After work I drove past one of the major malls in Orange County and saw this group of about six protesters. This is all of them--nobody else was on the other side of the man with the white beard.
I was disappointed to be in a lane too far away to roll down my window and let them know I disagreed with them. I'm not sure what I would have said, though.
There's Kool-Aid here. You can see it in the Bush-Cheney "Liars" poster. A duplicate poster is hidden behind it.
California may be a blue state, but Orange County (and to a lesser degree San Diego County) is a red island in that blueness. And this mall is in one of the upscale parts of Orange County, which is why I was surprised to see a left-leaning protest here. But that's probably why there weren't more than half a dozen protesters.
I like the sign, "Work for Peace." That's what Israel is doing by trying to decimate Hezbollah. I hope they continue until they succeed.
32 comments:
Hey, I bet those are the same 5-6 war protesters that demonstrate with their lame Kool-aid signs across from our mall. (And it's a heavily democratic area of a solid red state to boot.)
You know what has always struck me as telling about our little group? I have noticed (being a much too frequent shopper) that those protesters are only out on nice days. They're never around when it's cold (less than 65) or hot (more than 75) or rainy or snowy or too sunny...you get the idea. I suppose you could call them "fair weather protesters."
I've been sorely tempted to set up my own "I support the war and the troops and the president and Iraq and Israel" protest across the street. Somehow though, I think Andrew wouldn't approve. He's a lot less controversial than me!
When we invaded Iraq, Glenn Beck held a pro-America rally in the "Flatts" on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. My husband, son, brother-in-law, and I attended. It was about 10 degrees and we braved the wind, snow and cold with about 996 other people. At some point I noticed, maybe 6 people across the bank from where the stage was. They had the usual "give peace a chance" and "Bush/Blair War Criminals" signs. When others around us began to notice them, the shouting started. When the sheer size of "our" crowd drowned their anti-war chants they resorted to throwing snowballs. At some point Glenn and other organizers notice the commotion and encouraged the snowball fight. Needless to say, they packed up their "snowy" sheet signs and left.
It was great, even though I didn't pick up any snow, those around me and my companions sure did. To be part of something so emotional and American, it didn't seem that cold after that.
I like the sign, "Work for Peace." That's what Israel is doing by trying to decimate Hezbollah. I hope they continue until they succeed.
Oxymoronic, or just moronic?
You don't spread peace by hurtling bombs around the place. If that's peace to Americans, then I shudder to think what warfare is to you people.
FKAB,
No, that's not what peace is to all Americans. There are six people at the mall who don't think that way.
Israel tried appeasement ("land for peace"), but they didn't get peace for their efforts. Instead they got a steady barrage of rockets.
What's happening now is NOT peace. But if Israel smacks down Hezbollah enough that they don't dare attack Israel again, that's when there will be peace.
fkab, It's morons like you who will be the first to whine when this country is attacked again. "Bush and his cronnies didn't keep me safe".
You want to talk about peace, what do you call the daily kassam rocket attacks by those "peaceful" palestinians? What do you call it when your commute turns into a smoldering pile of twist, bloody steel. A scene that is all to familier to Israelis. How do you faster "peace" with an entire people hell bent on your destruction? If you know, then go to the "impotent" UN and let them know.
What's happening now is NOT peace. But if Israel smacks down Hezbollah enough that they don't dare attack Israel again, that's when there will be peace.
Nothing like good old fashioned American diplomacy. Just fire big shiny guns in arbitrary locations to solve the problem. And, if the hippies down at the mall have a problem with that, you can always rely on O'Reilly to put a positive spin on it.
Bombs = Peace! Yay! War is FUN!
It's morons like you who will be the first to whine when this country is attacked again. "Bush and his cronnies didn't keep me safe".
I'm pretty sure that Bush and his "cronnies" are the ones dictating to the world on major acts of warfare. If America is attacked again, I will not blame Bush but the dimwits who elected him.
You want to talk about peace, what do you call the daily kassam rocket attacks by those "peaceful" palestinians?
Israel has been attacking Lebanon in recent days, not Palestine.
How do you faster "peace" with an entire people hell bent on your destruction?
I don't know. How does one "faster" peace?
Janice,
Oh my, your hot buttons were really pushed, but please be nice.
I like FKAB, even though we disagree about practically everything. If my memory serves me correctly (which is always doubtful), FKAB lives Outside the US (Australia?), so that increases the likelihood of reactions being, "What on earth are you Americans doing now?"
One of the things I appreciate about comments from people like FKAB is that it helps me think through the things that I say. I can usually count on my statements being misunderstood, misinterpreted or (heaven forbid!) deliberately twisted, and then I have to be able to explain more clearly. I'm not always successful, but I try.
I'm with you, though. There's no trying to foster peace with people who don't want it.
FKAB,
Please don't make fun of people's spelling errors. That's kicking them when they're down, which is not nice.
Bombs = Peace! Yay! War is FUN!
Now you're twisting what I said.
Hezbollah wants Israel destroyed. They planted their operations among the civilian population of southern Lebanon and then provoked Israel. When Israel responded, Hezbollah and the Hezbollah sympathizers in the Lebanese government screamed that Israel was hitting civilian targets and they need to be stopped.
The provocations will not stop until Israel has been neutered or destroyed. Or until Hezbollah has been destroyed militarily.
The people who have been "hurtling bombs around the place" are Hezbollah. Israel is targeting their bombs--and warning the civilian population ahead of time.
You don't make nice when your very existence is threatened, and Israel's is. Lebanon's isn't.
Well said Skye, yes my buttons were "pushed" and I "pushed" back. It wasn't until after I posted my comment that I discovered FKAB was not of this great nation and is "underage." So I'll dismiss the drivel as such.
I can't begin to understand the leftists, moonbat mindset. They don't believe their views are the polar opposite of the
islam-o-nazis that would be all to happy to cut his head off while praising allah.
Well said Skye, yes my buttons were "pushed" and I "pushed" back. It wasn't until after I posted my comment that I discovered FKAB was not of this great nation and is "underage." So I'll dismiss the drivel as such.
Oh yes, I forgot that America is the greatest nation in the world. That's why everyone in America is above the poverty line, life is good, and war is never illegal.
I think you may overestimate your country, and from the sound of you, underestimate your 'youngers.' Please don't be condescending. If you want to display your intelligence, do it by engaging with me and showing me why I'm wrong.
Otherwise, if you want to be a patronising cow, you can go away to your own special place in the blogosphere. Somewhere sheltered, with padded walls. A magical place where America is great and everyone else is just dirty commie/Muslim/immigrant/atheist/black/etc.
That applies to all the other self important spackers out there.
FKAB,
I'm not quite sure what a "spacker" is (except I can tell it's not good). We don't have those here. Or, rather, we probably call them by a different name.
You've let your ire get the better of you, and now you've gone and done the very thing you accuse Janice of doing, which is generalizing instead of engaging the specifics of the argument.
Oh yes, I forgot that America is the greatest nation in the world. That's why everyone in America is above the poverty line, life is good, and war is never illegal....A magical place where America is great and everyone else is just dirty commie/Muslim/immigrant/atheist/black/etc.
Greatness is not the same thing as perfection. I firmly believe that America is great, because America is an idea not a bloodline.
We are a nation that welcomes (legal) immigrants who want to become part of who we are. We value the differences among our citizens and take pleasure in the different accents of people who have come here to become Americans.
Middle America (I'm not speaking for the NY Times/LA Times-reading elitists) is against turning our country into a Euro-Wanabee Socialist State, so you're right that we don't like the "dirty commies," but you're wrong about the rest.
It's not all Muslims we don't like. We don't like the jihadists who want to kill us.
We're perfectly content to let the athiests believe there is no God (or god). We don't like the ones who are trying to erase every trace of religious speech or writing from every facet of life in our country.
We don't care about skin color. We don't like Jesse Jackson and his race-baiting ilk calling everyone who disagrees with their politics-of-race "racists."
As for the "etc.," well words can't begin to describe how mistaken you are...
Again well said Skye,
I too believe America is great, if it weren't we wouldn't need a wall to keep people OUT!
If America was a not a great nation, why do people come here in droves to build a better life? Poverty, there is no excuse for being poor in this great nation, America allows everyone to better themselves. But you have to work hard, it will not be given to you.
May God continue to Bless this GREAT country!
Yes honey, America is great. Now toddle off with the other children. There's a good girl.
FKAB,
You must admit that American blogs are the best! Another facet of American greatness. ;)
Good to see you mingling with my other friends.
AICS
FKAB,
Just curious (not angry)... Are there any countries you consider great? How would you define greatness?
You seem to be critical a lot of the time (except about the FSM, of course). I just wondered if you saw everything as wrong, or just America and Israel
Oops. I hit the button before I typed the period. I hate it when I do that.
FKAB, what's your problem, to much "kool-aid"? You ask for respect and then call fellow bloggers a "patronising cow"? You seem so, (what's the word I'm looking for?) angry and powerless. When do you become of legal age? Maybe then you can leave the the house after dark and play with the grown-ups instead of insulting them while trying to impress upon them your socialistic world view. Grow up, get a REAL job, support yourself for a while then come back and tell us how you feel.
FKAB I forgot to ask, what's with the puss you're sportin' in your blog picture? I now see why you're so ANGRY, with a face that like I'd be angry too!
Have a great day!
Wow I'm so happy to see that my evil world view is causing such a stir! Hee.
AICS,
I love to spar with conservative religious people because it's fun, and unfortunately the most extreme ones reside in the USofA. Coincidence? Perhaps not. If you can find me a suitably insane Australian blog, please point it out.
Skyepuppy,
Well, I've always admired Canada, which is why I'm moving there next year for 12 months while I finish my studies.
Canada is:
1. Impeccably neutral in world affairs (some of the time)
2. Secular
3. Good health care
4. And they have this policy where they treat their gays with equality. Madness!
Jihadi Tracker,
Look! A Muslim!! Quick before he runs away and blows your family up!
FKAB,
But what's a spacker?
I like Canada too. Canada is:
1. Big
2. Scenic
3. Owner of the world's longest covered bridge.
But you might reconsider the healthcare after you've been there for a while. Especially if you go to Toronto.
It'll be good to have you on the right-side-up part of the world.
'Spacker' is a predominately British slang word similar to the American word 'dumbass.'
As for the 'right side up part of the world' ... eh?
FKAB,
Thanks. I could tell it wasn't a compliment.
The other thing... North of the Equator is right side up. South of the Equator is upside down. Simple.
Also, it's good you're using "eh" already. You'll be ready for Canada when you get there.
hehe. Yes, the other good thing about Canada is the gravity. We don't get that down here.
FKAB, the gravity thing explains your hair!
"Finish your studies"? Pray tell, what are you going to be when you grow up and try to become a contributing part of society, hair dresser or social worker?
I'm gonna be a Jihadi Tracker!!
Pew pew pew!! DIE MUSLIMS!!
hehe.
Oh, and ummm... that person in the avatar isn't me. I don't know if y'all were going along with it jokingly or what, but the person in that photo is a British actor from a sketch comedy that I like.
FKAB,
The person in your photo is the perfect expression of the attitude you usually bring with you to these discussions.
I once worked with a woman from Vietnam, and she had a way of nodding her head upward at someone that conveyed the same level of disdain, only it was cuter.
I have to say, though, your pic has grown on me...
Actually, a facial expression like that is etched on my face all the time.
FKAB,
I recommend you lay off the assumptions that Jihadi Tracker hates all Muslims. While it offers interesting reading, it makes you look ignorant.
A "jihadi" is a Muslim who wants to kill us, you included.
"Muslim" includes some of the people I work with (mostly Iranian), and whose company I enjoy.
I'm in favor of jihadi trackers (in general) hunting down the jihadi fascists and preferably killing them. Arresting and imprisoning them will work as a Plan B. If Israel does some of the jihadi tracking for us, all the better.
I recommend you lay off the assumptions that Jihadi Tracker hates all Muslims. While it offers interesting reading, it makes you look ignorant.
I get the distinct impression from his tone and the fact that he remains anonymous that he is quite an unsavoury person. I cannot understand why he says some of the things that he does, but I get the feeling that he doesn't like Muslims, homosexuals and atheists. I am merely going along with it.
A "jihadi" is a Muslim who wants to kill us, you included.
I'm pretty sure that if I sat down with one of these jihadis and asked him what his motivation is, I think I could convince him that he and I aren't so different.
I think that instead of blaming Muslims for wanting the world to be Muslim, we need to ask ourselves if we are culpable of this as well.
I am a fierce proponent of pluralism in society and the wider global community. Even though killing people might seem like a quick fix, it only gives both sides of the conflict more reason to hate each other.
It's my belief that Jihadi is perpetuating this hatred.
I'm sorry for giving you a hippie ear-bashing, but I wonder sometimes whether you see the irony of killing people in the name of peace.
FKAB,
I get the feeling that he doesn't like Muslims, homosexuals and atheists.
I get the feeling he doesn't like the Muslims who want to kill us. I'm not sure where you got the rest, but you may have seen more than I did.
I'm pretty sure that if I sat down with one of these jihadis and asked him what his motivation is, I think I could convince him that he and I aren't so different.
I'm pretty sure if you sat down with one (a true believer), he'd answer you either by setting off his suicide belt or by killing you.
...instead of blaming Muslims for wanting the world to be Muslim...
It's not the wanting I blame them for. I want the world to be Christian (yes, even you). It's the violent methods they use to achieve their goal that I object to.
I don't mind the hippie-bashing. I'm a big girl, and I can take it.
I see how you can see irony in killing people in the name of peace. But I don't find it ironic at all, because the people targeted to die (in spite of what you may believe, this is not indiscriminate) are the ones who will stop at nothing to kill. Their victims will be much better off if we get to their killers before the killers get to the victims (granted, the victims won't necessarily know they've been spared).
Thanks for defending me Skye,
As for fkab and his assumptions of what I think, I'll chalk it up to his university fed world view. Also, I would love to see it sit down and reason with a jihadi. He'll be the next star in the "religion of peace" snuff film.
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