Protesting the Protestors: Free Speech paid for by freerepublic.com
Of all of the many surprises American politics has seen since the 2000 Election, 9/11, and the beginning of the Iraq war none has been more puzzling to me than counter-protests. My first thought was, "You mean they are rallying to support the status quo? Isn't protest by its very nature designed to --I don't know maybe protest something? Isn't it means of addressing grievances the disenfranchised have with current political policies they disagree with?"
"No," I was told. "They are protesting the protestor."
"Huh? You mean Americans are protesting Americans excercising free speech?"
"Yup," my friend replied.
What impetus gave rise to this phenomenon? Why now rather than at other times in American history? Afterall, we've been through much more divisive times than now. The answer is that these counter-protests are far from being spontaneous concerned citizens that want their point of view heard. Rather, in a show reminiscent of China, North Korea, or Stalin's Russia, they are highly organized, corporate, and party sponsored demonstrations designed to convey an image to middle America. An image of all American patriotism and apple pie neatly wrapped and delivered by "rational" and "concerned" conservatives fighting to support our troops and our President against the ne'er do wells of the left that wish to see America fall and it is all brought to you by freerepublic.com.
These counter-protestors remind us that our troops are fighting a war on terror to garuntee our freedoms and that anyone that disagrees with policy should think twice before excercising that freedom. So shut up and be greatful that you still have freedom.
EXCERPT:
Iraq Supporters to Rebut Anti-War Rallies
By The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Sunday, September 25, 2005; 5:06 AM
WASHINGTON -- Military families and other defenders of the war in Iraq were claiming their turn to demonstrate, responding to a huge war protest with a rally of their own on the National Mall.
Organizers hoped to draw several thousand people to their noontime event near the National Air and Space Museum. They acknowledged the rally would be much smaller than Saturday's anti-war protest in Washington but said their message would not be overshadowed.
"People have been fired up over the past month, especially military family members, and they want to be heard," said Kristinn Taylor, a leader of FreeRepublic.com, one of the sponsors of Sunday's event.
The pro-military rally was billed by organizers as a time to honor the troops fighting "the war on terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world."
On Saturday, crowds opposed to the war in Iraq surged past the White House in the largest anti-war protest in the nation's capital since the U.S. invasion. The rally stretched through the day and night, a marathon of music, speechmaking and dissent on the National Mall.
Link to Full Story
"No," I was told. "They are protesting the protestor."
"Huh? You mean Americans are protesting Americans excercising free speech?"
"Yup," my friend replied.
What impetus gave rise to this phenomenon? Why now rather than at other times in American history? Afterall, we've been through much more divisive times than now. The answer is that these counter-protests are far from being spontaneous concerned citizens that want their point of view heard. Rather, in a show reminiscent of China, North Korea, or Stalin's Russia, they are highly organized, corporate, and party sponsored demonstrations designed to convey an image to middle America. An image of all American patriotism and apple pie neatly wrapped and delivered by "rational" and "concerned" conservatives fighting to support our troops and our President against the ne'er do wells of the left that wish to see America fall and it is all brought to you by freerepublic.com.
These counter-protestors remind us that our troops are fighting a war on terror to garuntee our freedoms and that anyone that disagrees with policy should think twice before excercising that freedom. So shut up and be greatful that you still have freedom.
EXCERPT:
Iraq Supporters to Rebut Anti-War Rallies
By The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Sunday, September 25, 2005; 5:06 AM
WASHINGTON -- Military families and other defenders of the war in Iraq were claiming their turn to demonstrate, responding to a huge war protest with a rally of their own on the National Mall.
Organizers hoped to draw several thousand people to their noontime event near the National Air and Space Museum. They acknowledged the rally would be much smaller than Saturday's anti-war protest in Washington but said their message would not be overshadowed.
"People have been fired up over the past month, especially military family members, and they want to be heard," said Kristinn Taylor, a leader of FreeRepublic.com, one of the sponsors of Sunday's event.
The pro-military rally was billed by organizers as a time to honor the troops fighting "the war on terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world."
On Saturday, crowds opposed to the war in Iraq surged past the White House in the largest anti-war protest in the nation's capital since the U.S. invasion. The rally stretched through the day and night, a marathon of music, speechmaking and dissent on the National Mall.
Link to Full Story
posted by anoki at 6:06 AM
1 Comments:
Gotta the love the cognitive dissonance of the right.
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