I foolishly stayed up til two-something in the morning on Thursday, even though I knew I had to wake up around 5a to catch the Megabus to DC at 6:40. I snoozed my alarm and didn't get up til 6. I rushed to pack some clothes and food, grabbed my guitar, ran to the subway station, and made it to the new Megabus terminal on 9th avenue with just minutes to spare.
Once I touched down in DC, I meandered toward the Capitol building, wherein legislators pontificated against those across the damnable aisle.
The US government is on the verge of shutting down because these people can't figure out how to balance the budget. I would think that a govt that spends $1.4 trillion on the military could easily find ways to slim down. Ending the three wars in which the US is currently engaged might be a good start. But I digress, as my destination was not the Capitol building anyway. I was headed to perhaps a more sinister locale: home of The Man himself, the White House.
I had been charged with entertaining a group of protesters at the White House gates including members of SOAWatch and Veterans for Peace. Between noon and 2p they were publicly fasting for the closure of the infamous School of the Americas. I've been involved with SOAWatch for over three years now and am always ready and willing to support their efforts to peacefully (read: nonviolently) bring a close to this most horrific US military institution. Another group also joined us, protesting against a free trade agreement that Obama and the president of Colombia were to sign within the next couple hours.
Over the course of our protestant activities there were short speeches and chants against the SOA inserted between my own musical performances. I played songs by Lennon, Dylan, the Flaming Lips, Against Me! and an original song that had been inspired by past SOAW events. The group was highly appreciative of my music, as I was also of their commitment to peace and nonviolence.
The protest ended without climax and it is questionable whether our action had any effect whatever. Still, I was proud to stand with this small band of vigilant yet nonviolent revolutionaries.
A bunch more happened during my trip to DC, including (apparently) my new iMac computer kicking the bucket. I'm using my roommate's computer now, but as you might imagine, I'm not in the mood to type much more at the moment. Videos soon to come, if I can get my machine back in working order.
Once I touched down in DC, I meandered toward the Capitol building, wherein legislators pontificated against those across the damnable aisle.
The US government is on the verge of shutting down because these people can't figure out how to balance the budget. I would think that a govt that spends $1.4 trillion on the military could easily find ways to slim down. Ending the three wars in which the US is currently engaged might be a good start. But I digress, as my destination was not the Capitol building anyway. I was headed to perhaps a more sinister locale: home of The Man himself, the White House.
I had been charged with entertaining a group of protesters at the White House gates including members of SOAWatch and Veterans for Peace. Between noon and 2p they were publicly fasting for the closure of the infamous School of the Americas. I've been involved with SOAWatch for over three years now and am always ready and willing to support their efforts to peacefully (read: nonviolently) bring a close to this most horrific US military institution. Another group also joined us, protesting against a free trade agreement that Obama and the president of Colombia were to sign within the next couple hours.
Over the course of our protestant activities there were short speeches and chants against the SOA inserted between my own musical performances. I played songs by Lennon, Dylan, the Flaming Lips, Against Me! and an original song that had been inspired by past SOAW events. The group was highly appreciative of my music, as I was also of their commitment to peace and nonviolence.
The protest ended without climax and it is questionable whether our action had any effect whatever. Still, I was proud to stand with this small band of vigilant yet nonviolent revolutionaries.
A bunch more happened during my trip to DC, including (apparently) my new iMac computer kicking the bucket. I'm using my roommate's computer now, but as you might imagine, I'm not in the mood to type much more at the moment. Videos soon to come, if I can get my machine back in working order.
