Spent a very cold day in the nation's capital protesting today's embarrassingly lavish Republican coronation. Don't that idiot Bush and his de la Renta-clad missus realize that there's a "war" on? Or that people are suffering in Asia, Africa, and Newark? Bad, bad show.
And how about this: On the day the country is supposed to celebrate its values and founding principles, we had law-enforcement types doing their level best to prevent people from exercising their inalienable rights. The amount of security was amazing — the Man was inescapable. Security checkpoints prevented a lot of dissenters from being able to reach Pennsylvania Avenue, snipers were on rooftops, and thuggish-looking cops were everywhere. What is their goal?, I wondered. Are they trying to protect us all from terrorists, or are they trying to protect Shrubbie from his subjects?
I turned out to be among the lucky peaceniks — I got to spend some time at the International Answer rally, where I ment a fab young lady named Anna who helped me land a choice spot at 4th and Pennsylvania. Others were not so fortunate — thousands of protestors were held up at Secret Service checkpoints and not allowed to get any closer to the parade route. Friggin' typical: Shrubbie's coronation address contained a pledge to stop tyranny, yet his goons spent the day being tyrannical. God bless the USA.
As you can imagine, I was not in a good mood. The mistreatment of my partners in peace was hard to take: A small number of people ended up in police custody, including some Code Pink for Peace representatives arrested for shouting during Bushie's mouthing of empty rhetoric (since when is obedient silence mandated by law?). Other dissenters were actually pepper-sprayed by cops. And they call this America? There is no excuse. 
Granted, a tiny minority of the protesters behaved badly: I heard that a small group of anti-Bushies allegedly threw snowballs and pieces of fruit at Bush's and Cheney's limousines and that another small group pushed down a fence near the Willard Hotel. (I understand and share their frustration, but violence is never the answer.) But on the whole, the demonstrators were peaceful. The police violence was unnecessary. Worse, it was a cruel contradiction: A presidential inauguration is supposed to be an event for the people. Well, anti-Bush people have the right to take part too, even if they want to shout, even if they want to burn a stupid piece of cloth, even if you don't like their opinion. It is shameful and disgusting that many of them were not permitted to speak their piece about the human who is supposedly their president and employee too.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mark Edward Manning
Yeah, you're definitely not American, Natalie? So what are you still doing in this country?
Renounce your citizenship already and go to Canada! Your Stalinist sensitivities are sure to be a real hit and friend-maker up there, that's for damn sure.
Leave already!
2 - Natalie Davis
Oh, believe me, Mr. Manning, if I could have, I would have hit the road after my experiences today. It frustrates me to no end that moving is impossible right now. But when I can, I will; that is a promise. And you intensify my need: How sad it is that you and yours need to crush, silence, or banish dissenting views.
While discussing my DC trip over the phone this evening, my new friend Anna said something to me that is keeping me wide awake. In her opinion, the protesters -- including me -- are really more in line with true American values than those sucked in by Bush blather. In other words, she sees us as being more American -- better, truer Americans -- than many Red Staters. And she is angry about my plans to expatriate because she says the real anti-Americans don't deserve the legacy of those who founded a nation intended to be based on justice and equality for all. Go figure.
I am still processing her comments. Who knows? Anna may be on to something.
3 - Mark Edward Manning
Ban, crush and banish dissenting views? Listen to yourself, Natalie! Do you know why your fellow "peace" protestors were so warded off by "the Man?" Because any one of them would put a bullet through the President's head without thinking twice about it. The potential for extreme violence and mayhem lies with you and yours, not us!
You disagree with the direction Bush is taking? Fine! I easily accept that some have as much distaste for Bush as I had for Clinton. But you didn't see us "right-wing extremists" lining up to shoot him and cause mayhem over the course of eight years, did you?
The Left, the side you shamefully wish to follow, doesn't accept democracy as much as it claims to. And we conservatives are expected to reach out our hands to heal the rift with you? Please. We'd get them bitten off!
Natalie, the ball is in your court and those whom you follow. Which direction do you choose to take - that of a mature citizen or an immature crybaby?
4 - Mark Edward Manning
I want to add: You, yourself, are a good person, Natalie. I have no doubts about that. You mean well.
But the position you've chosen to take against the country that fed you, clothed you and educated you is pretty horrible.
5 - Mark Edward Manning
Lastly, but not leastly, if you think Canada is such a great hippie pie-in-the-sky, then you need to read my latest.
Sealskin, Natalie? G'won, you know you want one! It'll keep you warm up there!
6 - Steve S
some have as much distaste for Bush as I had for Clinton. But you didn't see us "right-wing extremists" lining up to shoot him and cause mayhem over the course of eight years, did you?
I'm not sure where the concept of 'lining up to shoot him' comes from. Did you read something in this report of peaceful protesting that I missed?
As far as right-wing extremists causing mayhem over the course of 8 years, does the Kenneth Starr witchhunt count? Certainly the constant witchhunt from Whitewater to the Monica story, for something....anything....to bring down the duly elected President of the United States should count for something.
7 - Antfreeze
This is getting pathetic. You smug ass right-wingnuts need to shut the fuck up. She specifically makes the point that violence is never the answer and then you accuse her of trying to assasinate the president. You turds may currently wield all the power, but you have nothing to counter two powerful forces the left won't relinquish. Those are compassion and tolerance. There's more than one way to do things. There's more than one religion. There's more than one country. Your counter to compassion is fuck em if they can't keep up. Your counter for tolerance is blow em up if they're different. You're greedy, know-it-all, pricks.
8 - andy marsh
So Natalie, because I don't follow your beliefs I'm less of an American than you? I served my country for 20 years and I'm less than an American than you?
9 - andy marsh
Antifreeze - how can you call yourself compassionate and tolerant right after you told anyone that doesn't agree with your point of view to shut the fuck up?
10 - Antfreeze
I'd love to get into a big thing about the semantics of "needing to shut up" vs "shut up" but I just don't see the point. No one's going to change anyone's philosophy here so let's not even pretend ok? I just wanted to point out the emptiness of your souls.
11 - andy marsh
Ah, I see...that must be more of that compassion you were talking about?
12 - Dave Nalle
>>: The anticipatory smiles, the wide eyes, the puffed-out chests, the happy tears rolling down rosy Republican cheeks as they waved their flags and thanked their god. Made my stomach churn. I am sure that most of these people are fairly decent folks, but the experience didn't do much to convince me of Americans' intelligence.<<
Do you read what you write?
Maybe you should consider the possibility that if so many people who you admit are decent folk are supportive of the president, despite all the negative things they hear said about him, that just possibly they see something in the man and the office worth supporting?
Maybe it's time for you to stop pushing negativity and look for some positive solutions - that's something the left is woefully short of these days - which is why they've lost sway with the American people. Don't blame Bush for his success, blame yourselves for not being able to offer something better.
Dave
13 - NC
Love the graphic but the joke's on you. The woman pictured there as the embodiment of bleeding-heart values is Sabine Herold, a right-wing libertarian and self-professed big fan of Margaret Thatcher. She became famous a few years ago for leading protests against French labor unions.
Ah, irony.
14 - Dawn
Gosh, when I took it, it said that I was the "Happy Horny American" - which is sort of right, except the horny part, which I am pretty sure Eric would disagree with that assertion - but "happy" hell yes I am happy - now shut the fuck up already.
15 - Eric Olsen
hey, I'm a Happy Horny American also, and proud of it
I thought the picture above was the thin version of Gillian Anderson
16 - andy marsh
Here you go...That's how American I am!
17 - andy marsh
Thanks for fixing that! What's funny about it is the caption reads pretty much how I feel about the whole thing!
18 - bhw
Based on you posts and comments, it does seem to fit!
19 - andy marsh
That's why I am The Ugly American!
20 - Eric Olsen
man, you are a walking freedom fry!
21 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i gotta say, though, the idea that if you don't like it, move someplace else, that right there is pretty ridiculous. If you don't like it you strive to change it. That seems to be the most patriotic option to yours truly.
Anyhow, great post Natalie.
22 - andy marsh
When I was in the USN, some of my friends would ask me, how can you stay in, the navy is so messed up...I would tell them that if everyone that thought the navy had problems got out, who was gonna fix it? I always tried to make my little piece of the USN a better piece.
23 - MCH
Great post, Natalie. Someday GW Bush will be brought to justice for his war crimes, we can only hope that the number of wasted American soldiers lives in Iraq doesn't reach the tens-of-tousands before it happens...
24 - Distorted Angel
And yet when people point out the things here that need fixing, they are labeled unpatriotic, or worse. Go figure...
25 - Eric Olsen
I think it's all about babies and bathwater