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Saw You In Springfield. And You. And You. |
Current rating: 0 |
by Dan Chambers
Email: dschambers77 (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified!) |
03 Nov 2002
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What went down when George Bush stumped for local candidates in Springfield.
I was lucky enough to get together a few like-minded individuals who wanted to go show the Illinois GOP what we thought of their war plans, and so off we went, through the rain and sleet to Springfield.
I don't know about you, but every time I visit Springfield, I look at the people passing by and I wonder which ones are the power-brokers, the ones I believe to be responsible for so much of what goes wrong in the state. |
I was lucky enough to get together a few like-minded individuals who wanted to go show the Illinois GOP what we thought of their war plans, and so off we went, through the rain and sleet to Springfield.
I don't know about you, but every time I visit Springfield, I look at the people passing by and I wonder which ones are the power-brokers, the ones I believe to be responsible for so much of what goes wrong in the state.
I look at the buildings downtown and think, "Gee, within your walls were corrupt plans to rob elections hatched? Were you witness to wrongs we're still paying for?" I don't usually get an answer. Today I did.
About 80 of us gathered behind the old state house, giving our names and telling where we were from and what brought us here. When it got to be my turn, I related how I thought wars were fucking terrible ideas and this one was worse than most. After meeting a Dominican Sister later on, I felt bad for swearing. Off we went, down to the new state house building, and the state armory, where our president was going to be singing to the choir. Chanting, marching, hoping to hell it wouldn't rain (it didn't) we walked the four blocks and were met by other anti-war folks, much to my surprise.
Also gathered were about six anti-choice demonstrators, and a good contingent of Democrats, unionists and abortion rights demonstrators. The democrats, unionists and abortion rights demonstrators all happily joined our shouting, and later we walked across the street to join them. At this point, we were joined by other anti-war folks from Chicago and other places, and by a lost looking anarchist who kept clinking her broken chains of oppression toghether, and a man walking around with free clothes pins. Why clothes pins? Because the system stinks. I enjoyed that thoroughly.
We then saw THE helicopter land. THE one with the PRESIDENT. I waved. THAT was exciting. We didn't see him go in.
After a while of chanting and making ourselves feel at home, the doors to armory opened, and throngs of Bush supporters, poured out, ready to go be lamps unto the world. At this point, we started to get heckled a little more by the republicans and many of us tried to start up dialogues with them, with varying degrees of success. This went on for another forty-five minutes or so. We were screamed at, cursed at, told by a small child (in front of his parents who were also yelling at us) that we sucked, and reasonably talked to.
In the end, it was cold, then I was warmed by meeting a bunch of cool, peaceful, concerned citizens, unionists, feminists, and other ists. Then when it was over I was cold again. |