I Am A Figher of H8

This Saturday, at 12:30pm Central time, people are rallying across the nation in protest to California's passage of Proposition 8. Proposition 8 banned same-sex marriage in the state that only month's before had begun to allow same-sex marriages. 18,000 same-sex couples had been married in the state when the Supreme Court's decision was overruled by that Prop 8.

So, we're speaking out. There are rallies all over the country. Specifically in Missouri, there are rallies in St. Louis, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau and here in Springfield. I urge you to attend one of these rallies.

I, along with others of the Juggernauts, are helping with the Springfield rally. We need all the support we can get. It is a peaceful protest, so leave your angry words and Fuck You signs at home. Please come and support equal rights for everyone.

I Am A Fighter of H8
Nationwide Rally Against Proposition 8
Saturday, Nov. 15
12:30pm
Park Central Square in downtown Springfield

For other rallies in other cities or states, visit this website.

McCain visits Springfield.

[Saturday]

4:00pm - Hear a rumor that McCain is coming to Springfield on Wednesday. Make a mental note that it sounds worthy of attention. Promptly toss it on the backburner, and focus on more interesting things... like shiny objects.

[Tuesday Evening]





7:00 pm - Realize that "Wednesday" is in 12 hours. Begin calling everyone in your phone, using phrases like "We are all getting together...", even if "we" means... the three of us. Sound confident. Send out a couple of Facebook messages to relevant groups.



8:30 pm - Go to Walmart, buy posterboard, markers, and Diet Coke.

10:30 pm - Begin making signs. Use an old sheet to make the banner. Toss around a lot of really crude tactless ideas, and then use only the press-friendly slogans.




12:30 pm - Pass out.

[Wednesday Morning]

9:30 am - Get a call from a friend saying that the crowds are arriving. Throw the signs in the car, grab sunscreen and a few bandannas, and roll out.

10:00 am - Arrive at the campus. Meet up with friends, and discuss the best strategy to increase visibility. Discuss where our protest can be, without violating Missouri State policy.

10:15 am - Set up signs. Watch the Secret Service watching us.

12:00 pm - As the reinforcements begin rolling in, smile big at all the McCaininites wandering mindlessly into the building. While they will occasionally shake their head, they never really want to discuss or debate their beliefs.











Our fears that the signs will not be used diminish. Soon a second run for poster board is required. More signs are made, and I begin seeing my signs in the hands of random smiling faces. Success!!







Until 4:00 we just chill, holding our signs and swatting down the AWFUL attempts at logical debate we have tossed our direction.




4:00 pm - Go home. Sit down. Eat. Sleep.

Overall, I think the event was a success. The protesters, our group and a group that spoke out inside the Plaster Student Union, were covered on the news and in the Springfield News-Leader. Not bad, considering that it was tossed together in one evening, between a game of Scrabble and walking the dog.

McCain

John McCain strolled through our neck of the woods today (not to be confused with John McClane from Die Hard), and we figured we should go down and give him a healthy dose of what for.
We worked closely with members of a local Anarchist Infoshop called The Radish (we call 'em Radishites), Peace Network of the Ozarks, and Planned Parenthood to combat the politically corrupt retardation that is John McCain.
We ended up getting quite the gatheration going. Although some moronic Creationists operating under the guise of "pro education" came out, we were able to keep control of the situation, and we certainly had the numbers on our side. Video and pictures should be up later tonight.

You know, it's funny. We got a lot of McCain's supporters walking past us saying things like, "Don't you have anything better to do?" and, "Pffft. What's your definition of 'Peace'?" and, "My father fought so that you would have the right to make that stinking sign!"
However, not a single person was willing to calmly and rationally stand and discuss their beliefs. We were asking them nicely to discuss why they believed what they believed, standing there calmly and explaining that we were here to be accountable for what we believed, and trying to meet their accusations will logical conjecture, but not a single person would stand and discuss their beliefs with us.
Huh.
It's almost as if they're weak, corrupt bastards who know that we're right.

(Note to any McCain supporters out there: hit me up in the comments section with your email address and we'll have an online dialog. You can be accountable for what you say!)

-Ryan Culbertson-Faegre