USA! USA!

So, here we are at the National Mall. A fairly well organized protest. Some reports say there were half a million people in attendance. You can't just drive up and park here. So people came in on buses and subways. There were volunteers with megaphones at train stations to shepherd people on and off the trains.

The scene on the Mall was a little odd to say the least. Folks were waving American flags all over the place. There were chants of "USA! USA! USA!" Which is generally quite nauseating. Except here it somehow wasn't so much. And it was a good strategy too. Because at all the previous rallies, the press would run a photo of somebody holding up a Mexican flag and say, "See? They don't love America!" or "See? They want to try and reclaim the Southwest!"



People were here to protest the proposed election-year legislation that would make the presence of undocumented workers a felony. But I don't think there was a strong focus on a specific goal beyond that. The organizers trotted out a drunk Ted Kennedy to drum up support for a bill (that he's co-sponsoring with John McCain no less) that would essentially make it easier for American business owners to continue exploiting low-wage or no-wage workers. Kennedy, with the help of a translator, tried to play up the notion that many in the crowd were responsible citizens, and that they would be productive members of society.
"Do you love your children?"
"Do you have a good job?"
"Do you love America?"
"Do you follow the law?"
"Do you participate in the community?"
These are all questions he asked, expecting to get a resounding "Yes" or "Si" each time in response.
As you might have guessed, he lost most people on the "Do you have a good job?" question.
He eventually ended his speech with a few Si Se Puede's.

More people spoke. A student led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Cardinal gave a speech. The crowd soon realized that they could silence any speaker by chanting "Si se puede" or "USA!" I think this power was abused on more than one occasion.

At one point, Congressman Turdbucket from Maryland spoke. He seemed to be excited about the signs and chants that proclaimed, "Today we march! Tomorrow we vote!"
He took the stage, introduced himself, then proceeded to yell to the crowd such things as, "This is so great! What a wonderful day!" The translator translated. There was a boring silence. Then he continued, "YOU ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL!" His translator echoed him "Ustedes son bonitos." The crowd didn't exactly react enthusiastically.
A loud, very frustrated voice from behind me yells back, "Queremos PAPELES!" (We want papers!)
That was generally agreed upon to be the best line of the day.




So obviously phallic.

Of course, I'm talking about the bulge in that guy's pants.







This guy in the front, it looks like he's saying, "Hey, man! I hope you don't work for the newspaper! Don't be publishing photos of me picking my nose at the rally, man."




Sorry, man.
Gotta represent the Fourth Estate. Bringing the truth to the people.