The DNC: Local Color the TVs Aren't Showing You

I'm not watching TV at all while here in Denver, but I'm guessing there are a lot of images you are not seeing. 

The first two photos depict a small contingent of about 25 peace protesters in outrageous pink outfits, stationed immediately outside the Sheraton where the CA and NY delegations are staying.  The cops are stoic but somehow happy.  The mood is playful, almost as if everyone knows the role they are supposed to be playing in this free speech drama.

The third photo is of a young man dressed in a prison-style orange jumpsuit and a black cloth bag over his head.  He wasn't shouting, nor was he silent, instead he sortof half mumbled, half preached his way along the main thoroughfare, 16h street.  When I asked what point he was trying make, and whether it was geared toward Guantanamo and Abu Graib or something else, he said he felt imprisioned by the government that had relegated him to a small 'free speech' zone that seemed to violate the very notion of free speech itself.  He told me he was not sure which candidate he was supporting, and that he was inclined toward the "Constitutionalist" party.  Is there such a thing?  As I strode away from him, I found myself exclaiming to the crowd, "Welcome to America.  You can't do this in Beijing."

The fourth photo is missing -- too blurry to post -- but one of my favorite encounters.  The protesters are out in full force as I've said, and tonight was no different.  As we exited the Pepsi Center -- picture hundreds upon hundreds of folk streaming out and around various traffic related road blocks, like water flows around stones in a creek -- the anti-abortionists were there with their grotesque photos, and the religious zealots were there with their firey rhetoric and megaphone.  As I passed by the religious megaphone guy, he was admonishing the nearby women that they needed to "submit" according to the bible.  Soon after when he said, "we don't believe in homosexuality -- this isn't San Francisco" I got all riled up and shouted, "SAN FRANCISCO!  I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO" and before I knew it a TV camera was on me. The man continued, "you are lower than low worshipping Obama, when who you should be worshipping Jesus," at which point I screamed, "Jesus loves Obama, and he even loves YOU" to the man making the accusations.   Again, the TV ate it up. I have no idea if I was on CNN or some local podunk station but someone got an earful and eyeful of my attempt to counteract hateful speech not with restrictions but with more free speech.  I then led the flowing crowd in an "O-Ba-Ma, O-Ba-Ma, O-Ba-Ma" in an attempt to drown out the voice on the megaphone.  His words repulsed me, but striking back the way I had gave me a spring in my step as I walked back to the hotel.

What a great country this is.  And what a great, and exhilarating experience.  So far I've shouted, cried, debated, argued, persuaded, conceded, even apologized.  I am having the time of my life.  And it is only Tuesday.      

Comments

[Scott Stead]

Thanks for this. All of the violent protests and police brutality anger me. It's what the networks show, it's what the protesters and youtubers show - but there are folks being heard without all the madness too. Cheers for this take on the situation on the ground at the DNC. Mission accomplished. Now go start a riot or something.

Cheers.

[Howard]

D I S E N G E N U O U S N E S S ...

Everyone knows that Obama disrespected Bill Clinton ...
playing the race card on him, and trying to tarnish his
record during the primaries ... but, because of the
disingenuous DNC, and Obama, and their putting party
above country, and blackmailing the Clintons into
supporting Obama ... using their debt and Hillary's
future in politics as their leverage, the Clintons have
been strong armed into supporting Obama. Why should a
successful and respected two term President like
Bill Clinton have to stoop to the ambitions of the far
left DNC, and their upstart, empty suit candidate ...
while Obama and the DNC disingenuously pretend that everybody has
kissed and made up??? Also, the PUMAS and other
Hillary supporters have had to endure the same
condescending disrespect from them as well. I say
the DNC and Obama made their bed, so let them lie
in it ... they deserve nothing more.