again... im still a bush backer... but this is not cool:
(from one of my wolfdog community folks)
Silenced by the President
> By Trish Bowcock
> Oct. 16, 2004
>
> A few weeks before my father died, he woke me in the wee hours of the
> morning. He needed to talk. He was worried about Attorney General John
> Ashcroft and the destruction of American civil liberties. I comforted
> my father, believing he was delusional from medications. I was wrong.
>
> I write this from my home in Jacksonville Oregon (population 2,226).
> President George W. Bush came here this week. The purpose of his visit
> was political. Southern Oregon has been deemed a ìbattle groundî area
> in the presidential race. John Kerry has made incredible inroads in
> this traditionally Republican stronghold. President Bushís campaign
> stop was an attempt to staunch the slide.
>
> Jacksonville is an old gold mining town. Our main street is only five
> blocks long, lined with restored storefronts. The sidewalks are
> narrow. We are a peaceful community. The prospect of an overnight
> presidential visit was exciting, even to me, a lifelong Democrat. My
> excitement turned to horror as I watched events unfold during
> President Bushís visit. In the mid 1800s, when Indians invaded
> Jacksonville,
citizens
> clambered upon the roof of the old library. It was the one building
> that would not catch fire when flaming arrows were shot. This week it
> was a different scene.
>
> Police armed with high powered rifles perched upon our rooftops as the
> presidential motorcade approached. Helicopters flew low, overhead. A
> cadre of motorcycle police zoomed into town. Black SUVs followed,
> sandwiching several black limousines carrying the president, his wife
> and their entourage as they sped to the local inn where they would eat
> and sleep. The main street was lined with people gathered to witness
> the
event.
> Many supported the president. Many did not. Some came because they
> were simply curious. There were men, women, young and old. The mood
> was
somewhat
> festive. Supporters of John Kerry sported signs, as did supporters of
George
> Bush. Individuals, exercising their rights of free speech began
> chanting.
On
> one side of the street, shouts of "four more years" echoed in the
> night
air.
> On the other side of the street, chants of "three more weeks"
> responded. The chants were loud and apparently could be heard by
> President Bush. An order was issued that the anti-Bush rhetoric be
> quieted. The local SWAT
team
> leapt to action.
>
> It happened fast. Clad in full riot gear, at least 50 officers moved
> in. Shouting indecipherable commands from a bullhorn, they formed a
> chain and bore down upon the people, only working to clear the side of
> the
street
> appearing to be occupied by Kerry supporters. People tried to get out
> of their way. It was very crowded. There was nowhere to move. People
> were
being
> crushed. They started flowing into the streets. Pleas to the officers,
> asking, "where to go" fell upon deaf ears. Instead, riot police fired
> pellets of cayenne pepper spray into the crowd. An old man fell and
> couldn't get up. When a young man stopped to help, he was shot in the
> back with hard pepper spray balls. Children were hit with pepper
> spray. Deemed "Protesters" were shoved and herded down the street by
> the menacing line
of
> armed riot police, until out of the President's ear-shot.
>
> There the "Protesters" were held at bay. Anyone vocalizing anti-Bush
> or pro-Kerry sentiments were prohibited from venturing forward. Loud
> anti-Bush chants were responded to by the commanding officer stating:
> "FORWARD," to which the entire line of armed police would move,
> lock-step, toward the "Protesters," forcing backward movement. Police
> officers circulated filming the crowd of "Protesters." Some were
> people like me, quiet middle-aged women. Some sported anti-Bush signs,
> peace signs, or
Kerry
> signs. A small group of youth, clad in black with kerchiefs wrapping
> their heads chanted slogans. A young woman in her underwear, sporting
> a peace
sign
> sang a lyrical Kumbaya. Mixed among the "Protesters" were supporters
> of
the
> President. One 19 year- old man shouted obscenities at anyone
> expressing dissatisfaction with the president, encouraging the police
> to "tazar" the "Stinking Protesters." Neither the "Protestors," nor
> the police harassed this vocal young man. Across the street,
> individuals shouting support for the president were allowed to
> continue. Officers monitored this group but allowed them to shout
> words of support or hurl derisions toward Kerry supporters,
> undisturbed. Honking cars filled with Bush supporters were
left
> alone. A honking car full of Kerry supporters was stopped by police on
> its way out of town.
>
> The standoff with "Protesters" continued until the President finished
> his dinner and was secured in his hotel cottage for the night. Only
> then were the riot police ordered to "mount-up," leaping upon the
> sideboard of
a
> huge SUV, pulling out of town, and allowing "free speech" to resume.
>
> In small town America I witnessed true repression and intimidation
> by
law
> enforcement. I saw small children suffering from the effects of being
fired
> upon by pepper bullets. I felt legitimate fear of expressing my
> political
> opinions: a brand new feeling. Newspaper accounts state the chaos started
> when a violent "Protester" shoved a police officer. No one I talked to
> witnessed this account.
>
> It is reputed that President Bush and his staff will not allow any
> opposition activity to occur within his ear or eye sight. I can
> confirm, that in tiny Jacksonville, Oregon, this was true. Physically
> violent means were taken to protect the president from verbal insults.
> Freedom of speech was stolen.
>
> My father was not paranoid as he lay dying. He was expressing great
> Insight into the dangers of our current presidential administration
> and
its
> willingness to repress personal freedoms. If I could talk to my father
> today, I would say, "I am sorry Daddy for doubting you." And, no
> matter what, I will continue to exercise my individual right to freely
> express my opinions. Americans cannot take four more years.
>
> This is a link to a related article:
> http://www.sierratimes.com/04/10/20/carlworden.htm
>
(from one of my wolfdog community folks)
Silenced by the President
> By Trish Bowcock
> Oct. 16, 2004
>
> A few weeks before my father died, he woke me in the wee hours of the
> morning. He needed to talk. He was worried about Attorney General John
> Ashcroft and the destruction of American civil liberties. I comforted
> my father, believing he was delusional from medications. I was wrong.
>
> I write this from my home in Jacksonville Oregon (population 2,226).
> President George W. Bush came here this week. The purpose of his visit
> was political. Southern Oregon has been deemed a ìbattle groundî area
> in the presidential race. John Kerry has made incredible inroads in
> this traditionally Republican stronghold. President Bushís campaign
> stop was an attempt to staunch the slide.
>
> Jacksonville is an old gold mining town. Our main street is only five
> blocks long, lined with restored storefronts. The sidewalks are
> narrow. We are a peaceful community. The prospect of an overnight
> presidential visit was exciting, even to me, a lifelong Democrat. My
> excitement turned to horror as I watched events unfold during
> President Bushís visit. In the mid 1800s, when Indians invaded
> Jacksonville,
citizens
> clambered upon the roof of the old library. It was the one building
> that would not catch fire when flaming arrows were shot. This week it
> was a different scene.
>
> Police armed with high powered rifles perched upon our rooftops as the
> presidential motorcade approached. Helicopters flew low, overhead. A
> cadre of motorcycle police zoomed into town. Black SUVs followed,
> sandwiching several black limousines carrying the president, his wife
> and their entourage as they sped to the local inn where they would eat
> and sleep. The main street was lined with people gathered to witness
> the
event.
> Many supported the president. Many did not. Some came because they
> were simply curious. There were men, women, young and old. The mood
> was
somewhat
> festive. Supporters of John Kerry sported signs, as did supporters of
George
> Bush. Individuals, exercising their rights of free speech began
> chanting.
On
> one side of the street, shouts of "four more years" echoed in the
> night
air.
> On the other side of the street, chants of "three more weeks"
> responded. The chants were loud and apparently could be heard by
> President Bush. An order was issued that the anti-Bush rhetoric be
> quieted. The local SWAT
team
> leapt to action.
>
> It happened fast. Clad in full riot gear, at least 50 officers moved
> in. Shouting indecipherable commands from a bullhorn, they formed a
> chain and bore down upon the people, only working to clear the side of
> the
street
> appearing to be occupied by Kerry supporters. People tried to get out
> of their way. It was very crowded. There was nowhere to move. People
> were
being
> crushed. They started flowing into the streets. Pleas to the officers,
> asking, "where to go" fell upon deaf ears. Instead, riot police fired
> pellets of cayenne pepper spray into the crowd. An old man fell and
> couldn't get up. When a young man stopped to help, he was shot in the
> back with hard pepper spray balls. Children were hit with pepper
> spray. Deemed "Protesters" were shoved and herded down the street by
> the menacing line
of
> armed riot police, until out of the President's ear-shot.
>
> There the "Protesters" were held at bay. Anyone vocalizing anti-Bush
> or pro-Kerry sentiments were prohibited from venturing forward. Loud
> anti-Bush chants were responded to by the commanding officer stating:
> "FORWARD," to which the entire line of armed police would move,
> lock-step, toward the "Protesters," forcing backward movement. Police
> officers circulated filming the crowd of "Protesters." Some were
> people like me, quiet middle-aged women. Some sported anti-Bush signs,
> peace signs, or
Kerry
> signs. A small group of youth, clad in black with kerchiefs wrapping
> their heads chanted slogans. A young woman in her underwear, sporting
> a peace
sign
> sang a lyrical Kumbaya. Mixed among the "Protesters" were supporters
> of
the
> President. One 19 year- old man shouted obscenities at anyone
> expressing dissatisfaction with the president, encouraging the police
> to "tazar" the "Stinking Protesters." Neither the "Protestors," nor
> the police harassed this vocal young man. Across the street,
> individuals shouting support for the president were allowed to
> continue. Officers monitored this group but allowed them to shout
> words of support or hurl derisions toward Kerry supporters,
> undisturbed. Honking cars filled with Bush supporters were
left
> alone. A honking car full of Kerry supporters was stopped by police on
> its way out of town.
>
> The standoff with "Protesters" continued until the President finished
> his dinner and was secured in his hotel cottage for the night. Only
> then were the riot police ordered to "mount-up," leaping upon the
> sideboard of
a
> huge SUV, pulling out of town, and allowing "free speech" to resume.
>
> In small town America I witnessed true repression and intimidation
> by
law
> enforcement. I saw small children suffering from the effects of being
fired
> upon by pepper bullets. I felt legitimate fear of expressing my
> political
> opinions: a brand new feeling. Newspaper accounts state the chaos started
> when a violent "Protester" shoved a police officer. No one I talked to
> witnessed this account.
>
> It is reputed that President Bush and his staff will not allow any
> opposition activity to occur within his ear or eye sight. I can
> confirm, that in tiny Jacksonville, Oregon, this was true. Physically
> violent means were taken to protect the president from verbal insults.
> Freedom of speech was stolen.
>
> My father was not paranoid as he lay dying. He was expressing great
> Insight into the dangers of our current presidential administration
> and
its
> willingness to repress personal freedoms. If I could talk to my father
> today, I would say, "I am sorry Daddy for doubting you." And, no
> matter what, I will continue to exercise my individual right to freely
> express my opinions. Americans cannot take four more years.
>
> This is a link to a related article:
> http://www.sierratimes.com/04/10/20/carlworden.htm
>
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