I am, by all admission, a late filer. It's not always by design. As a self employed person, collecting up all the 1099s and materials can at times be a real PITA, especially when companies don't send them or "forget" or are no longer in business. So, tonight, I drove to drop off my tax forms. Along side post office in a large lot, were the protestors. They were there last year as well, and the year before. But, admittedly, there were more this year. And they had costumes. As I noticed the various statues of liberty and founding fathers and sign carriers, I began to laugh... as a man in ass-chaps and full stage paint busted through in one of the better Dr Frankfurter outfits I've seen. Thank you, good sir, for giving me a laugh.
You know, I realize there are people on Kos upset with the protestors. I'm really not that worried about it. It's their freespeech right to make fools of themselves. And, despite disagreements, they were handing out bags of tea at our post office as we went through the line, and I had no problem with that, hell, I actually enjoy Honey Lemon and Earl Grey, and rather then them throwing them out, it was freebie time for me. Hell, I'm thinking about going around to a few more post offices and seeing if people are still handing out tea. I could get a virtual box of assorted tea without spending a dime of my own money. And that's a savings I can believe in.
One of the protest elements is that we are being taxed without informed representation because our representatives voted on an initiative without reading it. Admittedly, this argument has some validity.. but it's being played out to the point of being ridiculousness. If that's your real argument, then by god, put your self on a ballot somewhere and RUN FOR OFFICE. If you are unhappy with your representative, FINE, find someone else and win.
But the man as Dr. Frankfurter really showed me the point. I haven't been to a Rocky Horror Picture Show in years. I admit, I desperately miss nights of going to a theater for a showing of "Once More With Feeling" (some here will get that). But people who participate in that are all after the same thing; it's a release and an escape from reality. It's a chance to be something you aren't for just an hour or two. It's a chance to get together with friends in a communal act and have stories to tell to each other later.
It's bonding amongst friends. Escape reality for a night, you sir, dressed as Thomas Edison, who apparently misses the fact you've got the wrong person. And to you, good sir, dressed as Dr. Frankfurter - thank you for making me laugh and realize hell, it's all good fun.
And to the people handing out bags of tea, god bless, I'll drink them in the next few days and enjoy it. Thanks for keeping them sealed, it'll go great with my breakfast. I didn't realize until I got home, but I got two honey lemon instead of an earl grey. I have to figure out if they allow for exchanges.