’ve got a diary up.
I didn’t get to New York (mentioned in subsequent posts). Bleh. Short story: my husband got out in time, but my plane was cancelled because of the weather. 🙁
Oh your account of the protest was great. Very lighthearted and very visual. I think you did a great job writing your account of it.
I think I will definitely try to get my hand in organizing the next one. There are a lot of activists in Long Beach and I don’t think we’re tapping it to its full potential. Nowhere even close.
Do you belong to dKos? Kevin in Long Beach is my moniker there. Original, huh? lol… If I can pull it together, I’ll have a diary up tonight. Not sure if I can get it all together tonight though… But we’ll see.
Awwwwww…. sorry that you didn’t get to go to New York! I’m going to pick and poke through your Journal a little more when I get home. The walls have eyes here at Ye Olde Salt Mine, so discretion is my middle name.
I don’t belong to dKos, but I read it every day. I kinda hang out at firedoglake…I love the writers! Let me know if/when your diary goes up tonight. I’d like to read it.
FDL is a great site too. I got to meet some of them at the YearlyKos convention last year. I’ll let you know when I manage to pull my act together. 🙂