Protest Blues

Last weekend, our friend Keith was in town, so we decided to take him to a classic DC event - some random protest. This one was against the US and Lebanon, but it was basically about the USA and the Middle East I think. Anyway, tens of thousands of people were expected by the organizers (though you quickly learn far less usually come). They were going to surround the White House.

Anyway, we took Keith right on by, but we arrived too early. There weren't many people around, and those that were there were still making placards and stapling signs to wooden poles. Keith was caught up in the activism of it all and when someone offered him a Palestinian flag he said sure.

But the guy wanted five dollars for it.

Disillusionment is an expected part of DC life. There are people who work the protest circuit selling generic anti-bush buttons to the liberal crowds and anti-kerry ones to the conservatives. Keith wasn't happy about it.

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Post Script:
Top Three DC protests:
1) Roe v. Wade anniversary march - Conservatives can organize! And the crowds can't be beat.
2) Immigration Rally - Except by the spontaneous actions of the oppressed masses! Plus, they have the hope that maybe things will change because of their actions.
3) Falun Gong Protest - When you don't have numbers, you can at least target. They hounded the head of China everywhere he went when he came to visit.

Biggest Disappointment:
Step Down Bush protest - This was a sorry scene. It even rained, as if God disapproved. The organizor's ramped up for this thing for a week. Security notices went out at my office. They had so many porti-potties! But in the end, no one showed up. A few hundred I suppose. They went on parade, taking up a lane of traffic, but they had all marched past me after about three minutes. Bush didn't step down.