better dead than...a red state?

Swarms of Republicans in the metro, our building on virtual lockdown, snow everywhere...this has been my last coupel of days. I got to host my friend Jenna, who put Elly and I up for the RNC. We wandered hither and yon throughout the protests. She's a radical librarian, and as a consequence had a kit with information about the various goings-on of the day.

Being that it was cold and the marches lengthy, our crew stopped off at a Chinese food restaurant for lunch, and watched the ABC news coverage of the inauguration. I could hardly believe some of the things I heard/saw! There were reporters describing the protest as a "healthy size", they didn't say 'anarchist' once. One reporter actually drew the connection between the irony of the scene of the massive protest cages at "freedom plaza" where people were pushing on fencing the riot cops had established far from the actual parade route, and our purported rights of free speech and democracy. How would the international community percieve these images, so soon after Dr. King's birthday, inquired this fellow. His co-host tried to cut him off. It was astounding! There were points when the camera angle stopped panning the sidelines, where myriad "Worst President Ever" signs were littered throughout, and focused for a couple of minutes on the decal at the side of the heavily armored presidential limo, blurring the presence of protest.

It was also noticeable how, while discussing the procession and motorcade, references to various presidential assasinations where frequent. While there may not be much armor on humvees for our beloved troops in Iraq, there sure is plenty for the limo. Gee, here's for making the world a safer place. United we stand...behind lots and lots of secret service.

The most personally hilarious thing for me was that all these republican faithfuls were trooping out there proudly wearing...RED! Yep, the phrase 'red baiting' took on a whole new meaning for me. I don't think a one of them found it ironic. If it wasn't red, it was fur...those pro-'lifers' really like clubbed baby seals to keep themselves toasty.

I have hope for the future, though. While we were eating lunch, there was a group of inauguration-goers sitting at a big round table next to us. We were obviously and loudly a group of godless anarchists (or whatever), and it made the adults squirm. But there were two young girls - couldn't have been more than 11-13 range, and they couldn't stop staring at us. It was very clear that we were cooler than their immediate company. Let's hope some day they're among our ranks.

Staying put

After a week of the atrocious-if-classic flu, I came back swingin' to facilitate a conference of 35-some-odd students who flew/drove/took trains to DC to learn about standing in solidarity with campus service workers. While the wacky world of labor is, well, wacky these days, I'm really appreciating the opportunity to be a part of an internationally-coordinated labor campaign.

I'm in a cafe where the smell of bacon is overwhelming.

Down for the count

Well, my blog has been a little spare lately. I got an awful flu, and I've been out sick from work for the last four days. Kaiser says I'll live, and my fever is gong down, but sheesh!

There will be holiday redux and other postings soon, just as soon as the DayQuil haze wears off. :)