YoursTrulyBeth

Check this out..... I am so glad to have gotten this from the cartoonist, himself. Oh, and it gives you a hint as to where to find the cartoon.

Dear Beth Pacanowski;

Thanks for all your efforts in supporting the Reader's rights! I feel a thousand times better knowing that you guys are going to be there, taking a stand.

The TFP has made a controversy in a teapot. I have little doubt that they are receiving plenty of donations towards that teapot. One could almost say they are in the business of holy outrage. They have also given the Illinois Leader their permission to reprint the cartoon on the Illinois Leader's website, without asking or receiving my permission. Um, I'm a little unclear, could you please define that "Defense of Property" part?

Anyway, I appreciate what you're doing to form a counter-rally, and please let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Garret

Lone Wolf

Had I known about this sooner, I would have arranged to be there, Nikon in hand. I live in Itasca, originally from Elmhurst, unfortunately I have business obligations. Next time!

Let us know how it goes, Amazon!

Amazon

I will post a report afterward, I promise.

It may not be early this afternoon, since there will be much work to do once I get back to my desk - ordinarily there is no time for me to stop for lunch, but today I decided to assert my Illinois labor rights and take a bleeping lunch! It's for a good cause, even if I'll have to work my behind off when I return.

So, my sandwich boards are ready, and I am (nervously) looking forward to this event. It will be my first rally.
If anyone is around, I will be the extremely tall woman with brown hair wearing a long black duster and pearls (and, of course, poster boards).

Thanks for your continued enthusiasm.
YTB, thanks for posting that letter from the cartoonist. That was encouraging.

Love to all! Wish me luck!

Stephen Maturin

Best of luck to ya, Amazon! I'm looking forward to reading your write-up on the event.

Jayhawker Soule

Insidious or not, I suspect that the original intent might have been to maximize exposure, rather than cleverly undermine the effectiveness of some anticipated counter-demonstration.

PopeInTheWoods

Possible reasons:

- [AU]The American TFP is composed mainly of a bunch of old folks with nothing better to do.[/AU]
- Priests only work on Sunday.
- They're trying to maximize publicity by having it available for coverage on the evening news.
- [AU]The old Catholic geezers got nuthin' better to do.[/AU]
- Arranging overtime for their Irish Catholic cop buddies.
- [AU]Most Catholics are unemployed with nothing better to do.[/AU]
- Intelligent, productive athiest counter-demonstrators will be at work.
- Maximize publicity by tying up weekday traffic.
- [AU]The walking grey panther fossils don't have anything better to do.[/AU]

Did I mention that the antiquated American TFP hags, with nothing better to do, may have simply forgotten that most of the rest of the world actually has to work for a living?

Andy

ybnormal

Insidious or not, I suspect that the original intent might have been to maximize exposure, rather than cleverly undermine the effectiveness of some anticipated counter-demonstration.

Point taken... then again, I can only assume that your maximum exposure means getting the attention of mainstream media, which is not an easy thing to accomplish... "maximum" media attention is certainly more likely when riot police must separate pro & con crowds, rather than a quiet, one-sided picketing with no opposition.

My point was that this tactic fits perfectly with what these folks do everyday. They refuse to allow that there is such a thing as Free Speech in this country, and they'll do just about anything to stop it. As I've said before, a good argument can be made that this entire Biblical America Movement is little more than an attempt to silence any and all opposition. Choose your silencing poison... music, movies, news, TV, anything gay, magazines, porn, newspapers, cartoons, skimpy swimsuits, art, libraries, the Internet, personalized license plates, advertising, Atheists, any other religion and on and on...

It fits perfectly, that they would want to protest and have their say without being disturbed by the same evil forces, which they are there to stop in the first place.

Pierre Bezukhov

Well, I just got back from the demonstration. The TFP on the north side of the street and the free speech supporters on the south side. There were about sixty people on with the TFP and ten to fifteen on the free speech side. TFP had a big red banner, a podium (with microphone) and a statue of Mary on a pedestal. Unfortunately, we couldn't really hear what they were saying as traffic was passing between us, not to mention the three or four cops that were standing on both sides of the streets. The words I heard the speaker say the clearest were "Blasphemy! Blasphemy!", but he was yelling those so I didn't have to work to hear. He also mention something about defending god (apparently god being unable to defend himself) and some stuff about condemning the Reader. Oh, yes, there were also a lot of prayers being led.

Amazon was there with her lovely sandwich sign (very nice, Amazon!) and several t-shirts with sayings ("God is Pretend" and "Militant Heretic"). Someone from the Freethought Illinois was handing out flyers on free speech, while, across the street, several men wearing suits with red, scarf-like things were handing out tracts encouraging a letter writing campaign against the Reader. One of the men came over to take a picture of the guys in the heretic t-shirts. He began to ask the guys whether would be offended if someone had insulted their mother and then started to draw a comparison between insulting someone's mother and insult his "mother church". Unfortunately, I was behind the guys replying, so I didn't hear their responses. It didn't last very long and he went back across the street. All in all, it was pretty peaceful.

There was in influx of people the free speech side, as they would join for ten to fifteen minutes and then have to go back to work, so it's hard to say how many were there overall. Plus, a number of pedestrians expressed their solidarity or agreement as they passed. I myself only stayed for about forty-five minutes (12 - 12:45pm) as I also had to get back to work.

That about it.

YoursTrulyBeth

Pierre, Thank you for your account! I am glad that all went safe and well. I know that the "opposition" had estimated that HUNDREDS would be in attendence, and that estimate, it seems, was a bit off. Since I wdidn't know what to expect from our group, I am not disapointed. I am so glad you were able to attend! Thank you again.
Beth

Amazon

I think Pierre summarized very well.

It was quite peaceful. It was a gorgeous day, too. Met a handful of delightful like-minded gentlemen (I was the only lady protester today). Took a couple pictures, and received one already from a guy named Richard who brought his digital camera. I'll try to post it here if I can figure out how to post a picture without a URL.
I only noticed one scowling woman at the rally, but the other attendees would just look over out of curiosity then go back to their praying.

Rob Sherman was there, putting an interesting spin on FTP's demand for a stop to religiously offensive material. Rob decided to ask them if they would do the same for us, starting with their bible. Would they denounce all the parts of the bible, all the TBN talk shows, and all the articles in their magazines and newspapers that malign atheists and people of other religions? That question was never answered within my earshot.

So, it was a positive experience all-together. If there are any specific questions about the rally, I'd be happy to try to tackle them.

(Can somebody help me display an image without a URL?)

[ September 25, 2002: Message edited by: Amazon ]</p>