i thought i would share one of the big reasons why i am sad i won't be in town for the dnc. it is the controversy with tent city and the protesters. denver is not necessarily known for its ability to honor the voices of dissent gracefully. not that it won't, it just hasn't had much experience in that realm. i think it will be interesting to see how it plays out. maybe it is better to be preoccupied with the national hiv system of service delivery.
so many voices have been so muted for so long in america(likewise in denver), it's hard to imagine that we could hear some loud, true dissent amongst us. and when we do, we usually turn away. it makes us feel so uncomfortable. after all, we're civilized and we don't behave like that. whining and complaining aren't attractive. one very audible set of voices in this milieu is definitely rage against the machine. you don't have to like them, but you gotta love them. they personify free speech in a nation full of whispers.
anyway, here are two articles about tent city, the first seen in april, the second in august. the heat is no doubt on...
A small collection of political activists pounded a homemade sign into the soil of Denver's Civic Center Park on Wednesday, claiming it for their own the week of the Democratic National Convention.
From this point forward, Civic Center Park will be considered the property of the people, and it will thus be renamed Free City," said Glenn Spagnuolo, spokesman for Recreate 68, which is coordinating protest efforts with a variety of activist groups for the Democratic National Convention week.[...]
"Regardless of the city's claims, we're going to be having free housing here in the park," said Spagnuolo. "We are going to be having free housing here in the park. We will stay past the curfew, we will enjoy each other's company."
He also said, "We will be putting up a tent city here that's going to include space for homeless people, too."
Spagnuolo also claimed that at some point there will be a "nude-in," in which demonstrators will spell out the word "PEACE," using naked bodies. read entire article here.
All of a sudden Tent State University's vow to bring 50,000 protesters to Denver seems within reach.
The game changed Thursday when Rage Against the Machine announced a free concert for the anti-war group.
"We're honored that they came," said Tent State organizer Adam Jung. "It's going to bring more attention and get the message out and make it stronger to the delegates and the public: Immediately end the war.
Sixteen months is too long. We're going to hold the Democratic Party and every other elected official accountable."
The Aug. 27 show at the 10,500-seat Denver Coliseum now has a headliner that easily fills arenas twice that size. Free tickets to the show will be distributed through a lottery system. read entire article here
now in contrast to tent state, is the dignitary roundtable discussion that is to take place. i would give anything to be a fly on the wall of that room. also in contrast to the free show with ratm and the flobots, on tuesday there is an invitation only show starring chris daughtry(definite hottie), the flobots(local band), and everclear(memorable tune or two) at the church. this is a benefit show for the grammy foundation. definitely won't have the edge of the free show.
2 comments:
There's going to be a lot of shakin' going on in Denver! Wow. I see now the kinds of things you are going to miss. :(
I hope the conference is really good, though.
I agree with you 1,000 percent that our national tendency is to huddle closely together in sheeplike protective and defensive embrace when confronted by voices challenging our comfort.
That's the mildest reaction, and it usually becomes more strident as special interests (including our very own federal government) begin to feel hampered or threatened.
My grandpa said there has not been a truly new idea take hold among the American people since the New Deal. He died in 2003, but I think he had a point.
We are having our current paradigm assaulted in the most significant way since the Depression, and yet few open their eyes to truly see, and fewer yet open their mouths to speak.
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