Hello again everyone. Sorry this one is running late. Although, given the events this past week the timing works out better.
There has been a lot of talk around here lately about "radicals" and taking some action. All the effort everyone put into the 2006 election and since have been ignored, marginalized and apparently officially condemned by the Senate. What the hell happened?
Emailing, writing, fund raising, calling, faxing, organized advertising efforts, books and desperate pleas are going unanswered. It seems like everyone is getting frustrated. Hopefully, I can address some of these issues in my last installment.
In case you missed Episode 1, Episode 2, and Episode 3. This is the final piece in a series I've written about my experiences at the march in DC on the 15th. It was my first and I wanted to give everyone an idea of what to expect and what to do.
This one in particular will cover the after protest activities and my impressions on activism with some final tips and advice.
With DemMarineVet leading the way, we all head off to find some food. It's at this point I realize my shoulders feel weird. I glance over and see that they are bright red. I had completely forgotten to put on the sunscreen I brought with me.
Which brings me to tip #1.
Wear sunscreen.
It's funny though because my right shoulder bore the brunt of the sun all day from holding my sign up. I've never been more proud of a sunburn, and as I joked with OPOL later, it's a small price to pay for freedom.
The walk to food at this point is treacherous for everyone but DemMarineVet. He's constantly having to stop and wait for us because he is a Marine and we are all very out of shape in comparison. Once we overshoot the Metro by a block the weary give up and we all agree on a tiny Mexican restaurant like 10 feet away.
Our group, at this point consisting also of CTLiberal, MindWideOpen and OPOL files in and we finally get a chance to relax. Chips are brought out and pounced upon. We quickly order food and I also order a Corona, because it was one of those kind of days.
It was exactly what I had been secretly wishing for the whole trip. To sit down, eat, drink and talk politics with people who are just as passionate as I am about the state of the world. I picture groups of "rabblerousers" downing pints and sharing ideas from days long forgotten, and I am so proud to be carrying on the tradition in my own little way. In a small Mexican restaurant in DC after an anti-war protest. It's almost like I'm a real activist.
Later, I am talking with CTLiberal about how I've always wanted to be able to do something like this. She agrees. It's so refreshing to be around like-minded individuals and talk politics into the late nights.
I am also going to officially join the I <3 CTLiberal fan club here, because she is truly an amazing woman. I hope to be seeing her again soon!</p>
Before this, I had always hated reading these types of diaries where the author goes on and on about how great the people were and blah, blah, blah. Because it sounds so corny and I always wished I was there. But maybe I wasn't cool enough and these people would hate me in real life. Or someone just wanted to write about people who are famous on the internet so they could by-proxy be cool on the internet to other people reading the internet.
But, they really were great, amazing people.
And what made them so great and amazing is why we are all drawn to these types of sites. To these types of conversations. To seek out information. To want to help. To want to connect. We are all complicated, but average people trying to live our lives and make sense of the world we live in.
I say this because I really do urge you, whoever you may be, whatever your past, your present or your future plans. As far as I'm concerned we are all friends and we're in this together.
And this site is an amazing tool for organizing.
Markos talked at YearyKos about how he built a website. That's all he did. It's not modest, it's true. He's smart enough to realize it. And an amazing thing did happen. A very large group of like-minded individuals started connecting with each other. There are groups that meet at certain times every night, there are spin-off groups for extra attention to certain issues. There are people who are here every day, all the time commenting and moderating. There are some who just drop by when they're really pissed off about something. And there are those, who like me for a long time just lurked in the shadows waiting for the moment when they finally joined in.
And it's not just here. I saw something that amazed me the other night. On FDL they had author Patrick Graham liveblogging about a recent article who wrote called Beyond Fallujah: A year with the Iraqi resistance. I was reading through all the comments in order and I noticed I was picturing a large hall, with a hundreds of people and the author at the front. People thank him as questions are yelled from the distance.
What is it really like in Iraq?
Is our media lying to us?
I can actually picture it and hear what they are saying as if I'm there. Silently watching in the corner.
Anyone, from any part of the world could be there. Anytime they wanted to, with everyone else and seek the truth for themselves.
I am still to this day amazed by the connecting power of the internet. Don't underestimate the power we all have right now. Despite billions of dollars spent on television, advertisements, movies and books telling us what to think, who we are, what we like, what we don't like, what our poll numbers are, what we find attractive, what we find disgusting. Despite this, we can still find each other, and still find the truth.
After much drinking and talking our some of our formally separated Kossacks joined back up with us. After a round of tequila on the house for everyone we eventually end up at a Holiday Inn. And there, while drinking, chain smoking, laughing, talking and inspired all of us gathered around the glow of 3 laptops mashed together on a small outdoor patio table. Between the FEMA building and No Child Left Behind Act "schoolhouses", we gathered virtually with those who couldn't be there to let them know what happened. The question of how many people attended came up. CNN was lying already.
And in the famous words of Mark Twain
A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.
They had started spreading a lie before the damn thing even ended. But, we can catch up to their lies now. And not only that, we can get the message to just as many people as television can and just as fast. We're writing to, texting and calling various people from all over the country and within minutes our voices are heard ten-fold. Which spreads the word to other people later, which then gets referenced and stored for all to see whenever they so choose.
Amazing.
The truth is out of the bag and there's no stopping it. But now that we all have the truth what do we do?
And that brings me to the point of all of this.
We organize.
The media is not going to let people spread their message. It puts them out of business. And they are most certainly not going to fix our government for us.
Television had become an opiate for the masses. In the most literal sense.
Mesmerized by beautiful women, angry newscasters, pretty flashing lights and special effects we all lost touch. Our government fell apart around us, but everyone was busy. We bought more things we thought we needed after a lifetime of brainwashing, sunk ourselves in debt, enslaved ourselves to our jobs and meandered around our lives in shock because some wack-jobs had flown planes into the World Trade Center and killed a bunch of people we loved. We were told to keep shopping and pretend nothing had happened. The president and his propaganda machine fanned the flames of hatred and complacency, stole our treasury and destroyed our military all the while wagging the flag above their heads and handing out money to their buddies.
Thankfully, during this time the internet was starting to take off. And very soon it became essential. As a byproduct we all started connecting again. But not like we used to. It wasn't really safe in public. So we met (virtually speaking) behind closed doors and started talking to each other about what was going on. What was life like thousands of miles away? People are informed again in a way we never had before. It's instant, and global. In the sciences I've been loving every second of information gathering at such a large and vast scale online, it seems that craving for information has hit the masses too.
But right now we are still behind closed doors. All these people who used to run the show haven't realized we're all here. There are hints funded by large numbers of small donations, but for the big guys at the top, it's too abstract for them. They are always around each other, feeding each others egos with their checkbooks and fake smiles. The "netroots" doesn't matter to them, because they can't see it and it doesn't directly affect them. So the numbers mean nothing.
So they have to see us.
It's easy to ignore 100,000 people joined together at DailyKos. You just don't visit the site. It's optional.
Now, 100,000 people outside your house for a couple days. That you can't miss, and I guarantee you don't forget it.
I had a few of my friends tell me along the way, "You know protest don't actually do anything right?" I didn't argue at the time because I didn't know if I agreed or not. After this. I fully disagree.
We've been told it doesn't.
That doesn't make it true.
Protesting and mass demonstrations work extremely well to get the gears of change turning faster at very specific times and places in history.
When overwhelming groups of people decide to physically get together.....you know there is something wrong. Very wrong indeed.
Right now the majority of the people suffering can't afford to voice their opinions. The systematic oppression of those in poverty in this country is shameful. Absolutely shameful. I'm really fucking lucky I made it out. You can't imagine what degrading and ridiculous situations you have to exist in when you're poor in this country. Much of it imposed, complicated and endorsed by those who smile and wave at us from their marble lined hallways in La La Land.
They can't take off work, they can't afford a sitter, or a car, or gas, or probably even the internet. Maybe raising money for travel expenses for large amounts of people would be more productive. And physically going out and giving those in areas with limited access to the internet fliers with information about what our government has been doing. I'm not quite sure how that would work.
Large protests like the one in DC spread the message very effectively through word of mouth. I talked to so many people that weekend and had some really thoughtful and earnest conversations with people about the war and the state of things.
The barber from North Carolina cracked jokes about the bridge we were on collapsing and that we were fucking up big time.
My Taxi driver from the Metro station to Virginia made fun of Karl Rove, George Bush and his neocons. He was glad to see the public opinion switching back to sanity.
A man next to me on the Metro ranted about the war and thanked me for going to the protest.
I ran into the guy with the flowers and his friend in Harrisburg on the way home and told them how my weekend went.
My friends, families and co-workers saw pictures.
And some people are reading this blog.
Every little bit spins the wheels a little faster until it reaches a breaking point. Then there is change.
And that's what protesting is for, and that's why getting out there is important.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot :) I also met Mo Rocca!
I was on the Metro into DC on Sunday for my bus home and Mo Rocca is sitting across the aisle from me! I hadn't showered for like 3 days, I was bright red, carrying an overstuffed backpack, purse, pillow, carton of cigarettes and a huge rolled up protest poster. And there was Mo Rocca, the first person from television I've ever seen in real life. I just sat there contemplating if it was really him. When we got off at the same stop I just had to be sure. So I tapped him on the shoulder. It went like this.
"Excuse me."
"Yes"
"Are you Mo Rocca?"
"Yes, I am."
"Holy shit! Wow, I'm Kelly. Not that you would know who I am."
awkward pause.
Him,
"Are you catching the train?"
"No, I actually have to catch a Greyhound bus." I start heading toward escalator.
"From where?"
"Up to Penn State." I'm on the escalator at this point.
"Oh, that's great. Well good luck."
"Thanks, you too. Bye."
Yep.
I was really worried I would be late for my bus and miss work on Monday. I'm not a super huge fan, I was just shocked to see someone from TV on the Metro after all the other craziness I encountered over the weekend. So no picture, autograph, I love your work, or you're so great.
I didn't think about this until later, but I had such an amazing time otherwise (and was honestly more excited to meet OPOL) that I wasn't really as star struck as I thought I would be. Although to his credit he is much more attractive in real life and his voice is not annoying at all.
I thought it was an ironic twist.
You never know what is going to happen when you go out and do something like this. I've found that many times these are the memories that stick with you and make you smile when things seem to be going wrong.
So, just get out there. It's not so bad.
And now, some tips and advice.
Wear sunscreen.
Make travel and housing arrangements ahead of time.
Pack lots of water and a few snacks.
Make sure someone knows where you will be and that you can always get in contact with them.
Find a group to meet up with, get at least 1 phone number and print out as much information and as many maps as you can find.
If you plan on getting arrested please do your research before you even leave! You should know what your rights are and what to expect so you can make wise decisions before, during and after you are arrested. There will probably be lawyers at larger gatherings, so talk to one of them before you do anything.
Be nice to the police. They are people too, and many of them are underpaid and probably unhappy about the war anyways. We are at 70% after all.
Pack light and bring a pen and paper.
Talk to people. Especially talk to attendants (like at the Metro), bus drivers/transportation workers, officials and the people in similar situations to yourself.
Use your best judgment! If a situation seems unsafe or someone gives you an uneasy feeling it's best to trust your intuition.
Don't escalate a situation even if someone says something offensive to you or threatens you. It's not worth getting injured by some lunatic who worships FOX News and thinks you're un-American. My best advice is to ignore them. They're all resorting to childish methods of garnering attention and only do it to spark a confrontation filled with anger.
Research, research, research!
The more informed you are the safer you will be and the more you can accomplish. When you are prepared you can be confidant. When you're confidant you will have an easier time finding your way around. I actually did get on the wrong Metro bus in a Corona induced haze, but I knew how to read the crazy Metro map and which line I needed to be on. I transfered and made it home just fine.
If you are prepared it will also be easier to use clear judgment when a situation becomes intense or chaotic, and you'll be less likely to panic if things escalate.
Bring a camera and take lots of pictures.
Write about what happened afterwards even if you think no one is reading it. Eventually someone will read it when it matters. Besides, the information is good to have around just in case. Talk to people about what you are doing and why.
I have my email posted in my profile if anyone wants pictures, has questions or useful information.
Good luck!