Enemy Combatant
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Shouting "Fire" In A Crowded Political Theater
Wow. Bill Maher's concluding remarks last night, on his HBO series Real Time, were something else. (Fortunately, I taped it:):
You can't claim you're for peace unless you're willing to disturb it.
Now at the Republican Convention next week New York City is attempting to buy off angry war protestors by giving them discounts on restaurants and Broadway shows in exchange for a pledge not to all congregate in one place and to keep the noise down -- you know, like it's a high school band trip.
"What do we want?" "PEACE!"
"When do we want it?" "NOW! -- but we'll settle for dinner for two at Red Lobster."
You know what? I want to see some REAL protests next week -- the kind I watched as a kid from the Democratic Convention in Chicago in '68. I want to see THIS guy --
[makes twisted, angry face, flipping off cameras -- reminiscent of a photo of an angry Chicago protestor flipping off armed cops]
-- remember that guy? I mean, isn't that the least we as citizens can do? Isn't this one of those moments when democracy can show it's not afraid to be in the streets? Because you know who has peaceful, planned demonstrations? Totalitarian states, like North Korea and Disneyland.
Therefore, tonight, I am urging all the protestors in New York next week TO RIOT!
I'm talking about good, old-fashioned rioting -- the kind that made Whitey move to the suburbs!
{Guest interjection: "That's why Detroit looks like that!"}
Look, Protestor: You spent two weeks making that papier-mache Dick Cheney mask? [rolls eyes] Now, light it on fire and TORCH THE NEAREST GAP STORE!
Two lesbians with a "LICK BUSH" sign is NOT going to make the nightly news -- pick up a garbage can and throw it through a Starbucks window!!
I don't want to see a candlelight vigil -- this is New York, there's a bodycount at Simon & Garfunkle concerts!
If anything with "Trump" written on it is standing after September 3rd? You're a bunch of pussies who aren't worth the hemp in your Timberland shoes!
I want to see cabdrivers so nervous they stop picking up the white people!
We're Americans, damnit! We burn cars over basketball games! Let's MAKE some noise; let's KICK some ass! If I want to turn on the TV and see nothing . . .
. . . I'll keep watching the Olympics.
