My best friend fought cancer for eleven years. The last time we had a quiet “best friends” conversation – I’d gone over to her house because I was worrying more about her. So thin. Weaker. Harder to keep the pain under control. As I sat on her bed, my boyfriend called – “It’s started. The war.” We turned on the TV. She said, “That fucker. I can’t believe he really did it.”
She died two weeks later. Two years without my best friend and two years of a pointless, horrible war. Her death couldn’t be helped. She fought. Medicine did all it could. But how many have died for this mistake – this lie, this war?
The email I sent to my friends about the march on Saturday said, “Well, I guess we never learn. Isn’t it deja vu all over again? I’ve always said that I wasn’t really an activist against the Vietnam war, but that I’d show up if there was a protest. Well, there’ll be one next Saturday (different war, same insanity), so . . .”
[All of the really good photos – like this one – were taken by my friend Rick. McMurtry one below is spectacular, isn’t it?]
The turnout was less than I expected. Lots of reasons for that, I suppose – beautiful Spring day, competition from south by southwest, no/little publicity (I only knew about it because I got an email from CodePink.) But still.
I am totally clueless about how to estimate crowd size, but the march itself seemed to be three or four blocks long, if that tells you anything. We ended up at our new city hall. This being Austin, the music was great and speakers not too bad, either.
This one’s for Tom Kertes. Veterans for Peace. American flags. Alternatives to the draft. What more could you ask, Tom?
Jackie Goodman, City Council member and mayor pro tem was speaking when I arrived at City Hall.
Music from Slaid Cleaves.
Robert Jensen spoke next. Impassioned. I’ve been a fan of his writing for some time – he has op-eds in the Austin American Stateman from time to time. See A Defeat For an Empire and Sinners or saints: The contradictions of conservative Christian politics for samples of his work. I agreed with everything he had to say – except – when he attacked Democrats as no better than Republicans. The problem is power, and that those who have power protect it at all costs, he said. Yeah, I get that, Bob, but I really think that the first priority is to get the maniacs currently in power out of power and I think the Democrats are the only hope we have of doing that.
Eliza Gilkyson up next. Unbelievably powerful song, “Man of God.” It was a message to George W. “you are not” a man of God. I wish I could make a link to it, so you can listen, but I couldn’t find it, and it doesn’t seem to be on her new album. But if you can find it anywhere, by all means, Go Listen. It’s awesome.
She also did “Highway 9.” Sample of the lyrics
we’re gonna fulfill scripture in the holy land
between the Tigris and Euphrates, it’s a lot like hell
go on and liberate my people and the o-i-l.
Got your big trucks rollin’ down hiway 9
put on the armor, it’s party time
gonna dance with the devil of our own design
get your big trucks rollin’ down hiway 9.
So the little man gathered all his chicken-hawks in
and the neo-cons and his daddy’s kin
With their own clear channel and a helluva spin
and a white man hidden in a black man’s skin.
Big trucks rollin’ down hiway 9
pulverize the public, it’s payback time
who’s tax dollar is it? your’s and mine
keeps the big trucks rollin’ down hiway 9.
Listen to a sample here.
There were the Protest Warriors “counter-demonstrating” across the street. Truly disgusting signs. Cracked me up when the anarchists went over and put their signs in front of them, so the Protest Warriors had to hold their signs up higher.
And then one of my long-time favorite singer songwriters, James McMurtry. Started off by saying that there was plenty of dancefloor space in front “if you’re not a Baptist. And if you are, pretend you’re a Methodist, because we can’t tell the difference.”
Well, I’m not a Baptist or a Methodist, but if James McMurtry’s playing and there’s room to dance, I’m not missing the opportunity. I look across the way and there’s a fellow “woman of a certain age” dancing too, so I danced over to her and the two of us old fogies showed the young lefties how it’s done. (I’m the one in the yellow shirt.)
James shouted out for us to come up close to the stage “because we play better that way” so we did. Others joined in. Felt so good, but with an underlying sadness, since I couldn’t help but remember dancing on the main mall at UT during Vietnam era protests. Same insanity. Different war. 1970. Thirty-five years and it comes around again. I was 21, now I’m 56. I danced this time for the same reason I did then – because this is what life is supposed to be about. Springtime. Music. Kids and dogs and people who care.
The “counter protesters” were gone. Guess their arms got tired. Wimps.
McMurtry ended with “We Can’t Make It Here.” Go Download.
By the time he finished, rain clouds were coming up from the southwest. Lightening and thunderstorm and hail soon after.
Peace.
Feedback appreciated, but you know . . . be gentle.
Not brave enough to try posting it to dKos. (I’m a “commenter not a diarist” there.) Should I?
And thanks to BooMan and all of your fellow frog-marchers. Looks like it’s going to be a great site.
Your first? This is incredible, Janet. What a story you’ve told in words and photos. I have tears in my eyes.
You most definitely should cross-post at Kos.
Everyone will love your diary.
for the encouragement, Susan. OK, I’ll post it over there. It’s “take a deep breath . . . hit ‘Submit’ time” over at Kos. Assuming I can get all the tags right on the photos, etc. It wasn’t easy, on this one.
Fantastic diary and pictures. I marched in the counterinauguration, but did not make it out today (home nursing a sinus infection). Thanks for being out there.
Kind words from Carnacki! Thanks. And thanks for the happy stories and all of your other great diaries.
I love the pictures and the links to the music, especially. I hope you’ll be doing more.
Thank you so much for posting this, lifted my heart. Although it does seem that the struggle is endless some days it’s good to see that you have not given up. Inspires me to keep going too. See, you’re now an official positive influence!
but had a Spring Break trip planned. Thanks for documenting it for us, Janet. And be sure to tell everyone you know that we’ve got an Air America station now– 1600 AM KOKE.
Excellent diary Jackie!
Janet, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences – including the memory of your dear friend, your detailed observations of the day’s events, and the wonderful pictures. Lovely, heartfelt work.
“She fought”. Although a different battle, you too are fighting and I thank you for that. Please keep promoting the fight for peace, and please keep dancing.
(It’s great to cross paths with another McMurtry fan!)
It’s ridiculous how seldom I actually go out to hear music, being in Austin and all, but it’s easy to take it for granted here. But McMurtry will get me out of the house every time. We’re lucky that he plays here pretty often, and in small venues.
I’ve also to been heard to say, “I’d read Larry McMurtry’s grocery list.” I think there must be some kind of story-telling gene.
I couldn’t agree with you more on the grocery list comment, as I frequently find myself swooning over lyricists. (Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, James McMurtry . . .)
I’m a music fanatic who used to attend up to four concerts a week – until I finally roped myself in for financial reasons. I’ve never seen McMurtry perform live, and I hope to, because missing a once in a lifetime opportunity to see an artist can be a sad situation indeed.
Case in point: One night I struggled with a difficult choice between two concerts. The concert I chose not to attend was Jeff Buckley, and the following month he was gone. I kicked myself for some time afterward. Then again, the show I did attend was Warren Zevon. . .
Awesome photos.
Thanks for posting this!