St. Louis SOTU Protest - Code Pink and World Can't Wait

St. Louis, Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Protest by Code Pink and World Can't Wait
Brought to you by: Inaniloquent.com
	Protest began at 6:30pm, supposedly. We arrived just before 8:00pm, when we assumed things would be really peaking. Thank goodness for the MediaCenter at home recording the SOTU. One of our guys actually used a VHS. No, he didn't program it... he just started it recording very early and had to fast-forward through lots of worthless junk. This is the largest sign at the protest.. apparently announcing that the protesters cannot pronounce "Iraq," because they aren't bombing it.
	I think it says... "Make Peace..." yep.. that's it. Novel idea. Truly deserving of the scrap cardboard its printed on, and held in place with a public trash can. There were fewer than 20 protesters at the event but at least they were all peaceful. Though not quiet.
	Apparently, there are many ways to make peace... although, you'd never know it around this handful of people, with all their whistles, chants, screams, tubas and yes, banjo... sigh A few of the other ways to make peace can be found on this beautiful piece of artistic expression.
	"Look at me mom! I'm on some guy's web site! Will somebody just honk... or wave... or something! Pleeeeeeze... its soooo cold! Is it 8:30 yet?" Tragic as it was, the party actually disbanded at about 8:30 pm, when they loaded all their gear into a Mini cooper and buzzed away. Wheeeeee! As one of the guys noted... the entire protest was concealed behind the mini when it pulled up along the curb. Heh, heh. Where'd the protest go?? THERE's the protest! heh, heh, heh
	I was polite enough to ask this woman if I could take her picture... although her unwavering gaze had me wondering if she understood what I was saying. I took her picture anyhow, and wondered if camera flashes later in life might perhaps induce flashbacks for her... For a real kick, squint a bit and check out the man behind her with all the buttons and sun glasses at night! Coooool!
	Drums... there are always drums... You can't sneak up on anybody if you are beating a drum. Of course, some people were on the lookout. A couple of the younger women cleverly avoided the camera and made an early departure when they saw us coming. So much for standing up for what you believe in. Those two girls really increased the size of this protest... I'm certain they were missed.
	"Only three more hours, sea people. Only three more hours and you can take me away from this crappy goddamn planet full of hippies." - Eric Cartman
	OH YES! Now here we go. Nothing shouts government protest quite like a banjo! This particular banjo is a 5-string, and no, you don't have to be loony as a moonbat to play it.. but I hear it helps. Banjo protests are finger pickin' good!
	The musician. Thank goodness for this guy... he actually played patriotic songs and sounded as if he knew what he was doing. He was kind enough to smile for the camera, but I think his mouthpiece was too cold for a good toot at that moment. Regardless, he is WAY too happy.
	This woman was very polite and very eager to share her Code Pink handouts. She even let me read a letter that she was planning to send to Hilary Clinton. As I skimmed through the letter (noting that there were only 4 or 5 signatures on it) I couldn't help but chuckle as I read unbelievably vulgar references. I could only thank her for sharing, and decline to sign. I may have snickered something about the letter being clever... although it reminded me of private liberal college shock-poetry. And hey... how about that pink coat!
	This is it. The whole thing captured in one frame. Amazing isn't it? A truly overwhelming display of opposition. Awwww who am I kidding? I've seen this many homeless people standing on a New York street corner.
	I zoomed in a bit on this shot so you could see the signs better... and the blonde hair. Hey, baby! What's your sign? Really? I like peace too!
	Everybody merengue!
	Peace now.. Impeach... yadda yadda.. yaaaaawn Same crowd. Same signs. Is anybody hungry? Everybody stayed on the sidewalk and avoided stepping into the street. Cops drove by all night but never stopped. There was no need.
	Finally! We get to an interesting photograph! Notice the streaks across the frame caused by a moving vehicle passing through the camera's field of view during a long exposure. ...and I think there are some protesters in the photo somewhere too.