Nashville Election Fraud Action Scuffle [View All]

(sorry this is so long, ya'll -- i'm rambly today.)

A scuffle broke out in front of Sen. Bill Frist's office on White Bridge Road in Nashville today when a car-full of young enlisted men harassed the 40 or so election fraud protesters as the event was wrapping up. Interestingly, it wasn't anything the anti-protesters did that caused the scuffle. It was a couple of young women who wanted to hear what they had to say. In the interest of full disclosure, it was me and this other girl who served in Desert Storm.

After the guys had been harassing the group from across the street, they drove up behind us in the parking lot and *LAID* on the horn. Then one of the guys in the back seat gets out, stands on the running board of the little tuned-up Honda and is addressing the crowd -- you know -- yelling. But it wasn't incoherent or obscene. He was responding to a woman who had replied to their taunting by quickly sketching a sign that said ENLIST. And he's saying he *has enlisted.* He's on his way over to kick some "Iraqi Butt." And one other guy was also going to kick some butt too. They had enlisted over the summer. The driver was a Bonaroo-looking college guy -- not enlisted.

Here's the funny part. When they stopped with the horn I went over there and tossed some stickers in the car that read "we are being lied to." And Bonaroo-looking guy gets out of the car, crafts a hocker (not a great one, but not too foamy either, I was impressed) and spits on the stickers and throws them back in our general direction. He looked like a crazed hobbit bent over spitting, his longish curly light brown hair poking out from under his cap. At the same time the enlisted soap box guy is saying, "I'm enlisted, its my ass going over there. Why are you all (blah blah blah) against Bush... " you know. "Blah blah blah." Me and the Desert Storm woman had a couple of retorts that interested them. They wanted to talk and to talk you have to get closer or else you are yelling. But about this time, some of the Election Fraud protesters physically tried to herd us away from them.

A lot of energy is in play at these events. And I have to tell you, it was shocking to be physically "moved" or "herded" by people on our side, but I know everyone meant well. People take different roles when unexpected things happen. Some become motherly, leaders step in, etc. It was a very odd moment. I was very interested in who was actually laying hands on me -- an older lady wearing a colorful handcrafted frock, a dread-locked guy with the cell phone and digital camera, and the well-dressed woman with the ENLIST sign (oh, and everyone else). The general idea I grokked was that the group didn't want us to give them any encouragement. They wanted us to turn and face the street, and that's why they were physically trying to make us turn around.

Then, the Desert Storm vet said something to the effect of "I think somebody needs to get their hands off of me," and everyone backed off. She was totally cool. Said it in a calm yet firm way. So we walked over to the car and she's talking to the red-headed new enlistee who was standing on the running board of the Honda. Once he gets the message that she's a vet, he's interested in hearing what she has to say. She's totally soft-spoken, but he's listening! Meanwhile I'm asking the guys in the car what their deal is. Running-board guy is 18, his friend in the backseat who is also going to the war is 19 (and taking classes). The preppie-Bonaroo guy is 20 and just taking classes.

Here's the thing. If I were their age, now, with the limitations on Pell Grants and the hype with the military -- that could very easily have me or my friends I grew up with. When you're that age, all it takes is drinking too much with the wrong crowd one night. Or finding out your boyfriend or girlfriend is cheating on you. They were going to war because they have to do SOMETHING to get "on" in life. Why not go kick some "Iraqi butt" as they mentioned? Not only is it a job, and a promise of an education and a journey into adulthood. The military is seductive, especially during wartime. Especially for kids doing technical school (Frist's office is right next to the technical college) who might be at the end of their resources. The kind of kid who would enlist *right now* is someone who is looking for initiation as much as all the rest. They are engaged with life, and that's why they took the time to come over and annoy us. How cool is that?

Anyway, we had a great conversation about Democracy and making it work here, so their lives aren't wasted over there. They were interested in our "military cred," she being a vet, and me being from a big military family in addition to marrying into a military family (like if we didn't have any cred we shouldn't have anything to say). We actually DO have military cred, but I would argue what we have more in common is socio-economic background. Like I said, these guys are totally the kind of kids I would have hung out with. I got lucky. They have not been so lucky. Deep down inside they are scared to death. The smart ones are scared and pissed.

It's not like we are back in the 60s with all that mythology about soldiers bearing the responsibility for the political leadership. I don't that was ever the situation, actually. I think it was hype about spitting on soldiers, although if someone can produce evidence, I won't argue. It's beside the point. Right now, we Support the Troops. The story they need to hear -- that we are on their side.

I apologized for tossing the stickers in the car, but explained that we're doing theater just like they were and Bonaroo-guy agreed and apologized for spitting on them. Then we laughed. He was embarrassed. Then the red-head enlistee said he thought is was funny the only people who had the guts to come talk to them was a couple of chicks. I said, "well, it's not their fault -- they're old school. They expect something bad to happen. I think it's cool we got to talk." The guys seemed a little let down that no one got to "break red." As I was leaving the police showed up to see the "disturbance" was just some people standing around talking to each other. I noticed the young men were circulating with the rest of the group.

I apologize if anyone takes offense to me telling them I thought the scuffle was because "old school" stuff, I don't mean that as an insult. I just really believe that we are in a different place right now. Going back to the piece I wrote, " we've got the power -- we are a MOVEMENT -- here's why (and how)," all this negative shit (election, war, theocons) we are dealing with sucks -- BUT it makes our rhetorical position nearly unassailable. Even some of the most seemingly adamant Bush supporters CAN be talked to, even under highly-charged conditions.

Let me be clear about this -- our political climate is so bad that it's bringing people together. Our ability to reach out is a measure of how pervasive our problems are. It's not a pollyanna world. It's a dark, scary world. It's up to us to shine the light.

here's that other thing if anyone wants to read it -- brook

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x232406