Apr. 18th, 2011
Did some recon on the Tea Party rally. At first I thought the thing was canceled because I couldn't hear them as I approached the area they were supposed to be in, but they're there all right.
Honestly, they don't seem to have much of a sense of humor. There are some John Birch Society guys there, a sprinkling of anti-abortion types, and a whole mess of the "we're taxed too much" group.
And they're cheering and applauding everything that every speaker is saying.
I'm really having second thoughts about attending this as Jesus.
Edit: If I had seen even a single other person there who was anti-Tea Party, I'd be feeling different about this.
Further edit: Oh fuck no, these people are crazy. I mean, CAH-razy. With a capital "Keep that guy away from the meth stash." The anti-abortion guys are so far around the bend it's not even funny. (Yes, I talked with them.) They're convinced that no woman should ever have an abortion. Ever. And somehow they're equating abortion with slavery. I kind of missed how that one works, but you know, I don't want to know.
Several people had anti-Obama signs, and on most of them, Obama was spelled correctly. (At least one had 'Obummer'.) Although, from what I saw, there were no obviously racist signs. Several 'Impeachment' signs, though. I could not get a clear answer on what he's done to merit impeachment, however. (Apparently, I give off a "You're on Candid Camera" vibe, and most of them were the polite, tightly wrapped crazy that makes for positive soundbites.)
And I'm not certain if they were part of the official staff, or what, but there were a dozen or so people in matching red shirts who seemed to be roaming through the crowd keeping an eye on things. They had a dim view of me, what with the long hair, unkempt beard, and no obvious Tea Party support sign, but they didn't do anything that I saw.
Honestly, they don't seem to have much of a sense of humor. There are some John Birch Society guys there, a sprinkling of anti-abortion types, and a whole mess of the "we're taxed too much" group.
And they're cheering and applauding everything that every speaker is saying.
I'm really having second thoughts about attending this as Jesus.
Edit: If I had seen even a single other person there who was anti-Tea Party, I'd be feeling different about this.
Further edit: Oh fuck no, these people are crazy. I mean, CAH-razy. With a capital "Keep that guy away from the meth stash." The anti-abortion guys are so far around the bend it's not even funny. (Yes, I talked with them.) They're convinced that no woman should ever have an abortion. Ever. And somehow they're equating abortion with slavery. I kind of missed how that one works, but you know, I don't want to know.
Several people had anti-Obama signs, and on most of them, Obama was spelled correctly. (At least one had 'Obummer'.) Although, from what I saw, there were no obviously racist signs. Several 'Impeachment' signs, though. I could not get a clear answer on what he's done to merit impeachment, however. (Apparently, I give off a "You're on Candid Camera" vibe, and most of them were the polite, tightly wrapped crazy that makes for positive soundbites.)
And I'm not certain if they were part of the official staff, or what, but there were a dozen or so people in matching red shirts who seemed to be roaming through the crowd keeping an eye on things. They had a dim view of me, what with the long hair, unkempt beard, and no obvious Tea Party support sign, but they didn't do anything that I saw.